Page 12 - 1914 February - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 125

ducted to a cell barefooted and locked in. My hair was not dry and
was f u l l of kerosene.

" I t got on my pillow and on my hands and face, but I had to
endure it. I t was impossible to dry the hair because one small
towel, 16 by 36 inches, was the week's allowance.

" I was unable to eat a mouthful of breakfast, and in fact during
my entire stay I could eat nothing except bread and the oatmeal,
which we had only once. The rest of the food was ruined in the
cooking.

" I do not think the material was necessarily bad, but the cooking
spoiled it. As election day is a holiday, all are locked in the cells.
At 11:30 o'clock, dinner was thrust into my cell, and when the
bread basket was passed I was told to take enough for supper as
well as for dinner.

"The supper that evening consisted solely of this additional bread
and a cup of water. Any bread not eaten was gathered up to be
served again.

"The windows in the cells are painted so that you cannot see
through them.

SCOLDED FOR A S K I N G FOR B L A N K E T .

"The first night being cold, I asked for an extra blanket. For this
I was scolded. I was told I could take the rug off the floor and put
that over me.

"When the day matron arrived she scolded because I had asked
for a blanket, and told me I had better learn I was in prison and
could not have any 'luxuries.' The second morning I would have
done any work or have endured anything to get out of the ,cell for
one single minute, so it was a great relief to go out and empty my
slop jar.

" I did this to the best of my ability, but was yelled at during the
process, the matron saying: 'Don't you know how to empty a bowl?
Hain't you used to any of the decencies of life?'

" I never dared to make reply because I was trying to be a good
prisoner and feared the 'cooler.' Yet periodically all day long I
was scolded by the matron for having asked for the blanket and was
told that i f I did not behave better I would get the 'cooler.'

" I wish to say that I overheard the ward matron complaining to
the head matron of my having asked for the blanket, the latter say-
ing that of course any girl who needed an extra blanket should have
one.

"We were allowed only one basin of water a day, so that i f you