Page 13 - 1914 February - To Dragma

126 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

took your bath in the morning you were obliged to wash in the
same water both at noon and then at night on returning from the
shop.

" I n the shop you drink at the sink and you have only one cup of
water a day in your cell. This must suffice for drink night and morn-
ing, and little is left for use in brushing your teeth.

D A I L Y ROUTINE OF T H E PRISON.

" I was transferred Wednesday to ward 7, where the routine was
as follows:

"You rose at 6 :30, dressed, swept your cell, emptied the slop jars
and then had breakfast. It was eaten in an alcove off the main corri-
dor.

"We were not allowed to speak, to turn our heads or to smile.
The object was to get the food down as quickly as possible.

"After breakfast we marched to the shops, where we sat for ten
minutes doing nothing. Then we put on capes and fascinators
and marched for exercise around the oval in the yard for half an
hour. The same deadly silence prevailed.

"On returning to the shop we were put to work hemming blankets
and making mattresses. Little work was done because nobody took
any interest. So long as you kept busy and your eyes directly in front
of you, you were left alone.

"At 11:30 we marched back in the same oppressive silence
to our cells and were locked in until 12 o'clock, when we went to
the dining table in the alcove. Here we sat again absolutely silent,
eating as fast as possible. The time consumed averaged probably less
than fifteen minutes.

"Then back to our cells, doing nothing until 1 :30. At that time
we marched to the yard again for exercise, and at 2 o'clock we were
again in the shop to work in the same deadly monotony until 4:25.

"We all folded our arms and sat absolutely still for five or ten
minutes until the shop matron said, ' A l l right, girls,' which was the
signal that we were allowed to talk for fifteen minutes.

" I thought when I entered prison, that being thrown with the
type of offenders there I should hear vile language, but during my
five days I heard only one instance of a profane word.

"The inmates were friendly, whispering ' A l l right, kid, don't
worry.' One woman, who was next to mc and to whom I spoke, in-
quired about me and about my record.

SAID S H E W A S A FORGER

" I told her that I was a forger and that I was in for a year.