that "Russian prisons are, judged by Western standards, atrocious." This
certainly is not correct of all Russian prisons. I was in St. Petersburg last year for a few days, and was told that I might freely inspect any prison under the Ministry of Justice. My time was short, so I only visited one prison—namely, the "Two Crosses Prison." It is built on the model of Wormwood Scrubs, and holds about two thousand prisoners. I have visited a good many prisons; in England, India, and the Colonies, and certainly the "Two Crosses" is well up to the Western standard. The hospital accommodation was excellent, but there were only a few patients in it. The prisoners generally looked healthy and well cared for. For the most part they were working in association. All were engaged in industrial work. Even short-time prisoners were taught cardboard-box making. The work is sold at fair trade prices, and the prisoners receive one-fourth of the net profit. With this they can buy their tea, a much-desired luxury, and the balance (if any) is given them on their release. I sampled in the kitchens the food preparing for the evening meal. It was sound and good, though not perhaps to an Englishman's taste. The dietary was quite sufficient. There were three chapels—namely, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant, the last being used also as an evening school. The prison certainly was not so spick and span as an English prison, and the discipline was lamer. But I was told that the prisoners were, as a rule very docile, and practically gave no trouble.—I am, Sir, &c., M. D. CHALhiERS.
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