Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/74

Rh in the prison. This button was a small white one with a blue star in the middle and the motto of the league, 'Look Up and Hope.' The prisoners banded in this league stood together for right living and good discipline. Each man was given a certificate of membership:

" 'This is to certify that......is a member of the Volunteer Prison League, he having faithfully promised, with God's help, to conform to the following conditions of membership:

" 'First — To pray every morning and night.

" 'Second — To read the Day Book faithfully.

" 'Third — To refrain from the use of bad language.

" 'Fourth — To be faithful in the observance of prison rules and discipline, so as to become an example of good conduct.

" 'Fifth — To seek earnestly to cheer and encourage others in well doing and right living, trying, where it is possible, to make new members of the League.'

"This document hangs in the prison cell, and its owner dons forthwith the badge of the V. P. L. He is now, of course, a marked man. Officers and fellow-prisoners alike watch him closely, and, as may be imagined, it is in this hour that his trial begins. This, however, Mrs. Booth regards as of paramount importance; the man must go through the fire . . . alone.

"The thought that has made this league a strong foundation for the work and that has proved the most rousing inspiration to the men, is that the effort is not ours, but theirs. No philanthropist, preacher or teacher in the world can reform these men ... it rests with the men themselves.

"The league obliges them to realize this very vividly; the responsibility is rolled back upon their own shoulders; they are made beholden to their own consciences. This would seem to be the root of the matter; this is that spirit we have been seeking. The prisoner sets to work to rebuild his character; and what that effort costs within the walls of prison may be but faintly guessed. . ."

At first the skeptics scoffed and even friends did not hesitate to warn Mrs. Booth that her efforts would only result in disappointments and heartbreak. As she went to the outside world with the story of the prisoner there came to her the