It  implies  that  prisoners  are  not  subjected  to  such
disciplinary  and  reformative  influence,  and  are  nob


290   THE  CRIMINAL  AND  THE  COMMUNITY

employed  on  such  work  as  may  be  best  fitted  to  make
them  able  and  wiUing  to  make  an  honest  livelihood
on  discharge  ;  but  if  this  implication  is  justified,  why
should  they  not  be  placed  under  helpful  conditions
from  the  first  day  of  their  imprisonment  ?  To  one  who
is  not  a  legislator  it  appears  foohsh  to  insist  that
offenders  should  be  placed  under  conditions  which  do
not  fit  them  to  five  honestly  outside  prison,  and  that
this  process  should  be  repeated  until  they  have  become
habitual  criminals,  before  it  is  ordered  that  steps  shall
be  taken  for  their  reform.  What  are  the  influences
ordered  by  Parliament,  and  what  is  the  work  they  have
to  be  taught  which  will  make  them  able  and  willing
to  earn  an  honest  livelihood  ?  Surely  no  Member  of
Parhament  is  credulous  enough  to  believe  that  the
influences  and  the  work  that  will  tend  to  make  one
man  better  will  be  suitable  to  all  men.  Even  Members
of  Parliament  do  not  all  conform  to  the  same  rules,
and  there  are  as  many  differences  among  criminals
as  among  legislators.
