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Beauty Behind the Bars

Many of the penal institutions of the country teach beauty culture to their inmates. As evidence of the material value placed on personal grooming in the rehabilitation of the criminal class, let us record just one instance.

"Grace" had been sent to jail on a bad check charge. She had been a stenographer and although more than ordinarily competent she was forced to drift from one job to another and finally to make ends meet she restorted to writing "bad" checks. Her skill as a stenographer and typist were made use of in the offices of Mrs. Vada C. Sullivan, Matron of the Los Angeles County Jail. With characteristic interest, Mrs. Sullivan soon discovered the underlying cause of "Grace's" downfall. It was her appearance. No employer could accept unkept nails, muddy complexion and shoddy clothes, no matter how closely associated with efficiency.

Through the aid of the beauty culture classes held in the jail it was a transformed "Grace" who went out to take her natural place in the affairs of life. At the time this was written "Grace" had been on the "outside" more than 14 months and 12 of them had been on the same job. So, whatever other lesson "Grace" may have learned behind jail bars, that of improved personal appearance has proved a most satisfying and productive one to her.