﻿T-BONE SLIM DISCUSSES DULUTH 
 
It has been stated, right in my hearing, that the average weight of the prisoners on Duluth’s work-farm exceeds the average weight of the police-force—fur coats thrown in—and exceeds the average weight of all the citizens, invading all those in Lester Park, Morgan Park and Duluth Heights.—Now, regardless of whether I believe this, I must hasten to the defense of the eating-houses and restaurants—for have I not stated in bold-print and cold-type that Duluth’s standard of living is the highest this side of Hagan, Nebraska? 
While it may be true that the work farm prisoners weigh more than the police and weigh more than all the citizens—on an average, of course—I must, as a truthful and thorough writer, point out that the citizens of Lester Park (where the fresh air is) weigh more, man for man, than prisoners, West Duluth and Police-force combined 
And while the prisoners are great big strapping fellows it is not derogatory of the glorious and rich traditions of the various eating houses—nor is it any credit to the work-house. For, if the weight of the prisoners proves anything, it proves that Duluth needs another work-farm where the frailer men would find genteel society, mental re-enforcement and congenial labor wrestling with rocks and stumps on cut over lands (i. e. clearing land, making farms that can be sold for purchase price to selected parties). Of course it could be argued by Fred Ward or anybody else that, insofar as the breezes blow and fresh-airs go, Lester Park has nothing on Duluth’s work-farm when it is considered that prisoners work almost naked—save for dilapidated cotton underwear, overalls in the last stages of disintegration, carpet mackinaws (faded and worn) mitts, sox and rubbers; that prisoners have every advantage in coming In contact with the invigorating atmosphere and that citizens of Lester Park (if they weigh more than the prisoners on the work-farm), are not that way be- cause of fresher air but because of superior agility, and ability to dodge the strong arm of law better—at least we haven’t heard Lester Park breaking police regulations. . . . . Be that as it may, Duluth’s living standard is high and it will not surprise me in the least if its prisoners are heavy-weights—this much I will say: They never got that way eating meatless hash.—T-bone Slim.