THE STORY OF
A STRANGE CAREER
THE STORY OF
A STRANGE CAREER
BEING
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CONVICT
AN AUTHENTIC DOCUMENT
EDITED BY
NEW YORK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
1902
Copyright, 1902
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
Published August, 1902
[v]INTRODUCTION
The story that follows this introduction is literally true. There diedlately, in a Western State prison, a man of the class known as habitualcriminals. He was, at the time of his death, serving out a sentence forburglary. For thirty years he had been under the weight of prisondiscipline, save for short periods of freedom between the end of oneterm and the beginning of another.
Because of this man's exceptional qualities, as contrasted with those ofthe multitude of criminals, he was induced, semi-officially, in afriendly way, to write the story of his life. He accepted theproposition made to him, though, consistent with his quality, not quitefulfilling his pledge, omitting, as he did, certain hard details of thelater part of his criminal career. This was but natural, and, perhaps,[vi]it is the one incident which shows that the man realized, in somemeasure, the truth as to his own character.
The account which makes this book was written in 1897 and 1898, when itsauthor was in the free world. It has been thought best, out of regardfor an estimable family, to omit from the printed work the real name ofthe writer. Another name has been substituted for the actual one, but,with the exception of a few necessary technical corrections, and changesof names of people and of one vessel—the one in which the first voyagewas made—the manuscript appears almost as it left the hands of itsauthor.
As a true tale, as a study of sociology, as a picture of one human lifesomehow bent and twisted from the normal, this work, it seems to theeditor, is one of the most surprising of productions. Its frankunconsciousness, its striking revelations, its absence from all pose,combine to make it unique among the writings of men. The Confessions of[vii]Rousseau appear, in phases, almost artificial compared with the simplebut startling revelation which is here given.
It was not hopelessness, nor recklessness, nor penitence, which madethis man write down unflinchingly what he remembered of the story of hislife. A cheerful reminiscent vein runs throughout all he tells. Hissense of humour is ever present. Nowhere appears a hint of the tragedyof his experience. Of that he was not conscious. He was as free fromremorse and self-upbraiding as a wild animal or a tree.
The story, one would imagine, should appeal to those who think. From thebeginning can be seen, in the character of the runaway sailor andone-time officer of the navy, traits which indicate his ab