Outside the Prison
On Christmas Eve, two reporters, Conway and Bronson, remain in their newspaper office while others are out on assignments. Tension arises between them due to a story assignment given to Conway instead of Bronson. The city editor sends Bronson to cover the release of a bank robber, Henry Quinn, from Moyamensing Prison, a task Bronson finds tedious and repetitive. He expresses his frustration, but the city editor insists he go, providing him with money to give to Quinn upon his release. As Bronson and an office boy named Gallegher head to the prison, they observe the festive atmosphere of the city, contrasting sharply with the grimness of the prison. They arrive at Moyamensing, where Bronson reflects on the prison's imposing structure and the somber reality of its inmates. While waiting for midnight, they encounter a young woman, Mary, who is also waiting for Quinn. She reveals her connection to him, explaining that she had sent money to the newspaper for Quinn's release and shares her troubled past with him. Mary expresses her feelings of guilt and sorrow regarding Quinn's imprisonment, insisting that she did not encourage his criminal actions. As they wait, the clock approaches midnight, and the atmosphere becomes charged with anticipation. When the prison gates finally open, the celebratory sounds of Christmas bells and fireworks fill the air, but the moment quickly turns tragic. Instead of Quinn, a coffin is revealed in the carriage that arrives, indicating that he has died shortly before his release. Mary's reaction is one of devastation as she realizes the man she waited for is gone. Bronson, witnessing the scene, feels a mix of emotions, grappling with the harsh realities of life, love, and loss. The story concludes with Bronson submitting his report, reflecting on the futility of his earlier assignment and the profound impact of the night’s events. The narrative explores themes of redemption, the complexities of human relationships, and the stark contrast between societal celebrations and individual tragedies.
By Richard Harding Davis · First published 1902 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary · 6,997 words
First lines
It was about ten o'clock on the night before Christmas, and very cold. Christmas Eve is a very-much-occupied evening everywhere, in a newspaper office especially so, and all of the twenty and odd reporters were out that night on assignments, and Conway and Bronson were the only two remaining in the local room. They were the very best of friends, in the office and out of it; but as the city editor had given Conway the Christmas-eve story to write instead of Bronson, the latter was jealous, and their relations were strained. I use the word "story" in the newspaper sense, where everything written for the paper is a story, whether it is an obituary, or a reading notice, or a dramatic criticism, or a descriptive account of the crowded streets and the lighted shop-windows of a Christmas Eve. Conway had finished his story quite half an hour before, and should have sent it out to be mutilated by the blue pencil of a copy editor; but as the city editor had twice appeared at the door of the local room, as though looking for some one to send out on another assignment, both Conway and Bronson kept on steadily writing against time, to keep him off until some one else came in. Conway had written his concluding paragraph a dozen times, and Bronson had conscientiously polished and repolished a three-line "personal" he was writing, concerning a gentleman unknown to fame, and who would remain unknown to fame until that paragraph appeared in print.
What this Textopian page supports
Outside the Prison is listed on Textopian as a short story by Richard Harding Davis, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Richard Harding Davis
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary, Short Story, Realism
- Length: 6,997 words
- Structure: 1 section, 75 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Outside the Prison by Richard Harding Davis
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores complex themes of human relationships, societal expectations, and moral dilemmas, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Drama — The story contains intense emotional conflicts and character-driven interactions, typical of dramatic literature.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques societal norms and the justice system, reflecting on the lives of ex-convicts and their reintegration into society.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and focused, fitting the structure of a short story.
Tags
Adventure · Fiction · Literary · Classic · American · 19th Century · Prison Drama · Escape Story · Thriller · Suspenseful · Plot Twist · Mystery