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Show ;age 53 THE HIGH SIDE OF THE CELL HOUSE Sometimes in our tox»7n t h e subject of crime and i t s possible d e t e r r e n t s , and t h e pros and cons of the value of p r i s o n s , got in the way of progress and l e f t us a l l f e e l i n g our l i m i t a t i o n s. We often debated at our town meetings whether t o p e t i t i on the S t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e for removal of the prison east of our town. Police Chief Lattimore said that the prison wasn't harming anyone, t h a t i t had a sobering effect on c r i m i n a l s . On one occasion Pastor Campbell persuaded Editor Mulberry D i l l a r d to arrange for a local r e p o r t e r to go out to the prison, get t h e f a c t s and a t t i t u d e s of the next p r i s o n e r to be r e l e a s e d . Young Cathy Mathews accepted t h i s random assignment. Mulberry, p u b l i c - s p i r i t ed as ever, promptly p r i n t e d the r e s u l t s , as follows: The high side of the c e l l house i s d u l l gray in color, weatherworn and monolithic in appearance to a l l of u s, p a r t i c u l a r l y t o John B a s s l e r. Imprisonment t o John Bassler has been e s s e n t i a l l y an experience in f a n t a s y , q u i t e d i s t i n c t from t h i n g s as they a r e. F a n t a s y ' s appeal t o Bassler has been an a l l - d i m e n s i o n a l appeal. In depth and in width fantasy has cloaked him completely with imagery, symbols, paradox, and irony, u n t i l these "resources" have become h i s p a t t e r n of substance and hope. Prisoners and guards who a r e knowledgeable and wary have observed h i s behavior t o t h e l a s t , to see, q u i t e frankly, if his rapport with u n r e a l i ty |