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JACOB HODGES.
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prison discipline, and regarding Jacob as
among the first and happiest results of
that system which he had been chiefly
instrumental in introducing to many of
our penitentiaries, he became greatly in¬
terested in his history. He had formed
an exalted conception of his character as
a Christian, and cherished profound ad¬
miration for his superior order of mind.
[n this he was not alone. The most ca¬
sual observer was struck with the superior
manliness and dignity of his deportment:
and Judge Van Ness, when pronouncing
his sentence of death, said to him, " You
possess a more than ordinary strength of
mind. Providence has blessed you with
a memory without a parallel in all my
experience."
Mr. Dwight has -often remarked that
no human tongue ever read the word of
God in his hearing in tones so impressive.
and with emphasis so solemn and appro¬
priate. Whenever he visited Jacob, he
was accustomed to request him to lead in
prayer, and he remarked that he never feh