The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-25
Fruits of the Reform School.

The st. Adams Messenger announces the
death of Michael 4. Rowan who left ST.
Adams week ago for Florida, having sailed
from New York on Thursday of last week.
In connection with the announcement, a
sketch of his history is given. We give
extracts therefrom, as showing what boy
can do for himself, as well as what our re-
form school accomplishes in some instan-
ces:
Mr.. Rowan had sad history, but he de-
vtloped manly qualities which would have
given him excellent standing in the world
had his life been spared. Left an orphan
in Montreal. at tender age. he was adopt
cd by an aunt, and she proved so cruel 10
him that he left her and took to the street,
selling papers, backing boots, gathering
rags, anything to keep his body and soul
together. Somehow he drifted to st. AL
bans and naturally found his way to
newspaper office. Mr.. Whiting took him
as an apprentice and kindly cared for him,
but the life he had been leading had left an
impress which made confinement irksome,
and for several years lie was house.
less and homeless wanderer in the
streets of st. Adams. Bright and
witty, he was ready to engage any one
in an intellectual combat and ragged
and unkempt, he had many physical
combat to keep even with the "boy of the
period" Kind people of his own nation
atty often took him in, and business men,
attracted by his brightness and touched by
his misfortune, often gave him some little
job, but on the whole he lived as the birds
live, and no one knows, nor ever will, what
his sensitive spirit suffered. Finally, at
1G, on some contrived offense, he was sent
to the reform school, and it was a
godsend. He remained there three years,
serving out his sentence, acquiring full
manly stature, good education, and such
confidence of the superintendent that dur
ing the last year he was entrusted with the
running of the steam and gas works. At
the expiration of his time he returned
to st Adams, and through the kindness
and influence of Mr.. George Gregory
Smith found employment for a year or
more as fireman on locomotive. Losing
that position, owing to a large reduction of
help on the road, he went into the rolling
mill, where he worked until the mill shut
down in the fall OF last year. Applying to
ton, and expressing a willingness to do
anything whereby he could earn an honest
living, he was taken IN, more out of con-
sideration for his circumstances than be-
cause he was really needed, and as he soon
developed an aptitude for reporting,he was
employed in that capacity, until disease,
which attacked him last winter, compelled
him to give up work a few weeks ago. Be-
J coming convinced that he had the con-
sumption, he had an intense longing to 60
south, and through the generous contribu-
| tions of friends in town-for all were his
| frieHds-collected without his knowledge,
he was enabled to 20, but alas, too late.
| 1t gives us pleasure to testify to the
character-that word means great deal
which this poor young man developed.
| We have seen him more than once within
| year placed under circumstances which
would have caused many to lie, or show
some other unmanly quality, But he stood
the test and was as trustworthy as dial.
He wrote an elegant hand and was acquir-
ing an easy and correct style of reporting.
His habits were good, his ambition worthy,
and his prospects excellent.
Dying in the Catholic faith, the Hibern-
ian brotherhood have telegraphed to have
him receive christian burial at Savannah,
and there, probably, in Bonaventure, the
most beautiful cemetery IN America, he
will be inferred, as tenderly as if he were
here, while hundreds of friends of the poor
boy who became man in spite of his ad.
verslty will offer up at this distance the
prayer of faith, ReQuiescat IN pace.