Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-07
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.

STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
1Ec1s1ATIYE VISIT yesterday.
The Party Well Pleased with the Appear
,nce of Things There---Brief Account of
tho Manufactures and Other Industries
sneeches of Gov. Pillsbury, Speaker Gill
man, Messrs. Purdic, Murray and Others.
In accordance with the invitation by the
board of managers, a few days ago, most of
the members of the House, few Senators
and quite number of outsiders, proceeded
yesterday afternoon to the State Reform
School, Carriages had been provided at the
Metropolitan and Merchants Hotels, and also
at Bridge Square, in which the party were
conveyed to the school, and during the visit,
nothing was left undone on the part of the
managers to add to the enjoyment of the
guests, and to insure full and thorough un-
derstanding of the institution, its conduct,
and all other matters OF interest connected
therewith.
Upon arriving, the party were met by the
Board of anagers-Messrs Ingersoll, Muir
ray and Pettit-and shown through the sew
eral buildings, the school rooms, dormitories,
workshops, etc
The trades taught in the institution at the
present time are tailoring, manufacturing of
tinware, working in wood and farming. In
the tailor shop, which is presided over by a
lady, all the mending and manufacturing of
clothing is attended to. In the tinshop all
the various branches of the trade are taught
under the supervision of competent fore
man, and many of the workmen were already
apparently we'll skilled in the business
The toy shop, which has only recently
been started, contains turning lathes, circu-
lar and scroll saws, boxing machines, ETC.,
all run by steam. Some fifteen boys were
employed in this department in the prepare
ton of the several parts of the articles man
ufactured, such toys as childrens' wagons,
wheelbarrows, sleds, toys bureaus, etc. AT
the time the young workmen were en-
gagged in manufacturing the several parts Of
children's wagons, and had attained a con-
siderable degree of skill in this line
The school rooms and dormitories were
clearly and we'll kept, and in fact, an air of
neatness pervaded the entire establishment,
which spoke we'll for the management.
The boys are double-graded according to
age and capacity going to school in
the forenoon and working at their usual avo-
cations in the afternoon and 0ice oersa.
Each boy is required to attend school four
hours during the day, and is employed in
manual labor the rest of the day. With this
arrangement nothing is allowed to interfere
and of course under the operation of such a
rule, the double benefits of educating the
mind and the muscle are impartially Sc
cured.
After the party had visited both the build
ings from cellar to garnet, the party assem-
bled in the school room of the main building
when the boys, to the number of 1O8
Mr.. Ingersoll called upon member of the
Legislature to address them.
Mr.. Purdie, being called upon, said it was
something new to him to visit such an insti-
tuition which had been associated in his
mind with something dark and repulsive
This institution fostered by the State, was
intended to give education to boys whose
parents have neglected their duty to them
The chances of the boys were just as good as
those of any other boys in the State whose
parents have taken the best care of them.
He was glad to see that the boys were learn
nh oI, ho ,f +o
them when they became men. Industry is the
handspring of life. The only true and last
ing fortune is that achieved by it and
built upon it. It is fact, as Horace Gree
ley said, "no one is entitled to a dollar unless
it is fairly and squarely earned" One part
of education is to learn to work. He hoped
in after life they would become such men as
would do credit and honor to the State, and
justice to the training they received in this
institution.
Mr.. Bowler was called for, but declined
saying no more than that he was we'll pleased
with what he had seen.
Mr.. Ladd said that he was greatly pleased
with the appearance of these boys, and with
the general appearance and conduct of the
school. It was certainly of great interest to
the State to foster such an Institution.
Mr.. McCrea said his sympathies were
with the institution, believing, as he did
that it was one of the best institutions in the
State. He was also pleased with what he
saw.
Gov. Pillsbury was called for, and said he
rather felt as if he was captured. He had
come with Speaker Gilman, and had calcu-
lated upon arriving here after his part of
the programme had been gone through II
was always pleasure for him to visit
~lr L.. Y \
ally this school. He had observed the man
agement of this school, which had been es-
tablished ten years, and he was glad to say ii
was one of the best managed in the State
Many of the boys who have gone out from
these walls, are in places of trust. In this
respect they have been very successful. This
institution ought to be placed on the same
basis with respect to State aid as the others
now are. This has been recommended by
the directors. He would say to these boys
that they now had a fine opportunity to inn
prove themselves. It depended upon them
selves whether they would be good men in
after life.
Speaker Gilman told the boys they had
good opportunities to improve themselves
which he hoped they would use to the best
advantage. He hoped they would make
good men, as there was no position i'll life to
which they could not properly aspire.
Mr.. Kinds did not know there was any
occasion for talking, as he saw around him
the crowd he was in the habit of loving
every day. By diligence in study and in the
workshops, and by this only the boys would
succeed when they had gone out of the insti-
tuition.
Mr.. Edison was called upon, and made
quite lengthy speech to the boys. He