St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-11
TWO WEE SMALL MICE
Attorney Heard Tells Why
the Reform School Was
Founded.
William Pitt Murray Is Pleas
uPably Sepenaded at
Home.
He Regales the Boys With
Good Advice and lee
Cream.
Latest Gossip Anent a New
Opera House for the
City.

William Pitt Murray's residence. on
Nina avenue, was visited last evening
by the band of the state reform school.
Mr.. Murray used to be member OF the
board of the reform school, and is re-
garded by the boys as their father.
About s p. m. large van rolled up to
the residence. containing the band,
fifteen strong, under the command OF
Assistant Superintendent Hewitt and
Mr.. Russell, the leader. Mrs. Enyart,
superintendent of the girls department,
was also in the party. DismountiDg
from the van, the boys, in their neat
grey uniforms and brass buttons, set up
their music stands in the garden oppo-
site Mr.. Murray'S house. They then
spent about half an hour playing. The
music was surprising in its excel
lenee, especially when it is re-
membered that nine months ago not
a boy in the school knew note of mu-
sic. After several tunes had been
played Mr.. Murray introduced l. V. ID.
Heard, as the founder of the reform
school.
Mr.. Heard stepped to the front of the
veranda and addressed the boys
briefly. He said: "Mr. Murray has in
troduced me as the founder of the re-
form school. While L had something to
do with it, can scarcely be called the
founder, Many years ago, when L was
city attorney, used to see numbers of
little boys placed in the city lookup
for mere trifes, little boyish scrapes
that all boys get into, at least they tell
me they do, l never did, however. One
morning l remember going into the
lookup to see who was there before
going into court. In one of the cells
were two boys, seven or eight years old,
who were crying bitterly. l asked
them what was the matter, and
found they were frightened at
two rats which had come into
the cell during the night. Now rats are
not nice companions. When l was a
boy we used to read about regiments OF
rats besieging the castles on the Rhine
in such sWaTmS that no one could live
in them. Rats are worse than mice, and
mice strike terror into the hearts OF
many women. These two little boys
were really scared at the rats. l queS-
toned them pretty closely and the
thought struck me that some better
place could be provided for them than
the CITY lookup, which was a miserable
place then. Mr.. Murray was then in
the legislature and he, Mr.. MarkOe and
myself managed to get the approprla-
tiOnS from the county and state which
built the state reform school. Now. L do
not wont to preach to you boys, but L
hope that you will appreciate the fact
that in this music which you have
learned, aud which is highly credit
able TO you, will prove means OF
earning a good future livelihood
when you leave the school. You are
learning many things bseideS, but seem
to be getting on well IN the musical
line. From what l said to you before
you will readily see, as you appear to be
a bright. intelligent crowd of boys, that
| was not the founder of the reform
school, but the founder was raj"
Laughter and applause.
The band then played another musical
selection, after which Mr.. Murray said:
''Mr. Hewitt and boys, Mrs. Murray
wants to see you in the house. Though
we cannot feed you as well as you are
fed at the reform school, she has some
thing inside which she would like you
to partake off, The order to form in
line was given, and the procession filed
into the house, where all were re-
called with fruit, cakes, ice cream, coffee
and other seasOnable delicacieS. The
boys stood around the dining room, and
were waited upon by Mrs. Murray. her
daughter and daHghter-in-law. Their
bright faces expressed the keeneSt en-
joyment of the affair, and they appreci-
ated highly the good things set before
them. After their appetites had been
satisfied they repaired to the drawing
rom, where number of other Selec-
tiOns were played. A minute, black
drummer boy sang two songs which
were heartily applauded, and the cara
van left for the school, after hearty
Misunderstanding all around. Before they
left, however, W. p. Murray made afew
remarks. They were brief but very
much to the point, and were in SUBJ
stance as follows; Before l say good
night to you, boys, | want to tell you that
| am and will always try to be your
| friend When any of you need friend
or any assistance that | can give, |
want YOU to come straight to me. The
fact of your having been at the reform
! school will be sufficient introduction,
and | will help you as far as it lies in
my power"
The band which serenaded Mr.. MuI-
ray. consists of fifteen boys, ranging in
age from about twelve to about seven
teen. Nine months ago their leader,
| Mr.. Russell, started TO teach them
music. and the results show that he has
been highly successful. The boys play
remarkably well, and few people would
think they had only been learning for