The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-10-30
Music in the State Penftentlary.

| Music In the state Fen1tont1afys
Wherever man u.s. there too is Orpheus
with his Tyre awaiting only an invitation to
make the air vibrate with sweet melodies.
Prison walls may shut out the light of
heaven. exclude the cherrups and trills Of
song birds, the tuneful soughs of Eolian
forests, and the rhythmic murmur of rip
pling brooks. but they cannot debar the
spirit of Orpheus-he dwells in the soul,
even the soul of the convicted criminal.
And it is a wise regulation that in nearly
every prison the inmates are provided with
some kind of musical entertainment once a
week at least. Many of the penal institu-
| tons of this country have well trained
choirs. and in some of them may be found
orchestra bands. In our own state prison
at Saltwater they have very good choir
consisting at present OF double male
quartette. This is the only musical Organi-
cation in the prison. The choir has been
established for a number of years, but it is
only within the past two years. or since
Prof. r.. G. Rhoades took an interest in it.
that it has been brought to any degree of
excellence. Prof. Rhoades is popular
teacher Of vocal music in the city of Still
wafer. Since he assumed the duties of
guard in the prison he has given much of
| his own spare time of evenings to training
| the choir But in attempting to keep up a
| first class choir he labOrS under many dis
advantages. Not many Of the prisoners
can read music, and of those who can. not
all have good voices But this trouble could
be overcome in a short time only for the
| fact that about the time he gets man i'm
good training his sentence expires. There
| nnllx E,,n
among the inmates. and at times the choir
reaches high state of excellence. The
chapel is furnished with good organ,
which is presided over by Mrs. Belle Arm
strong, a teacher of music in the city.
Outsiders are occasionally invited in to
entertain the inmates with musical and
dramatic performances, and such visits are
highly appreciated.
There is no place in the world where
music is more appreciated than in prison;
and the writer is of the opinion that music
has strong humanlZing influence Over-6the
rough class of men foand in prisons and be
lieves that every prison OF any. considerable
population should have aegeOd bands CONS
edfOfsprsOnersI5iEha itsMould mot ebe
difficult toafind enough men L with gnilscah
h.ears'' to make up Il band iSaeVidentf by the
number OfoinStIuments that might be found
slowed Away in, the cells Of this, prison. "A
large nunlbergo of the inmates have amusical
Instrument of one kind or another In fact
there is quite a variety Of musicians; as well
as musical INSTRUMENTS in the prison as, one
would readily applehend were he. to drop
into the ce1lroom Of a Sunday evening when
the boys are permitted tune up a little.
The latest accession to the prison Orches-
tra"'i is Dutch hand organ with" which a
St0utaGernlan mellows@t the hard surround
fngs OF his life Bong prison cell. But unless
he soon Meares of grinding out - 'Icha Hab
Se Janur auf1 die tSehultep sGekusst aus
dsetteIsudinds'aBr 'Die .sWachto am Rhein,"
etea, the prisonersiih his immediate neight
h0rhood threaten an early estampede for The
Wisconsin woods. There are hddles naHd
idIles OF all STYLES from the Cigar box ito
the factory made article, ,andnI there are
babjoS,, Guitars? njefsBarps, mouth organs.
flutes, coicertinas and accOrdianS. Even
our 'TmGfam Brother ffds H hrs d0fefuf, f1tte-
like whistle with &hfr4i To- 9bto3itiate the
4vHhspir4ts.l II However? thefefis a good deal
of restra4iltpgt upon the OWNERS of musical
property y. otherwise f!pandenfOHiuIn w0aid
be am oppressive solitude compared to- what
4iie1eellfOem would beat times. sEa *xtsh
.i7ToY d.i;i7G" at-pw es7.+-3he OrphenS.oo
ITs7i.- J. l;Hl1aLhEA