St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-26
Murray's Magnificent Dona-
ton Of a Building Assigned
for Bathing Purposes.
Ireland's Request Of Two
Hundred Acres for a Zoo
logical Garden.
Ramsey's Lofty Auditorium
and Lowry's Stately Pub
lie Library,
To Say Nothing of the I'm
ppeeedented Munificence
ofPeter Berkey Eft Al.

At the last banquet of st. Paul
Typothete, after doing justice to the
magnificent spread furnished by Mine
Host Monfort at the Windsor. we ad-
JOurned to the punch ROOM" where a
large, steaming bowl greeted our eyes.
a master of ceremonies was duly
elected. who promptly ordered the
punch passed around. Having temper
ance proclivitieS, l refused to partake;
but the gentleman presiding remarked:
I'VE will accept no excuse. Who
ever heard of a print refusing a'bowl.'
Come. now, just one with the presl-
dent"
l took one.
The president, being called upon for
q speech, began his address as follows:
"Gentlemen, upon such an occasion
rs this, words But, gentlemen, be-
fore proceeding any farther, have a
drink with the president"
took another. The president then
continued:
LAS l was saying before. words cam
not express Gentlemen, take a drink
with the president"
| took still another. About this time
q peculiar sensation came stealing e
me. 1t seemed that there were more
people present than formerly although
1 had not observed any II enter and
that there were two presidents making
speeches, requesting everybody ito
drink with the president" l finally
escaped and arrived at home. 1 related
10 my wife what l had seen and heard,
and attempted to give her a verbatim
report of the p%resident'si speech. On
closing my wife sweetly observed that
it was a very fine speech, but thought
it wholly unnecessary to repeat it
several times, as she claimed l did.
After muttering, 'have a drink with
the president" l passed into the arms
of Morpheus, and this is what | dremed:
1t seemed that Ihad been absent from
st. Paul several years, and had just
returned. On my way from the depot l
met Jones, an old friend, who said he
would show me some of the improve
ments that had progressed during my
absence. Approaching a magnificent
new edifice, | remarked:
why, isn't this where Mr.. Murray in
tended to erect his arcade?!'
Yes, but Mr.. Murray is now n of
the most pub~lic-spirited citizens of st.
Paul. He concluded that, as the city
had honored him with the "attorneyShip
for so many years, he would do
thing in return. Instead of erecting the
proposed arcade he has built this hand
some building for a free public bath
house. He donated the grounds and
building to the city. with sufficient cap
ital to carry it on. But come inside, aid
you will be-better able to appreciate the
advantages of this institution to the poor
people of the CITY,"
Reaching the interior, l was struck
with amaZement. There was what
seemed a large hall, with tables in the
center provided with the daily papers,
magazines, etc. The chairs surround
Ing the tables were nearly all occupied
by readers. On each side were nuIner-
Gus doors which led to the bath rooms.
Number 100," exclaimed the attend
ant.
"\Vhat does he mean?" / remarked.
"Well, you see, if the visitor intends
to take a bath, he takes a number off of
that spindle; and when his number is
called, he walks into a bathroom, which
is provided with hot and cold water,
towels, soap, and all tine paraphernalia
usually 1OQllO IL OdllIlOOliIS.
What a humanitarian Mr.. Murray
must be" l said. why, it seems to
me the health and morals of the poorer
classes must be considerably improved;
and l venture to say that many are the
; Blessings the Donor
receives for his noble conduct. If Mr..
Murray should accept a nomination for
office, what a rOuslng majority he would
receiver"
On reaching the street, my friend sug-
gested that we visit the art museum
and auditorium. Feeling in a happy
mood. l consented. Arriving there, [
was aStOnished to find that where only
a few years ago stood rickety frame
buildings west of the Ryan hotel, now
majestically arose before me like agiant
a towering, magnificent structure! The
auditorium of Chicago paled into insig-
n%iticance by the side of this triumph of
genius and architecture.
And who is the Aladdin that trans
ported this palace from Genii Iand?" l
inquired.
Alexander Ramsey, one of our most
generous donors"
Mr.. Jones observed that, as it was a
pleasant day, We might ride out to the
geological gardens. Reaching Fifth
street, We boarded a Grand avenue cleo
trio car. In a short time we reached
GrOveland Park station, where we
alighted. Going south about two
blocks, we came in front of a spacious
park.
what park is thIs?" L asked my
friend.
This is the geological garden. Bis
hop Ireland, you know, was the former
owner of nearly all this property. and,
i'll one OF his generous moods, bestowed
200 acres OH the city for a park and 20
illogical garden. The buildings were
donated by Mr.. Cochran, the animals
by Mr.. Newport and that elegant statue
of Gambrinus by Mr.. Llenau. Every
thing yOu see-the artificial lake. hot
houses, children'S swings, trees, shrub
berry, etc.-is a gift by public-spirited
citizens of st. Paul.
IF you don't object, we will now 90
Como park. We can take a car here
that goes there by way of Merriam
Fark, Hamllne and st. Anthony park"
ARRIVING at Como park, l was aston.
ished at the transformation that had
taken place. Surrounding the park
was a large boulevard. On the inside
OF the park were trees, s~hrubbery.
lawns. statues, flowers and artificial
lakes, Astounding with goldfish, swans.
ducks and boating parties. 1t was a
warm July afternoon, and it seemed
like a holiday. Families were feasting:
children romping; lovers were prone
nading; nurses, with ~infantile vehicles.
were slowly vending their way over the
walks.
II presume the chamber of commerce
passed several condemnatory resolu-
lions when such an expenditure as this
was proposed on the part of the city," /
exclaimed.
Indeed you wrong the chamber. Ii
was instrumental in bringing this re-
suit about. The city was empowered
by the legislature to issue bonds to the
amount Of $780, GOO to improve Como
park. At a meeting of the chamber of
commerce to consider this matter. the
members concluded that the appropria,
ton of such a large amount by the CITY
would be q burden to the taxpayers.
and proposed to try some other means
MI. Berkey said there were many
wealthy men here who owed their az
fuence to st. Paul, and he deemed il
their Hpty tn rpoinrOnato na Fo,-.-