The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-01-03
A Pleasant New Year Entertainment
at the Prison.

A Pleasant New ear entertainment
at the Prison.
1t is frequently said. "that there was never {
ANYTHING so good but what we could find some
thing better. and if are to Judge by the ex- t
pressOns of the inmates. relative to the three $
entertainments furnished during our residence
in the SILENT city. there must be some truth in
the saving Our Thanksgiving entertainment
was pronounced the best ever witnessed; when
10! comes the Christmas. which placed the for
mer in the shade. mo Sir' the Oldest inhabt-
ant would eXclam, "Our Christmas entertain
ment surpassed anything ever given in the
chapel" and tonght-why the former efforts to
amuse us are considered commonplace, when
compared to our program of today. Was it the
| happy spirit that enters into the heart of man,
on this, the beginning of a New Year, when the
heart is light and at peace, and filled with the holy
/ thought of redeeming, the coming year, the dere-
lctiOns and errors of the one just clOSed or
was it because, ere the close of 1895, many of us
will be once again with friends, and can enjoy |
these festivities untrammeled by bars and bolts
or was it the really excellent program of the day
that places every inmate in such happy con-
dition. tonight? We care not what the cause
NAV be- it but emphasizes the fact, that these
exhibitions of kindness do more toward the |
elevation of fallen man, than the cynic would |
care to admit. They do more toward convincing
one who has violated the laws of society, that
he is himself to blame for his dOwnfal that
society would see him rise above his condition,
and be a man; and are not, as many would be-
lieve detrimental to him, because, being human
he was weak and fell by the way-side. There is
not a man behind these walls tonight who will
not honestly declare. that the officials are doing
everything possible to brighten the gloom sur
rounding them and make them feel that life is
worth the living if they but put their hearts and
) souls into bending every energy toward max
ing that life better.
2 At 9 a. m. the inmates filed into the chapel, to
the march of Little Footsteps played by
) Mrs. Conklin; a few moments later Warden
f Wolfer escorted to the stage the following ladies
and gentlemen:
Mrs. Wolfer and son Frank, Miss Gerte
: Wofer, Miss leila Z. Schweitzer the Elocuton-
list of Minneapolis Miss Jennie Bixby of st. Paul.
= Miss Matte Bartholomew, Minneapolis, the
g Misses Marshall Bassett. Ehrig. and Merline of
ST. Paul, Mr.. and Mrs. Elmer II. Dearth. st. Paul.
4 Mrs. Il. F. Jones, wife of Engineer Jones. Still
4 water Mrs. Clara Gish. of saltwater. Rev. j. H.
I Albert. chaplain, Rev. C. CresSey and Messrs.
k E. A. OBrien. clerk. DR.. E. Sidney Boleyn, asst.
prison physician. N. A. Nelson of the saltwater
a journal. Sanford Dodge Minneapolis, VIM.
+. DAILY, of the Ida Van Cortland Opera Co., BOs-
W ton. Chas. r. Sibley George A. Miller W. W.
Bardwell of Minneapolis. Frank Emerson Geo.
Howser, and Master Cressey of saltwater.
Warden Wolfer. after extending New Year
D. greetings to all present introduced Miss
sc SchweitZer, the members of the opera company,
a and two members of the Saltwater Mandolin
!" Club saying: That he had been exceedingly
rs fortunate in securing a variety of talent that
he he felt it his duty TO open the program by
re calling on Saltwater to start the ball rolling
ID with "a little music. and thereby encourage oul
he foreign VISITORS" and 1t was responded to 10y
- music that simply stole the boys hearts. by the
in members of the Mandolin Club. Thus inspired
t, not only by the music but the hearty applause
T. that followed it, Miss Schweitzer told the little
ly story of Patsy; and it would have captiyated the
he heart of Patsy himself could he have heart
this sweet voiced and exceedingly clever lady
n tell how he tried to Soft-sOap himself into TIT
OF Kindergarten; but with all his Irish persuasive
o. ness and barney he was compelled to go home
wash his face. and try another day. The speake
ed was heartily applauded. and as one OF the boy
ne said while in the shop an hour later. he laughed
he so, lit kinked his jaw The next number wa
he Instrumental music organ and guitar. by mem
AS bers of the Opera Co., which was heartily re
we ceived Mr.. Dodge, then delivered a recitation
las "A scene from Richard the Third" and it wa
OF the finest rendition we have ever heard Outsid
zee the Irving class Mr. Dodge possesses mag
d. nificent voice. we'll controlled and shows care
me full training: his gestures easy and GRACEFUL hi
up facial expression, second to none we have seen
IAN and he held his entire audience spell-bount
Int He belongs in the front rank of Shakespeare
M readers Mr. DAILY, of the Opera Co., sans
me Her ewes don't shine like diamonds" and W
pc, can safely say, that if the Ida Van COrtlan
ian Opera Co.. contains any more such voices, til
H. people of Saltwater will miss a rare treat
w. they fail to hear them while the city. Mr.. na
ny possesses magnificent baritone vote" an
IDS knows how to use it; and the beauty "t 1t
III thing is, he isn't afraid to let it out. Resnnn'
lho ing to an encore he sang, lit Came Long N"a
lis ago." The MonOlOgue, I'm the Streets OF NJ
ITS. York" by Miss Schweitzer. was alaushable gen
cry and was heartily applauded This was fO0We
Try by instrumental music by the members of I'll
ho Opera Co., and Miss Schweitzer in the followiI
nc songs: Little Alabama Coon,'' 1.-The Cows
All the Clover" and I'm such Manly Kid
len sit among an audience and listen to a pret
song. by sweet singer. is amusing; when I'll
De song is comcal, we laugh; but to sit behind TIN
ioi singer. and look upon an audience that are the
ON to laugh and for no other purpose, and waite
, OF the cOntOrtiOns some of the faces go thrOug
the you begin to realize what good hearty laugh
aer such was our experience when Miss SchweitZ
the sang the Alabama Coon when she. in III
oy' inimitable way swayed her arms back and fort
our and sang IF 20 don't keep quiet I'll swap
ath nigga suah," a look at the faces of some of OF
n II cOlored brethren, and white ones too. won
in khocK laugh OUT Vi q s'oic' E"0h i"o0 WV"
md be held in shape for these words, and 'swap d