The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-09-24
DELEGATES MEET
AT THE PRISON
By II. S. Med.

The Upper Mississippi River Valley I'm
provement Convention met in regular ses-
sion in our auditorium last Thursday after
noon. The delegation, which numbered
about two hundred and fifty ladies and gen.
tlemen, arrived at the institution at IL a. M
and as they passed from the cell hall out in
to our large and useful prison yard they
were met by the M. S. F. Band which rem
dered several excellent selections and march
es. The delegation was then taken through
the various places of industry and they were
greatly interested, not only in the mechan-
ical parts bat in the dilligent manner in
which each individual inmate performed his
duties. After passing through the shops,
the green house and hospital park were Wis
tied and many were the comments made on
the beauty of these two picturesque places
within the confines of the prison walls.
In the meantime the band boys had laid
aside the band instruments and taken up
the orchestra equipment and when the dele
filed into our spacoue dining hall for their
midday feast, they were greeted by the
strains of lively march. The orchestra
played during the meal service and several
high class selections were rendered. Hand
books of the institution and copy of the
Mirror were handed each delegate by the
Editor of the Mirror during the feast. After
the inner man had been satisfied, Warden
Wolfer appeared on the orchestra balcony
and addressed few words to the convention
after which he invited them to the auditori-
um while the dining hall was being made
ready for the inmates dinner.
AS soon as all was in readiness the orches-
ira struck up march and the inmates filed
in, to enjoy their late dinner, and the con-
vention was afforded the opportunity of
seeing eleven hundred men served in sin
gle dining hall.
The orchestra was then taken to the aud
itorium where they played while the dele
gates were being seated, and then the War
den informed Prof. Schmidt that the band
was no longer needed, and that their long
delayed dinner would be served to them in
the kitchen dining room. All were very
glad of the respite offered them, as they had
been playing the better part of two long
hours, and they were not long in seating
themselves around the dining table and do
ing full justice to the things laid thereon.
After they had eaten to their fill they were
seated in the dining room and proceeded to
enjoy short session of much needed and
greatly appreciated rest. They were then
told to get their band instruments and were
taken to the main entrance corridor in front
of the turnkey S Office where they were kept
busy making harmony for over an hour and
half. The music furnished was loudly
applauded by the convention delegates and
visitors alike, and many were the comments
made about the excellent music that was full
uished by the boys.
The convention remained in session un
til five pm, and then took their departure
expressing many words of thanks to the
management of the institution and to the
boys who had entertained them with such
excellent music.
1t is needless to add that the meeting of
this convention at our prison will be greatly
beneficial to ali the inmates here confined,
as we'll as to inmates of penal institutions
of surrounding states, for the delegates of
this convention were prominent men who
came from the states surrounding Minnesota
that compose the Upper Mississippi River
Valley, as we'll as Minnesota, and the i'm
preston made upon them by the view they
have had of our prison is bound to cause
wholesome thought, and wholesome thought
is bound to create an impression which will
be beneficial to the man in confinement