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Show Convict Choir- It appears that Dimic hth charms to soothe the burglar's breast as wall as that of tho savage. A correspondent correspond-ent of the Denver Seres recently spent a Sabbath iu the Auburn (N. Y.) prison, and was highly entertained by the convict choir. We extract from his 'descriptive letter of tho Sunday's Sun-day's entertainment: t ; I could not help noticing bow dis-sonant dis-sonant the singing of those familiar hymns was, kuowiug that the keepers hud loaded revolvers in their pockets, and yet I believe that the chants were as melodious in reality as those of any averoge choir, the difference being only in the stern, repulsive surroundings, that told all these 1,250 poor wretohes that they were tho slaves of their own crimes and of the law of the laud. There was one very clear soprano voice, and the effect was good as tbe choir burst lorth in the hymn : Jesus lover of my sou, Let me to thy bosom Qy, Whilo tho nearer watart roll, While tho tempest etill is high! Hide mo, O, my Savior, hidn, Till tho gtorai of life- h put; Siifo into Thy hnvoa Ruido O, receive my soul at last. I suppose this choir is an unequal-ed unequal-ed one m Ibis or any other country, from its composition, and having some curiosity to know the nature of the offenses committed by its members, mem-bers, and which were the cause of their sentences, I made it my Itusi-ness Itusi-ness to ascertain the nature of their crimes, and I give them as they were given to me, as follows: THB COKTICT CHOIE. Do Mirskf, or.oi9t Grand Inrceny McKood, first violin.. Murdered his wife Crozior, iirst tooor...llurdorod his wifa Burdick, double bass viol.. Killed a negro H in man, second tenor... Burglary & rape flail, basso Burglary DarliDg, basso Forgery White, soprani .....Forgery Bishop, soprano Burglary Tho profissor, alto Forgery and also protunces "These men have all good voices and they sing hymns of praise every Sabbath, including the Bliss and San-key San-key collection, which has been introduced intro-duced by the chaplain, Dr. Leroy," remarked the leader, Professor Blank, whose name I do not give by his own request, as he will be released shortly when his time expires. The leader's offence, who is a very good musician, was that offorgery and false pretences, and his method was, I btlievo, to gel pianos and give bogus checks fur them, and tlien to sell them tu his customers and pocket the proceeds. He is a very intelligent intelli-gent man, and iu talking with ,lum l fouud him to havo a very fair I knowledge of music. He t.iid : "I i ; have rehearsals every Thursday and Saturday in tbe chapel, and am allowed al-lowed to draw on the chaplain for a fresh voice occasionally, and sometimes some-times there is a man who comes up from the state prison at Sing Sing who perfornn on some instrument, and of course tho chaplain, who loves ! music, is anxious to secure biui for the choir. I have heard that there is a man coming here from Sing Sing, doing time now for arson, who can play the flute, and I will get him in a day or two if I cau. All I want is that flute, and then I think my choir is quite complete, or as complete as possible. I have now a double quartette in my choir, and seventeen or twenty singers and performers. - I studied music with Park hurst and also took private lessons and playe I the violin myself. We sing from the Choral Tribute, by Emmerson, and the Victory collection, by Bradbury." |