"MUSIC HATH POWER."

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13748, 10 September 1908, Page 8

"MUSIC HATH POWER."

MARVELLOUS EFFECT ON FEEBLEMINDED BOYS.

At the Witham Home the Metropolitan Asylums Board has placed for treatment all the boys classed as feebleminded, between the ages of 12 and 21, the object being to train as many of them as possible to become self-sup-porting. For this purpose various trades are taught, but the progress made was very slow, and the signs of success few until it was decided to start a brass band among the patients. The result has been really extraordinary, for not only has the band advanced rapidly in musical proficiency, but the members of it, once their interest was awakened in the playing, have made ever-increasing strides towards\complete sanity. To a newspaper representative, the superintendent of the home, Mr T. C. Gibbs, stated: "The music has had a charm effect' upon the patients, who have advanced under its influence by leaps and bounds. I have great faith in the future treatment of the class of boys we receave here." As a result of the success which has been attained, the committee which j controls the Witham Home has decided to provide the band boys with special uniform, and a suggestion is being considered to employ a whole-time regimental bandmaster on the staff of the school in place of the leader of the local town band at Witham, who has imparted the musical instruction so far given, at practices held twice a week.