The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-20


Mr. Fillmore yesterday visited the public institutions
in company with the Committee Of the Board of Coun
cilmen and several other gentlemen According ap-
poinment they left St. Nicholas Hotel about half past
eight in carriages and drove up to the Free Academy,
where they received by Professor Webster Pesi
dent Of that institution Here they remained but few
minutes and then proceeded to the Demit Dspensary,
which cted over year age from the munifcent
bequest Of the late Mr.. Demt They next visited the
House of Refuge and as they arrived at favorable
hour they had excellent opportunity of observing the
management of this institution. When they en-
tered the spacious yard or play ground they saw
number of boys amusing themselyes-some play
ing ball, and all earnestly engaged in pursuit the
of pleasure. The appearance Of their visiters
suspended their play the time being and they all
turned to their various departments doubt astonish
ed at the of this interruption of their amusement
Mr. Fillmore conducted through the various work
shops in the boys and girls departments The admirable
order and cleanliness observable among the children
ceved, they justly deserved the Communications Of
all the visters In one room we nearly hundred
boys at work in the manufacture Of shoes the oldest Of
whom not than twelve years of age One class
employed in sewing the uppers, while another was
occupied in beating the soles each having different
part OF the work to perform BY this division of labor
much larger is turned out than could possibly be
made by the old routine Cane bottomed chairs are
made in part of the building and there also
tailors shop, where large number Of boys employ
ed. considerable portion Of the inmates sent to
Long Island at stated times where they are set to work
on a farm belonging to the institution.
Tire whole number of children received into the House
Of Refuge since its organization. in 1924 $685. and
during the past year the number 40S which, with
those remaining from the year Previous made the total
population ST. On the first of January last there
;4,.4.o
to be 44o The President is Mr. Robert Kelly and the
Superintendent Mr. John W. Kctcham.
On leaving the House of Refuge, the company pro-
ceeded to the dock the foot of Twenty sixth street.
where they found the steamboat Norwalk Capt Hitch
cock waiting to convey them to the institutions Ran
das Wards and Blackwells islands After brief but
pleasant passage, they landed at Randals Island
where the first sight that greeted their eyes Li
putian regiment of soldiers bearing banner at their
head, which was inscribed The Randals Island Ca
dets" There about hundred boys in this regi
ment, none of whom was over ten years of age They
dressed in uniform of gray with blue caps, and
were attended by band composed of youths of their
age These passed in review before the exPresden in
military style, preserving unbroken rank, and bear
ing in their looks small estimation Of their discipline
and the important part they playing. When they
had al passed. it came to the turn of the company to
march, and they accordingly did march, but In
sad disorder compared with the youthful soldiers.
The first Of the numerous departments which they
visited the nursery, where they found seventy
Eve children under the Of Mrs. Strang. They
all dressed with much neatnees, and their ap-
pearance in every respect credabe to the lady un
der whose charge they placed. In fact in every
pament they visited the in the treatment of
the children observable While here, they the
building which has been set apart for the idiots and
lunatics the most painful and melancholy sight which
could be presented Some of these poor creatures made
the most doeful cries. would stare you with the
most vacant gaze while others would throw their arms
around you, and look up your face with an idotic
SMILE One poor child, who appeared to be destitute of
the least spark of intellect and seemingly below the
brute creation in comprehension, kept writhng and
twisting about chair from which she had not even
the physical power TO move.
We hurried away from this sad scene anxious to for
get what had witnessed in the sight Of more pea
objects; but shall find it hard to Danish the remem
Srance of that idiot girl and her poor companions 1t was
relief when entered the school room and saw our
little soldier friends again, with their bright happy
faces, prepared to welcome their distinguished vsiter
ana such welcome was enough to gladden. the heart Of
any nan-especialy OF who had Just seen what We
have described. The moment Mr.. Fillmore entered the
se sch three hearty cheers greeted him, and
Island with it's music. When quiet was restored Mr.
Duke one Of the Governors of the Aims Hous de-
part nent introduced them in body TO Mr. Fill sore in
a few brief and appropriate remarks to which the ex
President replied as follows
Ny young friends take great pleasure in visiting this
at this time, and confess that although
supposed knew something of the charitable institutions
Of my state, had just conception of this The
fret ntiinaton had of the discipline that prevailed
among and Of the In which YOU are proyded
for and taken care Of flashed upon my mind when saw
you approaching with your music and banners meet
me short time ago. was particularly struck with the
order that prevailed ia your ranks and to you
ing to me, and it il due to you and 70 yo11r
instructors to say in the course of the few years
past, when have been called upon to review
troops, l have reviewed many regiment that did
not display half the military order that YOU did
The music seemed to know precisely its proper place
and every one in the ranks appeared to know theirs
And this is the very first duty boy should learn and
the very last he should forget If he expects to rise to
eminence in this world see among you bows that NAV
eventually fill the most important offices in this country
for they are open to all Of you and there is none go
poor, and not place so high that each boy may not
aspire TO II. sincerely hope that may many bows
now before me filling the most important Offices not only
IN this city but in the country for IL would only re-
the noble State that has made such provisions for your
physical comfort and mental education. / return to
my thanks for the privileges have enjoyed, and the
1ibition.
AT the conclusion of Mr. Fillmores remarks the BOYS
three cheers, after which of their schools
ows, John Hughes, boy about nine years old, arose
md addressed him us follows
sen in he annals Of their country and who
hpncrsd BY y's' psisons
sr'ew with an President Of the United statesa
md OF those other great handed down by
orefsthers With much love and Hone red
mr. heartily bid you welcome to Randa1s Ilana In
his happy place the poor orphan has found and
nome You see before fr practical lustration
he workings of that gle rious prn ple contained in
Declaration OF Independence that all born
Ind equal This great principle Of Christian democracy
la rssed us from destitltion, th all its horrors aud
placed the broad platform of human ty where we
,ave fair chance Of a.taing in future life all that the
humble hopes OF orphan children can aspire to- life. lib
,rty and the pursuit of hsppness and fir fare.
veil May peace ard prosperity attend earth, and
ternal life be reward in Heaven. boys let
three cheers for Nil ard Fillmore President the
United Slater.
And three cheers we're accordingly given oy the boys
after which Mr. Fillmore and the company took their
cave, well pleased with the exhibition they had wit
messed They next introduced TO the girls depart
Dent where the children went through several inter
sitting exercises under the direction Of their teachers
On their from this TO the boat again. they met
BY the young soldiers who gave them three cheers
he Norwak left the wharf. The number Of boys in the
siitutcns Randals Island Is 62T and of girls 29.