Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-04
LOCAL NEWS.

DEDICATION AT GREENE Knights -Yeste<-
day the chapel and " Home recently erected
near Arlington for the contraband colony at
thut place, were dedicated. A large numbcr OF
invited guests We're present. Including II aior
Gen. HemtZleman, Gems. Slough and Aber-
crOmlbie, several members of Congress- their
families and friends. The exercises were of
the most eimple character, but very pleasant
withal, and gave great promise OF success: I lr
the new ms titutiOn. Thirty children from the
coiored school sang several fine pieces In Il
highly creditab.e manner, aud all the negroes
evnced 4 degree Of intelligence. and interest
III The work, exceedingly encOurag ing 70 the
urigiliatOrS OF the colony.
Addresses We're delivered by MIR. Chittenden,
OF the Treasury. Hon. d. W. GooGh. of Mass,
Briggs, of n. Y, Ben. Perley Poore and others;
at the conclusion OF which the guests repaired
to acommodious building, where an abundance
of creature comforts mot excepting the best of
spiritual nature} were provided. Ample
Justice was done the viands, and at nightfall
the party broke up in high spirits, each and
every one we'll pleased with the days enter.
tainment.
There are now quartered In this comfortable
little village over one Thousand negroes, all Of
whom are employed either on the Government
farms or in the several workshops The build.
iAgs are neat, COMMISSIONS, and arranged with
the view OF securing every con venence. The
younger children are kept III school. The
women have their sewing establishment. and
are supplied with 8 number of sewing machines,
and the men are either engaged in the various
shops or employed in the cultivation Of the
fertile meadows skirting the RIVER from Fort
CorcOran to the Long Bridge. Every ona seems
contsnted, aud il a most prosperous condition.
The mortality which prevailed to such an
alarming extent IL the con Crahand camps in the
city. has been e1ectualiy checked by the removal
Of the negroes to these quarters, and now,
instead of deaths occurring at the of IS per
week, az was formerly the case, they have not
exceeded, in the new camp, 10 per month. The
American Tract Society has been actively and
successfully engaged in the work of education
and moral Improvement and has accomplished
more in this new field OF h8nevoence than the
most sanguire anticipated.
Too great credit cannot be awarded the orlgl-
nator OF the institution-Lieut. Col. Greene,
chief quartermaster OF the department or
Washington. He has not only relieved the city
from the incubus OF q hither1p WoI.uless ahd
burdensome population but mas provided for
the race miniature city Of their own, with
every auxiliary that can in any manner tend to
their advancement ana naPpiness. bis design
trades, so that after brief soiOurn in the es.
Enlistment they can be allowed to go in to the
States with some degree Of confidence in their
own resources, and not prove burden to any
community. All OF them have taken hold or
their new work with hearty good win. and
are progressing in most encouraging manner.
net only supported itself, but has deposited to
to its credit in the Treasury several thousand
dollars. The hospitals Of the city during the
past summer were all supplied with vegetables
rom the farms; the women manufacture large
amount Of clothing for soldiers In addition to
their own, and the workshops are turning ont
class OF excellent mechanics, whose services
have already proved Of great value TO tina Cav
eminent.
In addition to all this, comfortable "home''
IL provided for the sick and inhrn. where every
attention can be paid them BY friends Of their
own color The greatest encouragement this
work has received, has been the Interest the
contrabands have all manifested In its opera
TONS and the pride they have eyinced In their
own progress. Morally aad socially their aA-
vancement daring the past year has heea un-
precedented, I'D In tbs new field Just 0peued,.
H. >%,>.~ ~
70 both Dc wnlss and eeaofed p6putatioa Of the
country. 81