Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-12-15
From the Independence Bulletin.
Thanksgiving at the Soldiers Orphans
Home at Cedar Falls,


Agreeable to an Invitation from Rev.
MI. Eberhart, when here, a number of
our citizens visited Cedar Falls last
thursday. Upon our arrival at the de-
pot We were escorted to the Home.
where We spent the evening yery agree
ably, and were Hospitality entertained.
either at the Home or among friends.
ior the ni..snt. An account of the Home,
is inmates and needs, may not be unin-
teresting to our citizens. ...--.--.--..
Ihe Society have secured the old
American House, probably known to
some IN this town. and i'm the ARRANGE.
mcnt OF It's rooms, il answers the pur-
lose admirably, comprising all the
rooms ana suites of rooms necessary for
the comfort of the inmates. Wepartic-
uiarly noticed pleasant sitting room
fof the girls, with teachers rooms ad-
joining, the school room, which is not
July fitted up, and the dining ROOM
There Is also & pleasant nursery, CON
tanning at presents dozen little prattlers
TOO young for the school room. Their
NICE large reception room is not yet fur
nlshed, ana the supper which was given
that evening IN the spacious dining
room, by the citizens of the town, was
TOR that purpose. The dogmitories. when
furnished, VIII he very cOzy, comforta-
bic rooms, and one Of the greatest needs
OF the Institution ut the present time, IL
by furnishing these, to make the chill
dren comfortable, and give them home
feeling. AS is already known, they re-
.ceived an appropriation from Govern
ment OF one hundred hospital cots, and
the bedding therefor, so that in this re
spect their wants for the present e
met, but saving the beds there is no al
ticic OF furniture in the rooms.
10 Will Ire remembered that the fnsti-
tuition has been i'll operation less than
two months, and it were impossible 10
get, III that time, every department Of
the machinery INTO smooth running Or
der, and it is NOT saying too much 10
assert that tiie managers of the institu-
ton have done marvelously well for the
time engaged.
Or the inmates we will only say that
there are at present between sixty and
seventy, though there are fresh arrivals
every day, some days Bringing a. many
as eight or ten. They are Of ares rang
ing from three to fifteen, and when col
lected in their school room presented
much the same appearance as the same
Number OF children in our common
schools. For, be it remembered that
these children are not like the inmates
of charitable institutions in our large |
cities gathered in from among the low
est III our population, but are the ten |
teriy reared little ones OF respectable |
parents who, but for the fatal wound, |
sickness or imprisonment, would have /
been able To bring up their families in |
com orr If not in ai!luence, ana the tes- |
tlmony o. their care-taNers was unani- |
mons a. 10 their docslity and good con-
iuct. We regretted that we could not |
have seen more of the children at their |
meals and i'll their hoOi, but the short |
time we were there, and the confusion |
necessarily attendant upon the occasion, |
prevented. They are but indiitercntly |
'ioti!ea, many OF them not having nee |
sSsary changes OF rafnent, and nearly /!
Ill being unable, for want of outer gar /
nents, to attend church or Sabbath
'ehool. There Is also great scare ty of
hoes. This, then, is another of their
greatest present needs. ....
The ladies' OF Independence have de-
.ided upon furnishing. two rooms with
he proceeds of their supper, aud also
the inmates, part OF whom are
Boys and part girls, and any contribu-
ions of clothing, even secondhand
'iothing, for the boys particularly, will
be thankfully received. .
me evening was spent very pleasant
y III forming new acquaintances, and
renewing ola ones. ana in iistaning to
the singing of the little ones, Til l,i III
} clock, when we were summoned to
The dining room to partake OF bounti-
Iui repast, spread with taste and an ap-
probation of the wants of the inner
man, which only ladies and experienced
housekeepers know how to- supply
Upon returning to the parlor we were
entertained by speeches from Elders
Fulton and Eberhart, and at rather a
late hour sought our rest to live over
again the evening, ami in our hearts to
bless the good people who had given us
so pleasant remembrance Of the Or
phans' Home.