The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-17

&c attend the pic mic to be given by the citizen
Ie Of Davenport to the soldiers orphans at tn
I, Home back Of that city, and see how We
:, the little ones Of chat institution are Apr,
u ciated, A short drive brought u5 to tn
Home. This is admirably located beyon,
q the dust and coutagiou Of the city, com
70 nandiug noble view Of some Of the fines
farms IN existence, scattered for miles aroun,
il swept by pure country breezes bearing
health and vigor on their pinions; and al
together u worthy retreat for the orphans o.
Iova's fallen braves On entering the gates
the visitor can drive in any direction about
the grounds, on as good roads as Contra
Park New York; can boast Of all con
s,ructcd by tie bays Of the institution, in
their leisure hours, none Of whom are We,
sixteen. The old proyerb that Satan soon
finds employment for idle hands, is kept
well IN remembrance by the excellent Su.
perlntendeut, Mr.. Pierce, and while the
children are in no manner subjected to irk.
some tolls, their time is so divided between
sports, studies, and labors, that no opportu.
tunIty is given for the indulgence Of evil in.
c.iuatIons, Within the inclosure we found
perhaps a hundred bugges and carriages
people from the city in large numbers, and
also visitors from distance. The Citizens
Brass Band, stationed in the middle Of the
square was playing lively airs, while the
four hundred children we're busy at Gro.
quet, base ball, the swings, gymuastic e1.
ercises, and other healthful amusements.-
We don't think finer Assemblago Of chill.
dren Of equal numbers can be easily found
anywhere. Rosy, robust, vigorous, healthy,
and unusually 'ceH 6ehared, they presented
fine endorsement Of the judcous disci.
pline enforced In point of attire, their ap.
pearance was neat and commendabe.-
There was no evidence that they we're got.
ten up for the occasion. No neO clothing
betrayed an anxiety on the part Of the man.
ayers to win an unmerited appreciation from
the public. They looked just as they look
every day clean and presentable In an.
swer to our inquiries, they expressed them.
selves without exception as satisfied with
their condition, and testified to an abund
ance Of food, aud invariably good treat.
mont all Of which rebounds 10 the credit of
the Superintendent and his assistants.
The visitors inspected quarters without
mercy, pricd into every corner and apart
ment as they had right to do, but found
everything in frst-class order. We heard
Of no instance Of serious sickness. As
general thing, a little glance behind the
scenes develops some Skeleton in the clos.
ct' in almost any public institution, and the
visitors as Sru.o applied for information on
all subjects Of fare aud treatment, to the
children themselves, but the answers were
always satisfactory. At FIVE o'clock q tap
OF the bell summoned the orphans from
their sports to the great dining hall, where
a sumptuous feast was spread out by the lib.
erahty of the good people Of Davenport.
For the four hundred children we ascer.
tanned that there were 300 quarts Of straw.
berries, - pounds Of cake, and 80 gallons
of ice cream-all donated, and surely suai.
cient for the purpose.
The discipline exhibited was wonderful.
At the tap Of the bell all sports through
out the enclosure were abandoned. At the
second tap, the girls formed in one BODY. |
and the boys in another, and marched in per. |
feet order and with faultess decorum into |
the dining hall, o mammoth structure
Here the tables were set, each formed for
ten children. The girls fled to the left, and
the boys to the right, the band playing a
march meantime. Each child knew his or
her place: not word was spoken; we did
not notice single mistake made no school
room in Davenport or Rock Island can
boast Of equal order, even with half the
number Of pupils. At signal from the
uper.ntendent the chars we're squared
around, and at another signal, the feast be.
gan. Sparkling eyes aud energetic move
ments gave evidence Of the manner in
which the bouneous repas. was appreciated.
We should mention, however, that prayer
was first held and that the children sang
song Of welcome, their blended voices form.
ing magnificent chorus. After the feast
they were addressed by Mayor Ronwick,
and sang "Sleeping for the F'"s.'
One faa,oro Of the affair we must strongly
censure. Although not aware that Iowa
sent any colored soldiers to the field, we
noticed number of colored children there, !
Who were scattered about the tables with
he others, instead of being seated by them.
elves as would without any Inconvenience {
'e done. This custom we learned is a regular =
me- Such an attempt to degradethe helpless q
children Of dead soldiers, deserves the sew
rest rebuke from ALL What republican of
Rock Island would think tora momen, of
eating negro children at the same table
Win his own, on perfect equality? Not
me. The managers of the Home are per.
'ap8 not responsible for this burning dis.
race, as they hold their positions by virtue =
Il the pleasure of the radical politicians of
owa' and are noe doubt compelled to practise !
pon the children Of dead heroes the mon.
trous experiment of negro social equality, {
dosm" now no longer publicly advocated.
herever the blame lies, its authors should
Lush with shame for imposing upon in.
.ocent children an outrage which thew