The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-06
A SOLDIERS ORPHANS HONE.
Private Charity to the Wards Of the
Republic-A Nov York Merchants
Noble Bene,lcance-Sketch OF the
NOrOtOn Orphans HOme-A
u0lel Institution.

rom the ancient citf Vi stamford, where the best
blood OF Connecticut traces Itself back full brace
pf centuries and oalJ u few hours ride nom New
York. within the ln,.s which Is situated an In.
soressng institution oI patriotic benevolence called
sAe Soldiers Orphans Home 1t was founded At tho
bl0se OF the oy retired merchant OF New York,
named Mr. BenJa.nll Ftcl aud Is now for the first
Vine male knowl " the pubic OF this city. Nor0t0n
, one OF those shy, qlie lltte villages that seems
10 shrink away FROM tue noisy publicity of the rail-
road and courts tho peaceful, playful shadows OF
sAe woods Like ,he village s the instltu-
Non, In which II taxes dignided pride. quiet
happy and unoOlIusige. handful OF houses
scattered among wood aud shrubDery constitute tine
village. The railroad station neat frame cree
HON, painted brown Ornamented at the caves.
Two or three passengers get quietly or or when
NE train stops, the train itself. catching the
spirit OF he place. ives almost noiselessly away.
Ehcre Is a sumberOus atmosphere above thts beau
tful little village wncl MAKES the transition from
NE horrid hustle OF Now York feel like passing from
surrounding realities Inc dream land OF the
Aashish eater. Between NOrOtOn and the Sound
which lies cleaning few miles away, IL
NE village or barren, another dreamy place.
with pleasant groves and shady lanes, and
bright glimpses Of tho blue and sparkling waters
and the flashing or dozen or more OF
yachts. The SOIL s'.e--y undulating near the
bhOre, but farther inland IT pitches upwards In is0
Dated eminences, wnion, for the most part, are
crowned with now aau SNOWY private residences
On one OF the most commanding OF these elevations
above and OVERLOOKING the village Of N0r0tOn
the Orphans Homs Is sitllted. The tower Is the
only feature which can be observed from the rail-
road AZ several 0iustors OF trees interpose
themselves aGd shut out any more CON-
.prehensve view. An 0ld-fashi0ned road, at
Wis time OF the year strewn with withered
n 1Qav lds IN ha Tn tha in.
etituuon which stanis IN o friendly and familiar
way within few yards OF the sidewalk. A low
white railing runs alons ny the edge OF the road and
flight OF stone steps leads up to q n0werless ter
race upon which the main entrance of the Home
opens. The building wnlcn the visitor first enters Ii
. many Widowed flame structure, painted q bright
cream color and LOOKING scrupulously clean. 1t has
front OF about LOO feet and STANDS three stories
high. At one end building Of similar size Ia con-
nected with 1t transversey. Fifty sixty feet away
Bold and Handsomely built brick eddce with a
tower over 100 feet Nigh stands browning
che most elevated point OF ground for many miles
around. In this are contained the library and art
gallery. AL the buildings staEd within an area OF
Eve acres, which Is fenced IN. but not yet trimmed
aud planted with trees as 1t Undoubtedly would did
me means OF the ms .lSuti0n permit. Mr. BENJAMIN
Fitch, the founder retired from business In this city
some years ago and ous himself private residence
At Darien, Conn Dufing the war Tor the Union ne
SOCK deep interest ~ well In the welfare OF the
soldiers and Their families as In the purpose and
progress Oi the struggle. MIR. Fitch combined with
his commanding inAuenee IA ardent patriotism
and benevolent hears He travelled extern
and costly collection Of paintings ne has
brought together at the Home high and
discriminating appreciation OF ait. AT the close OF
fhe war no determined 10 found an as lum for the
soldiers orpnans, and W this eud purchased the
lam nm,aings a"eady mentioned ana built inc
room great Lortlon Oh MS fortune was consumed
In this Undertaking. .or lie dio all himself and solic
lted no ana until II uecanie GEAR and inevitable that
60 endure and 10 perform MISSION the institution
should be endowed w.Ln d permanent fund. AL the
means ut his disposal directed to this end, but
NJ the present lime o.ly $1,000 OF permanent
fund remain, and al economy bordering ON positive
penury has 10 be pracliced W prevent the rapid
disappearance Inese li.niled resources.
The framo building wn.ch the visitor enters first
Is devoted to sleeplns apartments for the BOYS and
girls reception rooms lof paLrons and visitors, sew
ing paror for Gne glrs anl room where the youth
Jul inmates. TO the uius.c Oh small meiodeon sing
sacred and secular songs Va the ques hours OF the
early evening. Miss DAVIS, the matrOn and teacher,
takes wel-earnei pGide In tine institution, as she
has made 1t a model u Ats KIND, and on sucn slender
means that Is really narve, OF domestic manage
Aent In cheerlui, s.enderiy furnished room. TO
b few minutes Tor the appearance OF the matron.
whose fresh and serene lace Is hardly recOnc,l-
@ MISS DAVIS sas been massen dSar
three years, III charge OF from forty.nve
60 nifty boys and girls, and never in all tnat time
resting day from her lauors or receiving any assist
Anee, and all tins Tor the small remuneration OF $500
year. However, II tne rejection be q recOmpense
fnat all the orphan children regard her with 1ial
love and reverence is indeed literally rewarded.
Tho nome now contains iorty-slx orphans. twenty
pino OF whom are Buys ana the remainder girls.
5hey rise at nalipast O'Clock In the morning ana
breakfast as sesea. AIterwaids The boys enjoy
20 to work housekeeping make up twenty three beds
ana sweep out nineteen rooms. Al nine O'Clock
study begins, anu school exercises follow at one,
Ainner interp0sing Itself ct noon. The classes
are out at lour O'Clock. and the Fairgrounds
ere laid freely under contribution by both boys and
uc II Inn na n q 70 v ffar
which all go to the school room for prayers. These
over, MISS DAVIS reads to them upon some national
qubject-"Llle OF Washington" or some such work
hnul eight, and then the small children 60 to bed
end the big ones remain an hour 50 helping Miss
paws IN one way or anotner. The chlldren'G ages
fange from i've to sixteen years. Only one death
has occurred since Tie institution was founded ana
case Of sev.re iiiuess 10 recorded. For breakias.
the5 get bread anu coffee At dinner there IL always
ZONE n,s kind OF meat. ne or pudding makes ts
hnd butter, occasionally supplemented with cheese
Ind stewed peaches, finish tne gastronomic labors
~ the day.
! About once in three weeks the luxury Of pre-
serves rejOices the hearts OF the children. The
days consumption Of meat - fifteen pounds and OF
potatoes hall q bushel. lney bake their own bread,
mend their own clothes and 40 their own washing.
On the sabbath the whole school attends the Presby.
tertan church down tie village OF Norot0n. in
me afternoon they return to Sunday school. In the
evening the older CHI dren 20 to church; the smaller
ones remain at nome, ana some reads to them
IN edlfyng chapter or Two.
Ninetentns OF the seventy nine children which the
institution mas sheltered could neither read write
when they were entered, Gut not one has ever left
who was not able - 4. both. Some OF the scholars
arc studying algebra, tue National Arithmetc, and
analysis or language. few have read Sallust ana
Eepos. One has been recently sent to Mount Hol-
yoke Seminary, MASSACHUSETTS,, where there are
already four who received q preliminary education
nt the Home.
There is nousekeeper and two domestics one in
the Laundry and o.e IN tue kitchen. A servant man
IA employed around the place, to do such heavy
work as the women nor girls capable OF perform
Ing. inc Legislature oil Connecticut passed an act
year ana han ago allowing Tor twenty-five orphans
OF Connecticut soldiers the sum OF one dollar and
half per week for EACH For the balance OF the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. In number--there Il nothing
provided The clothes which the children wear are
a. various as they well can be. This is especially
the case with the boys no Two OF whom have
nlmar rig. The cl0ihea have nearly oil been duna-