The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-29
J LOCAL MATTERS.
The Male Orphan AsyIum-Its Pre-
{ sent Condition and Prospects,.

The Male Orphan AsyIum-Its Pre-
sent Condition and Prospects,.
Yesterday our reporter, at the invitation
Of DR.. Parker, President of the Male Or
phan Society, made visit to Haryie, where
Some account of what we heard and saw
there will be interesting to the many
friends OF that institution. ~
The location could scarcely be better,
either for healthfulness or beauty. The
asylum building, which was purchased at
cost of $1,750, has about four acres of good
land attached, gently sloping towards the
south, and admirably adapted for garden
ing purposes, and tits proposed to exercise
the little fellows here in raising fruits and
vegetables for their own use. This is an
advantage the asylum did not enjoy at the
old location on Baker street, and which is
undoubtedly one of some importance.
Considering that the arrangements IN the
the management is deserving of all praise.
The sleeping and dining-rooms especially
attracted our attention by the evidences Of
good management displayed.
In the early part of October, Dr.. Wood
ward and his wife, of Henrico, were re-
spectiyely elected superintendent and ma
! tron of the asylum, 1t being the duty Of the
superintendent to teach the asylum school
| as well asperform other duties appertaining
to his responsible position. He has in
charge at the present time some thirty-fve
or forty boys, and as bright-eyed and as
manly little fellows they are, too, as one
| society increases IL is proposed to increase
the number of the beneticiaries of this
home for the young and helpless.
| Before the war the Orphan Society had
considerable money invested, but it shared
the almost common fate, losing nearly all
| its property by the complications inciden,
| to the late struggle. It receives an annual
appropriation Of $500 from the city. 1t:
main dependence, however, is private sub
scription. Every autumn collection Is
made from subscribers and persons gene
rally to sustain its noble work. AMONG
the donations not long since made was $50t
from the southern Relief Association. The
payment Of SIS per annum makes the sub
scriber a member of the Orphan Society
The yearly expenses of the asylum are
from s., 900 to $4,000.
| OF course, If the means Of the society
| were greater the field would not be wanting
| in which to use them. There are many
orphan boys who ought to be within it:
| walls, who are left amid scenes of beggary
and vice. We hope, as our city prospers
and becomes more populous, to see this
| asylum in such condition as will refiec,
credit upon the religion and philanthropy
Of our people.
The asylum, we believe, has the reputa.
ton Of having been ably managed. Since
its organization in 1916, it has rescued
many helpless little one from want and
| degradation, and out of all that large mum
ber but few have turned out otherwise
! nSf nsft n ~ Z.
poor mother in one Of the adjoining coun
ties recently, on her death-bed, requested
that her little boys should be brought here
and nut in the asylum, so much confidence
had she that they would be well raised. II
! is not usual for boys from the country to be
received, but in this case an exception was
made, and they are now where their dying
mother wished them to be.
The following is list Of the officers ol
the Orphan Society: 1t will be seen that
| they are selected from all denominations,
| the society being one eminently catholic
and humane: DR.. w. W. Parker, Presl
| dent; A. T. Harris, w. X. Watts, Thomas
D. Quarles, William F. Taylor, Vice-Presi.
dents; W. II. Pleasants, Secretary; James
Dunlop, Treasurer; Or. W. H. Gwathmey.
T. J. Evans, John B.'Cary, VIM. Q. Mayo,
Thomas Branch, Charles U. Williams, john
&. Belyin, r. =. Richardson, Robert Stiles,
John O. Steeer. Directors.
Mr.. Royal W. Figg is the collector for the
society, and is now making the annual Cal
| for subscriptions. It is cause which com
mends itself to all, and should not be classeC
with the mere enterprises of the day. A.
has been stated, an additional expense o
s., 200 has been incurred in removing the
asylum to Haryie. We hope that at leas
$4,000 will be raised.