Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-26

uznrsz.zssnzznunnznxz zzzsxznxzuzzznzzzsxz.
they were shown through the building
and grounds. The exhibition in military
tactics by about one hundred pupils
elected the warmest approval of Gen.
Patterson and others yersed in the manual.
The party then retired to the large Coll
lege Hall where they partook of q
sumptuous collation., and spent some time
Girard College is the pride and orna
ment of Philadelphia. 1t is pronounced
the best specimen Of Grecisn architecture
in the world-the building being of the
Grecian Corinthisn order-and Is justly
esteemed the grandest monument of be-
nevolence in this country. Each of the
marble columns cost $12, 9H and weigh
1OS tons. The building is ore hundred
and sixty nine feet long, one hundred and
eleven feet wide, and Is three stories high,
the first and second stories being twenty
five feet from floor to floor, and the third
thirty feet in the clear TO the
eye of the dome. The outside walls
and the interior vestibule walls are four-
teen feet in thickness, and the rest of the
interior walls three feet The marble
used in the construction of the building
was procured in Montgomery and Chester
counties, Pennsylvania In accordance
with Mr.. Girard's desire, four out-build-
ings, separated from each other, have
been erected. for the residence of the
scholars and the accommodation of teach
ers. The college occupies command
ing position, overlooking the city; and
may be seen from many miles distant in
almost any direction 1t has been erected
on property purchased by Mr.. Girard
from Mr.. William Parker, and described
IN his will as "Peel Hall, on the Ridge
road, in Penn township. W. The land was
then considerable distance in the
country; it is now in the city. Mr.. Girard
directed, in his will that the benefits of
the institution should be for "poor white
orphan" children, and in the absence of
more specific meaning, the first board
oftrustees decided that the term ''orphann
should be defined ga fatherless child. y
The number of pupils is limited to
$50, the capacity of the pudding,
and there are In attendance at
present within fifty of that number. If
at any time there are more applicants
than vacancies, preference is given by
the will of Mr.. Girard: first, TO orphans
born in Philadelphia; second, to those
born in any other part of Pennsylvania;
third, to those born in the city of New
York; and lastly, to those born in New
Orleans. Boys are admitted from seven
to ten years of age, and are diechargedon
arriving at eighteen. Boys who through
idleness or incompetency fail to make
satisfactory progress in their studies, are
bound out as soon after they arrive at
fourteen years of age as suitable places
can be found for them. Boys admitted
to the college are maintained and educated
out of the proceeds of the fund left by
Mr.. Girard for that purpose. The aver
age cost of maintaining, clothing and
educating each orphan during his college
life of from six to twelve yearf, is esti-.
mated at 81, 500. st5r 1-r 700
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT. -
Cd Near the West front of the College
stands monument erected to the mem
DRY of such of the graduates of that insti
tuition as fell in battle or died from
wounds or in hospital during our late
''unplessantness. The monument con-
sis,s of base of Ohio sandstone support
ing four columns, over which is canopy
or roof, the whole being placed on ped
iment of granite. Upon the architraVes
of the canopy are cut the, arms of the
United States and of the city Of Philadel-
phia, and on the opposite sides scholastic
emblems. Within the canopy stands q
figure in Italian marble, representing a
young soldier standing at rest. The names
of twenty -four soldiers are inscribed on
the tablets on the faces of the base. On
one of these tablets noticed the follow
ing inscription from the will of Mr..
'Girard:
ESPECIALLY l desire that by every
proper means pure attachment to our
republican institutions shall be formed
and fostered inthe minds of the scholars"
PARAMOUNT PARK.
Bidding adieu to Girard College and its
hospitable President, the party were
driven to Paramount Park, anu through a
large portion of this lovely place. 1t
embraces nearly ., 900 acres, lying on
both sides Of the Schuylkiil river, and is
about twelve miles in length. 1t is CON-
posed of estates heretofore known as
Lemon HILL, Sedgely, Solitude, Lans-
down, Belmont, and ChamOuni. Mayor
Fox tells me that the opening of this
park has been the means of introducing
into Philadelphia at least one thousand
carriages of different sizes and styles, in
which individuals and families ride out
to this pleasant retreat. 1t is no unusual
thing to see thousands of people in this
psrk in single day, many
families spending an entire day out there.
The river runs through it at rather q
sluggish rate of speed, and presents more
the appearance Of lake from the ele-
waited grounds than running stream.
The romantic beauty of the scenery is
often heightened by the appearance of
train of cars passing through two or
three railroads cross the park or steam
boat on the placid Schuylkill. The park
being composed of several estates, there
are large number of fine trees upon the
premises. 1t is a remarkable fact that
the fruit on these trees Is never disturbed
by visitors, and the Mayor states that
large quantities of fruit is gathered from
the orchards in the park and distributed
among the charitable institutions in the
city.
'THR MAN AND BROTHER
The park is under the control of COM
missioners appointed by the Legislature
of Pennsylvania, and of course they are
Radicals, as that is the political character
of that body. noticed large number
of persons employed in various parts of
the park in the work of improving and
identifying the ground, but did see
single negro at work on the premises. AS
in the South, so in Pennsylvania: all the
Radicals care for the negro is to get his
vote. That secured he may starve or
live as best he can.
DINNER AT THE BELMONT MANSION.
Belmont Mansion, the former residence
of Judge Peters, has been converted into
an extensive restaurant, where visitors to
the Park can procure meal, or ice cream,
or any delicacy they may cali for. Here
the editorial excursion party and their
Philadelphia friends were ushered into
the dining hall, and seated at ample ia
bles grosning under the substsntials and
deliCacies of the season, prepared in the