The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-06-16
Soldiers Orphans Schools.


The Legislature at its late session
turned over to the Superintendent of
Common Schools the charge and super
intendence of the Soldiers Orphans
Schools, thus dispensing with separ.
ate superintendent for the latter. After
prolonged controversy Col. MCFAR-
LAND has been extinguished as state
official and subsidies into the manage
ment of a temperance newspaper at
Harrisburg. His performance in break
ing up the Soldiers Orphans School at
Orangeville will enable many of our
people to bear the news of his official
downfall with equanimity and compos-
ure. He is reported to be In every COM
Portable pecuniary circumstances.
The following is circular just issued
by Mr.. WICKERsHAM Superintendent
of Common Schools:
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, ORPHAN SCHooLs,l
HARRISBURG, June /, 1871.
TO the Principals and Managers of ihe
| Soldiers Orphans Schools and Homes:
By an act of the Legislature, approved
May 81, 1871, the undersigned has been
entrusted with the supervision of the
Soldiers Orphans ofthe Commonwealth
with whom, from the present date, all
official business appertaining thereto
must be transacted.
While this delicate trust has not been
| sought, coming, as it Is believed it does,
| with the good will of all concerned, it
is assumed with full sense of its i'm.
portance, and the most sincere desire to
| n mi lot q In n tA
the orphans of our dead heroes the
greatest measure of good possible from
a benefaction, which, In the breadth of
its liberality, has no parallel in the his
tory of this or any other country. In
this noble work, / hope to have the ac-
tive and earnest cooperation of all con-
| cerned in the management of the trust,
and the sympathy of the public.
The immediate attention of those in
terested is asked to the following spec
ial directions:
/. All clothing for the pupils in the
several institutions will hereafter be
furnished by the Principals or Mana
gers of the same, subject, as to its kind,
quality and quantity, to the control of
the Superintendent. Accounts for cloth
ing, when presented for settlement,
must be accompanied by sworn state
| us W tllGiT accuracy.
2. All clothing to be purchased for
the quarter commencing with the date
hereof, will be substantially the same.
in kind, as heretofore. Such changes
as 1t shall be found advisable to make.
VIII be made known in time to carry
them into effect at the beginning of the
quarter commencing September next.
.. All children now in the schools
over sixteen years ofage, and all others
as soon as they reach that age, must be
promptly discharged. No exception
can be made, under the present law. in
favor of those who have been in the
schools less time than two years.
4. The vacation for the present year
viii commence on Friday, July 18th,
and continue until Friday, September
Sth. The annual examination at the
several schools will take place during
the two or three weeks preceding the
8. A meeting of Principals, Managers.
Inspectors and others interested in the
Soldiers Orphan Schools will be called
at an early day at Harrisburg.
q. The Superintendent expects to be
able to visit every institution in the
State in which there are Soldiers Or.
phans under instruction, before the
coming vacation. Having prepared, in
1854, at the request of Governor CURTIN
the original plan for the education and
maintenance of Soldiers Orphans, after
which, in their main features, all subse.
quent plans have been modelled, he feels
not only formal or public, but deep
personal interest in the success of the
system, and will do all in his power to
promote 1t.
| ]. P. WICKERSHAM,
superintendent.