The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1872-12-14
rTrUTT or rhr NORMAL rxcuRnor.

Der Of the Legislature from Geneseo.
After passing Bureau Junction, Krell got
out his nice things to eat and drink Al
LaSalle the officials of the c., X. L. q Z.
r. r. and the |. c. R. r. were treated to
wine, etc. G. W. Lobdell, OF Moline, was
chairman Of the party, and j. 7. Ken
worthy. of Andalusia, secretary. Messrs
Haverstick, Mixter and Tillinghast were
made a committee on resolutions and
Messrs. Grenell, MeElherne and Barnard
a committee for general purposes
The party arrived at Normal at 800 p.
NJ, Thursday, where they were met by the |
officials of the institution and shown over
the premises 1t is State institution, to
provide for the support and education of
the orphans of soldiers. The grounds
comprise so acres The main building is
of stone, so by 40 feet, and three stories,
The engine and boiler room, kitchen, laun-
dry, bakery, etc, are in separate building,
shost distance in the rear and connected
with the main building by covered way
The entire building is heated with steam
and lighted with gas manufactured on the
premises. The washing and ironing are
done by machinery. The basement floor is
devoted to dining and clothing rooms. The
first floor has reception rooms, parlor and
office. The second has chapel furnished
with piano and organ, where the religious
and musical exercises are conducted. The
| first and second floors also contain dormi-
tories for the girls, while the upper floor
serves a similar purpose for the boys. On
each floor are washing and bathing rooms
closets. etc.
The school building is a new brick struc-
ture, short distance from the Home pro-
per. 1t contains six rooms, furnished with
desks and school equipments. One Of
these rooms is devoted to library and
reading purposes, where a number OF
papers and periodicals are kept on file.
The boys assist in the various farm opera
tons, having done the whole work Of the
place with the aid of one man, during the
past year. Five horses and some fifteen
cows are kept on the farm, besides hogs
poultry, &c. In short time shoemak
ing shop will be added and the Trustees
also contemplate a printing Office and tele
graph room, 50 as to make the institution
' still more practical in its character.
r The leading effort of the management
however, is to give the children thor
ough education For this purpose foui
experienced female teachers are employed
Miss Pease, of Rock Island, being one o
b the number. The Home is not conducted
| simply as a house of refuge for the or
phans. 1t is a school, where they are be
ing educated, alike in books and in thu
practical pursuits Of life.
There are now in the Home 275 children
: ranging from to Is years of age. o
this number about 50 are from this county
, The total number admitted 10 the institu
t ton since its organization is 642, of whom
5 3G6 have been returned to their friends o
4 provided with homes in private families
!, Five have died since the organization of tn
; home.
/ The institution Is free from debt and ha
e $lT 800 standing to its credit in the Stat
l. treasury, to carry it on until March next
a sum more than sufficient for the pun
=, pose The average cost of running tn
" Home with its present number Of inmates
% is about $1,000 per month. or about 4
I" cents a day for each orphan.
u In the evening, the children, with the
\ teachers and the guests, among whom wer
u a number from the adjoining cities, aSsen
bled in the chapel The children sang
+ few pieces of music accompanied by tn
Is organ, when Maj. Beardsley introduced NJ
Nxter, of Rock Island, who made ii
children short address. He was followe
- by DR. Rogers and Mr. Cassidy, Represel
tatives from Mclean county, Mr. Dunbar
!: Representative from Henry county VI
:. Grenell, Chairman of our Board of 81
. pervisors; Capt Fred Gates, Supervis,
from Port Byron; City Attorney McE
= here, i. VI Haverstick and Gen. McNult
! After more music from the children, SUI
per was announced The balance of Il
!, evening was passed in a social way, till Il
: party retired to rest, plenty of nice room
: and beds being at their disposal in the i
:. stitution.
In the morning after breakfast, t
party visited the children while in the
he school rooms, and were much interested
to the excellent and systematic manner tn
of are conducted.
A The party then paid visit TO the NJ
nd NAL University, at Normal village, aft
w which they we're met by committee fro
ce the authorities of Bloomington, consist
N, of Mayor Funk, and Messrs HarwoC
at Spurgin, Edwards, Sampson, Geyner a
or Kerr Two excursion cars conveyed I
He party TO Bloomington, where they visit
ID the magnificent Mclean county Con
". House, from the dome of which they h
zee a charming view of the country arou
res them. After that they reviewed the F
ed Department; then visited the pub
ng schools, and then repaired to the Ash
oil House, where banquet had been prepar
he for them Three long tables were fiji
his with guests, at which Mayor Funk p
he sided The welcome speech was made
he Mr.. Bloomfield, and responded to by Fl
Of W. W. Warner, member of the Legs
as lature from Henry county, Speeches W
it also made by Gen. McNulta, George NJ
lad ter and Maj. Beardsley.
n An invitation was extended to the pa
his TO attend an entertainment at the OPP
I'M, House, in the evening, but declined, "
got thanks, as they must leave that aftern
lell for home They visited the splen
ace edifce, though, before leaving, and W
the much pleased with the fine buildi
one which, they understand, was erected
,na n