, 1874-01-27
Rop1J to tho Report Of tho State Board Of
Public Charities.

mont Of the 'so1dtors' Orphans Home requires
notice no think, nauely: tho large number Of
Inmates Of both soxcs, but especially girls
above the legal ago at which tito law Directs
their discharge. lYo beliovo that If the law 1s
right, 1t should be moro rigidly enforced than it
now is, and, II wrong, 1t should be a,nonded. It
is not oboyod."
Now, Hlr. Wines has had repeated opportuni-
tics land has improved them, too) Of examining
all books, papers, aud records belonging to tho
institution and ho has certainly nover found
anything in all Of our transactions to warrant
any such statement.
It Is very true that re have twelve girls In tho
Homo over tho ago Of 10. Ton OF those hayo
boon regularly and LOCALLY discharged tho re-
maindcr having attained that age Binco the last
meeting Of tho Board OF Trustees. Those dis
charged haye beon employed US servants, taken
tho places aud performed tho labor Of paid em-
ployos,-
IN ACCORDANCE WITH REVOLUTION
unanimously adopted by tho Board. authorizing
mo to retain auoh children, from among those
discharged as thought would DO of service to
tho Homo, and would DO boue1tod themselves
by remaining. The following ia copy Of tho
resolutions
Kesolred, That the Superintendent be and IL hereby
children discharged thercfro by reason Of expiration
Of time ~ provided for by law, al such aa Bho may
sonadsF for hs of labor about
such Bcrviccs sha!l bo given, other than boar cloth.
ing, and tuition.
This power has in no instance been transcond-
cd or abused by inc; noither have the Trustees
evaded or trausgroaBod tho law In any partiou-
lar by passing Huch resolution.
Tho la1s i'll regard to this matter is very e1-
pliclt and oaay to bo Understood. We have
TIE USDouDTED RIGHT
to employ in this Homo whoever, in our iudc-
not strange, with our present feelings Of OK
trome 8olicitude for tho future welfare Of theBo
Little. girls, that, everything boing equal, wo
should give tho preference oyor strangers to the
and instruction, and wlo certainly, from this
very fact, make our most cUmpotent and reliable
assistants. Then, too, NJ matter Of economy,
of actual saving in dollars mud cents, this
plan ia most assuredly proving succoss, as can
rolls at tho present time with those of year Or
twO yonrs ago.
These girls receivo only tho paltry romunora-
tion Of food and sholter for their seryiccs.-tho
mothers, in almost every case. Furnishing the
clothing. Six Of tic girls spoken Of arc
ATTENDING THB NORMAL UNIVERSITY,
and are making pruiReworthy progross iii their
studies. They will soon be snllicfonty far ad-
yancod to teach, and thus make for themselves
honorable and independent lvingB, and repay to
tho State iu future usefulness what aho has ex-
pended iu their education. WlIoroaB had 40
turned tllem from our doorB tho moment tloy
arrived at certain age, in ignorance, tho lives
Of many would doubtless lave been those OF
poyorty and prostitution.
a[r. Wines gocB on further to apeak of tho in-
stitution-life, aud Of the advantages OF the re-
flung aud holy influences OF the famiy-life, as
a reason why those children should have homes
found for tho1n na soon aB possible. This holy
only extends to, aud takes in. tho children OF
tile families themselves. md not the little
stranger within lhoir gatea.
Aa 10 the idea Of compelling tho Trustees to
appoint an agent, whose business it shall DO to
secure homes for these children, would sug.
COST that, under the present circumstances,
there exists NO necessity for auch an ollico. II
this was q general Orphan Asylum, similar to
tho Now York Juvenile Asylum, mud kindred in
stltutionB, then this would DO tho correct idea.
These Children aro
NOT rAurEAs But SIMPLY PENSIONERS
OF tho G0yornmeut aud this home NaB erected
anu Intended. III tue law expressly states, for
tho care, nurture, and education Of tho children
Of dcceasol aud disabled soldiers. And. whom
tho State refuses longer to accept tho trust,
thoir mothers will take them to thoir Owl,
houses, humble though they DO. This, at least,
has beeu my experience III this matter, gained
by corresponding with them Gas have With q
nuMbor) upon this yory subject.
l hayo asked them the question "Would you
DO willing to hayo your daughter accept tho co,u-
forts anu privileges Of q good homo, provided
aucL q QUO could 10 found?" And without a
single exception Inns the answor been returned
to mo; "No! Whom my child is compelled to
loaye your institution,
SEND HER TO MR."
Tho Office of Agent would be superiluoue oue,
from tAo fact that tloro are but very few chill
aron here at present who are ontlre orphans; and
the Trustees hnvo no Jurisdiction Nhatevor in
this mRtter over any Of thoBe who havo either
father or mother living.
Az I said beforo those children arc not paupora,
but pensioners ut 1oast, such is tho understand
Ing Of those who have placed them l,orc aud
aueh Ii minc. I am tho widow Of Il soldier, and
have children OF my own hero, who havo ayen
been taught that they wero to accept tho blob-
sings and privileges al hay1ng boon provided for
tholn by :. grateful poople az an acknowledge
tho hour Of his country's need.
When our soldiers bado faroNoll to their homes
and loved ones, and went forth in tho strength
Of manhood, with tloir lives in their haut}s,
country and Of freedom, well remember tho
promises ulado by those who could not and thoss
WHO would not 90, TO
PROTECT AND CARR FOR
the mothoIs wives, aud little ones who must b.
loft behind. Those brayo mon wore strength,
cd in times OF danger. md movod to deada OF
yalor upon many field Of battle, by tho remenl.
branco OF tleso promises, which, a!as by some
wore forgotten nj soon as tho danger to them
solvea and their own houses wad Oyorpast aul
gone. Others layo ro,nainod fnitAful to tia.
sacred trust, md to them IL duo tile everlasting
thanks Of tho soldiora' widows, and Tia
soldiers orphans Of our own aud other StateA,
for tho soldiors' Orphans Homes, ,-mon,lments
Of nations gratitude. Cowardly- y-lnlnd-
Cd must that man bo who would
willingly aud knowingly throw ono Obstacle in
the way Of tho accomplishment Of tho good con-
tem,platod by tho oliginators Of such noble antl
pra'soworthy undertaking. can only nay with
another, that Tho man wlo accepts tho Aacri-
iico OF . soldiers lto, and then deserts hia or
phan children, III
HoTH TREAoHERoua AND rALaE."
Il tho detention Of q fow little, llolpleaa girls
In this Institution far longor tlmo rhan Ia
thought boat by aome, IL the only criticism that