New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-13
The NcDOnO8h school.


or rend in TWAIN the starry dag thar Ger then
proudly waves
The N1cDonO9h school.
The first regular commencement of tn
Nc Donoglt Free Farm School took place OF
last Saturday. and was alike creditable t.
the institution and delightful to the large
occasion.
This school was established about eight
cen months ago, and is located on very
beautiful farm upon the line of the West
ern Maryland Railroad, about nine and q
quarter miles from the city. The schoO
belongs to the city of Baltimore, and was
established under the provisions of the will
of John McDOnogh. wealthy resident OF
New Orleans, who died in 1850 and left his
estate almost wholly to the cities of New
Orleans and Baltimore tor charitable and
educational purposes.
John McDOnogh was born in this city,
and it is said that the occasion of his leav.
ing Baltimore was his being dismissed from
a clerkship because he denounced fraud
that his employer had practiced upon a
negro who had been sent to collect bill.
He went to New Orleans, engaged in mer'
camille business, and was eminently sue
cessful. His will provided that the money
left to the city of Baltimore should be used
to establish farm school for "poor boys of
good character. of respectable associations
in life. residents of the city of Baltimore. y
1t was suggested that they should be from
ten to fourteen years of age, and should be
clothed, maintained and educated.
There were numerous litigations and
efforts to break the will, but though emf
nent lawyers were employed to have it de-
clared null and void, it was finally sus-
tanned by the courts and one Of the noblest
oh, .rIf Of hA oitx bon trr,n
tees have not been so anxious to proceed
hastily as to proceed surely. and in getting
the institution to work have been judicious-
ly economical. They purchased the dairy
farm of Mr.. Robert Oliver, which comprises
Ss} acres, of which over 300 acres are wood
land. The land is high. rolling. beautifully
diversified and perfectly healthy, but the
soil had been exhausted, the buildings were
dilapidated, the orchards and gardens
ruined and the whole overgrOwn with
dense thicKet of weeds.
In 1871 the city Of Baltimore obtained
undisputed title to the bequest made by Mr..
McDenogh twenty-one years before, and in
1872 the board of trustees purchased the
Oliver farm. The trustees at this time are
Messrs. William A. Stewart, H. Clay Dali
lam, Samuel B. Tagart, David l.. Bartlett.
German II. Hunt, Charles Ii. Mercer and
Robert T. Baldwin. MIR. Tagart is president
OF the hoard, Mr.. Stewart vice president,
and II. Clay Dallam secretary and agent.
The will directs that they must keep a re.
serve fund of s5o0,too, but they have con-
sidered it more prudent to use the old farm
building and additions rather than to rush
into building operations, and they have
now fund of 100000 They
have SAG, 900 a year to maintain the institu-
ton. but as yet they have not expended at
a greater rate than $9OOO0 year. When
they have got the school, which now con-
tains fifty pupils, into complete working
order and contemplated improvements car
ried out. they expect to have $50 pupils in
the institution.
The trustees seem to have been exceed
ingly fortunate in the selection of man.
ayers of the institution. Colonel William
Allan, NJ. A.. the principal of the school,
was tor four or six years professor of civil
in Washington and Lee Uni
versity. and to his marked ability. his clear
practical sense and his kindness of heart
the success Of the McDonogh School is
largely due. He is worthily assisted by
Messrs. d. c. Lyle, NJ. A., Julius Kruti.
schnitt. {. E., and A. C.. II. Russell, E.a.
The matron is Mrs. Josepha Young, who has
The whole institution in admirable order. The
steward is MIR. w. 4. Hunter. The farmer ia
MIR. James Smith, whose capacity is fully
proven by the tact that for twenty wears he
was the manager of Carroll manor. He isa
vigorous. active gentleman, distinguished
as Colonel Allen lie by strong practical
sense. The gardener is Mr.. Andrew Finiev.
who has had a hard task with worn out
scil and other disadvantages. but is accom-.
Dlish!ng wonders. as also Mr.. Smith. When
The MeDonogh School got possession of this
larry farm there was not on it an acre in
grass, which fact explains how easy i, had
oeen to produce excellent milk at a cos. of
twenty cents quart and sell it in Baiti
more tor ten cents quart. There are now
about one hundred acres in grass, mostly
clover. tor which the soil is better adapted
han tor timothy. There will also be this
ear fifty mine acres in wheat, eight acres in
rye. sixty-tive acres in corn. ten acres in
garden, and about eight acres in potatoes
Last year there were set out seventy-sve
pear trees. about 500 peach and apple trees
and large number of raspberry bushes.
grape vines and goosebcrry bushes. Th;s
year about 1000 peach and other trees hav.
Deen set out. Many ornamental trees.
shrubs and vines have also been Sc. ont. In
ADDITION TO the extension to the old farm
louse. neat cottage has been put up for
slr. smith and his family and comfortable
dwellings, tor the six farm laborers and
heir families. In the main building of the
Institution ar" parlors. dinlngrooms. ma.
ron ana Gfhcers rooms. sleeping room.
or the boys. laboratories. a hospital room.
large school room. recitation rooms
library rooms and chapel Throughout
he whole there is very little attention 10
mere display. but much to utility. c.n:o.+
ND durability. All the room. ar. well
'sntiiaied al! scrupuiously clean. The
iouse having been an old farm horse. ,n.
altogether adapted 10y it. pre.e.., use. but
he managers .t the institution H., III. i.e.,
hty car. Inc boys are subject TO "a soy. @:
military system. The bed. ar. made ~
'etal!s Each boy washes aud dresses him
elk ana blacks his shoes. and then al! ave.
hsp.c'e1 every morning Uy those Of .h.ir
.uinDe: who hold the position Of sergeant.
he main purpose o: the institution, i. ~
~" the boys thorough practical Eng;is,,
"acat!oh' o1t th.i are al! required 10 assist
Il inc iaIh ana garden work and pc, a |
nolougn agriculture! education. When.
arrangements can ie made they vii. aIs,
ave opportunities Tor learning come useful .
l'chsn'ch! and manufacturing occup8-Iop
ne: g"l an aDnii'.aucc ii l..Dd hearty |
!! cstanttal fare In. best pos 81 bl. proc: a., |
ne excellence OF the arrangements for tn. IT,
are Is the tact that no boy in he institution,
as been seriously unwe.l sine. it started !. !
ear and d half ago. There have beer, a lev
asses OF slight !ndisposition from colds. /;
ut nothing serious. The boy. are ali !
col - .'ohiHs. WIN of!Snt eyes. smiling |
aces, buoyant looks and frames tull II |
nergy. The work they have to do is done |
nth Willingness and energy. In addition
the farm work, each boy has a small |
lot OF ground allotted him, and has fhe !
rofit OF all that he chooses to grow on it.
ONE OF them have done very well in this
ray. The necessary farm work ia com,
nlsory, but compulsion is rarely needed.
he attention to educational studies is com. |
uisory, but no compulsion is needed,