The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-04-26
Letter from the State Capital.
COLUMBUS, April 81, 1877.
AMONG THE ORPHANS.


The seventh annual Report Cf the
Board of Trustees of the Ohio Sol
diers and Sailors Orphans Home is
before US. AS the most of your read
ers know, this institution is located at
Xenia, and was founded by the State
for the care of the children indicated
in the name. Its location is OIL a farm
of two hundred and seventy-five acres
of good land. The children arc cared
for by being divided into families of
about thirty each, in separate houses
or cottages as they are called, presided
oyer by a matron who is responsible
for their care and largely for their per-
sonal habits. These matrOns are most
married ladies, OF have been, the ex-
ceptions being adcdnced maidens.-
The orphans are dismissed at the age
of sixteen, which is often done agai .st
their own protest, as the institution is
to them home and an only one.-
More than eleven hundred children
have been fed and sheltered here since
the founding of the institution, seven
years ago. Of this number about six
hundred remain, which number are all
provided for in the buildings. There
is required for the care of this number
ninety persons, including officers,
teachers, matrons, and employees. The
cost to feed and clothe these six hun
dred children. with the boarding OF
the ninety officers and attendants, per
capita, was for the year ending Nov.1,
1875, $l32 So. This per capita was re-
duced for the year following to $l01 %
Much of this reduction was due, with
out doubt, to the reduced price of sup,
plies. The children all attend school
one part Of the day at least, there are
employed eleven teachers, includ-
ing the Principal, besides the music
teacher and the instructor in tele-
graphy.
A laudable effort is being made by
those i'll charge to introduce various
trades that the inmates may be pre-
pared for the practical duties OF life.
The General Assembly has not been
commercially prompt in furnishing
the means of either in books
or in the necessary industries. Shoe
making is carried on 10 the extent of
all the repairing and much of the ne W
work needed by the inmates. The art
of the timer is taught and is being
made source of profit or income to
the institution. A small printing Of
flee has been maintained for some
time but with no substantial returns
beyond teaching theart to some of the
children, both boys and girls, until OF
late, patronage from the adjoining
country begins to made the Office yield
small i1come. 1t is claimed that
quite number Of practical printers
of both sexes, have graduated here
Telegraphy, an other branch of indus
try, requiring more and more of hand
and brain each year, is taught here.
Ninety-six of these wards of the State
were discharged during the year COW
cred by the last report. having come
to the aye of sixteen, or were provided
for by friends. The amount asked for
by the Trustees for the current ex-
penses and repairs for the passing
year is over one hundred thousand
dollars Of the peoples money. True
vno otpsS0 fIcSv1 Dnk Nlny, 0f hI
tax as the thought comes to mind Of
the thousands of patriots graves
where sleep the fathers of these wards
of the State. 1t is but one of the
fruits of that "sum of all villainies"
which once stained our national es-
cutcheon. ..--.,-..s ,,-..
LEGISLATIVE WORK.
The lawmakers of the State still lin
ger, notwithstanding the horny-hand-
ed granger sighs deeply as he thinks
of lowing herds and inviting fields,
the attorney fears that his home broth
er may be gobbling all the fat fees, the
physician is disturbed in his day
dreams by fears that his patients will
recover before his home advent, and
the preacher wishes he was at home
that he might help along the temper
ance movement. Why not come home
then says our gentle reader. Let me
answer in the Yankee way: Why
did you not send in your wants for
that local measure which you SO much
desire before it was time to adjourn?
The codification of the laws of the
State has consumed considerable of
lhe time of the legislature. This is a
work most imperatively needed and
one requiring the most careful atten-
ton at the hands of the lawmakers.
1t cannot be completed at this session,
but once done, it will no longer be a
weeks work to determine just what
The statutes of Ohio are upon any
given subject. The Doctors of both
Houses have expended not little
study over various bills by which the
people of the State might be protected
from the evil of taking their pills in
An Irregular way. All their efforts
have proved q dead failure thus far,
more from want OF harmony among
than any other cause. For
his reason the good people of Ohio
ire left TO the tender mercies of quacks
for another sad year. A bill for the
registration OF trancient voters has
passed the House but will probably
die of old age before the Senate are
'eady to act upon it, this worthy body |
lever falling from their orthodoxy in
letting their moderation be known
O all men," The House is ready to
.djourd April 80, but the Senate, with
Is soliditied dignity, will have a