The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-19
The Richmond Male Orphan Asylum.
IFor the Dispatch.l


ANY one in the habit of taking rather
lon. walk. or short drive or ride, would
fnd himself repaid for the time spent in
~. cycursion by trip to the little village
- Horyje: not By anything remarkable in
tho village Itself, but by the sight OF forty
n6d ornban or iriendleSs boys playing,
working. and studying, and carefully train
nd IN in the Knowledge OF their duty 10
their Maker and their fellow-mcn.
The Richmond Male Orphan Asylum,
whore these little fellows have found re-
furc and home. was established thirty-two
vcars oro. IN 1916, and was for :: long time
S,,nrnytrd bv the voluntary contributions OF
tbn cit;zens 0. Richmond; but few years
orno uhilapthropic man left the Society 4
legacy, from which it derives about $4,000
ner aunum. This amount, together with
small donation from the city (S600), enables
them TO support about forty boys, VINO, as
soon as thev have been sufficiently prepared,
ard have arrived ct hitting age, are appren-
ticad to farmers. mechanics, merchants, and
others, until they reach the age OF twenty
one years. The parties taking these boys
have TO he well youched for, and bind them.
selves to provide carefully for the moral and
ph7sical wcll-berng Of the boys entrusted to
them.
! ncrson of reflective turn OF mind must
unoynidablv be led to make q mournful
comparison between these boys and the
hundreds OF little ragamutfns running at
large in the streets of Richmond. without
any one apparently to care for them, ana
forming most productive nursery or vice
and crime, destined in the near future 10
Udd intellectually to the misery and depravlty
already assuming such huge proportions In
our midst.
MANY of these poor little waits have ap-
DIled in vain for admission to the asylum,
which would joyfully open its doors to all
who come; but alas the very men who are
most liberal IN other ways, who give most
freely to their own churches, and whose
hearts are usually most open to the calls OF
distress, are often. from some unaccoupta-
BILE mode OF reasoning, the most lnsenslDle
to the claims OF an institution winch Is the
only hope, for time and for eternity, OF
many 4 boy, who, were 4 fair chance gwen
him, might grow up to be an honor to his
country and Il blessing to his race. These
ought We to have done, and not have left
the others uudone.'' The asylum is now
compelled 10 reject all applications for adj
mission. however distressing the appeal and
however powerful the claim o! tile orphan
for relief from his wretched condition, from
want OF the means to support more boys
than are 1T present there forty-four).
In the past year less than five hundred
dollars have been received from voluntary
contributions. Many OF the former con
tributors arc unable TO continue their sub
scriptions without Inconvenience, and tnt
Board OF Managers are still compelled II
refuse admission to children, who are a
once forced into career OF sin and shame
ending in many instances in the penlienlarI
or at the gallows.
Ii every man in Richmond in moderate
circumstances would add his mite all these
boys might be provided for. Let 10 one
think his offering too small to be accepta
bic. Ii he cannot give money, LET him give
groceries, cloth, shoes, underclotllng, ol
whatever he can spare.
Contributions in money may be sent tt
Il. W. McCancc, Esq, the treasurer OF th'
Society; to w. G. Mayo, the collector OF th'
Society, Seventh and Main streets; Or lei
at the office OF the Dispatch. Contribution
OF other things than money may be sent tt
George 4. Hundley's, Broad street above
Sixth street.