The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-29
Wednesday, Jan. 20. 1879.
Remarks on Mr.. Jacobs Letter.

We ask attention to the letter from the
Rev. w. P. Jacobs, to be found IN an
other column. His statement speaks for
ITSELF We have none but the fiiendlicst
feeling for him and his institution. and
we wish him and it all the success posi-
BILE. BY cur article last week we meant
no reflection whatever on Mr.. Jacobs or
any one connected with the institution.
AS a public journalist we asked for facts
concerning tho institution which Mr..
Scott was unable to give. Looking to
the printed circular alone, we made our
remarks from the facts ascertained there.
We are now Of the opinion that all the
working of that institution may not he
learned from either the circular or pam
phlet or Mr.. Jacobs letter, or all COM
bined. While Mr.. Jacobs, by printed
circualr, and his letter which appears
elsewhere, states no ~"officer of the Board
charges for his services, he neglects to
saw thas he and his family occupy a con-
siderable portion of the building, and are
boarded at the same place. Mr.. Jacobs
kindly gives his spare time to the instl-
tuition, after discharging his duty as local
preacher at the village church, and Mrs
Jacobs until recently gave her attention
to the children. That is all good n
kind, but we submit that Mr.. Jacobs was
not much the loser, as his family or hVc
children were housed and fed out OF the
Orphanace and were waited upon by the
orphan children, who did the cooking
for the whole household. While Mr.. ia
cohs was enumerating the work done by
The children, we think no might have
mentioned this. 1t is. useless for us &c
review his statements wherein he goes 10
show that the orphans have received the
benefit of so little Of the contributions 10
This concern. The reader can make his
own calculations.
We would ask attention to only N or
two matters. He speaks of "permanent
improvements" $4,000, Building kitch-
ON and piazza. S42S of course is to what
he calls ."permanent improvements we
arc only left to conjecture, and the eN-
penditure of S42s, for kitchen and piazza
we cannot speak. The property may DC
enhanced in valuo to more thar the
amounts specified, but Mr.. Jacobs ooes
not like to charge tito the support OF inc
ornbans. IF it was not for their support,
then for whose benefit were the eNpen-
diture made? Was a piazza a necessity
for the children? Did the Contributors
rive it to enrich the corporation, or to
support poor children' BY Mr.. Jacobs
calculation only SG6, or one-half Of all the
money contributed for the support OF the
orphans is so spent.
Another very important matter Mr..
Jacobs has omitted to mention particular
". Is. that in counting for a years eX-
enses that these children are actually at
work for seven months of the year, leav-
ing them to be supported by public char
ftp, for only five months in the year. AS
wetake it they as a whole, if properly
managed would be worth Something like
their board while at work.
Mr.. Jacobs will excuse if we make II
criticism of his expenditures, in that he
put a pump in the we'll. With u con-
yictions the money 20 spent was worse
than thrown away. Anything put in the
well which would inevitably injure the
water will, of necessity have its effects
UPON tie health of the children, and their
health Of course is of first importance.
or the pump business, however there is
a diversity Of opinion, and we express
merely our own in this instance.
Mr.. Jacobs thinks Abbeville has re-
celseda full advantage, and has paid but
Iittl6 be treasury, and will not with
hold 8faint need of praise" due the
institution. We are as far as anybody
from Withholding credit to Mr.. Jacobs
or his assistants. They are engaged in a
work which more readily than any other
touches the heart and opens the purse
strings with a more liberal hand than any
other charity. For this reason we know
that MI. Jacobs is not unwilling to give
q full and explicit account of his steward
ship. This is all we asked. We mean to
cast no obstacle in his most praiseworth.'
work. We only desire to stimulate him
to greater economy in the expenditure CT
this large sum, which the poor people of
the State have generously contributed.
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