Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-19
For The Freeman.
" The Monumental City,"
L. d. G..

their quiet beauty. Druid Hill park, tht
most important one, contains seven hun
lred acres and is two and one half mile,
rom TIE city. 1t is park in the tru'
sense of the word, having herds of dee
ranging in its thick green woods, ano
docks of sheep feeding on It's grassy hill
'ides, adding pastoral beauty to the broad
meadows. No one who will ride through
its sunny lawns, or quiet dells or climb ii,
wooded hills, or rest in its shady spols
where springs murmur. can fail to be i'm
pressed and delighted. 1t seems fifty
alled Druid Hill, and it does not need Il
very lively imagination TO fancy thost
ancient priests still lingering in their ole
haunts.
The main approach from Madison ave
nue. is broad way through a stone gate
way. Beyond the entrance is Swami
avenue, fanked with large urns on pedes
tails from which in summer time trailing
vines hang, and II variety of flowers grow
70 the right is drive fifty feet wide ant
II mile and Il half in length, around Druc
lake. From white Moorish tower at The
southeast corner of this lake there is !;
beautiful bay view overlooking The city
Passing from the northern extremity o.
Swami avenue through the shady walks o
a delightful stretch of woods to the granC
promenade which embellishes cenira
portion of the park-on both sides of whct
is a grassy demesne dotted with trees ant
merging here and there into woodland
while at the end of the promenade stands
Turkish kiosk encircled by statues hal
hidden in shubbery. Towards the centre
of the grounds is the Mansion House.
open in summer for refreshments. A
broad piazza runs all around the house
atfording seats for rest and observation
Fountains play in front. In the rear of tht
mansion is charming walk through {
long valley, in which is n pavilion contain
ing the nucleus of geological collection
Near is the fish Matching house, where
food fishes in all the stages of Matching
are exposed for public instruction.
Seats are provided in all the choice
spots of the park. The numerous spring,
have ornamental structures and statuary
mainly contributed by public spirited citi
zens. Park carriages convey visitors
through the different drives and 10 all tht
points of interest. Lilies of the VALLEY
grow eOild in many of the glades, and neal
oak trees some of which are fifteen feet il
circumference.
In the western part of the city is the in
stitulion for the blind, one of the best O
the kind in this country. The building i:
of white marble, admirably arranged and
managed. 1t is really wonderful to SEE the
fancy work done by those unfortunate
ones. listened TO some exquisite music
| both vocal and instrumental, there. Theii
great need seems TO be for more books il
the raised letters. One of the professors
who is fine elocutionist, read portions o
Shakespeare to me, passing his hand light
ly and quickly over the pages, and telling
me that in his childhood his dclicacy o
touch was sucH that he often read in nub
lie, with three linen pocket handkerchief
over the page.
Charles Dickens gave the blind Davi,
Copperfield in the raised letters, and the,
speak Of him with much gratitude aro
affection. 1t is touching to see how the
pathetic. patient faces will tighten as the.
speak of his gift. There is only on
periodical published in the United State
in the raised lelters-the small magazn
printed in Philadelphia. Will not som
philanthropi,t gladden. the hearts of thes
afflicted ones-shut out rs they are from
SO much that is desirable in this lfe-b
giving them the books they so desire an
needp
Baltimore has been exceptionally fortu
nate in endowments. The Johns Hopkin:
university, endowed by gift of owe
three millions of dollars from Johns Hor
kins of Baltimore. who died Decembe
"a, 1873, is now in process of organic,
tion. The permanent site of the univers
ty will be at Clifton. the founders estate
II fine old place two miles from the cent?
of the city. twenty-five free scholarship
have been instituted, twenty of which al
restrc ed to candidates from Marylan,
Virginia and North Carolina. Five al
open to competition to students from an
place. The foundation is free from polit
cal and ecclesiastical control.
The Johns Hopkins hospital. founde
also by II gift of over three million dollar
from Johns Hopkins is to be built O
Broadway. The selected site embrace
fourteen acres. The trusteos arc eti
celebrating the plans for the structur,
The hospital will be for all classes e,
cept those afflicted with contagious {
mental disease. In its development it wi
include dispeusary, training school fc
nurses, and convalescent hospital. l.
connected with the medical department {
the Johns Hopkins university.
The same benefactor has established a
orphan asylum for three hundred colore
children. The permanent site is in tn
western suburbs of the city, and include
twenty-four acres.
Among other founders of public educ'
tional institutions who have been benefac
tors of Baltimore is John NJ cDonogh of Ne,
Orleans, native of Baltimore, who die
in 1850, and divided his vast wealth b,
tween the city of his birth and that of HI
business career. The share to Baltmor,
after the estate had undergone the Weiss
tudes of the late civil war and the cost (
law suits, amounted to eight hundred an
seventeen thousand dollars, and som
lands, the value of which is not yet deter
mined.
A farm school has been establishe
twelve miles from Baltimore. The scho,
hae q canaoitu for fiftv hovs who .,