The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-10
Copied by request from oxford Literary Monthly
Mrs. CIarke's Attack on tho
Management Of the Or
phan Asylum.

The people have a right to know how
the Orphan Asylum is managed, anC
Mrs. Clarke has the right and the abili
ty TO voice the sentiments of those whC
disapprove the present plans and con
duct. She has rendered signal ~servic.
to the literature of the State, and some
of her writings are worthy of immor
tally. | have no idea Of engaging in
controversy with any woman. And il
| had, [ would never select one
whose gifts are so much admired, anC
whose pen glides along with such ele-
gance and skill. While Mrs. Clarke:
letter to the Farmer and Hechantc make:
it proper for me to explain some things
which seem TO be misunderstood, | dc
SO with the kindest feelings towards hel
personally, and with undiminished ad
miration of her talents. Mrs. Clarke
opens on the aim of the Orphan Asy-
lum, and says:
"What is the end and aim Of the Ok.
ford Orphan Asylum" is a question
which is being very freely discussed
since Mr.. Mills statement in the last
dying speech of the Orphons' Friend,
of the terms on which he will put out
the girls old enough to leave the insti.
tuition. and his appeals for aid appear
ing in most of the State papers after
the collapse of his own special organ.
LAS the Farmer and Mechanic has
such a wide circulation, perhaps it may
reach some one capable of giving a sat
| isfactory answer t 0 this question, inter
esting not only to the voters, but to
-or, -, &c 0,r State IS tho Aav
lum, like a Home for the Aged in
tended as a mere charitable institution,
where little children can be comforta.
bly, cared for and taught to read and
write, and at the age of fourteen be put
out into families, the heads of which
will treat them as their own children,
and pay from five to ten dollars a month
for the privilege of doing SO, or does
it aim higher than this, and propose,
not only to care for its inmates as chill
| dren, but to fit them to earn their WI
living and become producers instead OF
mere consumers? If the first, there
is nothing more to be said, as it answers
its purpose, for it would show by their
personal appearance that they are as
kindly and we'll cared tor, and are IN the
main as a general rule, as well advanced
in the rudimental branches as the chill
dren of their age who attend the com
mon schools, being kept in their school
rooms every, day, Saturday and Sun
day excepted, from nine to twelve, and
from two to five
Unfortunately Mrs. Clarke discusses
a question not open to discussion. The
Orphan Asylum belongs to, and is man
aged according to regulations adopted
by the Grand Lodge of Masons. The
design of the Orphan Asylum has been
distinctly stated and permanently set
tied. The Grand Lodge says:
THE design of the Orphan Asylum
shall be to protect, train and educate
INDECENT and promising orphan children,
to be received between the ages ofeight
and twelve years, who have no parents,
nor property, nor near relations able to
assist them"
1t has been my purpose to obey the
Grand Lodge, and my misfortune not
to be able to accommodate many who
are in urgent need OF servants.
Mrs. Clarke proceeds:
MIR. Mills advertised girls over four
teen as good house-keepers, for whom
he required ten dollars a month, and
girls not SO good who would require
some looking after, for five dollars a
month. Now will some Mason ask him
if the girls been taught under a practical
house keeper, to make bread, get an
ordinary meal, do up a shirt, or a dress,
and take care of family supplies; or
under a seamstress to cut and make
their own clothing? There has not been
either matron or house-keeper employ
ed at the Asylum for three or four years,
and from my personal knowledge, &C
quired by a months residence in the
institution while editing the Orphans
Friend, | can safely say there was not,
during that time, a single girl in it who
knew enough of cooking, housekeeping,
securing or laundry work to enable her
to retain a position as house keeper in
any well-regulated family for a week"
Yes, | insist that some of our girls
are worth ten dollars a month, cspeci-
ally those whom Mrs. Troy, Of Company
Shops, has trained in the art Of cook
ing. Among our girls are good cooks,
good mixers, aad many who have skill
In sewing and general h~euse-work.
Many of them are employed in differ
snt parts Of the State, and their en-
ployers have written me hat they give
entire satisfaction. And when We
send = girl to one neighborhood, we
generally receive many letters asking
if We have any more of the same sort
left. The girls do the cooking and
milking; but We hire two grown wo-
men to do the heavy washing. Miss
Bernie Stanly has charge of the sew
ing-room, and, with the assistance OF
the large girls, makes all the clothes.
Mrs. jenkins has charge of the medicine
and sick-rooms, though NEST of the
children enjoy excellent health. 1t is
true that we have no one going by the
name Of ''natron.' TIE late Mrs.
Richards was = wonderful worker; and
We gave her too much to do. The
work is now divide d, ~ it should have
been before; but We were not prepared
for division till Gen. Cox, then Grand
Master, had the hospital built.
In regard to cooking, we have just
received a letter, saying that . family
10 delighted with : girl sent from thi.
place who made a reputation as the
best cook in town." Aclever mechanic
heard Of her, went to see her, and
married her, because he wanted his
food properly prepared.
In regard to house keepers, we have
tried widows and old MAIDS, and girl.
in their teens. Those we now have are
equal to any We have had before, and
as poO0 az anv we can uaf Gill 49,