The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-30
SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
Contrasting Descriptions of the School
at Mercer, Pa.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

Schools you say an esteemed correspondent"
calls your attention to the fact that as benei-
cent as the soldiers schools in that State are
and secure as the recent extension of the act
providing for their maintenance makes them,
they are not in their conduct all that could be
desired that, being run by contract with the
State authorities, the interests of the inmates
themselves are not always the first object of
consideration: the buildings, grounds teachers
and attendants food and clothing are not all
they should be; that the buildings are little
better than soldiers barracks; that the food is
poor and not the right sort for children; the
clothing, except where furnished by friends of
the children, insufficient; the instructors
chosen with regard rather to the interests of
the contractors than the proper education OF
the inmates; that the male pupils ere allowed
to waste their time until they are sixteen years
old, and then leave without having laid the
foundation for lives of usefulness.
AT the time of reading the above editorial
was of the opinion that you had been seriously
msinformed by your esteemed correspond
ent," but, as had no personal knowledge of any
of the schools except at Mercer, did not reply,
but in your issue of August Is Comrade Joseph
G. Vale has ably defended the White Hall
school, and since you say that the school to
which the structures of your correspondent had
reference was the Mercer school, | deem it my
duty to tell you what | know of that institu-
ton.
COMFORTABLE BUILDINGS AND PLEASANT
GROUNDS.
In the first place, allow me to say that I
have no interest in The Mercer school what
ever except such an interest as any old soldier
should feel in the welfare of his dead comrades
children. My acquaintance with the school
commenced about SIX years ago. Being a trav-
cling salesman, my business brought me to
Mercer every thirty days. and / have invaria-
bly, visited the school upon my monthly trips
and what | may say of the school l know to be
true from personal observation. AS for the
| buildings being little better than the barracks
at Camp Parole, Annapolis, or Newberne N.
c., | cannot say, as my soldering was done at
| the front, and not In barracks, but the build
ings ample and comfortable, and are sur
| rounded by grounds as pleasant as are to be
| found anywhere in Mercer county. In rear of
buildings is a very fine grove which serves as
| playground for the children. The laundry
bathrooms &C., are supplied with water from
never-faiIing spring. There is enough land in
| connection with the school to keep the boys
! employed, Except when in school or on detail
work. where they raise large amounts of pota-
| toes, cabbages, onions, &C. The clothing for
| the girls and the underclothing for the boys
is all manufactured upon the premises by the
| girls, assisted by superintendent or head of
| department The bread is baked by the boys
under direction of a head baker, Each boy and
| girl has two hours Of detail work each day. two
| hours for play, and the balance of the time is
| occupied in school. The school is presided
over by Prof. j. NJ. Sherwood. graduate of
| Edenboro' State Normal School and of Allegheny
| College, as principal. Prof. Sherwood is a prac
| tieal teacher and a Christian gentleman. He is
assisted by an able corps of teachers who have
been selected with great care, not i'll the inter-
est of the contractor, as your esteemed CORES
| pondent" asserts, but with view to efficient
work, and the result Of the annual examina-
ton proves that they Were well selected.
| FOOD AND CLOTHING.
| AS to the food being poor and not of the right
| sort for children, will venture the assertion
| that there cannot be 300 children picked up in
any neighborhood in Pennsylvania that look
as hearty and as well-kept as the children of
| the Mercer Soldiers Orphans School, and as
| their death rate, as compared with any other
/ institution, IS III favor Of Mercer, must con-
| clude that the food is the right sort for chill
| dren. Out of an average attendance of over
300 children for the last six years, there have
| only been three deaths, and one of them was
| from accidental poisoning. have eaten with
| the children a great many times and have al
ways found an abundance of good meat we'll
/ cooked, good bread, vegetables fruit coffee,
&c.-in fact, their bill of fare will compare
| favorably with that Of the best farmer In the
| State, excepting as to pastry.
As to clothing, / will say that they are the
| best dressed children in the county and one
OF the reasons | have heard frequently urged
why the schools should be discontinued is, that
| it is not right to tax the public to keep these
| children dressed so much better than the tax
payer can dress his own children. AS to leav-
| ing the school at sixteen years of age without
| having laid the foundation for lives of useful
ness, wonld say that record kept of about
| LOCO who have left this school shows that over
| 80 per cent. have done well-that that per cent.
are serving at trades, or as clerks in stores or
| post-otfices and as teachers, &C. The suggest
| ions of your esteemed correspondent that
| the school be visited by Post committees and
| comrades OF the Grand Army is a good one,
and is just what the management of the school
desires, and cordial invitation is extended to
all cid diers, and, in fact, to any citizen of
the State, 10 come and see for themselves how
| these wards of the State fare. Comrade Wright,
| the manager, has on more than one occasion
told me that in my travels he would like to
| have me- invite the old soldiers to visit them
and take moro Of an interest in them, as it did
the children good. can insure any VINO viii
| take the trouble to visit the school cordial
| reception, and they will find attendants who
| viii deem it pleasure TO show them through
| the Institution, The beds will be turned down
for their inspection; they viii have free access
! to the wardTobes kitchen, laundry, bakery,
and everything connected with the school.
MORALS OF THE SCHOOL.
as to the morals of the school Reading of
| the Scriptures and prayers are observed in the
chapel and dInlng-room every day. A first
class Sunday-school is kept up in the institu-
tIon,w where every teacher and pupil are required
| to attend. On Sunday morning all the chill
| dren are marched to the church of their choice,
! attended by teachers. In conclusion, | will
| quote from the annual report of the superin-
| tendent OF Soldiers Orphans Schools He
| says: The management has been exercised by
Rev. Geo. w. Wright heretofore. Under his tact
ana skill the past year has been one of steady
ana substantial progress. The school is in
wholesome condition in all its departments.
The methods pursued and the routine work
| were about the same as last year. The results,
however, we are sure, have been superior New
life and interest have been infused into the
school, and the children seem to realize more
| thar ever that the time and opportunity are
theirs and once lost are lost forever. The visit
| ation5 OF the State inspectors and examiners
iroin the departments have been pleasant and
| encouraging To ali connected with the school.
| Lac interest that educators and other citizens
| OF TINS ana surrounding counties have taken in
our school has also been a source of much en-
confagement and pleasure, especially to the
children. At the invitation of the Soldiers
memorial Association, of Greenville, Pa our
| boys nad an excursion to that place and took
part IN tue exercises of decorating the soldiers
graves IN that place, on May 30 The citizens
| spared no pains to make the occasion a pleas
ant one for the boys, and it proved to be such
/ Gsyonu expectation The boys received many