Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-01


bread pantry are filed with the lightest
and whltest Of loaves, Of which they use
more than one hundred per day. After
dinner we visit some of the cottages, each
of which will accommodate twenty chill
dren. Entering the home OF the youngest
girls we find ourselves in pleasant sitting
room, with carpet, couch, little rocking
chairs, and a generous share OF playthings
of this room are the sleeping apartment
( of the lady In charge, and two large clos
ets-one containing the everyday clothing
OF the children, and the other their Sunday
suits. Back OF these are the bathroom
and the dormtory; the latter, long room
with ten little French bedsteads with their
white spreads and pillows, all scrupulous-
ly clean. The boys cottages are the ex'
act counterpart Of those for girls. About
the grounds are swingstand other attrac-
tions, and merry shouts are to be heard In
all directions The Home now shelters
two hundred children. When first founded,
the institution contained four or five hun
dred soldiers orphans. So many In but
one State, who must otherwise have been
unprovided for! How far beyond human
conception Is the whole terrible cost OF the
Rebellion. The children are allowed to
remain in the Home until sixteen years Of
age, where they are expected to care for
themselves. Meanwhile they have been
taught to work; the girls by taking their
respective turns at table and chamber
work, sweeping, busting, etc, and the
boys In other ways; and doubtless some
OF them are better fitted for life than II
reared by their own parents.
Rock Island, from which the city takes
its name, is q heavily timbered island OF
about one thousand acres, belonging to the
United States. II was purchased by Gov
eminent during the civil war as place of
confinement for rebel prisoners, sixteen
thousand OF whom were at one time upon
the island. The magnificent roads travers-
ing the island in every direction, as well
as the breastwork around the eastern end,
are the work of these prisoners.
In small enclosure which we passed
we were told there lay three thousand
rebel dead, most of whom were swept
away by smallpox, and were buried in
trenches There Is a national cemetery
upon the island, pleasantly located and
In yet another spot sleeps Col. Rodman,
the first commandant of the island.
A handsome monument marks his last
resting place, which is guarded by two
Rodman guns, Of which he was the in
ventor.
The island Is now used as the central
armory OF the United States, and contains
An arsenal, barracks for the soldiers sta
toned there, hospital, the handsome res
licences of the officers, and nearly dozen
immense workshops, built of the cream
colored stone which abounds along the
Mississippi These shops, some OF which
are already in operation, are run by the
Moline water-power, and are intended for
the manufacture OF everything needed for
army use. Two large gun-yards contain
hundreds OF dismounted guns carefully
laid upon long lines Of supports, and the
whole surrounded by low line OF cannon
balls, piled with mathematical precision.
Many of these guns are trophies OF war
others were manufactured upon the island.
Just outside one OF the yards was large
number OF old rebel gun carriages. The
houses occupied by the officers aud their
families are built of limestone, like the
workshops, but it has become gray by
exposure, and In many places Is covered
TO the very caves with a luxuriant growth
Of woodblne.
The many shade trees and the labyrinth
Of lovely drives in every direction, make
the place almost an earthly Paradise, could
one forget that war past, or war possible
in the future, was the occasion OF II all
Wild flowers nod in the tall grass, and
gray squirrels are as plenty as robins II
spring time, and as fearless-for no ont
is allowed to modest them.
On a meadow, In a distant part OF TIT
island, soldiers are making hay; and ou
for the guns that guard the western shore
aud an occasional sentry-boI, one nigh
drive for miles around the outskirts with
out hint of the belligerent character o
the place.
Regulations are very strict; visitors ar
not allowed to speak to the workmen,
step on the grass, or to pick up pebol
or a flower; and it was only by the kind
ness of friends that we obtained pas
which admitted US TO the island.
The railroad bridge connecting the elite
of Rock Island and Davenport crosses on
corner of this island
The first frame building erected In thi
part of the country was put up upon Roc
Island In 1916; it Is still standing-a two
stored, weather-beaten structure, mo-
| carefully preSei'ou ~
was first used as dwelling, but the il
mates, driven away by Black Hawk, he
to the mainland, and there built the FIR
hut upon the present site of Moline. Th
island house was afterward recapture
from the Indians and used as garriso
and at the close Of hostilities was CO
verted into q mill, to which the Frent
and Indians used to bring their corn f
grinding.
Not far from the old mill stands til
white house, also OF historic interest,
/, the home Of Davenport, the founder Of Il
, city which bears his name. Left alo'
+ here for q night. in his old age, he vi
crnellv murdered for his money. 1t