The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-10-31
A Pretty Picture of McDonogh School.

APretty Picture of McDonogh School,
Mr.. John Esten Cooke, of Virginia, who spent
part of the past summer in the neighbOrhood OF
Pikesville, Baltimore county, paid visit while
there to the McDonogh Farm School and wrote q
most interesting account of that institution Tor
the New York San. After referring in compll-
mentary terms to the late John McDonogh of New
Orleans, the founder of the school, and fully set
ting forth its objects, &C., Mr.. Cooke says:
"Col. William Allen, principal of the school,
gentleman of high character and administrative
ability of the first ORDER has had charge for about
twelve years. The buildings are situated ON
farm of 1876 acres, formerly called Foxleigh, less
than one mile from McDonogh station on the
Western Maryland Railroad, twelve miles north
west Of Baltimore. The surrounding country is
beautiful, and from its elevation exceedingly
healthful, and broad and excellent road con-
ducts the visitor to the school, which crowns a
hill from which an extensive view is obtained in
every direction. Up to the present time the
scholars, together with the principal, his family,
and the professors, have occupied the fine old
country house of large size belonging to the for
mer owner of the estate; but the new building, as
the McDonogh boys call it, begun in 1881, is now
completed, and has just been occupied by the
scholars.
"The new building is of brick, four or five
stories in height, with wing in the rear and
cupola and observatory about 100 feet to the up
per landing. In this large building, which has
cost more than $150,000, are the various recita-
ton rooms, those occupied by the scholars busy
at manuel employments, the dormitories, the
private rooms of the professors and ladies con-
nected with the domestic department, the chapel,
in which service is held twice day large bath
ing tank, printing office, where monthly paper
is published by the boys; the library, which is
assiduously frequented, and other apartments for
various uses one of them to afford play room to
tha hov in hod uaaf he VIII
heated air, which is not suffered to cool from au-
tumn to spring.
"What interested me more particularly in the
excellent arrangement for the instruction ana
welfare of the McDonogh boys, in this fine build
ing was the compartment devoted to botany and
the collection of all objects of interest from the
fields and forests of the estate. The boys were
ardently interested in the formation of herbar-
iums, as earlier in the year they had been in the
collection of birds eggs &C every description :
and in the next room were shown some remarka-
BILE specimens of mechanical drawing by scholars
whose youth rendered these drawings wonderful.
"The dormitories occupied by the boys are
modes of sleeping rooms, and attracted my spec
ial attention. from their neatness, perfect ventia
ton and the thorough cleanliness of all connect
ed with them.
"The most interesting feature of life at McDonogh,
however, is the method of conducting affairs on
the farm, and the curious laws and usages adopt
ed by the boys in their intercourse with each
other. To speak first of the routine on the farm,
which, like everything else is directed and super
intended by Col. Allan, who may be called not
only the thinking machine, but the handspring
and regulating wheel of the whole McDonogh In
stitute. In obedience to the will of the founder
that the boys should be brought up not only to
knowledge and virtue but to ''industry and labor"
there is u regular organization for work on the
farm in order to teach the boys to become practi-
cal agriculturists.
"On the day of my visit it interesting
spectacle to see long line of boys, with sergeants
in rear of each squad, advancing steadily in what
resembled body of skirmishers, Governing corn
with the hoe; and subsequently observed them
engaged in various other employments connected
with the farm. The laborious work on the large es
tate is performed chiefly by hired labor, and the
operations are conducted by an experienced man
ager under direction of Col. Allen. The object,
as far as could perceive, in exactng stated ag
rcultural labor at seasons from the boys, was to
habituate them to the routine of life on a farm
with view to their instruction in such work, their
studies in school being meant to fit them for use
fulnesss in other spheres of labor.
"In regard to the working of the entire scheme,
which carries out admirably the views of the foun-
der, could see nothing which did not excite my
admiration. There was no question at all that
this large body of neatly clad boys, who moved
by clockwork, as it were, Thoroughbred round Of
prescribed duties, but were left as free as air to
run and play when break ranks was ordered,
were subjected to the most wholesome discipline,
and their courtesy and obedience to every direc-
ton indicated the result.
~ must not omit to speak of the curious laws
and regulations established by the boys for their
own government, which Prof. Johnson has made
the subject of an interesting pamphlet published
by the Johns Hopkins University. The parallel
which he draws between the primitive organiza-
ton of society and that instinctiyely adopted by
the McDonogh boys to protect their rights in
walnut trees, in hares' nests, in birds eggs, in
apple trees, and all objects desirable property,
is curious to the last degree; and the short mono
graph of Prof. johnson is not only deeply inter-
esting, but instructive For the settlement of dis
putes the boys have established regular courts,
and before these come up at times knotty legal
questions in reference to walnut trees birds nests,
and other private property, on which the court
hears argument and decides without appeal. An
equally striking feature of this instructive social
republican organization is the establishment of
regular banking system founded on credits for
work or merit, in which A, who has largo de-
post of credits is entitled to check in favor of
impecunious B, who then does his work for him
"a Clearing House carefully regulating the vari-
Gus accounts.
"For full and amusing illustration of this and
other proceedings Of the McDonogh boys must
refer the reader to their monthly publication The
Week, the composition, type setting, proof read
ing, and printing of which are done by themselves.
"The estate occupied by this little republic,
living under its paternal ruler and largely gov
erned by its own laws is one of the most beautiful
in Maryland. The countryis rolling and covered
with verdure where it is not smiling with plenty
in the form of grain crops. No better locality
could have been selected by the directors for car
rying out the design of the founder-to establish
far from cities healthfu rural retreat where poor
boys could be instructed in the love Of God and
useful knowledge, so that they might become
spectacle and useful members of society"
A Baltimore Countian in the Quaker
City.-At Republican meeting held in Phila-
delphia on Monday night last, Gen. E. B. Tyler,
ex-postmaster of Baltimore city and resident of
this county, made speech in support of Col
Matthew S. Quay, the Republican candidate for
Treasurer of the Buekaya State who was in his
command during the late war. Gen. Tyler said
he came to Philadelphia because he had duty to
perform. He then told of regiment of his com
mand from Western Pennsylvania and its young
colonel how the latter had been stricken down
with the worst type of typhoid fever at Antietam
and reluctantly consented to send in his resigna-
ton by the advice of the surgeons of the command.
"That resignation" he added, 81 handed to the
STRIPPING colonel day or so before the battle of
Fredericksburg. AS gave it to him | told him
Il cannot leave now. Allow me to serve on your
staff as volunteer aid After great persuasion
granted his request. We went into that fight
and in less time than it takes to tell this story
nine hundred Pennsylvania men were lying in
front of that hill dead or wounded"
An Enterprising Man.-The Baltimorean
of last week says: "0ne of the most remarkable
men of the day, in his peculiar ways, is Mr..
Joseph M. Cone. He has done more to improve
Baltimore in the last few years than any other
ten or fifteen men in the city. Whole blocks and
acres of vacant ground in the CENTRAL western and
northwestern sections have been either leased or
purchased, and new, modern and elegant dwell
ings have been erected thereon. Through Mr..
Cones agency or instrumentality, 500 more
houses have been erected, and this number of FAM
lilies provided with desirable and comfortable
homes. Not content with improving Baltimore,
Mr.. Cone has extended his operations to the
charming town of Gainesville, seven miles dis
tant, where he is building and identifying. We
see that he has laid neat and substantial brick
kho do nj