The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-04-01
HOME FOR THE HOMELESS.
PEEr INTO THE NOBLE CIIARI-
IA At OXFORD.
he oxford Orphan a>tlum--N W hat il
Has Done--N hat II j. Doing--Jow
IL ne

lNjaN Cor STATE CHRONICLE
ONF"Hp, \ g. March -. lS>6 In a
beautiful grove on tie outskirts Of tht
town OF oxford Is situated the oxford sfr-
phan Asylum, an Institution ut the mere
mention Of which the heart of every true
North CaroIiuiau responds with feeling,
OF sympathy and almost reverence. Tic
hundreds Of stately oaks that rise above
the broad lawn that spreads out in front
OF the mann building stretch their branches
heaYenWard and seem 10 implore divine
blessings upon those whose early Lives
knew naught but sadness and shadow. and
as each spring returns >unbeamS steal
through the almost unbrollen canopy of
green to play over the little taAen heads
and make cheerful this orphan refuge
from poverty ridden homes that are faith
er.eSS, motherless and penniless
Feelings, mingled with both pleasure and
pam, came over Us as We leisurely walked
through the different departments Of the
institution. How >ad 10 think of the many
strong and useful men, kind and loving
fathers. who have in the ligor of manhood
passed over the river and left their little
ones to grow up untaught and neglected
unless pubic charity opens up avenues of
enlightenment and future usefulness.
ct, how gratifying to see 50 excellent
an institution with the different depart
ments presided over by indulgent and in
tellIgcnt matrons and teachers. each vie
ing with the other in making useful men
and women out of indigent and unfortu-
nate fOundlings. The friends Of great men
may build to their memory after their life
work has ended monuments magnificent
and shining but the oxford Orphan Asy-
lum is a more lasting and more beautiful
monument to the magnanimity and be
n.lNn of -lt, ti,,-t raI :
than any that could be moulded from
metal or carved from granite; and to that
noble brotherhood that first assumed the
responsibility of its establishment and
maintenance, 1t will ever remain the great
est of all Its great achlevementS-theo one
noble deed that will more firmly bind in
beautiful sentiment the hearts of our peo-
pie to this worthy band of Masonic breth-
rem
Visiting oxford some days ago |, in
company with Capt. y. II. y. Williams,
one of the directors of the Asylum, and
DR.. b. f. Dixon, its able superintendent,
went through the different departments
of the institution, connected with which
there is nearly two hundred acres of land.
This land is IN high state of cultivation,
and furnishes ample opportunity for ex
tended practical and experimental farm
ing. Enough vegetables are grown each
year for the two hundred people connected
with the institution, and under the super
vision of an experienced farmer the boys
are taught the rudimentS of farming, while
the result Of their labor does much towards
maintaining the Asylum.
The main building, since the construc-
ton of the separate building for boys, has
been used exclusively for the girls. In 1t
-. + no. f l, Nt.,,
eral reception room nicely furnished, one
of its attractions being beautiful upright
piano, donated to the Asylum by friends
through Mrs. S. A Elliott of oxford In
this building is a cOmmOdiOus chapel in
which the two hundred orphans and teach
ers gather each Sunday afternoon to en-
gage in religious exercises, while the
trained voices Of the little singers make
| joyful praise to the Father of the fatherless.
On the second floor is the first form of
| girls presided over by Mrs. s. NJ. Walker,
| of Durham; on the third floor Mrs. 5. b.
| Burwell, of Granville, teaches the second
form of girls, and on the fourth floor the
third form, which is the highest class, is
taught by Miss Mary A. Marsh, of Clinton.
| Calisthenic exercises is one of the features
| of the girls department, q sewing room is
| another feature, and with the assistance
| Of Miss Salie Hicks, of Ralelgh the girls
make the dainty little dresses that chal-
lengc the admiration Of their favorite boy.
Mrs NJ Fowler is the matrOn Of the girls
department and under her excellent su
pervision everything is kept neat and tidy
Some distance from this building is the
new boys building around which ninety
three buoyant and hopeful boys are de
veloping into men. Good minds, in
stead of being dwarfed in their tender
youth, are being trained 10 usefulness
Specimens of the most illiterate youth art
found in the destitute homes i'll aimos
forgotten hamiets and brought here TO be
shaped and moulded into men. on th'
first floor Of this boys building Mrs. $ I
Taylor has charge of the first form Of boy.
and among them are rare specimens o
diamonds III the rough. Among other
one little eight year-old fellow who imag
ines it his duty to look after the teacher
and SCI that their efforts are all properl.
directed. He reports promptly to Su
perintendent Dixon anything that hap
pens not to coincide with his views
The second form of boys is i'll charge o
Miss Pattie Montgomery, of Raleigh
whose patience is taxed more probabl,
than any other teacher. Here twenty fiv'
or thirty BOYS are little too big to b.
easily controlled and not quite big enough
to control then selves. Some of then
are mischevous and rude but withal Mis-
Pattie gets along with them wonderful.
Well The third form of boys is presided
over by Miss Julia Scott, Of OnslOw coun
ty. Many of them are well advanced il
elementary studies and are growing int
active and energetic young men.
The most striking proof of Supt. Dixon
popularity with the children and thei
fondness for him is found in the following
communication from little Laurie Hudg
ins published in the 'Orphans Friend,
which is as true as it is simple and child
like;
Our superintendent.
Our superintendent is a very iine looh
ing gentleman. He is very kind and "
all think a great deal of him.
He has certainly improved the looks c
the Asylum grounds, the house and tn
management Of affairs We girls are yer
much pleased with our Superintendent an
hope he will remain here as long as we dc
He has already been here two years
He has a very pleasant nice-look n
wife in fact the whole family are as nc
, as they can be.
our Superintendent house is nearl
finished. he will move in it this week, an
we will be very sorry. 1t will be SO lone
some, and seems SO strange, if they al
not in the same house with US.
He goes off sometimes and stays one (
two weeks, and we are always SO glad I
see him when he cOAes back He is yer