The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-29
OUR ORPHAN BOYS.
Annual Dinner at the
Richmond Male Or
phan Asylum.
ADDRESSES BY MA FOR ELLYSON
AND VARIOUS OTHERS.
A Most commendabIe Charity.

Yesterday the boys of the Richmond
Male Orphan Asylum were treated 10 a
good Christmas dinner, and the annual
exercises were very interesting.
The hour appointed was o'clock, but
the Board Of Directors were delayed in
reaching the grounds about half an
hour A TINES reporter, who went out
on time, was ushered through the differ
ent departments, and with number OF
other visitors was pleasantly entertained
by Mrs. Gill and her assistants. a walk
over the building, a look into the differ
ent departments, which are 80 neatly
kept, the generally happy faces Of the
orphan boys will convince the most
skepiical that this Is most worthy and
commendable charity.
There are now between thirty and
forty inmates at the asylum the MAORI
ty OF whom attend school on the grounds
some work in the garden, some in the
factory, and all make themselves gene
rally useful.
After the board arrived the visitors as
sembled in the main hall, Just to the
right of the entrance. This hall had
been handsomely decorated with ever
greens and Christmas trees. About 4
o'clock the boys, in uniforms Of different
nationaities, including the old Cont
nentals. marched in and sang the first
piece on the programme" Glory 10
God in the Highest They were led by
Mrs Gin.
Rev. DR.. Cooper, pastor of the First
Baptist Church, opened the exercises
with prayer. The boys then, led by
Mrs Gil, sang admirably well, Ring
Out the Bells for Christmas; Ring Out
the Bells. Ring Out the Bells"
After the Christmas bell had been
rung, old Santa Claus made his appear
ance through the door and entered the
room amidst the applause of the merry
BOYS and highly entertained audience.
old Santa, speaking 10 the boys, said
THE days have glided swiftly by since
last we met in this beautiful chapel, and
this is the time we should be grateful TO
the Lord and thank Him for preserving
our lives another year / complied with
the request 10 come and see the boys to-
dav. and, as you all see, have arrived l
hope YOU boys have all been good boys,
he then made a few remarks 10 the
Young men who had left the asylum and
were there on a visit.
Misses Mamie and Lille Trahern then
sang a familiar little song, after which
calcium lights were burned in the room,
and the BOYS were drilled for inspection
by Santa Claus Then came the chorus:
Let ms all unite in love.
And trust in Him who roigns above"
Messrs. Arthur Percie, Emmett Archer,
Charles Windle, and John Windle, four
Youths were presented with books by
Mr.. Thomas j. Todd, Of the board,
through Rev. Dr. Landrum, as token
of appreciation Of them.
Mr.. Cooper made n few remarks, in
which he told the boys Of the nice way
in which one for whom he had recently
gotten position more than three hun
dred miles away was getting along with
his employer. He also told the boys that
they could not tell what might turn up,
and what rewards were waiting for
them.
Messrs. Richard Anderson, Edgar Pull
liam, end Benjamin Peasants, graduates
of the institution, were, with suitable re-
marks presented with a sensible token Of
remembrance by the manager.
Mayor EllysOn made very encourag-
ing and interesting speech. He told the
boys that he was glad TO be with
them az this time he told them that
they ought to be very happy in having
such good men on the board Of managers,
and that, above all, they should be in
debted to the motherly care Of the lady
who is at its head am sure, said be,
that when you have grown up and be-
come men of Importance, and when you
no longer have need for the protection
Of such an institution, that you will be
glad TO look back to to-day and the time
you have spent in this asylum.
/ hope to live TO see the day when
some of you boys shall sit on the board
in the place of these gentlemen who
have so well done their part by you.
hope to see the day when the boys raised
in this institution shall be its president,
and | know that the person who now
holds that office would like to see one Of
them there.
After several other speeches the boys
and invited guests adjourned TO the
dining where nice dinner had
been prepared for them, and which all
present thoroughly enjoyed.