Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-04-08
cover the uillr to the Poor House,

"over the Hills to the Poor House"
Mr. John L. Brady, of the VirgiHidn and
Nars, of strasburg, visited the Poors
House, Of this county, a short time since,
and has recorded his observations in his
paper. 1t is highly complimentary to the
county. aud especially so to Mr.. Chris.
Fansler, the manager, and his esiimable
wife. but not one bit more so than thoy
deserve. The following is what friend
Brady has TO say:
SIZE OF THE FARM.
An hour's drive placed rs upon the
county farm eight miles from Strasburg
There are very many people in the county
who have little or no idea of this splendid
farm. 1t consists of abont 300 acres of
| fine land, nearly all tillable. Mr. Chris.
| Fansler is in charge, and has been for
eight years. II cursory inspection can
be allowed for an opinion we should say
that the property is in splendid condition
and under excellent management.
THE PART IN CULTIVATION.
About IS acres of the farm are in culti-
ton. Upon these the several products OF
this section are grown and consumed by
the inmates of the institution. There
are fne horses, cattle, sheep anil hogs and
plenty of proyender in the spacious, well
kept larns and stables for their susie
nance magnificent orchard also adorns
the farm,
Nt-N,Rrp- OF INMATEs-PERsONNEL OF
SOME OF THEM
There are only % inmates in the aims
house at this time aud this is n less nun
Der than there has been perhaps for ten
scare. Among them are only three or
four who are but partially able to render
assistance and these, with a single ex-
ception, arc of an ldiotic turn Of mind. In
fact out of the % inmates, about three
fourihs of them are idiots. There are
several interesting characters among them
but we cannot detail description. An
old white woman in comparatively vlgor-
ous health, is nearly 100 years of age
Another old German woman-an idiot
crouches on the floor at all times with her
bony arms clasped about her knees. She
does net notice any one or talk unless she
gets mad, and then she becomes voluble
with Dutch and brOgue "cuss words" We
only saw one negro man-an ldlot-and
he was in a very happy mood. There are
three child warls-two white and
mongrel-who pass their time in happy
play. An important looking fe,l)w is a
/ vonng man about 20, with shortcut hair
and ideas too, who glories in being able to
take a running start and butt his Uranium
with fullest force against the side OF
house without pain. He did this several
times not to the especial delectation OF
those who looked on, bat with seeming
qualification to himself. ApItiable object
| i man whose feet were reduced to stumps
BIZ exposure and frost-bite during the
var. (He might get in the Soldiers
Home at Richmond, some time.) There
! is only one inmate from Davis District
/ Jim Baker by name-a heavy built man
unacquamted with good sense.
TIE CONDITION OF THINGS
The premises are very cleanly. The
beds ale we'll filled with straw and a
heavy blanket and Quilt form the
coverlets, while each bed IS furnished with
a comfortable pillow. The rooms each
have a stove in them. The men have a
sitting room and the women another. We
questioned several of the most intelligent
about their food and they said they had a
plenty. Father Quinevsn, typical Irish
octogenarian, (who plainly wrote his name
in our notebook at our request that we
might send him copy of the IWginidn
and Nelrs occasionally Is the most III
tellizcnt of all the inmates. lie com
plimented the management and said that
they were all comfortable IN every respect.
/ Father Quinlevan was grown when he
left the Emerald Isle. He lived for many
years in Fauquier and was overseer for
wealthy citizen of that county near The
Plains a part of his life.)
4 CREDIT TO THE COUNTY.
The ritter has had occasion to visit 9th
eT almshouses in the State and can c0Dt-
IDENTIFY say that that of Shenandoah com
pares favorably with the best and IS lar
superior to most of them. There is an
air of peace, plenty, comfort and content
ment that augurs well for the ef1cent
BOARD of Supervisors and the steward IN
CHARGE. The inmates are, as rule, al
most utterly helpless and the care that Is
evidently taken of them is in striking
contrast with the condition of things that
lexists at ;he almshouses of many counties,
" here the poor, because they are so, seem
tn be regarded as brutes aud where the
stewards are more nearly barbarlans than
tier charges.
THE OBJECT or THE MEETING.
The object of the meeting of tho Board
was to consider the al Instability OF tearing
down the superintendent house and
erecting new one in It's stead, The
Board, consisting of Abraham CARRIER, j.
Stickley, John II. Bauserman, j. IL. Hep
ner, John Funk and J. w. Santmyers'
was present, with L. s. Walker, Clerk,
and Deputy Sheriff, J. W. Wengcr. The
building has seeming ev iences of unsafe
Is aud the Superintendent has moved his
family 1t of it, occupying now the lower
Wing of the building. The Board decided
not to take any action in the matter until
their next regular meeting in June
Superior Pianos and Organs.
G. W. Bragg. of MiddlltOwn, Va, has