The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-08-02
rnE ,.nonswEL1 .onraANAeE.

zs AS we stated in the INTELLIGENcER
Inst week, on our way home from the
meeting of the State Press Association we
stopped over in the pretty and progress
I've village of Clinton, in Laurens Coun-
ty, and had the pleasure of spending q
few hours at the Thornwell Orphanage,
which is located there. It was our first
visit to the orphanage, and we must say
that we were agreeably surprised at the
magnitude of the institution and its work.
ITad we the time and space at our COM
raand, we could devote several columns
of the INTELLIaENoER in telling of our
observations and impressions, and then
not do Justice to the noble institution and
lis faithful, jealous founder and Pres
ident, Rev. VIM. P. Jacobs, D. D.
E The Orphanage is now in the 18th year
of its existence, having been founded in
1875 by tho Clinton Presbyterian Church
at, the suggestion and through the eff
forts Of DIR. Jacobs, who was then and is
still the pastor Of the Church. He went
to work Immediately with little, capital
but great faith, and to-day he has mon
ument in the Orphanage that will COM
memorate his name and memory through
ages to come:
- Coming into Clinton the buildings Of
the Orphanage are in plain view, and
short walk from the business center Of
the town down broad, beautiful streetis
but the work Of few minutes. The
beautiful play grounds, with the hand
Home buildings Twelve in number, not
including the barns, stables and other
outbuildings) and the merry voices Of
the happy boys and girls tells the visitor
at once that this is the place. AS we
atood at the gate few moments and gaz-
cd at the beautiful and attractive homes,
scattered here and there in the grove and
surrounded by lovely flowers and shrub
berry, with clean, sandy walks stretching
in every direction, through the almost
level ground, covered with native grass,
We felt like we were treading on holy
ground.
S. We soon found our way into DR.. Ja-
cob's Office, where he gave US his usual
kind, cordial-greeting. He had jnst NOV
ed his Office into the Technical School
building, which hasjust been completed.
It is q large, handsome, granite building.
Here the printing Office in located, and
the boy printers turn out some very nice
work, III addition to their regular publ
cation, "onr Monthly" magazine pub
lished in the interest Of the orphanage.
After brief, pleasant chat; DIR. Jacobs
kindly escorted US over the grounds and
through the buildings, and we never
spent more pleasant hour. In. every
building and department that we visited
the happy children would greet US at the
door, and they would gather around DR..
Jacobs, who had happy smile and a
kind word for every one Of them. he
could call every one of them by name
and tell us where they came from.
The buildings are separated by intervals
Of various lengths and differ one from
another in architecture and materials of
construction, but all are of the most sub.
stantial kind. Some ara built Of granite
ard brick, one or two of, quartz, and sew
eral of concrete. The last named is COM
posed of stones of every conceivable
shape, held together by cement, making
an exceedingly strong wall. ,.
There is no crowding anywhere or of
anything, and everything is arranged
with reference to health and convenience.
Every cottage has its own parlor, sitting
room, guest chamber, study room, bath
room, &C., and is in charge of a matron.
The children are divided according tosex
and age, and all meet in the dining room,
the school room and chapel, but the in
mates of different cottages do not play
together OF visit each other without per-
mission. They have so many hours to
work, to study and to play, and the boys,
as well as the girls, attend to their own
rooms, and everything is. very clean snd
neat.
All of the cottages bear name, several
in honor of the generous persons who
built them, such as the Mccormick home,
the Augustine home, and the Harriet
home. Other cottages are known as 'sthe
Home of Peace,n "Bee-Hiye," "Memo-
rial Hail." "Faith Cottage" "The Or
phans' Seminary" DC. One building is
devoted to the laundry, and another to
the cooking and storing of provisions.
The dining-room is grand sight, espe-
cially at meal time. The library and mu-
scum are also interesting places to the
visitor. The library contains several
thousand interesting and instructive
books, and number of daily and week.
" papers, which are kindly donated by
the publishers.
The Orphanage has 12O acres Of land,
and its own horses and wagons. The boys
cultivate the farm, and raise great deal
Of vegetables and other produce.
There are now one hundred and thirty
persons connected with the Orphanage,
all but eighteen of whom are fatherless
children, gathered from Maryland to
Texas. These are fed, clothed, carefully
taught and prayerfully guided there.
While the orphanage is under Presbyte-
rian control, there is no sectarianism
about it, there being many children from
other denominations there.
DR.. Jacobs controls them by love and
kindness, and says he has never used
the switch on the boys more than six or
seven times in the history of the institute.
He moves among them as prudent and
affectionate father. Children are admit
ted at six years of age, and their mental,
moral and religious training are made the
most prominent features. The course of
study embraces about eleven years, and
at graduation diplomas arc given, and
the holders of these easily obtain first
grade certificates in the public schools as
teachers. In the meantime the girls get
good training in household duties, and
some of them learn telegraphy, type
writing, etc. The boys have the privi-
lege of technical training, and many of
them, besides securing good education,
,o,,r = <roSo of conoo eort