Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-03-03
very last snip quilt in New York-the

very last snip built in New York-the
Charles H. Marshall-in 1868.
His big contract with Spain for building
a warship was Cancelled at the outbreak of
the rebellion by Preston, the Confederate
representative at Madrid who impressed the
Spanish government that they were vast
ing their money by employing northern
err. He was then engaged by the United
States government to build ships and had
almost completed the Dunderburg when
the war ended. He refunded the 81, OPS, 600
which had already been paid to him by the
government and sold the vessel to France.
She was one of the finest vessels ever built
in this country, and in a museum in Paris
Mr.. Webb found beautiful steel model of
her which had cost 81 900 to build. This he
purchased. and it now occupies position
of honor in the home.
Connected with the home and under its
roof is an academy wherein American b
between the ages of 16 and 20 receive fret
charge their board and tuition in the war;
Gus forms of naval architecture. They will
be taught to draft and put together ships
and engines. But they must first prove
that they are unable to pay and must have
documentary education in mathematics.
Twenty-Five or thirty boys can be accommo-
| dated and each have a room nicely fur
| nshed.
There are very pretty rooms furnished in
sets of birdseye maple for over 100 old ship
makers, and their wives may live with
| them. Everything for their comfort and
| amusement has been selected with a care
and solicitude that show how thoroughly
Mr.. Webbs heart is in the undertaking.
There are two libraries. One contains
books on all subjects, but principally his
torical. The other, adjoining a museum of
| models of all sorts of ships bulls, has
| books treating only of marine subjects and
is chiefly for the use of the students. There
are splendid arrangements for facilitating
the process of photography. The large
sunny hospital is perfect in all its details.
| There are baths galore in the building and,
| in fact, it would seem impossible to find a
| fault.
From an architectural standpoint the
| academy and home is a most imposing edi-
| flee, and it's location is admirable. Sur
| rounded by IA acres, it is situated upon the
| highest bluff at Fordham heights and com
| mands wonderful view of the surround
| ing country, overlooking as it does the pic
| turesque Harlem river and to the west the
| banks of the Hudson, while in the east the
waters of Long Island sound can be sen.
1t is of buff brick, terra Gotta trimmings
and granite base. 1t is 100 feet long by 81
in width, four stories in height in the cen
trail portion and six at the north end. AT
| the northwest corner a tower rises 10 sto
ries, or 10 feet, and represents the shaft
and lantern of a lighthouse, while that at
the southwest end is seven stories in height
In thas latter tower there is a splendidlS
equipped smoking room for the old men.
1t is pleasing in these days of arrogan,
| displays of wealth and the murmuring I'm
dertones of socialistic complaints and
threateninSs to contemplate the deeds and
benign ambition of a man like this. Plain
unaffected and hearty, his philanthropy
takes such a practical, wholesome and ear
nest shape that it bridges over the constant
ly increasing gulf between wealth and
want and makes one more hopeful of man
| kind.
1t is not too much TO express a wish that
now he has seen his hope realized, he may
live to enjoy the sight of the practica
working of his home for a full score more
| of years. l.. d. Maryland.