Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-09-05
Muller and His orphan-House.

w
Orphan-houses?' I said to a man
who gave himself out as a liberal
minded Catholic. He looked at me
as if he wished to convince me OF the
truth of what he was going to say:
"Sir Ashley Downs, here III Bristol,
has presented the most wonderful
spectacle in the world since the found
ing of these houses. A poor man,
and foreigner besides, falls upon his
knees in this city, and IN answer to
bis prayers alone, there rise up one,
two, three, four, five houses, which
would be cheap at Sl,250OOO. l am
not a rich man personally, but | can
see this after ten years. observation,
that God blesses Bristol because
Muller resides IN it," Indeed, every
where in Bristol, ask where you will,
all, If they do not speak 80 decidedly
az the above, still with one voice ex
press their admiration Of this noble
work.
found an opportunity IN the course
Of my Journey to visit Ashley Down,
and to come within the circle of its
enchantment. l WAS met by lovely
aged Christian woman who served as
q door keeper, She did not tell me
her name, and answered my numerous
and perplexing questions, while she
still kept busy knitting on stocking
hope the narrative will be as agree
able to the reader as the interview
was to myself
There are now 1850 children in the
institution. II any person knows Of
child who is proper subject Of it's
care, the applicant is required to give
in writing the date of the child's
birth, the names of his parents, and
any other information of Importance.
II the child is healthy aud under four
teen years of age, he is admitted
First he is carefully bathedj the
clothes in which he came are laid
away for him as a memorial, and he
in dressed in the uniform of the
orphans. The boys wear brown pants,
dark blue jackets, and simple cloth
caps The girls wear blue striped
frocks, gray plaid shawl, and a
straw hat covering the ears aud shield
ing the face-of an old fashion, but a
fashion dictated by delicacy. Muller
does not generally read the Paris
fashions, Every child has two suits.
The boys and girls are kept strictly
separate from one another. Only one
day in the year they all meet together,
great and small. This is the day OF
the picnic, when they all 90 to the
woods And this must be a stampede
indeed On this day, TO use the words
OF the children, they have scotch
breakfast-a thick and savory soup; q
plowman's dinner-bread aud cheese
a supper good enough for rich ladies
milk and water, and cookies. This
is the children's great day." which
they, "and we too" remarked the
good sister, heartily enjoy"
AT Christmas time they are all busy
as bees in adjoining the school-ruoms
the sleeping rooms, and the play
rooms. They wind green and blue
stripes of paper around dry poles, the
head Of which they adorn with beauti
fully cut roses. Here IS specimen
said the sister, (which l have KEPT
for four years over my chimney" Or
this occasion the children are allowed
to receive gifts in money. The teach
ers, male and female, transform them
selves into shopkeepers, and offer very
cheaply nuts, apples, cookies, oranges
and toys. But all these things arr
brought to the institution as dona
tions, and the child-world needs n,
tariff to regulate foreign trade; TO
every thing remains at home. Las
Christmas 500 people came, all bring
ing baskets full of presents. o how
must the angels Of God aud the happ,
parents also rejoice over this tsber
nacle of God among men!
The day in the institution begins a
6 in the morning, when all are re
quired TO rise. Between that hou
and s every one has time to wash
dress, make his bed, and pray in sc
oret. Then follow breakfast an
family prayer. It'd o'clock is schoc
time. All the usual branches ar
taught. Particular attention is pal
10 writing. Twelve o'clock, pla