The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-08

! for the education Of orphans and other
deserving poor children. This iden never
left him.. IT. was for this he toilcd and
accumulated through many weary years.
and right nobly did lie carry out the plan
formed In his years Of poverty and OBJ
scurity. III his will he made liberal be-
quests to all who had a claim on him by
reason of ties of blood or friendship. and
left the bulk OF his fortune OF two mil
lion dollars for public purposes. To the
| city OF LynchburG he left twenty thou
sand dollars and the ground for the
Miller Park, which is now the favoritte
resort for54the people of Lynchburx.. and
the goal Aof picnic excursions from sur
rounding cities. He set apart II beau
tiful site for the Female Orphan Asylum,
for which he left an ample endowment.
The bulk Of his fortune he left for the
founding of a manual labor school In
his native county, and in the neigh
borhood where he was born, thus rcallz-
ing the dream of his childhood.
The Miller School.
The Miller School is beautifully stu
atcd on an eminence commanding a
magnificent View Of the surrounding
, country. On one. side may be seen the
Blue Ridge mountains, and on the other
| the Ragged mountains. The buildings are
ample and imposing. and the splendid
lawn in front and the wcll-ltept grounds
enhance tho beauty of q landscape That
can hardly be euualled in the State.
The farm on which the school is To-
Gated contains fifteen hundred acres III
one body, n part OF which Is cultivated,
about seventy-five acres being used ns
a vegetable garden. Much of the land
is In grass for the pastlrage of q fine
herd Of fifty cows. There are also en-
~tensive orchards. both on this farm and
on another of three hundred acres three
miles distant. The farms, buildings,
shops and equipments are valued ut more
than seven hundred thousand dollars,
and the annual income is seventy-fivc
thousand, The school was opened in Dc
tobcr. 1875. with twcnty-one pupils.
Captain Charles e, Vawtcr was chosen
as its head, Il position which he held
until his death last October. No better
selection could have been made. Captain
Vawtcr was admirably fitted for his
tnsk. He had been n gallant officer In
the Confederate II and had subse-s
quently taught at Emory and Henry
College. Ito was n man OF broad views
and thorough culture. and possessed of
fine executive abilities. Under his wise
management the school rapidly developed
and grow In public favor. Tho number of
students is now two hundred and fifty.
and many applicants have been turned
off for van of room. The course of
instruction includes all that Is. embraced.
In the usual college curriculum. and be-
sides thorough mechanical ana physical
training. Moro than u thousand gradu-
atrs nave gono forth from this school,
and they rave experienced no difficulty
IN finding Lucrative ana honovlblc cm-
ploymcnt, nnd as u rule they have ac-
Quilted themselves with credit to them
selves and to their Alma Mater,
Lynchburg Orphan Asylum.
The I%.Ynchburg Female Orphan Asy-
lum As located on one Of tho hills that
overlook the city. and Is surrounded by
well kept grounds. The endowment Is
three hundred and forty thousand dol.
lars. lrghty-five orphan girls are now
receiving shelter, food, clothing 'rHd In
structlon within its walls, They are
not only given a good education iif-the
usual branches, hut are taught cooking, /.
dress-mnking and other household dlVies
to ut them for usefulness In after life.
The Asylum Is managed by u Board of
Trustees, and Dr, G, r.. Lewis has been
from the beginning tho superintendent
and physician of the institution.
Who can tell the amount OF good that
Samuel Miller has done and is still do
ing by the wise use of his money!
throughout coming generations, thou-
sands OF men and women Will rise up
to call him blessed, BY his " request,
his mortal remains repose IN the grounds
OF the Orphan Asylum, and u handsome
shaft marks his last resting place, He
needs no monument TO keep green his
In the hearts Of those whose
lives he has frightened by his princely
generosity.