News on the Juniata County Orphans

PENNSYLVANIA SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' SCHOOLS ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS - McALISTERVILLE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PHILADELPHIA EVENING BULLETIN

McAlisterville, Juniata County, July 15, 1870. - The annual round of
visitation to and
examination of Soldiers' Orphans' Schools has commenced.  Agreeablt to a
printed programme, the State Superintendent, Col. George F. McFarland, has
now examined seven schools and Inspector Cornforth nine, viz: 
Andersonburg, Loysville, Mercer, St. Pauls, Butler County, Phillipsburg,
Beaver County, Allegheny Orphan Asylum, Uniontown, Allegheny Home and
Lawrenceville Episcopal Home.  The unusually large number of visitors
attending these examinations, and the high official standing and character
of many of them, show the great interest the people are taking in this
glorious system, the just pride and boast of Pennsylvania.  It would be
utterly useless for your correspondent to recite again the history of this
institution -
its origin, its progenitors, its supporters and its wonderful growth, how,
in fact, it has taken fast hold of the hearts of the people and won
encomiums from every State and civilized nation.  One year ago we attended
in a reportorial capacity, upon the examinations at Mount Joy, White Hall,
McAlisterville and Cassville, four of the largest c\schools in Eastern
Pennsylvania - giving, as the close of a series of letters, a general
review of the whole system, with figures and other data, indicating the
probable time it would yet take to finish the great work our noble State
took upon its hands.  And now it is a pleasure to me, after making the
acquaintance of many of the little folks, to see their ruddy, smiling faces
again, to witness and testify to the vast improvement made in one year, and
to assure the public that the great mountain, the bugbear summit has at
last been reached; that all the deficits of the Soldiers' Orphans'
Department have been met, and that the appropriation for the present year
will be sufficient to carry it through to the beginning of the next fiscal
year; and further, that the maximum number of orphans to be educated and
maintained has been reduced, and we are now on the descending scale.  There
are now 160 less children in the schools than there were in 1869, and 74
less applications.

Thanks to Governor Geary's administration, the schools have been brought as
near perfection as it is in the power of mortal man to bring them.  He is
justly called perfector of the institution in which he has taken so much
pride and spent so much labor and attention.  Colonel McFarland, too, has
undoubtedly kept his promise, in this, that he has brought up to the
educational of our duty to these children of the Copmmonwealth to that
degree of perfection so much desired.  First, the mere physical wants --
the clothing of the body and the feeding of the starving -- had to be
attended to, and it was no insignificant task, requiring much energy and
patient care; then the physical training had to be attended to, and the
human system brought to a
more natural and healthful action.  These two periods passed, came the
intellectual culture - industrial and literate.  The three periods are
happily now fulfilled.

The school and the inmates were never in a happier mood or in a more
prosperous condition.  All are healthful, contented, and rapidly
progressing educationally.  There are none, or very few, instances of
runaways and no dissatisfaction among parents or guardians, which speaks
volumes for the management.

During the last eleven days Col. McFarland has visited the Jacksonville,
Dayton, Titusville, Mansfield, Hartford, and Wilkes-Barre schools.  On the
5th he was at Jacksonville.  The examining board consisted of himself,
Prof. S. L. Otto of the Nittany Valley Institute, Rev. J. E. Miller, Mr. Z.
A. Yearich, Rev. D. O. Kline. Miss E. M. Yearich, Miss E. B. Fryburger, and
Miss N. E. Long, and the exercises were attended with much interest,
showing a great improvement and credit to the faculty of the institution.

On the 7th he was at Dayton.  The attendance of visitors here was
considerable, and the average of the scholars in all branches very good.

On the 6th he was at Titusville, with Inspector Cornforth.  Those assisting
in the examinations here were Major General Thomas L. Kane, President of
the Board of Public Charities; Smauel Field, Esq., a distinguished
philanthropist of Philadelphia; Gordon F. Berry, proprietor; Prof. J. N.
Beistle; and Messrs. Crumberie and Sill.  During the day numerous visitors
dropped in.  The exercises were entirely satisfactory, as were also those
at Mansfield on the 11th.  At Hartford on the 13th, Rev. Edward Allen, Rev.
Adam Miller, Captain George L. Stone of Montrose, Capt. Lyons of Montrose,
Col. Gere, Mr. Tarball, Hon. George Coray of Scranton. H. M. Jones of
Hartford, Bird Greenwood of Scranton, Dr. C. O. Edwards, and others were
present, and all were pleased with the institution, its progress and its
management.

The Wilkesbarre home received a visit yesterday, and among those present
were Dr. Wilmer Worthington, Sevretary and General Agent of the Board of
Public Charities; Hon. Geo. Coray; and W. C. Gildersland and wife.

The fact is that Colonel McFarland has scarcely had an hour's real rest
since the examinations began/  The programme has placed the visitations in
close succession, and the localities are so far apart as to require much
fatiguing night travel, sometimes in open vehicles over country roads.  It
is deemed of vital importance that these inspections should occur as nearly
simultaneous as circumstances will permit, so that a fair estimate may be
made of all, doing no injury
to any in their annual averages, and for the reason, too, that after a
school has been examined, the children naturally feel that vacation has
come, which unfits them for study during the remainder of the term.  The
summer vacation commences on the 22nd inst., when all who have relatives
and friends will go to their homes for some six weeks in new attire, indeed
now the children are wearing their new clothes - the regulation suits so
often described, and now so familiar to our people - in anticipation of
this event, but, alas, some have no relatives or friends to invite them
home.

                                McAlisterville
Old McAlisterville, the father of Soldiers' Orphans' Homes, was gay today. 
The sky was never clearer, the mountains surrounding were never bluer or
more beautiful, the meadows and fields were never greener, the birds never
sang sweeter notes, and the pupils never wore happier faces than today. 
The little town, with its plain, honest, industrious people, wore a holiday
aspect.  Flags played over the capacious institution in the pleasant
breeze, and girls in pink and boys in blue were in bright anticipation of a
successful examination- for they are ambitious little people, and want to
beat everybody else in all branches in which they are trained.

Early in the morning Colonel McFarland arrived, and was greeted, as usual,
with acclamation by the pupils, many of whom were once more under his
especial charge.  Prof. L. M. Cause, of Harrisburg, accompanied.  Later in
the day Dr. Worthington, Senator J. K. Robison of Juniata; Prof. David
Wilson of JUniata; Prof. C. C. Hughes of White Hall; Captain W. L. Owens of
Mifflin, General William Bell, Rev. Copenhaver of Juniata, Hugh McAlister,
Esq. of Juniata and others presented themselves.  Several old graduates of
the institution, including a young lady, who left at sixteen last year with
honor and distinction, were also present, unable to resist the allurement
which the old home of happy childhood's hours always possesses.  The latter
come to see how their comrades and playmates were getting along, and to
encourage them in the annual test of the recitation-room.  They took a
laudable pride in the developments of the examination, and enjoyed the day
perhaps better than if they had been at a grand opera.

The beautiful scenery around McAlisterville was depicted as well as fair
language could express it last year.  The large accommodations here were
dwelt upon at length and it would be unnecessary to repeat all the
advantages already recited.  But a cauals glance at the boys and girls in
the buildings and in the playground is sufficient to indicate to the
visitor of a year ago that much improvement has been made.  All present a
fine physical appearance.  Their training has been excellent, their
discipline wise and firm, but yet mild.  I witnessed gymnastic exercieses
today that would put to the blush many of the gymnasts of Philadelphia, and
the military drill displays muscle and endurance which the Seventh New
York, of course, knows nothing about.  Free country air and well-directed
exercises are so well adapted to the development of all the physical
functions that the wonder is that we don't all go to Soldiers' Orphans'
Schools and learn to be men.

The principal, Prof. J. M. Smith, tells me that during the last year the
health of the school has been splendid.  Two deaths occurred, but from
diseases contracted before intering.  The institution now contains 217
pupils, 101 of whom are girls.  Last year there were 211, 99 of whom were
girls.  Altogether 421 children have been within the school, showing 334
discharges, of which 102 left on "age".  During the last year 39 left on
age (having reached 16), 17 girls and 22 boys; and at the approaching
vacation 9 more will leave at age sixteen - five girls and four boys; so
that the next year will commence with 204, no transfers are made or new
admissions ordered.

The farm produtcions from thirty acres of school ground attached - the
charm and the practical value of a country school - will be great this
year.  The apple orchard is well loaded with fruit, and there are peaches,
pears, and cherries.  There are eight acres of potatoes, one of cabbage,
one of tomatoes, one of grapes, one-half of cucumbers, besides radishes,
peas, lima beans, sweet potatoes, peppers, celery, strawberries, etc., all
of which are doing finely.  They have already had 35 buchels of string
beans.  It takes four hundred nine barrels of flour, twenty eight thousand
two hundred loaves of bread to feed this little family every year.  But the
beauty about the system which commends itself to all visitors is that the
community is to a very great extent self-supporting.  The boys attend to
the farming, the girls do the household duties, thus learning what all
ought to know when growing into manhood and womanhood.

In this connection it will not do to slight the ladies, who immediately
superintend the work and wants of the girls - Miss Hattie B. Arey,
superintendent of the sewing department; Mrs. Jane Caveny, Miss Mary
Anderson and Mrs. Clara M. Martin, her assistants; Mrs. Kate Brant, matron;
Mrs. Sara Musselman, superintendent of mending: Mrs. Sarah Safelds, sick
nurse; Mrs. Mary J. Overton, superintendent of the washing department; Miss
Sarah Weiler, her assistant; Mrs. Saville Martin, superintendent of cooking
and her assistant Miss Alice Butz; and Miss Barbara Hood, superintendent of
the dining room - all of whom have won golden opinions in their several
departments after years of incessant service.  Fifty-two girls, all that
are strong enought for the duty, have learned to sew on the sewing machine,
and nearly all can sew by hand.  Some of the very finest needle work is
turned out here.  All the clothing of the boys and girls except boots and
hats, are made in the establishment.  Three sewing machines and a knitting
machine are kept constantly at work.  The matron's department is a model of
cleanliness, airiness and comfort.  Every little bed is as white as the
whitest sheet of paper on which the BULLETIN was ever printed, and whiter. 
The cooking is most unexceptionable.

The following is a list of the teachers and other employees:
Principal - Prof. J. H. Smith, who has now served five years and three
months.
Principal Teacher - Prof. W. C. B. Miller, served one year and four months
First Male Assistant - Mr. E. L. Martin, one year and five months
Second Male Assistant - Mr. Henry Alber, seven months
First Female Assistant - Miss L. J. Blair, six months
Second Female Assistant - Miss Emily Fulton, ten months
Third Female Assistant - Miss Anna M. Keller, seven years
Medical Attendant - Mr. Joslen McFarlan, seven years and four months
Gardener - Mr. Peter Devery, seven years and four months
Teamster - Mr. Lewis Ingram, two years
Steward - Mr. Jacob Smith, four years and six months

The educational exercises today, under the direction of the Board of
Examiners were very interesting.  No close tests of intelligence and
progress in the various branches could be applied, and the little folks
stood them bravely.  The whole day was occupied in questioning, and
although the process was tedious, the result was in every respect
satisfactory.  The following are the averages of the various grades and
classes in the studies in which the examination has thus far been completed
	Seventh grade (or highest grade) - A - Spelling and defining, 88;
	reading, 90; writing, 94; written Arithmetic, 98
	B - Spelling and defining, 84; reading, 91; writing, 86; intellectual
arithmetic 	100
	Sixth grade - Spelling, 62; reading, 87; writing, 86; intellectual
arithmetic 92
	Fifth grade A - Spelling, 87; reading, 80; writing, 88