Soldiers' Orphans' School

Giving A Brief Account of the Origin of the Late Civil War, the Rise and Progress of the Orphan System, and Legislative Enactments Relating Thereto; with Brief Sketches and Engravings of the Several Institutions, with Names of Pupils Subjoined.
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“God is pleased with no music below so much as the thanksgiving songs of relieved widows, of supported orphans.”  --Jeremy Taylor.
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by James Laughery Paul,

Chief Clerk of the Department of Soldiers’ Orphan Schools, Harrisburg, Penna.

Illustrated by Frederick Faas.

Third Edition.

Harrisburg: Lane S. Hart, 18, 20 & 22 South Third St.

1877.

Part I.

Chapter I.

The Conflict which Terminated in the War that made the Children Fatherless.

Pennsylvania's Thank-offering – Slavery in the Colonies – First Continental Congress, 1774 – Carpenters' Hall – Articles of Confederation – Address to the American People – Congress of 1776 – The First Compromise with Slavery – The Expunged Charge against the Repudiated King – Articles of Confederation of 1781 – Constitution Adopted, 1789 – Concessions to Slavery – Slavery Excluded from the North-west Territory – Louisiana Purchase, 1803 – Slave Market – Missouri Admitted, 1820 – A Compromise – Texas Packed – War of Conquest with Mexico – Wilmot Proviso – Gold Discovered in California, 1848 – Compromise, 1850 – Anti-Slavery Organizations – Repeal of the Missouri Compromise – Kansas-Nebraska Act – Civil War Kindled – Republican Party Organized – Buchanan's Presidency – Presidential Contest, 1860 – Abraham Lincoln Elected – Southern Confederacy – Lincoln Inaugurated – Fort Sumter – Civil War Begun – "Battle-Hymn" – Sacrifices of the War – Its Gains . . . . . . 17-28

Chapter II.

The "War Governor" and "Soldiers' Friend."

Andrew G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania, During the Civil War – His Responsibility – His Devotion to the Union – His Care for the Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-30

ix

Chapter III.

A Special Providence and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

Thanksgiving – Soldiers' Orphans Ask for Food – A Meeting in the Academy of Music, Philadelphia – Governor Curtin Pleads for the Orphans of Soldiers – Patriotic Meeting in Pittsburgh in July, 1862 – The Pennsylvania Railroad Company Proffers $50,000 . . . . . . . . . . 31-34

Chapter IV.

The Rejected Stone.

The First Official Document – The First Attempt to Frame a Law to Establish Schools – Dr. Wickersham's Bill – Special Message of the Governor – The Debate – Wells' Substitute – The Original Bill and Substitute Fall – Act of 1864 – The Ingratitude of Legislators . . 35-43

Chapter V.

The System Organized.

Dr. Burrowes appointed Superintendent – His Fitness – Plan under Act of 1864 – Office Opened, and Books and Blank Forms Originated – Blank Form of Application for Admission – Homes for the Younger Children – Difficulties in Finding Institutions for the Older Children – Pioneer Institutions – Committees of Superintendence appointed – The Mothers' Prejudices – Religion – Superintendent's First Report – The Foundation Laid . . . 44-53

Chapter VI.

The System Imperilled.

Message of the Governor – Encouraging Words – Negley's Bill – Purposes to Abolish the Schools, and give the Orphans into the Care of the Officers of the Common Schools - $30 a year – Proposed Amendments – Bill Passes the House – Bill goes to the Senate – Remarks of Senators Worthington, Wallace, and Clymer – It Passes the Senate with Important Amendments – Committee of Conference – Act of 1865 - $75,000 Appropriated – Demand for more Schools – Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54-60

Chapter VII.

The System Saved by the Orphans.

Discouragements – Governor's Message – McAfee's Bill – Warm Discussion – Passes the House – Destruction of the System Threatened – Visit of the Children to the Capitol – Dr. Burrowes Explains – Songs and Recitations – Speech of Governor Curtin – Children and Teachers in Executive Chamber – Children in Court-House – Hospitality of the Citizens – McAfee's Bill Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61-76

Chapter VIII.

Additional Officers Appointed.

Amos Row, Examiner – Wm. L. Bear, Inspector . . . . . . . . . . . 77, 78

Chapter IX.

The Officers and Principals in Council.

Industrial Feature Discussed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Chapter X.

A Trip to Philadelphia – The Orphans and the Battle Flags.

Schools Participating – Society of the Cincinnati – Flags for Pennsylvania Regiments – Fourth of July, 1866 – Formal Return of the Flags – Enthusiasm – General Meade's Address – Governor Curtin's Reply – The Enviable Lot of the Fatherless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-89

Chapter XI.

Instructions Issued to the Principals.

School-room Duties to have Precedence – Every Pupil to have an Equal Chance – Early Rising Condemned – Rest, Play, Exercise – Corporal Punishment – Distribution of Time – Time; Rise; Eat; School; Worship – Rules for the School-room – Duties of the Principal Teacher – To Instruct; To Send out Classes; Receive Reports from Class Examiner, etc. – Pupils not allowed Text-books out of School Hours – Few Studies – Topical Study – General Reading – Dictionaries, Cyclopedias, etc. – Duties of Class Examiner – Number of Pupils, Teachers, and Class-rooms – Programme – Work Details – Comfort – Labor – Employees – Rules for Order, Neatness, and Work – Wednesday Inspection – Food – Clothing – Inspection of New Pupils, and Care of Sick – Religious Instruction and Worship – Sunday Observances – Home Correspondence –

Visits of Mothers – Vacations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90-107

Chapter XII.

The Results at the Close of the Year 1866.

More Schools Established – Results Tabulated . . . . . . . . . . 108, 109

Chapter XIII.

The Rejected Stone Becomes the Head of the Corner.

The System Recognized by Statutory Law – Law of 1867 – In Sympathy with Established Plan – Dr. Burrowes' Success – His Tenure of Office Expires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110-114

Chapter XIV.

The Trust in New Hands.

John White Geary – Extracts from his Annual Messages – Appointments – George Fisher McFarland – Columbus Cornforth – Mrs. E. W. Hutter – John Dickie Shryock – James L. Paul – Edmund R. Sutton . . . . . . . . 115-121

Chapter XV.

The System Settled, and Its Difficulties.

Deficit – Rates Reduced – Schools Crowded – System not Perfected – Colored Soldier's Orphans – A Circular – More Schools Established – Forms for Reports – Weekly; Monthly; Annual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122-130

Chapter XVI.

Education and Training.

Graded Course of Study – Annual Examinations – Industrial Instruction – Religious Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131-134

Chapter XVII.

Loans and Taxation.

Act of 1868 and Supplement – Schools Receiving Loans – Exempt from Taxation – The Act – Supplement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135-137

Chapter XVIII.

The Trust Confided to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Superintendent Wickersham Calls a Meeting of Principals – Inspection Report – Diploma – Course of Study Modified – Change in the Manner of Supplying Clothing – Rates per Annum per Pupil allowed by the State – Cost of Clothing – Manner of Keeping Accounts – Wood-cuts of Orphans – Dress Described . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138-146

Chapter XIX.

John Frederick Hartranft.

He Commands in more than a Score of Battles – Complimented by the Government – The Soldiers' Orphans at his First Inaugural – The Institutions Participating – His Words of Encouragement to them – Extracts from his State Papers – His Second Inaugural . . . . . . . . . . . 147-149

Chapter XX.

Grand Army of the Republic.

Their Sympathy and Services to the Orphans – Normal School Training Secured through them – Other Advantages Secured – Kindness and Timely Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150-153

Chapter XXI.

Inside View.

Scholastic Training and Systematic Labor – Extract from Inspector Cornforth's Report of 1864 – Harmonious Working of the Industrial Departments and the School-room – Programme – Home Comforts and Privileges – Good Health of the Children – Culture and Education – Elevating Influences of the Schools upon Society – Conclusion . . . . . . . 154-160

Part II.

Schools, Homes, and Asylums.
 

Illustrations.