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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1886)
PENNSYLVANIA'S DISGRACE. Ukamoflil Treatment of Soldiers' Orphans at the State Asylum. A Philadelphia correspondent of the Now York World writes: Considerable Indignation has boon excited in this Commonwealth by the recent publica tions, in tho nowspapers touohlng tho lhamcful management of tho Mount Joy Asylum for Soldiers' Orphans. In rostigation shows wretched treatment of .tho children committed to tho caro of tho State, and thcro is a strong sus picion of corruption on tho part of tho officials in charge. Tho story of Bqucors's Yorkshire school, Dotheboy's Hall, is painfully revived by tho rovcla tions already made, and tho indignant ex-soldiers aro disposed to chango tho namo of tho institution from Mount Joy to Mount Sorrow. On tho 14th of Doccmbor last I was In Wllliamsport, Pa., and was lament ing tho dearth of news to an acquaint inco. Ho answered: "My dear fellow, rou don't look in tho right place. Now, I will givo you a pointer. Aro you aware that soldiers' orphans aro bought and sold in this community? No! Well, will explain. I know that thcro aro ovoral mon nt this present timo en gaged in furnishing our soldiers' or phans' schools with children, and they aro paid so much a head, and, further more, tho condition of said schools is most disgraceful and will amply repay a news reporter to investigate. You can get somo idea of tho matter by stopping off at Mount Joy and can seo for yourself. So, good luck and good by." Dec. 17 found mo at Mount Joy, a neat, thrifty town situated in tho heart of tho richest farming district in tho State. The cultivation of tobacco has brought wealth into tho community and thcro aro farmers hero whoso income from this sourco alono is over $5,000 a j-car. Tho orphan school buildings aro with in sight of tho railroad and a short dis tance out of town. Tho air was raw and nippy and I walked smartly to keep warm. A hundred yards from tho school 1 mot a man, evidently a farm laborer, wiio was trying to arrango a load of heavy chestnut rails that had shifted, and 1 held his restive horses for n moment. When ho was through I said: "That is a iiuu institution and a credit to tho State." He looked at mo a moment and answered: "Well, sir, I can't agrco witli you, and what is moro I know pretty well what I am talking about. It's a disgracoto decent people to bring children up as tlioy are. 1 haul feed to tho place, and of courso I too tho boys ami know their condition. Why, sir, l'vo seen the children alive with vermin, and had occasion to han dlo a blanket such as thoy havo on thoir beds, and I found it full of tho pests. How can tlioro bo anything like moral training in a place where tho children nro huddled together liko pigs? Somo of tho boys conio from tho coal break ers and are old in wickedness, and al though I am no chicken thoir bad lan guage fairly makes mo sick. When you think that there aro 1)50 children, boys and girls, packed into that building, and only four people to look after thorn, and somo of them drink, and of courso don't do their duty any better for that, you can judgo for yourself. A man oamod Shorbin is head keeper and is called Instructor In Mechanics. Before- ho came here he was clerk in n Etoro, so that it's not likely that his Instruction amounts to much, lint tho fact is that tho people in tho neighbor hood aro to blamo. Thoy havo known all about this for tho last live years, but thoy soil things to tho school and turn n dollar by it and so don't dare. Thoir victuals would not bo so bad if thoy vrcro only cooked right, but no atten tion is paid to tho kitchen, which is as dirty ns a cattle car, and tho children must just cat what thoy got or go hun gry. Thanking tho man for his Informa tion, I wont through tho gato and up tho long gravol walk to tho building. It was evident that tho outsido was du ly cared for, and that nqithor labor nor pains wero spared to make things look eoomly. Four boys wore lounging around, and three girls, Bhook-headed and forlorn looking, wore ovldontly quarrelling with thorn. In two minutos I hoard enough to satisfy mo that my Instructive wagoner had not oxaggor utod when ho spoko of their lack of moral training, for ono of tho girls yell ed at tho boys and addressed tliom In languago that no Chorry stroot rough could surpass In vileness, and a boy calling her u lioad-lioadod , adding: "Hero oomo a cully." Apart from tho othors was a girl and boy, evidently brother and sister, nnd of theso I mado a sketch. Ono tough, hard-headed looking boy, tho only ono that 6comcd to have any life In him, asked mo to "tako lils fortygraff." Tho girl's hands woro soared with tetter-marks, and every now and then sho snatched at her clothes in n way that sliowod sho was afUiotod with that liorrld complaint that Invariably fol lows poor diet and porsonal uncloanll- ness. Hor clothing was of tho poorest material, and was fadod and worn, and In fact sho was dressed preelsoly ns tho field hands woro In tho bouth in auto war times; but tho'condltton of tho boys wm much worso, for tlioy woro vcrlu iij ia rags, and the little fellow's panto wero torn and frayed from the kneo down, and his thin blue legs were ex posed to tho harsh air. Tho other boy, in answer to my query, "Why do you wear your worst clothes in cold weath er?" answered, "Why, we ain'tgotany others, and some of the fellows is worso off nor us." Hero a boy about fourteen and far moro intelligent in appearance than tho others, came around tho house with a baseball bat in his hand. I at once conjectured that ho was a new-comer and spoko to him. His eyes tilled, and ho said "yes, and I'm not going to stay. I havo to sleep with two other boys, and ono has sores all over him and smells so bad ho makes mo sick. I'vo only been hero three weeks, and I'm getting soro eyes, and Dr. Zciglcr leaves salve and the Greaser puts it on us with his fingers and wo aro getting worso all tho timo. When I came hero they gave mo this old jacket (evidently an old infantry shell jacket, ragged and greasy), to wear and it mado mo , and I can't get 'em off." And I was horriticd when ho turned up his cuff and I plainly saw tho loathsomo vermin nestled thcro. All the smaller boys had skin irrita tion, and no care was taken to prevent the new arrivals from getting it, as thoy woro assigned to beds by tho older boys, who had chargo of tltc dormitories, and no means wero taken to isolate tho infected children. All washed togeth er and used tho same towols, and in bad weather they wero packed into tho cel lar like so many sheep. "My father," said the poor boy, "was a Captain in tho army, and was wound ed in front of Petersburg, and there's plenty hero that are not soldiers' or phans at all, sir. I'm going to cut it as soon as spring comes." Mindful of tho maxim of tho rovor- enco duo to children, I did not speak of tho relations of tho boys and girls in tho school, but I utterly failed to get any of tho girls to talk; they seemed utterly cowed and depressed, and slunk away when addressed, Iho Captain's son said that "Old Sherbin" had forbid thorn speaking of tho placo and its methods to strangers. I now deter mined to got inside, and had my foot on tho steps leading to the front door when somo ono called out: "What do yo want?" I turned and found that tho children had vanished and that my querist was a man; this was Sherbin, Acting Superintendent and "Master of Mechanics." lie settled my expecta tions of getting further information in very few words. "If I had an order from Mr. Iligbio or Mr. Paul I could go through tho building. If 1 had no pass 1 was a trespasser and had no right to go around jawing to the children." llo was evidently determined to bo un civil, and replied to several of my ques tions by saying shortly "that it was nono of my business," and that I must "git out" at once. It is not easy to upset tho professional equanimity of a reporter, and I quietly walked past him and around tho east side of tho house to get a look at tho kitchen. Tho door was open and everything was black with dirt. The floor seemed to answer for a table, as it was covered with cooking utensils, and thero was a sour, siekly steam arising from tho food that was cooking on tho ranges. My investigation was cut short by some ono slamming the door to violently, nearly banging my nose. Again tho man spoko : "Now, sir, 1 don't want to bo uncivil, but this is agin' tho rules, and you must go. If you bring a proper order, I'll do all I can to oblige you." 1 found that 1 could do no more, and as my timo was limit ed I could not well stay longer, but in truth I had seen enough for conviction. Tho institution was an offence to all de cency and huiuahity, and thoso con nected with it wore well aware of all this but there was money in it, and justice must sleop for a time. I learn ed from a llarrisburg reportor that thero was something on foot and that tho managers woro excited and vigil ant, and that I would most llkoly got a very frosty reception from tho Harris burg officials if I wont for an order to visit tho schools. Ho told mo tho schools woro run by a syndicato for tho State appropriation, and that he could got $5 for taking a "kid" there, and It was not an indispensable condition that tho "kul" should bo an orphan nnd tho child of ft soldier, as ho kuow of child ren thero whoso paronts had not boon in the country ton years. They wero worth $3& ft year to tho syndicate, and not loss than $30,000 per annum was divided among tho mon that run the business. Now all this was two months boforo tho formal and searching Inves tigation that Is now going on was com menced, and lean well beliovo that tho worst has not been told. Hearsay evl denco alono is scarcely admissablo to impeach men of fraud and inhumanity, but tho testimony of my own ears and eyes corroborates much that I learned from others. I Guoss So. A Now York paper says tho phrase "I guess" is a colloquialism which hnri its origin in Now Kngland. It is un doubtedly n colloquialism common in Now Kngland, but it Is a natural ex presslon, and Its origin probably con temporaneous with tho words of which It is composed. Chaucer wrote: 'With ulin tip ro was hi ton, n youug Kpiuv, K lover Mid a oty bachelor, With lockra i-rulJ. they were UM in pre, Of tweuty yean of ago lie ws, 1 uuc." j JJinUn Ciiuritr. FACT AND FANCY. A bank cashier novor goes off until ho is loaded, and thon ho makes no re port. Novcr borrow trouble. Tho interest you havo to pay for tho accommodation Is excessive Scientific peo'plo say London fogs aro turning pink; but possibly pink is tho favorito color of young bucks when they go out painting tho town. "I'vo run a piece of wood under my fingernail," said an old married man to his wife. "Ah," sho sneered, "you must havo boon scratching your head." "Aro you a marrying man?" was asked of a sombor-looking man at a recent up-town reception. "Yes, sir," was tho prompt reply; "I am a clergy man." Yes, Sam Jones Is undoubtedly cor rect. Tho devil is a gentleman, but ho differs from somo other gentlemen wo wot of. Ho has a cloven foot instead of a cloven breath. Rev. nenry Ward Uccchcr has been preaching a sermon to "Men who Can Not Smile." Wo havo not explicit in formation, but suppose it must refer to prohibitionists; but even in that case wo think II. W. li. is mistaken. Tho following letter was received by an undertaker from an alllictcd widow er: "My wicf is dod and wants to bo bcricd to marrow at Wonnor klock. U noso wair to dig the Holo by tho sido of my other two wiefs let it bo deep." "Mother, what is an angel?" "My dear it is a little girl with wings who ilies." "But I heard papa telling tho governess yesterday that sho wasian angel; will she fly?" "Yes, my dear, sho will fly away tho first thing to morrow." There is said to bo a movement on foot to orgauizo a servant girls' mutual protcctivo association. Ono of tho first rules, it is understood, will bo that no mistress is to bo permitted to fuss around in tho kitchen while a servant girl is present. A nurseryman in Pennsylvania claims to bo able to grow apples without cores. This is certainly an improvement upon that variety of fruit which comes with tho flowers that bloom in tho spring, and is principally remarkable for being a core without any applo outsido of it. "Wo go to press at 2 instead of 4 to day," said a Tcnucsseo paper, "in order to attend to somo business of im portance in tho country." At preelsoly live minutes of 4 two high-toned-looking men with shot-guns callod, and wanted to know whero tho editor was. Artillery is monarchic, cavalry aristo cratic, and infantry democratic. Armoi and horso brought tho rule of tho few ovor tho many; cannon helped mako ono man ruler ovor all, whilo the mus ket is tho agent of tho popular will and tho pioneer of mmorsal suffrage. A 08-poundor twonty-livo years ago was tho most powerful piece of artillery known, and it threw a projectilo 1,570 feet por second. Now tho woight ol guns has increased from 5 to 100 tons, tho velocities from 1.G00 to 2,000 feet, nnd tho energies from 1,100 foot-tons to 52,000 foot-tons. Tho Oaulois, of Paris, informs its rcadors that "Gen. Crook, at tho head of C.000 mon, one-fifth of tho entire army of tho United States, has been pur suing for tho past two weeks ' ten Apaches, who havo been giving him a breakneck run through tho immenso torritory of Arizona." Six-year-old Mary M. informed the family a few days ago that sho wished to go to church Sunday, as sho was In terested in what would bo said. After much persuasion sho was induced to say that sho "spectcd after tho men and women had sung tho minister would got up nnd say : 'Tho Progressive Whist club will meet with Mrs. M. next Wednesday night." "Wo havo callod Rev. Dr. Blank to our church next yoar." "You don't mean It! I novcr heard of him. What church has ho over had ? Is ho a fa mous preachor?" "Famous preacher? Should say ho was. Ho has boon In dicted by a grand jury twice, and was throe times suspended from tho minis try in four years. I expect wo shall havo to build nn addition to our church in six mouths." Sho was young, sho was grcon, sho was very now in Washington. At a ro cont swell affair sho had gono with tho crowd Into tho refroshmont room. Prcsoutly an elegant-looking waiter for all tho world liko a foroign ambassa dor, bowed politely boforo her and mur murod: "Is thero anybody waiting on vou miss?" "Sir? Sir?" sho Btammor ed, In startled embarrassment. "Par donnoz mol. Is tlioro anyono waiting on you?" "Oh!" sho said, blushing brightly. "No, sir; not in Washington. Uut when I'm homo I'vo got moro beaux than any other girl in town." Few of tho pooplo who see Lotta kicking hor hcols nnd playing all tho trlcka of a little girl on tho stago would placo hor ngo at tho correct figure Tho littlo mlto of ft body doesn't look It, but sho was born on Nassnu street, Now York, Nov. 27, 1817. Her father, John Ashworth Crabtreo, was an Eng lishman, and kopt n bookstoro, which ho nbaudonod to go to California dur ing the gold crazo of '49. Lotta has been on tho stago slnco 1858, and sho is credited with, tho largest pllo of dol lars of any woman lu tho profession, tho greater part of which she owes to bar mother's business ahrowdnoss. An Astonished Engineer. Over in Jersey City one day last week two or three locomotivo engineers sat talking over strange experiences, nnd this was the story that ono told: "I was a young man working on a southern railroad as a fireman when tho war broke out. Before tho war was over I got an engine of my own; but before I was regularly promoted tho engineer of my train fell sick of a sudden and I was ordered to tako the cngino out myself. I shipped a brakesman to do my firing, and ntartcd away at six o'clock in tho morning, pulling ono passenger and half a dozen freight cars. Thero wasn't any fighting along my line, but thero was a deal of bad feeling everywhere, and lots of lawless deeds wero being committed. The track on this road had been torn up in two places only a week before and there was a good bit of talk about train-wreckers and tho liko. At about eight o'clock at a way station I got a telegram from headquarters to drop all my cars and hurry right on to the end of the lino with only my loco motive and tender. It was a queer or der, but 1 knew that it was official and I mado ready to obey orders, when a little man with a slouched hat, who did not look as if ho weighed .over a hun dred pounds, climbed up into the cab, and said to mo that ho wished I would let him ride in there with me, ho was so anxious to go forward as far as ho could. I told him that my orders wero to let nobody ride, and explained that I didn't think I could let him go. 'Didn't you expect nic?' he asked. I told him I didn't. 'It will bo all right,' ho in sisted, but when I asked him what was his namo and what was his business ho couldn't bo induced to tell me. 'Then it's all up,' said I, 'I'll go right along without you.' Then ho suggested that ho was willing to pay mo well for let ting him remain aboard, but I wasn't taking any chances, and I told him so. I was only waiting while my fireman attended to some business that he had gono down tho track about, and then I was going to shoot ahead and leave everybody behind. You ought to havo seen tho sparks in that littlo man's eyo. 'You needn't wait for your helper,' ho said, in that kind of quiet tone that had a wholo battlefield in its very quietness. 'You needn't wait for your fireman. I'll do his work. Go ahead!' I looked at him, wondering whether or not ho was crazy, when ho calmly took out a shiny pistol and tapped gently on ono of the brass rods of the cab scat, and ho re peated once more, 'Go ahead!' I was knocked clean out. What could tho stranger mean? That sparkle in his eyo grew brighter and brighter, and seemed fairly to" dance like a dia mond in tho sun. 'Do you understand?' ho inquired, in tho quiet tone that pierced mo liko a bullet. 'Go ahead, I say.' I went ahead. On, on, and on wo dashed, through tho fields and for ests and by tho villages, stopping no where, my passenger I felt that ho was a madman keeping a close watch' on mo all tho while. 1 was scared. That pistol was still in his hand, and liko tho little hand of a watch its rat-a-tat-tat on tho brass rod kept counting off the seconds and tho minutes till I grew almost crazy myself. I was rat tled. A sort of film kept coming up bo foro my oyes. He said not ono word, but I felt that his searching gaze was on mo all tho while. And finally I could stand it no more. Thero was a rush of blood to my head, I staggered and fell with tho town I was bound for just in sight. What I remember next was a buzz of voices over mo as I lay in a doctor's office. Aside from a nervous shock 1 had suffered nothing. My cngino had brought mo into town all right, and had como to :v halt at tho station as gently and amiably as any old family horso. Tho man who had rode down with mo had known enough to govern her, but ho had waited at tho depot after arriving only long enough to toll a bystander that I was in need of help in on tho engine's iloor. A wcok after I learned the reason for tho strango order that had been given mo to hurry on with my locomotivo and no cars, and I learned too tho name and tho mission of my passenger. A tele graph operator had blundered. My dis patch should have read; 'Tako on little man with brown slouch hat; drop all cars nnd rush forward with no stops.' Tho operator had carelessly left off tho first phraso about 'tho littlo man with brown slouch hat,' and given mo only the last part of tho order. Tho man? Ho was Alexander II. Stephens, and ho had important war information that ho had been willing to trust nobody clso Ho apologized to mo afterward for his strnngo actions, but ho said ho felt that only in such a way could ho ever man ago to mako me go on, for ho didn't know what tho text of my orders was, nnd ho was afraid to ask for foar that he might find mo either unfriendly or untrustworthy. Thoso wero days when everybody was suspected, you know. New York Times, Racing at a Ball. "I say, Jim, woro you over to tha Charity Ball, tho other uight." "Yes, and I predominated thcro to a groat extent." "Did you notico anything thoro that would remind you of a horso raeo?" "Well. I noticed considerable jock eying among tho fair sox to seo who . would win tho rnco for beauty." "And what was tho result of your observation?" "They nearly nil camo in winners by a baro neck." national Weekly. THE Union Milling Co.'s FUKX. KOMLEIl IX.OUR TAKES THE LEAD Wherever It his been tried. For Salo ljr all tho Lending Dealer Everywhere. Geo. Wright, President. W. T. Wnionr. Cashier. AL BAI UNION, OREGON. Docs a General Banking Business. Buys and sells exchange, and discounts com mercial paper. Collections carefully attended to, nnd promptly reported. COMMERCIAL- Livery ni Feed Orr-osiiE Centennial Hotel. JOHN S. ELIOTT, PROPRIETOR. Having furnished this old and popular hostelry with ample room, plenty of feed, good hostlers and new buggies, is better prepared than ever to accommodate cus tomers. My terms aro reasonable. GOVE TANNERY. Adam Ciiossman, PnorniETon. Has now on hand and for sale thp best of HARNESS, LADIGO, UPPER nnd LACE LEATHER. SHEEP SKINS, ETC. POK'IXiAIVW IBICES Paid for Hides and Pelts. WALLA WALLA BEER DEPOT. Corner Mnin and A Streets, Union. E. MILLER, - - - Proprietor. Keeps always on hand tho finest brands of WINES, LIQUORS, and CIGARS. r The very best Lnger and Boclc Beer in tho market, at 125 cunts a quart. Beer and lunch 25 cents. A fine billiard tablo for tho accommoda tion of customers. Drop in and bo socia ble. RAILROAD FEED AND LIVERY STABLE Near the Court IIouso. A. F. Benson, - - PiioriucTon. Union, Oregon, Pino turnouts and first-class rigs for tho accommodation of tho public genorally. Conveyances for commercial men a spe cialty. JSiTTho accommodations for feed cannot be excelled in tho valley. Terms reasonable SMOKE OUR "PUNCH" Best Havana Filled 5 Five Cent Cigar. 5 Jones Bros., agents, Union. E. GOLLINSKY & CO. SMOKE TI1E "ESTRELLA" KEY WEST Imported Havana Cigar. NONE BETTER. Tonsorial Rooms Two doors south of Jones Bros.' store, union, uregon. J. M. JonNSON, PnorniETon, Hair cutting, shaving and shampooing done neatly anu in me nest style. CITY v MAT v MARKET Main Street, Union, Oregon. Benson Buo.'s Proprietors Keep constantly on hand BEEF, PORK, VEAL. MUTTON, SAU SAGE, HAMS, LARD, ETC. CEETEHAL -: HOTEL. Union, Oregon., Dax. F. Mooke, Proprietor, A well stocked bar in connection with the house, and none but the best brands of liquors nnd cigar kept. LARUK SAMI'LIS ROOMS lor the ac- muiodntion ol commercial travelers. ROWLAND & LLOYD Manufacturers of FURNITURE, Main Street, Union, Ore. ivcep constantly on hand a large supply of Parlor and Bed Room Bete, Bedding, Desks, Ofiko Furniture, etc. Upliolatcrlns Done in the Bent Style Lounges, Mattresses, and all kinds o! Furniture made to order. PATRONAGE SOLICITED. PHOTOGBAPH GALLERY! Corner Main nnd C Streets, Union. All kinds of photographic work dono.ln a superior manner, and according to tho latent nnd most approved methods. Views of residences taken on appli cation. iS9AH work warranted to give satisfac tion. JONES BRO'S, Props. MASON & HAMLIN Organs AND Pianos are Unexcelled "7" can snvo From $50 to $100 on tho X Oil purclmso of an instrument by buylnir ttiroutrh W.T. AVKIGIIT, Agent, Union, Ogn. Buy tho Hayward HAND GRENADE Fire Extinguisher. Everybody should havo them. Mon, women or children can uso them. Thou sands of dollars worth of property saved every day. They don't freeze, aro not in jurious to flesh or fabric, and aro always ready. You cannot afford to be without thorn. G. J. Becht, Gen. Agent, 12-t Market St., San Francisco, Cal. Cook & Dvvight, Agts., La Grande, Oregon. JONES BRO'S, Corner of Main and B streets. Union. -Dealers in- GROCERIES, CANNED GOODS, VARIETY AND FANCY GOODS, TOD AG GO -AND CIO AH 8 CENTS FIJItNISIIING GOODS. WATCHES, CLOCKS, and JEWELRY Glassware, Musical Instruments.r.turS. Frames and Pictures, Moulding, ' Bird Cage, Baby (Jari"' riagce, etc., Candies- and Nuts, Stationary, School Books, Periodicals, Novels, etc., of overy description. ALL KINDS OF FRESH FRUITS . Always on hand. We keep constantly on hand everything usually kept in & first class variety store. MuQrders from any part ol the countjy wflTbe promptly attended to. t I i