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