GIBSON PEACOCK.. Editar. VOLUME I'ENIV4•IILTANIA'S SOLDIERS' PIIANS. • t , i! i. ppecial Coireetionilence of tbo phila.Everilnit It Ulletin .1 iinuntfinunu, August 3, 1869.—T0 give a . . popular;idea of the past history, present con .. ;, • i dition and, future prospects of it great system . ' :i like the•Soldiers' Orphans' Schools of Pennsyl- L i vania, requires language somewhat different I ' from the formality of an annual official report; and itis well that at'various chosen periods In , . the progresS of such 'aii, institution its .work il ing machinery ..should be laid bate to public in , . . • , 1 speetion, in order that the people may obtain a fathiliar-insight- into-the-manner iffWhieh ! their best and most vital interests are man aged by their servants, and in order, too, that history May not want for varied mate rial with which to work up its record f of the march of events. This, then, ' seems to be a most opportune period at which ' to represent the status of the Soldiers' (Jr. plums' Schools of Pennsylvania and the hopes and plans formed tor the future. The first an : tinal examination •of all the schools in the I State, thorough in all respects, has just closed -though the system hat now been. in opera - , tioefor_ticarly_fiveyears---innithe-lharvest-of , facts and figures just garnered is new and fresh. In this rambling, unpretentimis review, a. fen , facts will be dwelt upon asi indicating the 'progress of these schools and of the public ! sentiment in reference to them, as food upon which, taking many things into consideration, the pride of Pennsylvanians may laudably feed. Many bright anticipations of the future may-begathered from the past And present, and a line of policy, which we may reasonably expect to be followed, will he Marked out. • In the - month el, July, 1862, while on a visit to Pittsburgh in the discharge of his official duties in connection with the raising of Penn sylvania's quota-of the Union army, Governor Curtin received a telegram from the Pennsyl vania, Central Railroad Company, offering to .i, donate to the State the sum of fifty thousand doildrs to assist in the: payment of bounties to volunteers. He declined the offer, because he did nut deem that he bad the authority to ae : rcpt it on behalf ofthe Commonwealth, and b:cause he was Unwilling to assume the dis burst merit of the Money in his private capa city. To apply it to any particular locality would serve to excite the jealousy and epposi - tion'4 • the rest of the State, and to divide .it :. proportionately among the various emit:ties Would be rendering the aid ) allbriled to each so insignificant as not to be felt by any. In this dilemma he cominuni cared the facts to the:l.egialature In his annual 1. message of January 7th, 1863, suggesting to that body that if it should accept the donation, it be applied towards the erection of an asy lum for our disabled soldiers, and that trustees should be appointed to superintend its erec fi don and management, authorized to accept . t such further contributions as Our citizens I might see fit tri Make. But the Legislature of fj 18th; took uo notion pn 'this : recommendation, ' • and the fifty thousand dollars still remained at the disposal of the :Cdminonwealth. ' One cold, stormy, blustering November day, . ; as Governor Curtin stepped from the doorway • ! ofthe Executive Mansion, wrapping his great coat closely around him, he was • accosted by tWo dirty, ragged, shivering little beggar boys, who appealed to him with tears in their eyes • for the means wherewith to . sustain their miserable existence. A passing remark elicited . the - fact'that - their - fathers 7 had Ife - en 'killed in. , - - battle - foritc - national life: The Governor put closer inquiries to these children, and found f their tale. a sad one. ! Their Mothers were poor and in ill health, utterly incapable of furnish ing-their-daily-bread. This was then nothing neW. though tiaLravagcs_oftvar—had—not :, thrOn , : made : so j extensive an inroad lip i , th6 - 1 - 0 - tnes•of our eitizens as at a later period; and Governor Curtin had not been untouched by similar woful talcs, but itstruck him that day : with peculiar force. That day the people were gathered in their places of worship, iii obedience to • his-call, to give thanks to Al - mighty God for the victories He had vouch- -:ifed.tlie Union arms. He thought to himself: Was it possible that the people Of Pennsyl vania could, thank God for their victories, when the children of the brave men who , . brought us the fruits of hard fighting, and car ried our flag in triumph thrOugh the blood and carnage of Gettysburg, were on our streets begging for breach! He remembered how he ' had pledged to the soldiers encamped here and all over the Commonwealth, when they were' about to enter the nublie - service, that if they felt on the field 'of battle, we would take care if their orphan children ; and when the Gov ernor of the Cominonwealth laid his head upon his . ~ pillow on the night of that bleak No vember Thanksgiving Day in 1803,he resolved that the fifty thousand dollars donated by. the Pennsylvania Railroad Company should be the nucleus around which to form one of the grandest charities of the age or of the world, by which the helpless children of our deceased soldiers all over the State should be supported, I maintained and educated. , Accordingly, in his message to the Legisla tare in 1864, Governer Curtin recommended that the Pennsylvania Railroad :fend be, e plied to soldiers' orphans, and the suggestion p • was favorably received. ' On the ,sixth day of May an act of ten lines is-as passed and ap proved,, authorizing the Governor ..to ..e.ccept. the sum "for the education and Maintenance of destitute orphan children of deceased sol diers and sailors,' and approipriato the same in such manner as ,he might, deem best calcu lated to accomplish the object. An erroneous impression has prevailed that we eke indebted to the Pennsylvaniaßailroad Company for the' . origin of our Soldiers'. Orphans'..Schools,, but thetruth of history requires the _plain state ment' Of the'fact that their eenceptiondS due entirely to Andrew a Curtin. The Pemisyl. voila Railroad Company onlyr: acceded to the recommendation of the Governor that the ob- - ject'of the donation might be chatiged,and in doing so it was incidentally the means, under frovnienee,; of furnishing Ga3,-erinit Chitin the wherewithal tO work but-his noble idea. Under the not of .May 6th, 1864, the Gover nor, on the 16th of June following,' appointed Dr.' Thomas H. Burrowes i ,of Lancaster, as State Superintendent of Soldiers!, Orphans, with authority to prepare aml_submit a plan for their governance. On the 27th of June Dr. Burrowes submitted hiaschenie,:embracing many of the prominent features of the system as now carried out, and the Governor, on the Ist.of July, approved the plan, which was im mediately put into operation. Superintend. ing committees, consisting Of three, five and seven members of both sexes, em bracing some of the best area and women in the State,- were appointed in every bounty, with the approval of the Governor, for the purpose of hunting up and caringfor the most deserving Soldiers' orphang in their respective ! _.,, ~,.: ~,... -, r, . „ ~',.,'.7„.1 , - , ,,,; ~ ~., _ rrr , r , -- , ,- --''.•.• t-, r',' , ,-, -'-, -- - is' - ',l' fli' ,-.- i 'l,, - ''' - i e,',....;:i7r..`:. -- , -- 4 'S -- , ~' 4 - ,- ':,:-:,-- - ,••.' ' . 1 ... • •: - .."- , :'-ri::: , :, ' '„: ,g: ,-- 0- , , 4 ' , ' . . , . , • .. ' - . n, , ~" _., , , : •,:.,.. , __ ~:" . . ' ^ -'' , ' ' -- '' ''— ' : f "-; '',''' • ' '''. .''s' " ' '' 1 ''''..- .'.l ' : ',/:' i ' •''' ''' ' ' 4 . .%_ i :: ' l' e. 6. .2. .: : -... , ,:i „,!;:::,..!: • f -.- ••, " ' I ' • 1 , , , J. • , X , , ~ , . , , - , r _ r. I , I:rr I ) ~.. . . i. iF . , .. 1 ,,,. .._ .. I .. 0. 100. localities, and certifying tot the LOOS reqUired as conditions precedent to the admission of children into the orphan Schools, in which capacit V they still serve: Much credit ia due te Dr. hurrowes as the find organizer of. the schools. He set about his work resolutely, knowing the difficulties - he had-to encounter. Theftind with Which IMWOrkedWaS yerysthall, compared with the herculean task before hirn. c ^ coul not ev ss en -aure hia friendany!at the Leslat d ure of 1865 would make appro. priation from the State Treasury to • this ob ject. He pesSessed no legal authority to pur chase property for the purpose, His plan did not embrace this warrant such the finnis were not sufficient to wrran't snehan outlay, All he could do was to'employ persons possessing suitable buildingS and wounds,-andilhey- were those who, at a considerable . cost, had fitted up establislnnents as private Schools, and they were not generally willing to risk the giving up of paying institutions to undertake. a hazardous and unprOthising enterprise. So that the mere starting of the schools , was in itself a great battle. [n this emergency, he wisely sought the assistance of his mostinti mate friends. Nearly all the schools started exclusively for soldiers' orphans in 1864 were brought into existence through the personal influence and persuasion ofDr. Burrowes,who frankly_ admitted the difficulties under which 'he labored. Under these unfavorable circum stances many were found to engage in .the work who yet boast of their rank as pioneers An the cause ,- Some—azidit - could - not be other wise—were found,after due trial. to be unfitted for the peculiardtities devolving upon them. Many were replaced when their tastes or abilities did not seem adalited to the work. They were unaccustomed to governing. large numbers, or had not the nerve to meet the rough,heterogeneous mass of children thrown upon their care, and found themselves at sixes and sevens wheni youthful diseases and dis orders were manifested. By October, 1864; the children commenced dropping into the care of the State. By the report of Dr. Burrowes, McAlisterville is ac credited with' being the first school organized. The following-are the dates at which he reports the earlier and larger institutions as estab lished : McAlisterville, October 7, 1864. Northern Home, November 25, 1864. • Lancaster Children's Home, Dec. 5, 1864. Paradise, December 6, 1864. Mount joy, Deceinber 20, 1864. orang,eville, January 3, 1865. Quakei.iown, January 18, 1865. IPittsburgh and Alleghany Orphan Asylum January 25, 1865. , NorthSewickley,.April arford, November 6, 1865. ve , . H assville, NOvember6 .1865. On the fofirth day of ' April, 1866, Dr. Bur rovesappointed Amos Row, Esq., of Indiana county, as Examiner, and Colonel William L.' ,Bear, of Lancaster, as Inspector of Soldiers' orphans' Schools. This was the first appoint ment of these officers, now so necessary and t tli cient. . . . . Up to 1867 the whole syStem was carried on without any specific law, the diScretionary powers vested in the Governer and Superin tendent being large and untrammeled. That these powers were exercised - with wisdom humanity and faithful economy is now con , eeded by all. Yet this absence of law was clearly not calculated to give permanence and security to the institution. The plan was sub ject to changes with every incoming political administration. , the schools were to be governed by the flitting fancies of every new Governor and Superintendent, the proba bilities were - ..that the policy would be vacillating and the Aiscipline and general welfare uncertain. Governor Geary saw this, and immediately npbn hisinduction into office, set about remedying the defect by placing the schools under the regulation of a well-defined law. Three bills were at this time prepared for submission to the Legislatnre---one by the Governor himself, another by Col. McFar land, and the third by Dr. Burrowes—and from theSe drafts the act approved April 9. 1867, was framed by the Senate Committee, of which the Hon. Wihner Worthington, a staunch, liberal, constant and-uticorainrortils.= ing friend of the_cause,..--waeL-chairman:: • The feature which distinguished the Gov ernor's bill from the rest was the wise and humane provision author izing and directing the Superintendent to procure schools:or.lithnes-for -the children of colored soldiers and sailors, subject to the re culations - and - restrictionsprovidedler orphans of white soldiers andsailors,Waiving,„ ei,:the'radrietfoi — tin regard to the num ber of acres and the extent of won:ire- - tions. This was incorporated as seer One judicious _provision „ from--Dr. Bt bill was also embodied—providing tin the arrival at-the-age -of - sixteen each orphans who shall not desire to be appreu , ticed to a trade or employMent shall be re stored to the mother, guardian, or next friend, with a full outfit of clothes, and a certificate, signed by the Superintendent and the Prime'- pill of the proper school, showing his or her moral standing and literary and industrial at and qualifications. But we have not space to enunotate the several provisions of thus excellent bill as it received Executive approval. Under it the schools are now work ing uniformly, with the beSt possible success. It is the boast, too, of Pennsylvania that she was the first to conceive and adopt this benefi cent institution, carrying it into a state of per fection seldom attained by any charitable en terprise even, though but in its infancy com paratively. Indeed, we search in vain in the world's history for an. exactly similar institu tion. Governmental . pensions to widows of soldiers, State and national appropriations:M(l hospitals for indigent or disabled soldiers, and the placing of soldiers' orphans in asylums es tablished for all,are common in other countries and ages. But a distinct system, providing for the especial eare, maintenance and education of soldiers' orphans exclusively at the expense of the Commonwealth, was known to no na tion or State prior to its conception and adoption by the Keystone State: The • efficiency .and practicability of the undertaking is now recognized far o and wide by the wise and humane. Not a week passes that letters do not reach Colonel McFarland from prominent officials, legisla tors, philanthropists and statesmen in other States—even south of ,Mason Sz Dixon's imaginary line —asking a full explanation of the plan,, intimating that its adoption by them is demanded by the people, in some instances headed by the Grand Army of the Republic, now engaged heart and soul in the good work. Committees and agents have visited our schools, deputized to ascertain and re port, upon its practical every , day.. work ings. 'This has' ,been more , particularly the case since the syStem has been reecignized by statute and regulated by law andlias reached so creditable a degree of per , . fection • under Colonel McFarland's adminis tration. : • NO. VI I The inevitable conclusion then.,-•at which we must fairly arrive, is thaefor the origin of our Soldiers' Orphans' School system we aro indebted to the administration . of Andrew G. Curtin, and for its perfection and nermanency to the administration of Gov.:Jobb, W. Geary, who fully and ably carried out the grand idea, entering. with spirit into the performance of the work His heart is •• in' the came; having • repeatedly and publicly, pledged his untiring efforts in the continuance ,ot the trust 'Under his administration as Chief Magistrate there need be no fear that this sacred trust: will. be relinquished. ' • - The first great considerations with• Dr. Bur rowes were necessarily the health, morals and personal comfort of the pupils, andln the per formance of this duty, •builclings had 'to be re-' paired, altered, renovated and enlarged, and the discipline of the schools wisely instituted and rigidly enforced; and when his superin tendency was handed over to' Col. George F. SleFarland 'in 1867, the sanitary condition of the children generally Was improving, and their moral .training as • effectual as could be expected,. coneidering.-their s :sad , derearaliza, Lion, physically and'morally; when gathered in the schools. Boys' clothing then cost $35 awl girls' $:!.0 _per annum. The boys Worablue kerseys and blue cadet caps; the girlti; lawns,. EVerettplaids and initials. Colonel '3leFar land matte no changes in the: boys' clothing, save the Substitution of Miners' plaid flannel shirts in lieu of muslin, as more healthy and economical; and so that. they might .run in the heat of summer relieved of their heavy blue roundabouts. The girls' dresses he changettto pink-calicos- aird ginghams in summer and miners' plaid flannel in winter.. The average cost of clothing each litlim hae been reduced to $25 per annum. He'devoted the first , year of his term mainly to Ale. sanitary condition of the schools, instituting close inspections, eradicating cutaneous diseases, and bettering the ventilation and accommodation 9 of the buildings, ineisring upon the appointment of lucre skilful and experienced teachers and em ployes: This secured, last year his energies were bent more particularly in an educational siirection; as a feature which it, was now time should be more systematiled. The schools having been gradually prepared fur it, 'a plan of grading for educational pur tioses_was putintosoperationlast September. 'This plan contemplates eight grades of scholarship, constituting a thorough English education. (The schools are divided into two classes—the primary and the adiranced, the. former numbering, the latter , 12). In the advanced schools, with their eight grades, all the more important English branches are taught—spelling, 'reading, writing, intel lectual and written arithmetic, geography, English grammar, the - United States his tory and Constitution,physdology, algebra, geometry and book-keeping. This year will be added the study of elementary works on Eardening, farming, the care of 'stock, &c. ach Principal adopts the text books for his own school. It was upon the Englishgradiug that the recent annual examination was based, and the results were very satisfactory. A. comparison of the averages shows such a state of progress and seholliship as must awaken the ambition and energies of all connected, with the schools to renewed exertions in this direction. The progress has certainly been' great and encouraging, reflecting credit upon the brains that devised the machinery by . ivhich it, . . was . attained. The examination of the more advanced scholds was conducted by Col. MeFarkintleast of the Alleghanies, by Inspector Cornforth in the western portion of the State, and the homes and primary schools by persons deputized, all being accomplished within two weeks, in order that\ the averages might be obtained and equitable Comparisons drawn before vacation. Many of these averages have been published in my letters. Two more grades—the ninth and tenth—are meditated for the„ more ad vanced who may remain to partake of their advantages, designed for a higher course not usually regarded as part of our common school education, embracing the languages and fjtll preparation for a collegiate career. The following table exhibits the total num ber in school at the close of each year : December 1 4 1865 91 Girls. Bo 7 36 ys. Total. cc , 1866.-1,081 1,600 1,680 " " " 1867.-1,306' 1,874 3,180 2,058 3,431, The Legislature of 1867 wisely changed .the Orphan School year, so that it now runs from June to June, instead of from December to December, thus obviatingthat anxious wait ing and suspense experienced 1865 and 1866, prior to the annual legislative appropriations. Up to November last there were 3,617 ptipils in the schools. There are now 3,715, about three-fifths of whom are 'boys. This number is divided among the various counties as fol lows: . Adams Alleghany... Armstrong. Beaver - .Bedford: Berks Blair Bradford.... Bucks. Cambria , Carbon. Che Stet C1ari0n........ Clearfield Clinton Columbia Crawford Cumberland..... Dauphin Delaware Elk Erie Fayette Forest. Franklin . Fulton.. Greene. _Huntingdon. ^ 108 1 Indiana 61 Jefferson 791 .Juniata 4J, Lancaster . 172 Thus it will be seen that every county is. the State is proportionatel3- yepresented, and it may also be observed that nearly every township has its fair quota. Where it is other wise it has been for the want of a conveniently located school. The religion of the parents of these children is indicated as follows: . Methodists, 1,269; Lutheran, 433; Presbyterian, 412; IlaptiSt,22B;. Gel man Reformed, 166; Catholic,_ 157; Episco pal, 157; Protestant, 149; United Brethren, 75; Disciples, 35; Evangelical, 29; Church of God, 26; Dunk:twi t 18; Universalist, 11; Congrega tionalist, 8; Friends, 6; Winebrenartat, 5; Albright, 5; Church of the Messiah, 4; Adven tists, 4; Bethel, 1; Puritan, 1; .Moravian, 1; Itiraelite, 1; unknown, 514. It will be noted at a glance how largely in preponderance are the Methodist children, confirming the boast of Bishop Simpson that at onlea_of- one t h Ch nd r r c e h d i t n h ou P s e a n nd y o v an h ia e served to swelUtWranks of the Union army in the 'war against rebellion and slavery. Yet, strange and incredible as it may appear, there is not a distinctiVe .Methodist Soldiers' Or phans' School in the whole State, while every other denomination. prominently at least represented has the care of its own children, until promoted to thernoro-advanced schOols.. Can our Metlicalist friends explain? Good health is prevalent in all the schools. The death rate lids been less than one to every three hundred and fifty children per annum. .The rapid and syminetrical growth 'bf body is surprising to all experienced •in the manage ment of large establighnients who have visited our soldiers' orphans' schools and are con versant with their history and condition. In 'these respects our schoolihave been peculiarly blessed during thepast year.., The improve ment in system, in the plumber and character of the employes, in the progress, dePortment and general tone of the children, and in • the quality, sufficiency and Caro ' of their, wardrobes has been "constant.' The .'deiro ,tion of the teachers and Managers has been unremitting. In discipline, however, there seems • to ;be , a call for, some-. relax ation :in one. respect -. alone, and. it is ' plea.sant to knoW I.hat this is :new being strongly urged by, the SuPerilitend-. ent. genie of the schools perfect silence is 'required at meals, Whereas' a quiet;:iseCial 'tercounie between the childriin-a kat or d i n :, 'tier and tea-table talk—Would be' conducive to •• • 18 Lawrence. ... 179 Lebanon.. • .. 101 Lehigh.... ... 51 Luzerne., • •• • 41 Lycotning, ,• . 61 Mercer.. ... , .. 110 McKean:.. •• • 31 Mifflin . ~. 51 - • 30 Monroc..„.„ . .. 24 .. '55 Montgothery. , 27 • . __6 4 _i_Montiiur - . 16 1 Northampton - . 128[NorthtiMb34111,1T&— ,•. 10.31 Perry. —lO3 Philadelphia ... 37 Pike ...... .. . 9 .3 Potter. •. _ 46 Schuylkill.... • . 48ISnyder • 51 Somerset I . 128 Sullivan. , 30 Susquehanna.. 5 Tioga. 28 Union 731Venango i 5 Warren 39 Washington... 10 Wayne Westmorehind, Wyoming.. York.. OUR.WHOLE ' O6M I 36iY PHILADELPHIA, TH ..... 49 63 70 43 91 ..... 502 .141,§pAy,....4uov'st--0-;,:p69, .digestion and general cheetfulness of disposi tion, without coidlibting with order and:good government. The general visiting-tour of the Superintendent, made to • many of the schools within.a few days, will have,the effect of vs,. m teatizing - - - all 'the operations, -- introducing a more perfect untformitv. • " .L. S. tror the Philedi.lphia Eve/thaw Bidtvin.J The Beauties of Delaware. ' • Tired of fashionable watering, resorts, and seduced by the very glowing letter that ap peared" in Your paper of. the 1(Ith- ultimo; the undersigned started, with two . others, for Lewes, Delaware. 'l,re left Broad and Prime B,loelock A. 14., anticipating a ride of four or five hours to' the ocean side, and good living at reasonable prices and a surfeit of gunning and Baling during the stay. Imagine our disappointment as we entered Lewes at- 7 I'. M., having made the trip in the usual time-=seven hours by rail and two and a half hours by stage. . • Upon inquiring the next , morning, for the famous (?) Rehoboth beach, it was found to be ' seven (not four and a half) miles and ac cessible 'byit' carriage, at five dollars' fOr the • drive. 'Undismayed, we went and saw. The beach is steeper -than at - Cape.May or at At lantic City', and the surf had a single breaking upon the very edge of the beach. It did not_ look inviting, and we did not try a "bath. , There is a lake of fresh and very good water within a hundred yards of the ocean, but it is quite diminutive,not over an eighth of a'mile in either length or width, and there is not the slightest external indication of fish or of any other living' thing lithin its Waters.. We'then turned to Rehoboth bay, and from a boat, about four hundred feet froth shore, threw out our lines, but there was not a single bite during a_balf hour's eflert—and we abandoned both the effort and the place. It is due the locality, however, to state that crabs and blackberries are there in great abundance, and that the gunner can - find, quite as much game there as at any other sea side resort. Upon complaining to the hotel proprietor of the dearth of fish, he, in itlES . eriousness, as sured'lls that it was not the .6 right season for fishing—thht We should come a month . later. But the extreme disappointment was occa sioned by the misrepresentation as to the dis tances of Lewes from Philadelphia and of Rehoboth beach from Lewes. Instead of Georgetown—the present•railroad terminus— being eighty miles from here, it is one hun dred anti ten,- and the whole distance to Lewes by railroad, when the latter shall have been completed, will be one hundred and twenty-six miles; and this, too, over the lines of three different railway companies —the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltiinore Company to Wilmington; • the Dela ware Railroad Company to Harring ton, and the Junction and Breakwater Railroad Company to Lewes. It will not be practiCable for many years to induce these companies to unite so as to put a train through to the last-rcuied place in legs than six hours; at their present running rate, it will take eight and a half hours. And the time for the extension of the track to Rehoboth is still fur ther Off.' 'Without such extension, the real distance of Rehoboth to Lewes—about, seven mules—renders It impracticableas a Watering place, at least until its intrinsic superiority over the present favorite Philadelphia resorts is much more - apparent than it now is. - I Stilisequently - devoted two days in endea voring to find a shorter route to Rehoboth on foot. But the route by the beach, past Cape Benlopen,-was evidently quite as long, and the marsh Was so - Intersected by inlets that the __way-over-it_was interminable— But I must stop . ; neither ray dine nor-your space will - admit of further elaboration at pre sent. The _above has been written from a sense of duty to my fellow-citizens. I send it to you became you should have the oppor tunity, as I know you have the inclination, to protect your readers from imposition, particu larly where_your widely circulated journal has, without your knowledge, been •made the medium of it. Yours, very ° respectfully, PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4, 1869. EXCURSION OF THE "UOPULAR BAY CLUB." [Correspondence of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.] O BOARD STEAMSHIP MILLVILLE, FORT RESS MONROE, August 3.—The " Popular Bay Club" arrived here thiS morning at 10 A. M., all well, after a most delightful trip. We left Philadelphia at 1 P. M., and after a quick run, arrived about 3 A. M., on Sunday, at Cape Island, where we were welcomed most heartily by many of our friends, and escorted to the city. Arriving at the hospitable mansion of our ever-respected townsman, Joseph Reigle, we were entertained in tine style with all the delicacies the Island could allbrd. Having disposed of a luxurions repast, all hands repaired to the ocean, where we bad the pleasure of a dip in old Neptune's fountain. Refreshed by a glorious salt-water bath, we bade adieu to our kind host, and all were soon on board. At 3P. M. the "Popular Bay Club" sot sail for the Breakwater, arriving at that place about twilight, not, however, without the usual amount of sea-sickness , common to all such parties where there are persons who have not experienced a rough sea ride. The . Bay was ratherrough, and the unui ual rock ing motion was disastrous to the dinners of the green ones, who "had never been.' there. before," and who were heartily wishing them selves safe at home., It was noticed that most of the party were very much absorbed In con templating the wonders of the dedp;.,but this was readily explained—they were paying tri bute to Neptune. ,Safely ensconced behind the walls. of the Breakwater, in comparatively smooth. water, the sick were taken care of. by.tlieir Mote for tunate companions, and 'Were 'soon cOnVales- . cent, and we devoted ourselves to all kinds . of tunuseinent • On Monday 'morning, August' '2d, at one O'clock, with all 'steam up, we passed out to sea, heading for FortresS '4onfoo. ' The pas- sage was pleasant, With - the ekception:of a OW,. cases of sea-sickness, (among whom must;. mention your.correspondentb.and : we arrived at the Fort in find. condition,, • We' are now having a good time view ing the - sights iirotind". the Fortress, and will' 'shortly leave' fo*Nor- ' folk; froth Which place will probaWctini-' niunicato:- • ' THE NASTIEST BOSTON TUAGEOY. The Wife of a IPhysieitta Shot - Dead in Her Parlor in Presence of the Family —4to Attempt of the llfarderer to Itiyaterioua Affair. [From thcfpostotijouroal of Aiiguet4J ' It is our painful task to recordthie of the most heart-rending tragedieS of which oiir city .has been the scene during the• pres.entgeneratien, resulting in the death of a wife and mother by Violence, in the presence of her husband andfamily, family, by' the hands of an inmate of the filthily _dwelling and-a patientundertteatinent bY the murdered lady'shusband—Dr.Alvah H; Hobbs. An air of mystery, to a certain extent, scene; to pervade the terrible, affair, and; from the lateness of the hour at which the murdertook place,. it was impossible to prooure , all the facts in the case, but solar as we could collect them they were as follows: 'About half -pest ten o'clock last evening, Dr. Hobbs whols an old and highly esteemed physician of this city, residing at No. 1256 : Washington, a few doors above East Dedham street, rushed breathlessly into the Fifth sta tion, situated in the latter-named street, and stated to Captain Small of that •station that his wife had been Shot. Sergeant Hartshorn was immediately despatched-.to--the--scene of the tragedy and arrested Major Thomas L. White, said to be a resident of the State 'of Tennessee, but for sonie time past residing In the family of Dr. Hobbs for medical treat ment. This White was the author- of the tragical event, and was brought to the station house without any resistance. The statements of inmates of Dr. Hobbs's family are to the effect that the members, in cluding the murderer, had taken tea together in the most friendly and agreeable manner,' and at'• the conclusion. of - the repast Major' White retired to his room •in the upper. part of the house, where he commenced to read aloud. MrS. Hobbs proceeded up stairs and inquired why he read in so high a tone, to WhiCh White replied, "In order to develop my kings," or words to that efibct. Mrs. Hobbssoon afterward came down stairs again; and was about to enter the parlor,when, turn ing her head in the direction of the room above, she saw White coming down, with . a pistol jn his hand. She seemed 'to be apprehensive of White's murderous - intention, . for she immediately called out to .. her husband, "He is coming, and with a pistol !" and almost shil -1 nitaneously with this ejaculation the first shot from the assassin's pistol, resounded through the house. This shot proved ineffectual; so-far as striking the murderer'S victim was. cori. Cerned, Who immediately closed the door be tween herself and White. • But, strangely, the second shot .which almost immediately fol lowed the first—after passing through a panel of'the door, entered the left breast Of the un fortunate woman, 'passed thrOugh her body and came out under the' right arm, and she fell to the: floor and in a few mon:tents breathed her last. The dreadful act was witnessed by the husband and young, Son of the yietirii a boy about nine years of age—who - has :dime been almost frantic with grief and horror. When the officer entered the room wherein the terrible clime took 'place the murderer stood in the middle of the apartment coutem-: plating his fiendish work, and still holding in his hand the fatal instrument of death. Imme diately, however, upon the entrance of Ser geant Hartshorn, he extended his arms - in a theatrical manner, saying: "Pm "your man," and was immediately secured and conducted to the station-house, whither he proceeded quietly:. White is iigooddooldnir man, appa rently somewhere in the vicinity of thirty years of age; and in conversation with the officer on the way tii the station, although ex pressing no regret at the horrible deed, he had committed, remarked that there ought not to have been cause enough for him to have done what he did The murdered woman, Mrs. Katie Kohlis; was the second wife of the doctor, and Was about thirty-five otage. _lt is stated' that the murderer bld been-a,thend and - acquaint , mice of Mrs. Hobbs from early childhood, and no reason was given last night _showing what' impelled the murderer to coitl& the awful deed. White last night was unaware of the I extent of. hid_crime.-and-seemed: to-be-under the impression that his victim was, still alive. It is deemed-advisable - by - those it authority to leave him in that condition_forthe_present.. The terribbYafftfir was the cause of conside rable excitement in the immediate vicinity of the tragedy, but, owing' to the late:hour at which the deed was committed,: it had at tained but slight publicity. • • An examination of -- the room of the aim , derer, after his arrest, revealed a scone of the wildest 'disorder. Books and papers were scattered about in every direction, and innu merable letters were found in a partially con sumed condition. Coroner Burrows ivlll hold an inquest on the bodyto-morrow, when the details of the tragedy and probably its motive will be:ex plained in some degree.- It is the opinion of suph as should have good judgment in the inatterthat the ruurderer was quite sane. DISASTERS. ANOTHER ItAHLRCIAD Breaking of . a Trestle on the BOston, Itartf9rd and Erie Railroad—Two Men ItilleMfitid - rive Injured. t From the Danbury (Conti.) Times (extra) Aug. 3.] To-day Danbury again becomes a scene of horror. At twenty minutes past nine o'clock this (Tuesdaylmorning the trestle work on the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad, just below the steam excavator, gave way and came to the ground, bringing with it four loaded cars and seven men, one of whom was instantly. killed. Another has since died, a third is in a dying condition, and the four remaining are 1 more or less injured. The trestle work in question is built out from the embankment some distance, and is used to run out its cars, whose contents are clunaP_Od from it for the fillindacross the valley. The trestle work is of heavy upright timbers, strengthened with numerous girls. At the place where the accident occurred it was nearly fifty feet high. Four of the cars or dumps were on the trestle work. Two men--carpen ters--were at the end, extending the work. Three brakemen were on- the cars, and two men who remained on the Work as dumpers were standing at the dumping place in wait ing. As the cars - passed on to the trestle one of tho heavy upright pieces was observed to heave inward by Col. - Dibble and- others who were standing on the ground -below. One of them cried an alarm; but it came too late. The en tire work swerved inward, and, in an instant, a thundering crash of timbers follow6d. One of the carpenters was seen to run back as the alarm was given, as if to jump off but he Sank with the rest. Apiece of timber or iron strucklim in the neck,rand :when he touched the earth he was, dead. Timbers, cars, iron rails and quivering biunartfiesh lay crushed together in the valley, appalling 'the hearts of those ' who "hastened to bring relief ' The bodies were taken out "as soon as possible, but with 'considerable difficulty. - ' • -Oy . rus" E.QUick, of. Danbury, a carpenter; Was instantly killed. A bad contusion at the base.of the brain received from a flying stick: or,baruf iron ) .killed him instantly., lira body was found; part Way the bank, the head, downward, and t large stick or timber resting." acroSshia ' He - was- taken 'mit " and con .veyed under atree, where his remains await a Coroner's investigation„....'L • ' Foster Botiton, Ekanbuiy, a carpenter, struck on the soft 'embankment below, and, miracu lously escaped with a pittoil the' upper lip.. DOwd, dumper,"from Massachusetts GRIM E. —Professor Franz Alit, the, popular German song composer,' has been invited to become conductor of the great national slingerfest to be held iii Cincinnati next year. • . • • . —Ex-Senator Lafayette S. Eoster, of Clan.. necticut, who was for several, years presiding officer of the 0 United, States Senate, has tic. cepted the position of Professor of the Yale Law School. L—The Viceroy,. of ...Egypt is,said to intend .. creating a foreign' legion to be recruited in Europe, but principally in France. This 'corps will be in garrison at Suez and :Ismail, and its special mission will be to guard the canal and the isthmus. - . -- • •. ' , ! .—The:Harrisburg Patriot of .the 4th says': "The Adjutant-General of the Stqte yesterday sent fifty commissions for officers of the Penn.; sylvama militiain different scollops of the Com monwealth: The militia spirit seems to be becoming aroused." ' - /. ,• . —The manual labor System at 'Cornell iltd.-_- ; versity work to a charm. One udent sup- ' portshimself s by cabinet-Making, st another by printing, another by photography, While some' work on the farimand another who sweeps thee_ rooms and makes fires has Liken the first prize in sciencenntl - ,German - . . .- , ! —ln all ages the mother-in-law has been re- ' .garded a.s one of the unhappiest necessities of married life. An American author has called. .. . public attention to Shakespdare's evident ideas-- on - this Albject, showing that Othello's ruin is made painly attrilintahle-Lte—his---wif------ smother. , '' -• EdgartciWtr (Mass.) has a versatile geniuS - who advertiseShis boarding house "with our. latch-string - out day and night, - Where :. the wants of the inner man will be - attended - to,' - and where straw and provender can be had at short notice. H any, one has - 00118 or bad teeth to dispose Of, we can relieve . them at a. very small expense and with little pain." ,• , . • —The Marquis of Townshend, an enthu siastic but erratic philanthropist, has ititro. duced a bill into' Parliament making it unlaw ful for anybody but a parent to box a child'S ears, and generally to permit no corporal pun ishment of children except that time-honored method of flogging , known to English youth' under the name of 'horsing." • , —A:lawyer in a certain city in Connecticut ; ' not remarkable for his cleanliness of person, appeared at a party a while ago with a rose in his buttonhole., "Where sic, you suppose it came froth ?" said he to a brother lawyer who was admiring it. The latter looked up and d n own the entire length of the qeestioe , anti ' with great deliberation responded, "Why, I suppose it grew there." . . —The Pall Mall Gazettesays: "A mehineholi little incident is related of .the-upress' - Charlotte. This unfortunate Princess has' been staying for some time at tipa. The other day she insisted with such vehemence'at play ing roulette that it was impossible to restrain her. On approaching the . table. she deliber ately placed a gold pmee on the number 19. The Emperor. Maximilian wasshot on dnuel9. The wheel turned, and though thirty-seven' chances were against her, she won. She iniled sadly, took up the money,' and quietly left the room. On her way. out a poor man passed by. She gave him all the money, with theinjunction that he was to 'pray for him.' It is known that the Empress Charlotte never. pronounces the name of MaxiMilian." —A correspondent of the New York Evening. Post gives, the following method of olserving the eclipse next Saturday: "Take a large car with a small round hole in the centre, and hold , it against the sun's rays, so that the shadow" will fall on the floor, pavement, wall, or other dark and smooth surface. In the middle 'of the shadow tberemill .be .a true image of the-. sun, and the eclipse canf be studied in its pro-.. gress without straining the eyes, and witheut smutting faee or hands with smoked glass. .. ' This simple process was Suggested by the fq,...,, miller circumstance that the light spots la,. the shadows, during a solar eclipse,take the' • shape of the luminous portions of the sun's disk: and the perforated card has . been used ;, with perfect success." - ' .• -: .',. : ~, ' —An ingenious German of Now, Britain-, • Ct., named Lindner, during - recent :.etoufine-.. : ment with disease, made a remarkable picce. of mechanism: It consists of a COMplicated :. clock work, inclosed in a miniature castle. A watchman Walks round :the:, tower • Cony. pleting, his circuit once in '.fifteen ` minutes. Once in fifteen minutes . a porter opens agate in the castle, steps out; and. then 'retires, vie- sing, the gate after. him, ~' At eleyeu o'clock the main entrance to. - the castle opens, and a number of figures appear Under the arch, and . . . remain while "a music box Within plays sere- ral airs. Figures tilsecipPear now and then at the..windavvs.LOwthe lop of.-the castle is - ii ------- -t - -. ball, one sidegilded and the other black. The. gilded side turns from behind a screen with'. the moon; . indicating the changes of that planet froui the tirst quarter to the full. • ;'. . • lislte PRIOR THREE' CENTS was badly injured in the chest anti about UM lead. Will not live. , ' • Michael Crowley; brakeman, of Newtown ' , bruised about - the - fade awl hips." He was wedged in under sem e: timbers,,but upon their being pried up he crawled out without aid. Patrick Kelly, dumper, injured , in 'chest and about,head.' Kelly was alive when taken from the wreck, but, died soon after. • , • Henry McPhillips, neck and face seriorsly., Edward Riley, brakernan, hand and arm' seriously. • The wreck is a sad sight. Heavy timbers wrenched apart,iron rails twistediont ofshape, togethor with-the debris-of the- cars; and - 1,116 - :blotches of human blood, show how terrible must 'Jaye rbeen the crash, and how extrutt ating the pain. , • FACTS AND FA.NCIIESJ Hest. Rest is not quitting The busy career; Restis the fitting Of self to one's sphere • 'Tis the brook's motion, Clear without strife Fleeting to ocean, After this life. 'Tis loving and Serving The highest and best; 'Ms onward, unswerving, And this IS true rest... —Bar buoys—lawyers. - —Light Comedy—" Marriage by Lanterns." —Seals are seendaily on Nantucket beach: —Motto for the Bedford street free baths:- "It's-cap deferred nitiketh fife heart sick." —Garibaldi is said to 'bend over:like the leaning tower of Pisa. —Haytien money lb looking up. Five dol lars of currency are now worth a cent in gold. —"An Angel's • Whisker" was, a painter's error for whisper.- , — How.tosPturn people's heads"—Go late to church. —Paris goSsiis say that Madame Patti looks live years older than she did at this time last. year. ~, • . —Gottschalk is making lots - of money in Brazil. • The Emperor, always goes to con certs and gives the pianist, private interviews: —A man in Paterson had his child baptized, got drunk, beat his' wife and died, all on the same day. —A Missouri • tanner listened to a gypSy's revelation of a gold mine on his . farm and paid. her 8 , 1,000 for the intelligence: He is looking for it. ~•' . . : . - , ;: ,. . • :,: 1 .: : ,,. .! :. i'; , : t . , ,, i;.i . .. : :' i ':.:, :, ' :, : . r:'{3ti'.is. —Goethe
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers