a domestic and social character for its beneficiaries as the Northern Home for Friendless Children.

At the breaking out of the great rebellion, the Northern Home was the first institution in the United States to open its doors for the children of the brave men who had gone out in defense of the Union, even before any of the fathers had fallen in the struggle. Here these children were kept free of expense, with the understanding that if the fathers fell in battle their orphans would be permanently cared for; but, if they were so fortunate as to return, the children should be restored to them.

After the war had assumed colossal proportions and many children had been reduced to orphanage, the Northern Home was the first to provide a home especially for them upon its own ground.

This Home for the Orphans of the Army and Navy, now called The Soldiers' Orphans' Institute, the first in the country, was for mally dedicated and opened in the summer of 1862, the dedicatory services being performed by the late lamented Rev. Dr. Hutter and Rev. Dr. Brainard.

The buildings were both afterward much enlarged, and again rededicated to the good cause of caring for the orphans and friendless. A new and elegant chapel is the latest improvement, and of recent erection.

The Northern Home has thus constantly been spreading itself in good works.

The beautiful park, attached to the "Home" and "Institute" on the eastern side, serves as a play-ground for the large and happy family of children gathered here.

The average number in all the buildings is usually nearly 400. infirmary is owned across Brown street, and entirely separate from all the other buildings, but the children enjoy such excellent health that an infirmary for the sick is scarcely needed.

During the twenty-one years of the existence of this institution, it has received, cared for, and indentured, or otherwise disposed of, nearly three thousand five hundred children. The average number of inmates during the year was 255. On May 1, 1874, the number of soldiers' orphans in the institution was 240 and of friendless children 113.

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Institute was the outgrowth of a spontaneous and unrewarded charity towards these wards of the nation, exercised long and liberally in their behalf, before any systematic provision was intended by the State or any re-imbursement expected for their maintenance and education. Not only orphans, but children impoverished by the absence of their fathers, were also received, fed, clothed, and educated, to be returned to their homes or adopted and permanently cared for as circumstances required. Several hundred of such children were thus maintained, for whose support no public recompense was ever received.

The locality and the resources of the Northern Home being better adapted to general service than any like institution of the State, it has been continuously recognized by the legislature by yearly grants to aid in its benevolent operations. These appropriations are, however, now discontinued.

UNIONTOWN SOLDIERS' ORPHAN-HOME.

On account of the unusually large number of young pupils in this school, but little show can be made of advanced scholarship. Four who left this year have entered the State Normal School.

The boys during their detail hours work in the shoe-shop, stockingfactory, broom-factory, caning-department, and at gardening and farming.

The close of the last year marked the commencement of the numeri cal decline of the school, the number at that date being fifteen less than at the same time the previous year. The coming year will show a much greater decrease, showing that the work so happily conceived, so mu nificently carried forward, and already bringing forth such blessed results, will soon be finished.

CHESTER SPRINGS SOLDIERS' ORPHAN-SCHOOL AND LITERARY INSTI

TUTE.

This is an institution founded by the State and supported by appro priations made by the legislature. Only children of soldiers and sailors are received.

The superintendent and assistants have been very very successful in the moral and religious training of those committed to their care.

Much interest is felt in their Sunday-school and Friday-evening prayer-meeting, and all are expected to be present at the regular morningand evening-devotions, and are most respectful and reverent during these exercises.

The children have all taken the pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, and many of the older ones belong to a lodge of Good Templers.

Much attention has been given to instruction in instrumental music. A brass band of thirteen pieces, played by boys under 16 years of age, has received the highest praise for excellent music.

The library of 1,200 volumes, with daily and weekly secular, religious, and illustrated papers and magazines to the number of 50 or more, for the use of the children, is to them a great source of enjoyment.

The system of two hours' labor adopted at the opening of the school has been continued, the boys assisting in the farm and garden, while the girls become quite proficient in the various household requirements.

DAYTON SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' SCHOOL.

The buildings occupied by this school are situated on a slight eleva tion adjoining the thriving village of Dayton, Armstrong County, and

commanding a good view of the surrounding country, which is perhaps unsurpassed in the beauty and healthfulness of its location. The farm contains thirty-three acres, twenty-three being cultivated, while the remainder, including a very beautiful grove of about five acres, is used for a play-ground.

Over four hundred children have been received into this school. Their educational progress has been good, and the children of the orphanschools are, on an average, further advanced than children of most other schools.

HARFORD SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' SCHOOL, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.

In this school promotions from grade to grade are made quarterly by the principal, after a thorough examination of all the classes. Great credit is due to the teachers employed for their faithfulness and general efficiency. Much attention is given to the moral and religious education of the pupils. The sanitary condition is all that could be desired. The industrial department is said to be admirably conducted, none working in excess of two hours daily, and the duties of each pupil are varied by a weekly change of the details.

SOLDIERS' ORPHAN-SCHOOL AT ANDERSONBURG.

This school was opened October 16, 1866, and from its commencement up to the present time, 174 pupils have been admitted, and 112 still remain on the roll. The last report says:

"Our aim has been thoroughness first, then progress. We believe we have accomplished much in both. We strive to procure the best teachers, tried and proved by long experience in the art and science of imparting instruction and governing youth.

"Our teaching has been attended with great success, as is manifest from the improvement of our children in mind, morals, manners, deportment, and the ease with which they acquit themselves on examination. Our instructors being in earnest, with their hearts in the work, impart knowledge with freshness and interest, striving to adapt their teachings to the several capacities of their pupils.

"Self-government has been our aim, and we strive to have all govern themselves. Holding up to our children that honesty, truth, and honcr are noble traits of character, we give them every opportunity in our power to practice them. By vote they elect their officers, and as nearly as possible control themselves at their work, in their amusements, and in the school-room, receiving help only when required. Moral suasion is our basis, and we depart from it to use force only when absolutely necessary, and then enough only to effect the proper purpose. Prompt and willing obedience to all proper authority is seldom refused. Out of school-hours the details attend to their work, and the remainder pass their time at croquet, lee-circle, bat and ball, rope and hoop, and many other amusements, either arranged for them or invented by themselves

for the occasion. Frequently the teachers take the boys to Sherman's Creek, one mile distant, to bathe, and the girls to a wood near the schoolbuildings, where they pass an afternoon at romp and frolic.

"Much care is exercised by all interested to lead the children in the right way, and as a result they are courteous, gentle, and civil, there seldom occurring a wide departure from the path of rectitude. The boys and girls have ample opportunity to become acquainted with each other, and thus the reflex influence has a great tendency to cause them to be polite and agreeable among themselves and to all with whom they come in contact."

A large library is connected with the Sunday-school of the institution, and also a large number of Sunday-school papers are received, besides church-papers and other periodicals sent to the school by friends of the soldier's orphan.

WHITE HALL SOLDIERS' ORPHAN-HOME, MONTOUR COUNTY.

This school has an able and efficient corps of teachers, and steadily and perseveringly the great elementary principles of education have been implanted in the minds of the pupils and cultivated with the most satisfactory results.

A marked religious and moral impression animates many of the chil dren, showing that the seed sown has taken deep root and promises to be lasting.

The boys are drilled in Upton's Military Tactics. In this and all the other orphan-schools a uniform dress is worn by both the boys and girls. The numbers desiring admission into State normal schools at the age of 16 is largely increasing, and it is to be regretted that but few are permitted to enter, on account of the insufficient sum appropriated for that purpose. The majority of those pupils receiving the one year term at State normal schools have fulfilled their promise, and are now teaching successfully.

The library consists of 350 volumes of standard works, selected espe cially for the young. Over thirty daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals come to the school and are read by the pupils.

INFANT-ASYLUMS.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ST. ANN'S INFANT-ASYLUM, WASHINGTON,

(Roman Catholic,) receives children from birth to 5 years of age; supported by charity; 70 inmates, apparently well cared for.

ILLINOIS.

THE CHICAGO FOUNDLINGS' HOME, CHICAGO,

Was opened in January, 1871. The object of this home is mainly to prevent the crime of infanticide and save the lives of the children to the State and to the world. As regards admission to the home, no qualifications are necessary, no questions are asked; babies who are put into the basket are taken care of, whether white or black, sick or well. Most of the babies, no doubt, are born out of wedlock, but many of them are not; the desertion of the father, the death of the mother, the heavy hand of poverty, make it necessary to seek other protectors for some of these little ones. But be the case as it may, all who come are welcomed and tenderly cared for.

Its worthy founder began this as a work of faith, given him to do by the blessed Master. No funds are solicited and no assistance asked, except of Him whose work it is.

No one is appealed to for help except by prayer. As to the workings of this plan, Mr. Shipman says:

"If it be asked how this plan has succeeded, the reply is, in the main, well. The home has had to contend with many hinderances, not the least of which has been my own faltering and imperfect faith, so that it is at present laboring under some embarrassments, which God, who knows the best time and the best manner, will surely remove when He sees best; at the same time, those familiar with charitable institutions unite in saying that the progress of the home has been unprecedented.

"As to the charges made here and there, that I have departed from the policy at first marked out, and have solicited, directly or indirectly, I can only say that they are entirely untrue. I have never asked any one to do anything for the home but pray for it. The efforts which have been made, in the shape of fairs, festivals, or entertainments, have most of them been made without my knowledge; some of them against my