Newspapers / The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, … / May 31, 1876, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOLUME NLLMBEE ABIOIIVO KlCai£S. Your slave may witli your gold abscond, Tlic fire your home lay low; Your debtor may disown his bond, Y’our farm no cro])s bestow. Your steward false may prove a cheat; Your freighted ships the storms may beat; That, only, from mischance you’ll save Which to your friends is given ; The only wealth you’ll always have Is that you've lent to Heaven. From the Masonic Journal. OUPHAW ASYJLUM IN W. C. It is beyond all question that this Institution is worthy of the attention and support of every North Carolinian worthy of the name, or who has the least syoi- pathj' for the class of persons it is intended to benefit. There is another thing equally true, that it actually receives the attention and support of but a very small ])art of those on whom it ha.s strongest claims; and should it prove a failure, it will be a burn ing shame and disgrace, not to the Masonic Fraternity, alone, but rather to the whole State. But how is it to be sustained ! That’s the question. I see no valid reason why the State should not make a liberal appropriation annually for the purpose ; others mav, however; but without that, we" have the means at hand to sustain it amply, if they were on ly available. I have watched with some interest tlie various plans operated for raising funds for the orphans—lectures, con certs, festivals, exhibitions of va rious kinds, and many, and per haps most of these may do well, but woe be unto the Orphan’s Home if it is to depend alone on these sjtasmodio efforts and sitecial occasions for its existence. These will wear out. The life, vigor, and growth of this Institu- can be sustained and promoted, only by regular, sv'stematic con tributions. If it was intended to last only for a few years the pres ent plan might do ; but it should be permanent, and a regular st’s- tem is all that will answer the purpose. Last 3’ear, from all sources, there was collected throughout the State the insignificant sum of $13,095,98. Now let us see what the Masonic Fraternity alone could accomplish and not burden themselves. In the State are 9,000 Masons in Lodges, besides two or three thousand non-afFiliated. Norvdrop the lat ter from the account which should not be done by more than half, as they pay no dues, then throw oft those in regular stand ing, then if the remaining 5,000 would contribute the small sum of 50 cents, on an average, per month, it would give $30,000 per j'ear. To this may be added special donations from Lodges ; so that 30 or 40 thousand dollars could be raised upon this plan and no man be oppressed. To this it mayqbe added, that it would be constantly coming in. We work this plan in Farmington and Mocksville Lodges. The com mittee for the Asylum write to each member, and ascertain how much he will give monthly, this makes a constantly accumulating fund, and though small in a sin gle Lodge, j’et it is seen liow large the aggregate would bo if all the Lodges worked the same plan. But now add to this other or ganizations—Odd Fellows, Good Templars, Knights of Pythias, Friends of Tenperance, Grangers —that make contribution to the Asylum, and let them adopt the same plan of regular monthly contributions, and when all is col lected at the end of the j'ear, it would make a handsome amount. In many cases a man belongs to several of these organizations. In that case let him contribute regu larly in one, and as he pays dues in all, he can still have a voice in making special contributions from fund belonging to the several or ganizations. But this still would leave a large class who belong to none of these Fraternities. In or der to meet this let societies be formed in the interest of the Asy lum, in Town, Count}^ or Town ship, wherever practicable—La dies alone could do it in man}' places—and especially secure monthly contributions. Or let the several organization, I have named appoint joint committees for the same purpose—the whole object being to secure a number that w'ill contribute regularly. If from all t )gether we could secure the small number of 15,000 in the State to pay monthly the pittance of 5 3 cents, it would give us $90,000 per year, which would accomplish something. I repeat it, systematic contribution is the only thing that will meet the case. The plan suggested is feasible, and will succeed, if we will take hold and push. W. C. Willson. Farmington, Davie Co., N. C. PlillSSIAIV SCHCOtS. It has often been remarked that one reason why the I’russians were victoi-ious over the French five years ago, was because the Prussian soldiers were much bet ter educated, and therefore more intelligent. Education in Prussia is univer sal and compulsory. There are very few Prussians indeed rvho have not passed througli the com mon school course; this is be cause the law requires that every child shall be sent to school. If a parent neglects to send his boy or girl he is fined ; and if he con tinues this neglect Ids fine is in creased, and he is even sometimes put in prison. Every tov,'n and village throughout Prussia is obliged to liave schools, supported by taxes levied upon their inhabitants. No matter how poor the parent is, he must send his children to be educated. A small fee of about two cents a week is charged for each scholar; and if the parent cannot pay even this small sum, his children ai’e taught free. The village schools differ from those of the towns in the studies taught. In the village schools the pupils are taught to write in Ger man c'lai-acters, reading, geogra phy, history, and the four rules of arithmetic. In the town or city schools they are taught to write in Roman text (such as we use), and advance in arithmetic to fractions and the rule of three. Children are only compelled to attend the towm, or common schools ; it is as the parent likes about seudiug his children to the higher schools. In all there are eleven grades of schools in Prus sia, all supported by the State, or by public taxation. The lowest grade is that of the common village or town schools, of which'we liave already spoken. Next come wliat are called “citi zen schools,” in which further progress is made in the ordinary branches begun in the common schools. ' The third grade is that of the “real schools,” in which languages, arts and sciences are taught. The seminaries are one steji higher. These are a kind of nor mal schools, wherein young men and W'omen are trained to leach in the common schools. Then, in order, come “colleges,” indus trial schools, schools of architec ture, schools of mines, schools of agriculture, veterinni')', schools, and finally the universities. The teachers in the public schools are considered as State officials, and they, as well as the schools, are all under tlie control of the minister of Public Instruc tion. The salaries paid to teach ers in Prussia are very small. The highest paid in Berlin to mas ters is only $C00 a year, while the sewing teachers (for sewing is taught in female schools) only receive $45 and $50. It must be borne in mind, however, that the cost of living in Prussia is much less than in this country. In all there are about 28,000 common scliools in Pi'ussia, with over 3,000,000 pupils. From the Presb\torian. WHAT TO FORGET. Plow we strive to remember our duties, and what an unutter able pain when one is forgotten ! But we do not tiiink enough of the duty of foryettiny sometliings. With the majority of us, life is limited by certain responsibilities, or sets of them. Like waves ive advance a certain distance only to recede again, bound by shores w'e cannot pass. Like them too, lashed to our greatest heights by adverse winds, and there only for a moment fit for the white crown of purity, ere we sink like their foamy crests back to lower lev els. Let us labor earnestly then within our prescribed limits for getting their narrowness, caring not so much for range of circum ference, as that all within be kept pure by constant activity; not forgetting that the little act which we meant kindly was taken oth erwise, but so add to it that there shall be no second mistake. Make it a duty to forget the unpleasant things of life, for they are otherwise only enlarged. YorgQt &\\ failures of the past, that only tells what we have done, not what we may do. Only Now is best lettered by its backward spelling. AVhat we have won is alone ours to build upon.- Hinges are little things, but large doors turn on them and so our memories may be the means of fastening on to our minds, thoughts tliat shall shut out much external sunshine. Let us forget self and the in significance of our own lives, ceasing to compare them with others but making life great by the immensity of our efforts. T.4Mi3i\G A'l' TABi^E, This is one of tlie very best di gesters ; there is no toiiio known equal to it, as it is of tlie kind calculated to promote liilarit}' and good feeling generallv. Most pa rents are prone to proliibit their children from laugliing and talk ing at tlie table : it is unpliysio- logical; it is a cruelty. Joyousness promotes the circu lation of the blood, enlivens it, invigorates it, sends it tingling to the remotest part of the system, carrying with it animation, vigor and life. The louder the little ones laugh tlie better ; the faster they talk tlio bettor, for then they eat less in a given time, conse- quent!}' chew their food more thoroughly. Discard controversy from the dining table. Discourage all sub jects which invito political or re ligious rancor. Let every topic introduced be calculated to in struct, to interest or amuse. Do not let the mind run on business or pievious mislmps, or past dis appointments. Never tell bad news at the table, nor for an hour before. Let everything you have to communicate be, if possible, of a gladsome, joyous, hilarious char acter, calculated to bring out pleasant remarks or agreeable as sociations. On the other hand, never administer a reproof at the social board to either servant or child ; find fault with nothing ; speak unkindly to one. If re marks are made of the absent, let them contain some word of com mendation which, if ro})eated in their hearing afterwards, ivill kin dle kindly feelings, and thus will thoughts of the family table come across the mt miry In after years, when we have been scattered and soine laid in their final resting- place, and bring with tliem a sweetness of emotion which makes it a pleasure to dwell upon them. —IlaWs Journal of Health. tTHE ALPHABETS. The Sandwich Island alphabet has 12 letters ; the Burmese, 19 ; the Italian, 20; the Bengalese, 21; the Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldee, and Samaritan, 22 each ; the French, 23 ; the Greek, 24 ; the Latin, 25 ; the German, Dutch, and English, 20 each the Span ish and Sclavonic, 27 each ; the Arabic, 28; the Persian and Coptic, 32 ; the Georgian, 35; the Armenian, 38 ; the .Russian, 41 ; the Muscovite, 43 ; the San scrit and Japanese, 50 ; the Ethi- opic and Tartarian, 202 each; the Chinese, loss than 50,000. Leigh Richmond, when travel ing in Ireland, passed a man who wf s a painful spectacle of squalor and raggedness. His heart smote him, and he turned back and said to him : “If you are in, want, my friend, why don’t you beg ?” “And sure, isn’t it bogging- that I am, your honor ?” “You didn’t say a word.” Of course not, your lionor; but see how the skin is speakin’ through the holes of me trousers and the bones crying out through me skin! Look at me sunken cheeks, and the famine that is starin’ in me eyes! isn’t that begging that I am with a hun dred tongues ?” THE TKEEI'EE. The truffle is a kind of mush room, of a fleshy, fungus struc ture, and of a i-onndish figure, found buried in the soil of woods at a depth of several inches, and it is much qsteeined as an escu lent. It is not vei-y extensively known in this country, but it is ver}' popular in France, wlipro the yield this year is reported to bo enormous. French dishes dressed with this vegetable are considered more tempting than wlien dressed in our fashion. The history of the truffle has a decidedly classical cliaracter. The earlist notice ot it that has been found, is in the annals of Athens, by whose wealthy jtopulalion it was Iield in high estimation. The best and most valued roots were found in Thrace. In Rome this vegetable was even more apiire- ciated. At splendid banquets where many thousands of the tongues of birds were served at table, the rarest truffles -were us ed as a condiment to stimulate the sickly appetites of Lucullus and Vitellius. Modern natural ists have likewise devoted some attention and inquiry to tlie mat ter, and the general opinion is it a kind of mushroom or gall nut, growing beneath the surface of the earth on the root of the oak, just as the real gall is formed on its branches. It is also found neiti- birch, elm, and other forest trees. The best specimens are black. A wliite variety is found in the deserts of Arabia in profusion, where it is of the same use to the inhabitants that potatoes at-e in this country. In India a liquor is distilled from it which is high ly prized by the natives. It re-, quires a year to bring the roots to a state of maturity. In France spaniels are used in searching for these underground vegetables. The value of the crop is liot gen erally known in this country. In the year 1835 over 500,000 pounds of truffle were exported from the French ports to supply the English and American mar kets, as well as those of Sweden, Russia and Turkey. The value of this export was about $920,000. The exports have gradually been increasing from year to year, amounting at the ])resent time to nearly one and a quarter million dollars. On Tue Stkbtuii !—Human lioart-strings are often stretched to their utmost capacity. Like some delicate instrument, when the strings are touched by the skillful player, liard-pressed in some diiheuit passage. How we tremble last they should be snap ped asunder ! The human heart- like tlmt delicate instrument, is severely tried, olten times. Sure ly we say, it will be broken to pieces. But no—it is held attun ed to the richest melody. How is this I The breath of the Di vine I.NTEEOESSOK sweeps over the instrument, “For we have a high priest which can ho touched with the feelings of our iulinni- ties.” A poor little girl in the Fourth Ward, New York, as she was dv-- ing, said, “I am glad 1 am going to die, because now my brothers and sisters will have enough to eat!”
The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 31, 1876, edition 1
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