CHAPTER VIII.

ORPHAN ASYLUMS.

HE sad results of the war of 1812 were not confined to the destruction of the public buildings, but left to the care and sympathy of the citizens a full share of the orphanage resulting largely therefrom.1 The proclamation of peace sent a thrill of joy through every household, and elicited the warmest sympathy for the fatherless children brought to public notice. Mrs. Gen. John P. Van Ness, moved by the frequency of appeals to her charity, consulted with Mrs. Rev. Obadiah Brown, of the First Baptist Church, as to the feasibility of effecting an organization by which permanent relief could be assured for the helpless orphans of the city and neighborhood. As a result of this interview a public meeting was called through the press for "the ladies of Washington and neighborhood, to be held in the Hall of Representatives, on Tuesday, October 10, 1815, to consider the propriety of instituting an asylum for the relief and maintenance of orphans." At the time and place named a number of ladies responded to the call. After prayer by Rev. Dr. Caldwell, Mrs. Hunter was invited to preside and Mrs. Samuel H. Smith to act as secretary. A draft of a constitution was presented to the meeting for consideration, which, after being amended, was adopted, and the institution named "The Washington City Orphan Asylum." The following officers were elected, viz: First directress, Mrs. James Madison; second directress, Mrs. J. P. Van Ness; treasurer, Mrs. Josiah Caldwell; lady managers, Mrs. McGowan, Mrs. Roger Weightman, Mrs. Andrew Ramsey, Mrs. Chalmers, Mrs. Obadiah Brown, Mrs. Joseph Mechlin, Mrs. Dr. Blake, Mrs. Dr. Breckenridge, and Mrs. Dudley Diggs, of Green Hill.

The vacancies occurring in the board by death and other causes have been, as occasion required, supplied by the following ladies, viz: Mrs. Gen. Walter Jones, Mrs. Larned, Mrs. Lear, Mrs. Joseph Gales, Mrs.

'This sketch is substantially the address delivered by Mr. John C. Harkness, for many years a trustee of the institution, on the occasion of the dedication of the Hall Memorial Building, May 26, 1885. Mr. W. W. Corcoran presided. At one end of the hall was a marble bust of Dr. James C. Hall, while at the other was a similar bust of Mr. Corcoran. Upon the walls were portraits of Dr. Hall and Mrs. Laurie, his mother. Addresses were made also by Mr. R. Ross Perry, Judge William Merrick, and President J. C. Welling, of the Columbian University, eulogistic of Dr. Hall. See also Elliot's Historical Sketches, p. 310.—EDITOR.

Samuel H. Smith, Mrs. General Towson, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Dr. Laurie, Mrs. Tayloe, Mrs. Weed, Mrs. Combe, Mrs. Colonel Bumford, Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Dr. Hawley, Mrs. Clagett, Mrs. Dr. Washington, Mrs. Gillis, Mrs. McPherson, Mrs. Adelaide Brown, Mrs. Colonel Zeilen, Mrs. William B. Todd, Miss Smith, and Miss Van Ness.

Present [1885] board of lady managers: Mrs. S. P. Lee, first directress; Mrs. William M. Merrick, second directress; Mrs. Z. D. Gilman, secretary; Mrs. Dr. Z. T. Sowers, corresponding secretary; Mrs. M. G. Temple, treasurer; Miss M. F. Waite, Mrs. Dr. George B. Harrison, Mrs. George Brown, Mrs. George S. Gideon, Mrs. John C. Harkness, Mrs. N. Mulliken, Mrs. Marshall Brown, Mrs. J. W. Maury, Mrs. Edwin Green, Mrs. M. G. Emery, Mrs. George M. Head, Mrs. Dr. A. Y. P. Garnett.'

The institution being duly officered, a small frame house fronting on Tenth street west, near Pennsylvania avenue, was rented, and in this unpretentious structure the first organized effort on behalf of destitute orphans, it is believed, was made in the Capital City, under the presi dency of Mrs. James Madison and her associates in office. The lady managers were for many years dependent upon voluntary contributions and church collections to meet the expenses of their growing family.

It may be of interest to narrate, as an illustration, certain facts connected with the early history of the institution confirmatory of the trials of the ladies' faith. The discrepancy between the income and the expenses was at times the occasion of deep concern. To meet an emergency a public meeting was advertised for Wesley Chapel. The evening proved unfavorable. The basement was opened, which was ample to accommodate the few present. After the preliminary song and prayer, an address was made by Dr. B. Then followed a statement of the financial needs of the home. A collection was proposed. No baskets for the purpose could be found. A voice: "Take the orphan boys' hats!" They were so utilized, but the collection, on examination, was judged to be far short of what was needed.

This announcement brought to his feet one of the trustees, who appealed for a better evidence of their interest in the great charity which the community had confided to the care of Christian ladies representing nearly all of the evangelical churches of the city. In response to this appeal a number of propositions was announced and

1 The management now is in the hands of Mrs. S. P. Lee, first directress.; Mrs. William M. Merrick, second directress; Miss Mary Temple, treasurer; Mrs. George B. Harrison, secretary; Mrs. Z. T. Sowers, corresponding secretary; Miss Strong, registrar; Mrs. George M. Head, Mrs. George S. Gideon, Mrs. Wright Rives, Mrs. Edwin Green, Mrs. M. G. Emery, Mrs. A. Y. P. Garnett, Mrs. John Rogers, Miss Waite, Mrs. I. La Rue Johnson, Mrs. S. M. Woodward, Miss Stinemetz. The trustees are F. B. McGuire, J. J. Darlington, Blair Lee, Reginald Fendall, Judge Seth Shepard; physicians, Drs. George B. Harrison, Charles R. Collins, L. W. Glazebrook; consulting physician, Dr. Charles E. Hagner; oculist, Dr. Swan M. Burnett; dentist, Dr. J. Buddington Wright.-EDITOR.

MRS. JOHN P. VAN NESS.

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responses made thereto. When this expedient was about exhausted a gentleman from a secluded part of the room crossed over to the trustee managing the case, whispered in his ear, and returned to his place. It was then announced that a patron of the institution just returned from Europe was unexpectedly present; that he wished the effort to be prolonged, and that he would duplicate the amount raised. Under this inspiring proposition a lively interest on behalf of the orphans was kindled. The amount of the collection was over $600, which was promptly duplicated by the check of the patron referred to.

On the retirement of Mr. Madison to his Virginia home, the resignation of Mrs. Madison as first directress, to the great regret of her numerous friends, became necessary. Mrs. James Monroe was elected to this position, but she declined the proffered honor. Mrs. Monroe having declined to serve, Mrs. John P. Van Ness was elected to fill the vacancy, and for fifteen years met the onerous duties pertaining to the office of first directress with highly appreciated ability and unflagging zeal. Near the close of her administration the Asiatic cholera visited Washington with great fatality. Mrs. Van Ness, with a courage and selfdenial worthy of the proudest chaplet ever bestowed upon human merit, remained at her post of duty, and sought, to the utmost of her ability, to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and needy, and to stanch the wounds of helpless orphanage. The task was too much for her delicate frame. Exhausted, mind and heart, in September, 1832, she, too, fell a victim to the plague. January 3, 1833, the board of lady managers resolved "that a portrait of Mrs. Marcia Van Ness be painted at the expense of the board of managers and placed in the asylum."

As early as October 17, 1815, the board of lady managers, with a purpose to provide a home of its own, appointed a committee, consisting of Mrs. Mechlin and Mrs. Dr. Breckenridge, to solicit aid of the corporate authorities. After a delay of some months, an appropriation of $200 was effected. March 19, 1816, the board resolved to build, and for that purpose made each member responsible for $25. Mrs. Madison gave $20 and a cow. Mrs. President Monroe, on declining to accept the appointment of first directress, gave $50. Mrs. Van Ness gave $10 and the use of a lot on which to build free of rent. Encouraged by the above facts, a contract was concluded with Henry Smith, builder, for the erection of a frame tenement adequate to meet the needs of the institution for several years on the lot offered by Mrs. Van Ness, which proved to be a part of the site on which the H street home was subsequently built. The first annual meeting of the association was held at Dr. Laurie's church, now Willard Hall, October 12, 1816, at which $500 was voted Mr. Smith on account, and May 6, 1817, the balance due him, including extras, viz, $200, was paid. For five years the orphan family was domiciled therein. The demands upon the institution multiplied until larger accommodations were needed. In the year 1822 a house fronting on Seventh street, between H and I streets northwest, was