The care of orphan and friendless children is always one of the first duties of Christian civilization; but when the parents of these dependent ones bravely sacrificed their lives in defence of their native land, the least that a nation's gratitude can do is to provide maintenance and culture for their helpless offspring. On the 22d day of May, 1861, a few patriotic women, almost without means, but impelled by the pressing necessity of making some provision for the children of those who were certain to be sacrificed in the impending struggle, organized the "Union Home and School for the Maintenanceand Instruction of the Children of our Volunteer Soldiers and Sailors." The act of incorporation passed the Legislature April 22, 1862. Until 1867 the Institution was carried on in an inconvenient hired buildiing not capable of accommodating over eighty children, and supported by the contributions of the benevolent, an occasional fair, and some small. State appropriations. In 1867 a large festival was planned, from which the handsome sum of $98,998.40 was realized. This enabled the managers to pay all their outstanding indebtedness, including the mortgage on a building and six lots of land purchased the previous year for $28,000, on Fifty-eighth street, and make other preparations for enlargement. About this time the propriety of removing the Institution to the country, where land was cheap, began to be discussed, and accordingly a large frame building, known as the "Laurel Hilt Seminary," at Deposit, Delaware county, was purchased and repaired, at an expense of over $16,000.

The building, however, did not prove satisfactory, the children suffered with, diseased eyes, and arrangements were made to remove again to New York. In the spring of 1868 the managers purchased the Fields mansion, situated at One Hundred and Fifty-first street and the Boulevard, with ten lots of ground, for $32,000. The property on Fifty-eighth street has since been sold to pay for this new property at Washington Heights. The Fields mansion is a large brick edifice, with stone facings, seventy by eighty feet, and when purchased was three stories high. Over $11,000 were expended in repairs. But when the family had just settled, the ladies were notified by the Commissioners of Central Park that the edifice must be removed at least twenty-five feet, by April, 1869, to make way for the opening of the Boulevard. What would have once been considered an impossibility has been successfully accomplished; the building was moved forty feet, improved with two additional stories and a Mansard roof, at an expense of about $25,000. When compelled to remove the children for the removal and repairs of the building, it was proposed to transfer them to the building at Deposit, but about that time news was received that this building had just been destroyed by fire. Its value was nearly covered by insurance. Happily an old-fashioned country house near Harlem bridge was leased for a few months, until the building at Washington Heights could be put in order. On the 6th of June, 1870, the newly refitted Home and School was reopened with appropriate services, the children having been previously transferred to it. The building is well adapted to its use, and has accommodations for three hundred and fifty children. The kitchen, laundry, and dining-room are in the basement. The first floor contains the reception-room, a fine committee-room, a large chapel, and two school-rooms, which can be connected with the former for Divine service. The other stories are devoted to dormitories, school-rooms, etc. One room is called the armory, and contains the boys' uniform and miniature sabres, which they are allowed to wear on public occasions. Several acres of ground at least should be connected with the Institution, to afford the play and exercise necessary for the health of the youthful inmates. The location is certainly one of the finest in the world, situated on a lofty eminence, fanned with pure breezes, and surrounded with trees and yards of surprising beauty. The lofty observatory affords a commanding view of the Hudson and the East rivers, the New York bay, and the surrounding country. Up to January, 1870, three thousand and forty children had been admitted. The only condition required for admission is proper evidence that they are the children of soldiers or sailors, and that the surviving parent, if any, is unable to support them. No payment is required for food, clothing, or instruction. No papers of surrender are required of the parent, to whom they are cheerfully returned as soon as able to provide for them, and their vacant places are immediately filled with other needy applicants. The schools appear to be well conducted. The present matron, Mrs. E. M. Cilley, has very creditably conducted her work. The Common Council and the Legislature have made several handsome appropriations toward this enterprise. The Institution is free from sectarianism, and clergymen of all denominations are welcomed to the Home. Another fair was held in December, 1870, in the Twenty-second Armory, New York city, but, owing to the fact that an unusual number of charity fairs had just been held, less interest than formerly was taken in this, and the proceeds did not exceed twenty thousand dollars. The patriotic ladies who have so nobly carried forward this commendable charity are worthy of all honor, and merit the thanks of more than soldiers or soldiers' children. Mrs. U. S. Grant is the chief officer of the society, having gained the presidential chair several years in advance of her husband.