INFANT ORPHAN ASYLUM, WANSTEAD.
June 28th, 1878.
This institution maintains and educates the orphans of persons once in prosperity, from earliest infancy till fourteen or fifteen years of age. About 60 children are now (1888) annually elected. Nearly the whole of the income depends on voluntary contributions. Subscribers have votes, according to the amount of their subscriptions. There are now nearly 600 in the Asylum, which is open to children from all parts of the British dominions. The Asylum stands in beautifully wooded grounds, at Wanstead, on the outskirts of Epping Forest.
The Prince, accompanied by the Princess of Wales, presided at the anniversary festival, on June 28th, 1878. They drove to Wanstead, and were received at the Asylum by the Bishop of St. Albans, in whose diocese it is, and by the officers of the institution. They were conducted to the Examination Room, where, Dagmar Mary Petersen, a little orphan girl, eight years old, daughter of a Dane, who settled in London as a commercial clerk, herself admitted just eighteen months ago by the loyalty of a lady of the Society of Friends, who wished thus to honour the Princess, commenced the proceedings with a pretty speech which she had got perfectly by heart and recited very clearly. In her childish voice she gave those assembled a distinct account of the asylum. "She had been told that it was the largest of the kind in England. When the boys, girls, officers, and servants are all there, 700 persons sleep in the building. The schools are in three divisions, senior, infants, and nursery children. In the two large senior schools there are about 400 boys and girls. They learn grammar, history, geography, arithmetic, French, music, and drawing, and the girls learn needlework besides. In the two infant schools they do not learn quite so much. In the nursery they learn just a very little and play a good deal. And being little children they learn about the Bible." The little girl who spoke this simple address presented a bouquet to the gracious Princess after the ceremony, and was kissed, praised, and otherwise gratified.
"God bless the Prince of Wales" was excellently sung at the conclusion of the speech; the children came up to the Princess and took their prizes from her hands; and marched out of the room, keeping time to lively music. The Royal party inspected the school-rooms, play-rooms, and dormitories, cheerful and well-ventilated halls; and the Princess carried toys to the children in the nursery.
The Prince of Wales took the chair at luncheon, supported by the Princess of Wales, and their suite, the Duke and Duchess of Manchester, the Bishop of St. Albans and Hon. Mrs. Claughton, and a large assembly. After grace the Prince of Wales rose and proposed "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen." The toast-master next announced a bumper toast, and the Duke of Manchester gave "The Health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the Princess of Wales," "a toast which is never more heartily honoured than on these fortunately frequent occasions, when their Royal Highnesses patronize and encourage well-organized charitable institutions, among which this was perhaps one of the best he knew."
The Prince of Wales said, in reply:—
"Ladies and Gentlemen,—On the part of the Princess and myself, we beg to return our warmest thanks to the noble duke for the kind way in which he has proposed this toast, and to you, ladies and gentlemen, for the cordial manner in which you have received it. It has afforded both the Princess and myself the greatest possible pleasure and the greatest possible gratification to come here to-day and to inaugurate the fifty-first anniversary of this excellent and commendable institution. What we have seen ourselves, and what the most part of the company have witnessed on their own part, I think will do more than anything I can say to show you what an excellent institution this is, and how worthy it is of support in every way. The manner in which the children sang, the discipline under which they are evidently kept, the clean and healthy appearance of all of them, is a matter of sincere congratulation to all those who take interest in this institution or have the trouble of its management. I may say that there is one little girl who perfectly astonished us by the elocution which she possessed—well worthy of many a distinguished member of Parliament.
"It was highly interesting to the Princess, as well as to myself, to have been here to-day, the fortieth anniversary of the Queen's Coronation. The first stone of the building in which we are now was laid by my lamented father a few months before I was born; and I hold in my hand the mallet which was used by him on that occasion, and which has been sent to me by Sir Charles Reed, the chairman of the London School Board, whose father, Dr. Andrew Reed, was, I understand, one of the promoters of this institution, and always took the warmest interest in its welfare. This day seventeen years ago the Prince Consort visited this institution, and this day exactly twelve years ago was the last time the Princess and I were here.
"I am sure there is but little more for me to say in commending so admirable an institution to you, which has now existed for half a century, which maintains 600 children during the course of the year, and has educated and sent forth into the world as many as 3000 up to the present time. But a well-managed institution like this, with the spacious rooms which we have seen, will naturally convince you that it must cost a considerable sum, and I believe I am not incorrect in stating that it requires at least £18,000 a year to maintain this asylum. And as it is almost entirely supported by voluntary contributions I feel sure that all those present will do all they can to support this institution, and to tell their friends when they go home how worthy it is of support. I have now, in conclusion, only to propose—a toast which I give most heartily—'Prosperity to the Infant Orphan Asylum.'"
The Prince of Wales then left the chair, resigning it to the Bishop of St. Albans, who gave the other usual toasts.
The secretary read a list of subscriptions. The Queen had sent her annual donation of 10 guineas; the Prince of Wales before leaving placed in the hands of the secretary a cheque for 100 guineas; the Duke of Edinburgh gave 10 guineas; H. S. C. (who had long been an anonymous benefactress), 100 guineas; country friends, £462. In all, about £1600.
This concluded the formal proceedings, but the summer weather tempted many of the visitors to prolong their stay in the pleasant gardens of the asylum.