Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-12-29

DI
bring This suhjec. TO the notice Of their re.
speclive readers. II may be the means OF
bringing forw ard many of those objects "i
charity, for whose education cur LrS'sla'
,urc has kindly providcd.--ED. ADv.
EDUCATION OF THE BLIND ~ SOUTH
CAROLINA.
Ills ono of The characteristics oil civilized
rovernmeu,s,thal, they bcnevulen,iy extend
their aid. NOT only TO the physical, but also
N ,he intellectual and Imura! welfare oil
,hc destitute orphans The helpless cripple
the deaf and;dutnb, The halt and the bind.
Our Legislature has passed, during lis late
session. an appropriation for the education
of the blind: prompted to do so, by lecture
delivered in the Hall Of The Representa-
gives, by DR.. S. Howe. the distinguished
founder and director o: The Perkins Asy lum
for the B!inI, near Boston. DR.. Howe was
accompanied by rwo girls. born blind. hom
he has entirely educn'cd, and who exhibI-
ted TO the assembled members OF both
Houses, The Gnveruor. and o,h-r r.ci,izcns,
the skill and knowledge which may be nc.
quired by The blind. They read aud cyph-
cred with ease and cxaclneSs; they wrolc;
played the piano, aud showed themselves
perfectly nj home om ihc map--ia man
ner which seemed To cause universal sur
prize and emotion The same pupiisI of
This philanthropic teacher visiir'l the day
after the Library room. where many mem
bers OF The Legislature couvcrsed with
:hem, and farther convinced themselves OF
the substantial requirements obtained III
DIR. Howe's institution.
The great object of DR.. Howe. is to link,
by 4 thorough elementary knowledge. The
unfortunate blind. TO human society, to
that all feeling of beius lonely outcasts,
may die 10 their breasts; of inpariing 10
them such skill or knowledge. which will
enable them al n future period TO support
,heniseives. he il as mechanics. as organ
ISIS, or teachers Of other, blind persons; aud
lastly, 10 give them that religious educa-
tiou, which will ensure TO them. the lasting
comforts Of the love of that God, who is
the father OF the biiud. as well Us The see
Ing, Of The bereaved as well as the happy.
I've have repeatedly visited tho Boston
Asylum for the blind. and pever left j,
wiihouI Increased gratitude TO DIR. Howe,
Cor bis perseverance,, inexhansiible kind
ness. shrewd judgment. und sc!f-sacriicins
charity; for j, ough,io be known. that be
derives no profit from The institution. He
receives bn, vets limited salary, ali the
surplus Of which. ne spends again for the
surihcrance OF his chosen cause. Thus, for
Instance, does he deffay all the expenses
ESQ costly journey, with three persons,
ashis present one, from bis private means.
hir. Aiemsnineer. af the House ef Repea--
seniaiivcs, Immediately after the rxhibi
lion, gave notice, that ne would move al
the proper time, division of the funds
granted for The education oi the blind.--
Whea, Q few days after, he made the mo-
,ion. it readily passed unanimously, so that
now, from to 10 blind children or youths
of South Carolina, may annually be edu-
Gated.
The Legislature has promptly done its
duty, but we desire very distinctly. N i'm.
press upon every Que OF our readers, that,
If The work rests here, il will, nevertheless
be, as though nohinc had been done.
The blind generally belong to tue poorer
classes, partly because they are more ex-
possd 10 The unchecked effects of those de-
ssases which cause blindness: partly be.
cause the poorer classes are altogether the
mos, numerous in this world Of ours; and
partly, because blindness very frequently
runs by alternate generations III families,
and thus, is sure to cause poverty, For.
unless man be actually wealthy. poverty
is sure TO be en,ailed upon his family, il he
has four or 6ve blind children, which is
by no means rare case. The poor, how
ever, have necessarily hut very deficient
acquaintance with The intercourse Of men.
the conuexion Of Ghinss. aud the power OF
moral and mutual checks. Dislr"-' = 80"
natural consequence. Poor blind pnrcnts
canno, be supposed a, once TO believe in
the perfect safety, and kind treatment oi
their helpless bliud child, II removed to the
distance oGa thousand miles. In addition.
we ought TO remember, that The destitute,
having less opportunity for the cultivation
of their intellect, arc for more apt TO sacri-
fice even substantial interests of their chill
dren, 10 iha, fond parental affection. which,
if properly guided, is Que Of The .ruest
sources of all that is good. Thus II Is noI
rare 20 find parents in the poorer classes,
who acknowledge all the advantages which
their blind children would derive. from
proper instruction, in an asylum for the
6rird. "yel" they viii! say "we cannot
separate ourselves from those poor crea-
tures." Most striking instances Of this
Kind have come under our own observa-
sion.
we would, ,herc{ore, earnestly, nay
eoiemnl,. call upon ever. reader oi these
fines. if he knows mind child IN his neigh
borhoo,l, to do every thing IN his power, TO
pursuade the parents, that they will avail
themselves Of the bounty Of our l.esisln-