Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-17
ORGANIZATION Of lie Blns tun,,.,l :

raj ASsemJiu.
In compliance with an invitation addressed bv
the Professors Of The Virginia Institute 10 both
I branches Of the Legislature. a large number ia
I the members repaired on Wednesday eveningot
the Concert Hall Of the Exchange, 10 witness AN
examination OF portion Of The pupils Of thu
| Blind Department in their various studies. as
we'll as their proficiency in music. 1t was de.
signed especially Tor the members, though quite a
/ large audience Of ladies and gentlemen, attract
cd BY The novelty and interest OF the occasion,
! were courieously admitted, 10 participate in the
! enjoyment of the scene.
II will be impossible for Us, within The narrow
! limits 10 which we must contine our remarks this
morning, TO 90 full ustice 10 the pupils or their
worthy and efficient teachers-We can cnly
glance al some Of the exercises Of the evening Of
chief interest.
There were fourteen Of the pupils present.
three girls and eleven boys-all these were
provided with their several musical instruments.
/ forming complete band. Their performances
in this delightful ART we're, under all the circum.
stances Of the case, remarkable The instruction
given them By the Professor, Mr.. Graham him.
self blind, is purely upon scientific principles
! There were exercises in reading from The volumes
Of the new testament in raised type or letters
which had been generously presented 10 tie
school by the American Bible Society. The do.
! licacy OF touch was strikiDsly exhibited Spe.
I cimens OF Handwriting were exhibited and variOuS
methods, reSored 10 for teaching the blind 10 write
Il fair and legib!e hand, were explained ty DR..
/ Merrillat, the Principal. Examinations were then
conducted by Or. NJ and his assistant. teacher
/ Mr. Gray OF Harrsonburg, upon Arithmetic
both mental and with the aid OF Experimental
Algebra, extending even 10 the quadiaiic equa-
! tions-,errestrial and astronomical Geographic
| III philoogiSts will pardon Us the phrase EN-
bracing complicated problems in the Mahemat-
les, and the outlines OF history, ancient and mo-
I dem. One Of the State maps OF Virginia was
( produced and curously prepared for the use OF
| The blind. by means Of raised threads or cords
! marking the courses Of rivers pin-heaGs for the
towns, &c. and their familiarity with the geosra-
! ply OF the State fully tested. The Examinations
! were made As well bv the members ot the Lcgis-
! lauIc as by the teachers, all persons being re-
] qnesed 10 PROFOUND questions. Where all ac-
( Quilted themselves - handsomely it were un2ta-
/ cous 10 discriminate; but We Will be pardonec by
the pupils themselves for naming the two young
es, OF their number little boz and girl both I'M
/ der II years old, a. peculiarly interesting aud
! clever-we mean Ann FiizwilSon, little girl
! from this CITY, and Milior Allison Of Wheeling.
This little fellow wnose sprigh,ly mind and de-
votion TO music in connection with his blindness
served 10 awaken recolieciicns OF The great poet
whose name he bears was special lavorile with
the audience
Specimens Of their handicraft in brush.making
needle-work netting &C., were laid upon the t.
bles for inspection. But perhaps the most inter
esting and touching incident OF the whole eve
ming was an imprompn, as unlocked Tor by The
audience as was Inanif.sy unexpected by the
young gentleman who was called ont, I'had ne,
been ''set down in the bill of fare" In the mids:
Of the exercises, voice in the crowd called Tor
speech from Mr. Gray. The request being re-
peaed from many quarters, he was prevailed on
10 address some remarks 10 the company, which
after the first momentary embarrassment were
cminenty beautiful and interesting. After brief
" skelching the history Of The efforts made Tor the
smclioration Of the blind, by the establishment Of
schools Tor their mental and physical education,
first in Europe and then in the United States, be
went on TO speak OF the unhappy condition of
the blind when lett in 4 state o ignorance and
dependence. A stoical philosophy, he said, Nigh,
even teach the blind man TO bear without mnr
mur The darkness Of the body" which spreads Z
pail over the fair face of Nature and renders
all its beauties q drcarr blank 10 him; but wha,
support was there for ttadeeper darkness OF the
mind, which shuts on, from his view all the lights
of knowledge and truth, and leaves the i'm
mortal mind itself 4 drcary blank unless
humanity and an enlightened policy come 10
his relief, and, rescuing him from the mise
ries Of ignorance and dependence, shall ele-
vate him 10 the dignity Of his equal position in
society? Virginia has nobly commenced this
good work for them, and they were now come TO
| thank her in the persons Of her law-givers. He
could assure them. there was not TO be found any
where more contcnted, cheerful and happy lit
tie community. than were the deai-mules and
blind pursuing their studies and their abors al
Staun,on. But We feel We cannot do Justice to
this chas,c and touching address, which moved
many manly eve ~ tears. Mr.. CT commenced
his education al the Philadelphia School and
completed it At our Virginia Institution, where be-
is now an assistant teacher. 1t was matter OF
deep regret 10 ALL that the pupils of the deamne
department, were prevented from coming by rea-
son al some illness, though not serious under
which some OF them are suffering
DR.. Merrillat has gone on 10 Raleigh, \. C.,
with the audable design OF enlislng the Lcgisla-
ture Of that State il possible, in some co-opera-
ton with Virginia, in the matter of having rhcir
dea-mues and blind educated at our institution
With all our hearts, We bid him God-spced in an
enterprise involving as well the interests of edu-
cation, as the claims OF a common humanity.
We will only add, tina, This Interesting party
may be expected in our city on their relurnniom
Raleigh few days hence, when they propose Civ
ing one or more Concerts, al a moderate charge
for the purpose oil detrayng the expenses of their
Journey thus relieving the State from any charge
or burthen on that account We think we can
promise them in advance, an Overlooking house
We conclude, by copying, from sheet printed
with the beautifully embossed, quaSi-Goihic tyre
Of the Press OF the Institution itself an accoun,
OF this institution, whose destiny cannot ia deep
ly TO in,cies, the who." Of Virginia
"The Virginia Institution for The Educaon
Of the Deaf and Dumb, and of the Blind. was
founded BY all act of the General sscmbly pass
ed March 3lst, 1898, and, by resolution adopted
March 9th, 1889, was located al stanton
lin fhars a,,l
distinct schools-one for blind persons, The other
for deai-mu,cs
"The branches taught in the blind department.
are reading, writing, orihography printing win
pin.;ypes geography with the use OF globes, maps,
ETC., prepared for the blind, cyphciing mentally,
as well as with tangible figures, English gram
mar and composition, history algebra, geometry,
modern and ancient languages, etc. Much al
en,ion is also paid To music. The principle. ot
harmony are carefully explained and the pupils
are taught 10 sing and 10 play on various insn.
ments, such as the pianoonc, Guitar violin.
voloncelo, flute, clarionel, bugle, etc Useful
trades are also taught 10 10 The pupils, IS expert
ence has shown, that blind persons properly IL
siructed in rope, basket, or brush-mahins etc,
can always command a decent support for them
selves
blind children residents of Virginia who are
unable to defray their oTn expenses are support
cd and educated in this institution gratuitou,y
"Al benevolent persons are requested 10 inform
DR.. J. G. N. Mcrai, Principal o! this in>titu.
ton, of the residence, age, sex, etc. OF such blind
children as may come under their observation,
and 10 use their influence with The friends OF thee
children 10 place them in this institution a. soon
as they can be admitted"
We have seen, with some surprise and deep re-
grc., the Card of Of Mrs. Lucy Barbour in yes
Ierday's Wing in which she says, u have no,
seen the Enquirer, but have been told that MIR
Richie has attacked us through an -tempered
correspondent When will The narrow minded
OF his sex learn little liberaliiy towards usl'
&c We should deeply regret The circumstance