Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-01-11

another, which pays an equal amour, Of revenue,
has none. Thus the benefits OF the institution
are but partially dis,ribu,ed-and the evil is one
which, under present circumstances, cannot DO
avoided. The policy and expectancy of this
measure is farther enforced by the consideration
that these persons, if left uncducated must neces-
sarily become charges upon the county Cor life;
whereas by educating them, they will be rendered
capable Of supporting themselves, and become
useful citizens.
The number of applicants for admission into
the Deaf mute department. is ii, and into the
Blind department 40. All these, Of course, mus,
be denied the benefits of the institution until the
new buildings completed.
The course Of instruction in the Deaf Mute
department is Mechanical, intellectual, Moral
and Religious. The aim is to give each pupil the
knowledge Of some handicraft occupation by
which he may be able to support himself after no
leaves the institution. The trades at present
taught cabinet-making, shoe-making, and
book-binding. The scholastic studies embrace
reading, writing, geography, &c. The religious
training OF the pupils is under the sole direction
Of the Principal, the Rev. Jos. ID. Tyler. Morn
ing and evening prayer is conducted by him in
the language of signs, and he meets the pupils
twice every Sabbath for the worship Of God, for
preaching the Gospel, and for catechctical in
struciion. lecture on Biblical history is also
delivered each Sabbath to the pupils by the intel
iigen, and Tious assistant teacher, Mr. Job Tur-
ner himself deaf mute.
In the Blind department, the course embraces
reading, writing, spelling, printing with pin type,
J ,ri,l ,,I
the slate frames,l history, French, algebra, geo.
mery, music; and two trades, brush and rope
making The pupils are found to advance in
their studies as fast children generally dc
who are blessed with sight; land zoe think, in
deed, even l.ule faster. The want of a large
Printing Press and Types. is again mentioned by
,hc humane and intelligent Principal, DR.. Merrill.
lat. But few school books have yet been printed
for the blind; and the necessity of some prov
SION Of this sort is strongly urged One thou
sand dollars, il is thought, would be sufficient tc
accomplish the object. In speaking of the gene
raj condition Of his department. DR.. Menilla
justly remarks-" The visi,er who approaches ;
house, the greater part of whose inmates he know:
TO be cropping in darkness, feels melancholy pre-
sentiment that sights Of suffering and sounds O
anguish must there await him; but when lie ha.
entered, he soon finds that he alone is sad ant
that blind children, treated properly, at leas
as contented and happy as those who in til,
full enjoyment Of all their senses.'' We have of
ten seen the truthfuness Of this picture realized
and sometimes most aifectingly, in our visits t
the institution with slrangers.-IHey, indeed, a
lone were sad.
We regret that our limits do not permit us t
go more at large into this report; but we thinl
we have embraced the principal topics of interest
The success of the institution certainly entities i
to the fullest public confidence; and every consi
deration of humanity, VOL of enlightened
economy and impartial justice, it seems to us, re-
quires that it should be put, possible
in condition to extend its benefits equally to all
who have claims upon it.