The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-10-24

Correspondence Of the Free Tindrr.
NGw lORK, Oct. 10, lS45.
In former letter promised a description of
some of the charitable institutions OF this CITY.
will now proceed with this description, begin .
ming With the Deaf anil Dumb Asylum. which i, .
situated on 50.h street, on hrautiful eminencc,
about three miles from the city. The grounds
include about 30 acres, and are laid out with
much taste iutu walks, play GROUNDS, AMI gar
dens. large md beautiful fountain, supplied
with water from the Crricn, PLAYS on the ives,
side Of the building, The main parded is one OF
the very fines, in the vicinity Of n Y, aud sup
Plies the institution Nth fruits aud vegetables.
The workshop is long range of buildings, " here
the pupils exercised IN learning dil, r, n, me
chanical trades. They are taught cabinet max
ing, tailoring, shoe making, aud book binding.
Each one Is left to sel"ct the trade Of bis choice,
or, II they prefer it, they are laugh, gardening
Some beautiful specimens Of cab.ne, work and
boOk.bndng were shown to US, which evin.
ced much ingenuity and skill on the par, of the
scholars. The main building is abou, 60 BY 100
feet four stories high, built Of stone, and beau,l-
fully succeed. The interior is arranged in
school rooms, work rooms for the females, mu.
scum, library. &c.
The direction is under the care Of Mr. Pea, and
Mrs. Sloner, both emlnenily qualified, by their
varied accomplishments, humane feelings, exem-
plary virtue, aud stric, pety, to ably discharge
the responsible and delicate trus, of in,lrucling
and fitting for useful life the unfortunate beings
coniided 10 their care. On first entering the
main building We were struck with the air Of cx-
IRENE nea,ness that was exhibited about every
thing. We were first shown Into a long room,
where the females are instructed in every kind of
needle work. There were about forty females
seated about the roam; their ages appeared from
ten To twenty-five. They were all plying the
needle with dexterily and industry, and appeared
would stop her work to make signs, ~ hold
mechanical conversation with her neighhor, who
would reply in the same manner, when q bright
smile would light up each count, nlncc, at the
wi,icism tba, has passed between them, and
then again both would resume their work There
was nothing IN their appearance to inform the
stranger that they were deaf aud dumb. They
appeared happy, cheerful, aud intelligent.
We were next shown into the school room,
which is well arranged for the purposes Of in-
strnc ton. On one side are hung the large states
a. which the pupils stand TO he instructed. The
principsl oljec, in teaching is to convey to the
pupil, by pantomime, symbols of ideas, and make
signs supply the place Of sound. With US each
word is associated with an idea with the mu,es
1t is an ohJec, to make each sign convey an idea
When this is sufficiently uuders,o cd, they are
laugh. 10 convey their IDEAS in written language.
In this they are guided by the sense of sight en-
tireIy. They learn that a certain number OF cha
rac!ers s,andfor an object, withou, being able to
separate the one from the other. Several of the
pupils were called in and exercised in the differ.
ent brances Of c lucation, and showed quick APP
prehepson and lively Imagination. A, our re.
quest they were asked to give their IDEAS on dif.
ierent subjects, and, with readiness that show
ed the thorough nature Of their education, they
transferred to their slltes their answers upon cve-
ry topic suggested. They wrote with touching
feeling upon the subjects of painting, poetry, the
seasons, and various other topics. VIVA, hap.
py change has been wrought in the condition Of
the deaf and dumb within the las, century Tn.
I'll recent period they were neglected, and
doomed TO die in mental darkness. They were
moral ou,casts from among their fellow men
The majesty Of the Deity add his works remain.
ed unrevealed to their confused and clouded
minds. The charms Of society, and the purposes
Of social organization were TO them no more than
the companonship Of the brute creation. But
now, by means Of instruction in language, the
deaf mute is united with his race in the fellow
ship Of knowledge and hope. He is now "a.
tional aud accountable being, looking to God Of
the Author of all good, and feeling the same tics
and sympnthies as his fellow men. Blessings
eternal blessings upon tho benevulen, Able de
rEpee, who, ninety years ago, impeed by the
most noble and exalted motives, introduced, after
q life Of patient toll, the present system Of in
s,ruc,iEg deaf mutes, Without his long, pa
tient, and aborous efforts, this unfortunate class
might have been left for ages to live and die in
mental darkness and moral degradation. There
are now one hundred and seventy institutions in
different countries devoted to the instruction Of
this unfortunate class. AT the prcsen, time there
are l6s pupils al the N. Y. Asylum. This in.
si.u.on isPrincipally supported by the state, and
is one ofthe most crejitable in the country.
had intended to give you, in this letter, de.
scription also Of the Insane and Blind Asylums !;
but as this letter is getting lengthy, will close
ii, and continue the subject next week.
RuopoLrm.
The Chicago Democrat gives list Of iilly.iive
banks in Michigan that were in good credit and
well regulated in their day, with stockholders