New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-18
THE TRIBUNE.
Condition of the Blind in this Country and
Abroad.


BRITAIN AND PARis. including the Schools and
Asylums for the Bland, Deaf and Dumb. and Insane
being Supplementary TO the Ninth Annual Report OF
the Ohio Institution for the Education OF the Blind
BY WILLIAM CHArTN, Superintendent. Columbus
1916
SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF MANAGERS or THE
NEw-YoRK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND to the
Legislature OF the State 1870.
We take great interest in reports on this cub
ect, and only regret that they are no, made access
bic 10 the public at large by the common channels
Of sale The spread Of enlightened views and jus,
regard for those members Of the human family who
arc Inferior 10 the others in bodily organization is
a the redeening sign OF the time, which shows 30
many of sellishness and baseness. Since men are
earnestly DESTROYS 20 redeem those suffering from
bodily infrnity and secure them some share Of the
Dover Of humnn nature, may we not hope that this
desire will gradually extend its benefits all those
who are suffering from nferiori,y of any kind nor
rest till it has finally secured to all who wear the
form Of man the prerogaliyes of humanity?
The following practical observations will be read
with interest 1t il pleasant 10 sec Ohio sending
out her delegate to make such in the Old World:
Iproceed with as much brevity the subject will nd
init 10 make some observations OF general nature
will be perceived thu, the Brish Institutions are,
with three exceptions, almost entirely manafdc
turing Establishments. la this respect they arc generally
successful Some OF them. the Glasgow and Edinburgh
ssyIurnk In particular, are doing largo busness-thc
sses of the former amounting about 500 900 year
large portion OF work 10 done by the adult blind who
receive wages the asyums aurdiEs shops. tools. &c.
and dsposing of the work to the best advantage without
loss TO themselves.
nv way of employing the blind after they have learned
trades or even oreceivng the adult blind to acquire
occupation The Asylum has done moren
this respect than any other and designs 10 incorporate
,he feature In their plan far practicable. But the main
object of the American Institutions thus far has been to
teach rather than employ the blind Nor arc we pre-
pared say this the best principle which 10
duct rHlcaona establishments. think this Is clearly
go wi,hou, change liz their domestic arrangements.
system which Processes to employ all the older blind
who are able work In connection with the education
ofthe younger children would DO liable to very serors
objection The habits Of the different classes
dsimlar that they could not lodge in the same house
children There could be very little harmony in such an
Hp,nca.ion II much extended.
These rcmnrkg however do not 20 to exclude entirely
the emuoyncn of pupils In schools after they have
acquired busiuess and passed through tho usual term
On tho contrary with proper discretion and under Judi
cIo, limits tho OF the institution should be OK
tended to such persons as FAR as possible. , a.,
hut when we plate tho extension OF the gis9' n
Ire s some tEiIE advinable it imposes d
fcrent ard very important view Q, tso Inc GIG
rrn,us rwoud be vain TO look for entire succesa one
mart Of jt-ci,her the intellectual or the
would fall into entire sunoroinho 10 =; he IA
and as In foreign Institutions, tho prooaohiy s tue oe
n,ment Of mental instruction would sink into compara-
T tive insienihconce. , ,,
hsy1rNs ron THE INDUSTRIOUS BL1Np-iL II ina
u shovo yews he correct they lead TO conclusion winch
hcl,cvo In In all the Institutions in the uneo
states nemoy-,he expedicncy If not necessity az pc
Rod not very distant OF separate dsyih'ns ior ne uu
irlous blind. yet united unaer INC "i''''' " ~
? Sub asyiums would rescue from idenese, depend
cnce and want large number oil meIoIious oiu pea
sons now rejected by existing Institutions on Vi
,h ago ami pye profitable employment TO an ncreas
ing number Of those who have acquired traoes-H9fsS
them materials at the lowest wholesale praue %u LOW
Ing the best market for their work mousse 81 50 So
Genial nature for the older blind OF regular industrious
hshj,s would confirm to them oil the great advantages
which the prosent Institutions afford anu realize every
benevolent hope in their future happiness
#, cer,n,ply favorable consideration that depart
,ncnt confined To industry exclusively couo oe couuu.t
ed at a comparatively small expense. win lar de-
mapd for It's manufactures. II might indeed DC MACS
= we'll nigh 20 support itself
In Whatever view the British Asyums MAY be taken
they certainly give encouraging example 10 our own
az WHIST sy DO done by the blind both in erteht and pa
ristv Of manufacturing The are several new branches
OF work for both which we propose 10 , ,
here IA early possible, which II lie hopeo, WIN @
r,c 10 tho economy and profit Of the Institution as wei
as the blind themselves
crxrpn ISsrRucrIoN-ln With the exception oil
the Paris York and one OF the lonuon seneoS, ny
little alteration Is given 10 mental Improvement IN ths
respect Frey present TO us rfScre example hs
Supcrntendents selected with reference 10 'ne"
bnsfns.s tacnts-ss general overscers or NJ,
"a ,y,bou, amy particular regard to educaton-they
having nothing IL do with teach'hs' s,,,, ;,
Tho effect OF this general neglect OF inIeAeeuai III,
r,oycmrn, is cutie visible in the department. OF the pn'
MA They have not the bright aud animated appearance
= of The blind In own schools,
While in Great Britain eight and even zen hours u"S
mr., Devoted 10 labor only three four are 40 employed
here The ot the time Is given 10 ments t,pfo'e
ment and music particularly the former IL Is thouPh.
thern that very little education Is necessary for end
no Who must depend upon his labor for subsist-
enc, /, Ia believed hcre that good education espe-
esly In useful knowledge, is very important element
of In life, and psfteasry 70 Inc Sna T !, 10
otherwise labor under such great disadvantages Is
true slso as general rule that wellntormed person
will make 4 better and more successful mechanic.
The British Institutions, however may In this bnly
,,aa, ., ,hsir neeuniary circumstances which de not
ADMIT OF The additional expenses required for schoc IN
struc,on They seldom have more than one leaeneE Oh
moderate abilities and for portion OF the day only
Rm wbs,eysr particular views may be entertained on
mi. h;s., an ench,ened public sentiment Ia this
country requires that the blind as wen as o'ns' e''
: dsn shall receive good practical educauon' -,
Thew ana moreover many blind persons OF nisn
order Of talent capable of becoming instructors ins
system, which overlooked such claims wouio DC ""te'
feet ii no. unjust
8 Srproxr-lV. Some OF the Asyiums are largely en-
dowrd by ,eescies and requests. But they eePeno
MALAY upon annual subscriptions, and sma pay iro'i
each pupil The donations ana suoseliiohs sos. az
course nrecs.ous and uncertain. and require conStan
esort IN meet the necessary expenditures Severa! o.
8 them sppesr 10 be declining for want OF means
Excep, In Paris Government CONTRIBUTES nothing &c
their sapport Tho opinion prevails IN Great 6ra'n
tbs, charitable institutions should depead upon the con
trbuiiops of the benevolent IL is supposed ms eeacs
c!oser sympsthy between them and she paohe' Sho
also leads 10 their better management
6iAerent and 1, Is thought better policy governs ns
American Institutions Here they are sustained directly
by each State In whole In part. There Is no keep
uon to th!s-though the Massachusetts se~, OK Sc
Pennsylvania Institutions do receive contributions sne
they not governed in their mansgeu,ent oy tne,
State Legislatures All the schools that have osei
established since these, regarded cSeiasiVey a.
Stale foundations, and directly dependent upon Legs
iS.ve support 1rom year TO year
The Maisschusetts Institution received munincenl
donMion ON T. X Perkins Esq OF valuable ouidins
the City OF Boston, which subsequently exchanged
FOR their present splendid ehce IN South Boston Insy
have received also other liberal donations
The NcwYork institution is authorized to receive al
toe expense o, the State upward OF one hundred pn
ph Tdey also received large grants from the Legs
!Aarc from time time toward the erection OF the'
beautiful building These grants were made upon con
diioa OF other large being raised by private sub
seripdcns
Ths Pennsylvania Institution has been endowed by