The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-03-08


Opening OF the Spring Season.
Spring, with It's delightful smiles and cheering
promises, begins TO show It's face Soon we may
hope to see the dreary snow and lce the cold and
cheerless gatherings of long and dreary winter,
vanish before the joyful rays OF the sun OF spring
Happy season when nature, revtvlng, puts on the
green garment of hope, when the influences of a
milder sun produce a cheering effect upon the mind.
We have come through long period of dreary de-
ISOLATION which has not been without its correspond
ing influence upon the mind Joy revives at sight
of the prospect before US, and the sun dissoves
the ice bound elements Of nature so the mind SEEM
ed relieved from the chilling and contracting influ-
ences which bound it up What a picture of life,
and, we may say, OF death
Thus the world passes away; old age with lis
hoary head and cold sensations is like winter;
while joyous youth is represented by the green and
cheerful days OF spring But as this season is beau
tlfu SO it is but Short its duration is for moment
and It soon passes away. Let US learn lesson
from the seasons which pourtray with such fidelity
the changing scenes of our brief existence. Let us
regard the cold dreary stage of winter salutary
preparation for better season, and for time when
richer fruits will flow from the very pains and diff
cuties and sorrows which we undergo. Let us
learn, from the green and ransitory picture OF youth
full spring, to know and understand that the time Of
maturity and uitgathering is not yet arrived; that
now is only the season for labor and preparation,
else there will be no harvest Thus the aged need
not repne. and the young may not be too confident
and Boosting; both seasons are only preparation
for others-both pass away, and, as we have sown
in both, so shall we reap hereafter
l ia IN ha hiatt ha huJ
season, now SO rapidly approaching, will have its
proper effect and influence on the politicians, as
well as on all other classes in society
BENEVOLENT lNsTITUTIoNs.-We are indebted to
VIM. Chaplin, Esq, Superintendent of the OHIO In
stiuton Tor the Education OF the Blind, for copy
OF his very interesting "Report on the Benevolent
Institutions of Great Britain and PARIS" This re-
port IS supplementary to the ninth annual report OF
the Ohio Institution, end contains Mr.. Chapin's IN
designations among institutions of similar character
In Europe, whittier he went provided with letters OF
from some OF our most eminent men,
and possessed OF every facility that could aid HIM in
his useful inquiries He visited all the principal char
table Institutions in England, Scotland, Ireland, and
he city OF Paris.
In the blind asylums, to which his attention was,
of course, more particularly directed, he found the
inmates engaged in various manufactures, such as
shoe and basket making, weaving, knitting making
twne, mats, sash cord, sofa and chair cushions fric-
ton gloves, hair mattresses wooden shaws, car
rage boots, &c As an instance OF the amount OF
work accomplished by the blind, ia the Glasgow
asylum alone, where there are but ninety inmates,
Mr. Chaplin says that the total sales of the past year
amounted 10 81 639 q Al or 1922 AS 90 The
ypl nstl DE
supported by danaions, contributions, and payments
from pupils parents, in good circumstances while
In Par.s, they receive liberal patronage from the
government. The education of the blind Is also
much neglected in England while in France, great
attention is paid TO both music and mental instruc-
ton Mr.. Chaplin, however, does not ''regard the
workshops of the blind, in Paris, as producing the
highest good, or producing results equal, in point
OF utility, 10 the asylums in Great Bri'aa."
In the French institutions, the blind inmates are
encouraged to marry, and the report states it as
'fact worthy the notice of those making physiology
cal inquiries such subjects, that of all the chill
dren born in the Hospital Royal des Quinze.Vingtz
for the last twenty years, Of parents or both Of
whom were blind, not one has been born blind or
become SO since"
The difference between the British institutions
Is.
the former are almost entirely manufacturing es-
adjustments, while the main object of the latter,
thus far, has been TO teach, rather than employ
the blind" Mr.. Chaplin is inclined to think that the
American principle is .'ihe best on which to con-
duct educational establishments" He is Of opinion
that the two branches Of instruction to the blind
should be kept separate and distinct, having some
asyl ums for their mental improvement, and others
for their instruction In manual labor.
The number Of white blind persons in the United
States, compared according TO the population, is
considerably less than half the number as gwen for
Great Britain, there being in the latter country one
bind person to every go persons, while with US
there is but one in S24 elm Great Britain there is
one blind person in the schools to every twenty-five
OF the whole number. In the United States, assu
ming the present number of blind at $780, there is
one to every seventeen in the institutions
Mr.. Chaplin complains that Congress has aided
colleges and schools by donations of land but has
done nothing for the blind"
The Investigations Of this indefatigable gentlemen
were not confined to the asylums for the blind He
searched through numerous institutions for the deaf
and dumb, and hospitals for the insane striving to
gather facts which might aid the progress of benevo
lent Institutions in this country The result is land
before the Ohio Legislature and the American pub
lie in this report, which has been published in PAM
phet form, and is well worthy of the perusal OF all
those who take an interest in the welfare Of the un-
fortunate of our race.
LITERAL COMMERCIAL PoLrcY.-The whole world
is indebted to some one, for the noble perseverance
with which he has long battled against the tariff
system OF England, and finally succeeded in achiev-
ing the victory The force of this example will
agitate the people CT all nations whose commerce is
cramped by onerous, and artificial restrictions, and
lead to the adoption Of liberal commercial policy
throughout the world
The effects OF the movement upon our own coun-
Try, In strengthening the tone of popular opinion,
and changing the aspect Of political parties. are al