The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-03-08

Annual Report OF the Managers OF the Nav
York Institution for the Blind.
The managers of this excellent institution have made
their usual annual report which has been presented to
ths Legislature.
The officers for the year ls47 nrs-
Arson @. Phelps. president; Isaac Wood, M D.,
vice president Silss Brown, treasurer; Edward
Jones. corresponding secretary; George Allen,
recording secretary; physician. J. w. g. Gle
sa Bys an.ss su Wss1
J. Kearney Rodgers. M D. James F. Chamberlain, su.
Anthony Rs Of S %S There
whom are graduated pupils OF the institution
The report states that during the year large
sion Of pupils has been added to those before enjoy.
ne the advantages of the institution, while equal
number have returned to their friends with minds
fined and nvigoraed by culture and furnished with the
means of acquiring comfortable support The number
of inmates is the it last year. 1875 twenty
three having been admitted and the number having
retired since the last report OF these 1885, fifteen
graduated pupils sustaining themselves at the instu
ton by work in the manufacturing departments,
assistant teachers the schools ll5 of them are frem
various parts of this State, from New Jersey, from
Connecticut from Alabama, and l from Canada
Twenty-four supported by themselves friends,
from the funds of the institution by the State Of New
Jersey, and % by the State of New York.
Considerable sickness has prevailed among the pupils
of the Institution during the year. arising in great
degree from diseases incident to children The cases
have generally been mild, few assuming q malignant
character, and only one terminating fatally.
The treasurers account shows the following state of
finances
OF this sum there has been paid -
Part of debt due on easterly half Of grounds
Current expenses Of the year .......... aO,4OS s6
Leaving balance in hands Of Treasurer. 1887 81
The report says:-
At the commencement Of the year. the Institution
in debt 10 the Treasurer in the sum OF $743 So The
expenses for the year ls46, have however been con-
sidesbly less than may be reasonably anticipated for
the next or indeed for several subsequent years AS
sessments for the construction Of in the Eighth
avenue and the outlay attending the Introduction OF the
ws as 90 tho inu e
mands upon the resources OF the treasury There IS
yet due to James Boorman ESQ, for the purchase Of
by the Institution principal and interest," $l3 432 &c.
payable 10 annual initalments Of $4,000 each.
In relation to the pupils and the employment of their
time, the managers say -
No pains are spared to render the time spent by the
pupil at the Institution at agreeable and profitable.
The routine Of duty is 30 arranged. that while the
whole time Of each pupil is employed, the attention e
not confined to single pursuit SO lorg as to render 1t
iksome; and round of successive and sgreeably diver
sifed engagements, the day to without that
The pupils rise at half past Ave in SUMNER and at half
sembe with their officers in the chapel for family wor.
ship, breakfast succeeds during which, and at tea the
fast is occupied by all in suitable health and when the
weather will permit in taking exercise in the open air
the next hour devoted to vocal music all the pupils
being arranged in classes and instructed by competent
teachers At O. half of the whole number Of pupils of
proper age and strength, assemble in the workshops,
where with intcrmisson Of quarter Of an hour,
they continue till H. while the other half with such
too young or from some other cause are disqualified
From II to hall past is devoted to dinner and rscrea
ton At half past such have devoted the forenoon
to the acquisition Of trade, charge places with those
who were at school during the same part of the day
The afternoon school session lasts till half past and
that in the workshops till the interval till tea is spent
the manner from to 8. all the pupils
bled in the chapel where their teachers read to them
such work: as to prove and ~
tiss on alternate evenngs Ato ali the pupils under
sembe with the officers Of the institution for social
verse till ten when all the inmates Of the establishment
retire for the night
Each school session Of three hours s divided into four
recitaons of about of hour allowing
for inermisson of fifteen minutes in the middle Of the
session, and at tho close Of each recitation the pupil
changes his and teacher which avoids the weari.
Of spending several hours in the and
him to engage in each with renewed interest and zes
In music the time allowed to each pupil for the lesson
and for practice exclusive Of the time devoted to
music, and instruction aod practice in the band and
choir 10 an hour each day Each pupil receives two
lessons in instrumental music week, which lessons
he is required to pructise the intermediate days.
In hall an hour after rising, the pupil repairs to the
chapel to unite with his teachers and fellow pupils a
miy worship; half later he IL called to break
fast; after breakfast hour spent in exercise is fol-
lowed by an hour devoted to improvement in vocal mu.
nc Three hours s; employed in the ACQUISITION Of hi.
mission of hour and half he gets dinner and amusss
himself with his companions the next three hours he il
.LHrl. half
ton succeeds till seven when he ID listening reading
for ono hour; family worship follows at eight, after
which till nine he practses In the band choir and
from nine to ten he spend in social enjoyment with
his fellow pupils and teachers.
Besides this general routine of the duties of the nst
tuition other efforts have not been neglected to add to
the welfare and happness of interesting charge.
During the last winter series of monthly social and
literary entertainments held athe institution the
exercises at which consisted 6rst Of lecture upon
scientific literary subject aiming both to inform
the mind and improve the taste after which, the re.
msnder of the evening was spent in conversation emil
vened by music and recations by the pupils On those
occasions the friends of the managers and pupils
During the present winter ALSO series of lectures by
gentlemen Of high reputation in the scientific and iera
ry world has been arranged and those already deli
sion that the object in view will be fully realized No.
thing is striking than the effect produced by
the pupils committed to our charge Parental anxiety,
fearful for the personal safety of its blind ofpring often
its muscular system entirely undeveloped by such spor.
tive exercise might enjoy, and of which all children
fond the mind, too, from idea that the blind
incapable of instruction. is left without an effort a
cultivation in almost infantile state. In this cond
ton, unable in some instances to dress, or wash them
selves step without guide, they sent to
Here they at once left to rely upon their own
resources guide is furnished them only till they be-
como familiar with the premises.
They taught to find their way about the estab
shment to help themselves to the muscular system
in walking PLAYING, or the exercise Of mechanical
employment The cloud Of gloom which frequently
settles upon the countenance in the silent and solitary
secusion to which mistaken parental solicitude had
subjected its offspring Is presently displaced by look
Of lively cheeruness and the emancpated youth exuls
in the exercise of faculties and the enjoyment of
! of happiness hitherto unknown.
From the reports Of the committees having in charge
the literary and musical departments of the Institution
appears that these have during the year. been vigorous
ly and successfully prosecuted. The division of the
nupa into reOular claseee and tho courso cudv