The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-04-29
J,F. McC0LLAM, Printer.

has become pleasant, and their uncouth hab4
IFS are fixed; and it is as hard to cure or to
improve them as it is to straighten crooked
branches.
If person should compare the cadets at q
good military academy with the boys who
have just entered school for the blind. he
would almost conclude that they were two dis
unct races OF beings so strongly would the
norld compilations, the erect figures, the ex-
panded chests, the muscular limbs, the yigor-
Gus motions, and the firm tramp of the Young
soldiers contrast with the pale faces, stoopinS
i l puhy limbs, feeble motions, and hesita-
unS tread OF the blind. Nevertheless, such
Is the elect OF vigorous training in the one
case and of long neglect in the other and
there is no doubt, that, by care and pains
enough, a company of grenadiers might be
raised among the blind, that,when we'll dress
cd and paddod, might pass tolerable muster
on parade. Such is the power Of physical ed
ucation and training.
But it is not in the personal appearance
| alone, that the consequences of inactivity are
seen In the blind. We have no doubt that it
equally affects their health and longevity
1t Is commonly supposed that there are
many more persons born blind in conse-
quence of an hereditary constitution which is
weak and scrofulous than are born deaf; bus
as no satisfactory reason has been given for
this, and as the fact, that blind persons are
generally more feeble, and suffer more fire.
quently from scrofulous affections can be ca
silly accounted for by the habits alluded to, it
may be doubted whether the supposition is
correct.
We do not know whether any accurate or
extensive researches have been made to as
certain the peculiarties of physical tempera-
ment in the parents and progenitors of deaf
mutes, but enough is found about the parents
of the blind children in our Institution, to
show that the scTofulous temperament abounds
among them. This is particularly the case
where the blindness is hereditary, that is,
where 1t appears in successive generations, or
where there are several blind children born
OF one mother.
! Now, if two children inherit the same scrof-
ulous tendency, and one is born blind, while
the other is born deaf the blind child will be
very likely to have the tendency develop it.
self in the form Of pulmonary consumption, or
some other disease, in consequence of the in
active and sedentary life that he leads, while
the deaf one, by active life in the open air,
may prevent its development and live to old
age.
From comparison between the statistics
of several Institutions in this country for tho
last ten years, it appears that the mortality
among the bind is greater than that of mutos
and yet there is no doubt, that, if the en-
curry should be continued ten years longcr,it
would appear yet more striking, because the
blind will be passing through period Of life
IN which the scrotuous tendency is more apt
TO develop itself in the form of phthisis than
during any later period.
Accurate statistical researches may perhaps
be Of more use TO the blind than volumes of
reasonings and exhortations they will show
that there are memorable laws of nature in
operation, which tend to cut off much larg-
er proportion of them than of seeing persons
at an early age and that they can escape
their effects only by abandoning every un-
healthy and weakening habit, by observing
the Strictest temperance in food and drinks,
and by heartily seeondng the efforts of their
Ijudiciou5 friends, who would have them exer-
else freely and frequently in the open air.
1t has been often observed in European
publications respecting the blind, that they
were never subject to insanity; but this is an
error which originated probably with some
theorist who neglected observation and has
been handed down by those who state things
without naming their authority; but however
ii may have arisen,it is an error,as facts with
in our knowledge show
Whale upon the subject of statistics Of tho
blind, it should be observed, that the United
States census, which ought to be a most fer
tile source Of information, is of very little val
ue, because it does not give their ages.
In the case of the deaf mutes, it is Of COM
paratiycIy little Importance to give the ages,
because most of them are deaf from birth;
while very large proportion Of the blind,
who arc reported in the census, lost their sight
through old age and yetthe census gives the
ages of the mutes, and omits those of the blind.
BY adding single column to the table, very
valuable information would be impaired which
would enable those interested in the oduca-
ton of the blind to find out all the subjects Of
proper age, and to provide for their wants.
1t is true, that the addition of only single
column to the census increases considerably
the labor and expense of taking it; but the
information would be of higher Importance
than much that is now gathered, because it
relates Immediately to large class of unfor-
tunate men; and the labor and money of
government can never be more fifty expend-
ed than in bringing the light of science to the
aid of humanity We hope that each institu-
ton for the blind in the country will use what
influence it may possess to procure the inser-
ton of an additional column which can supply
the needed information.
The course of instruction which may be
found detailed in former Reports has been
steadily pursued during the past year, and,we
believe with success. The teachers have
been faithful and diigent, and the pupils do
Gle and industrious. The end which is aimed
at is to give to the blind the same sort of i'm
as other children receive in the best
common schools, and this end VIC think is at
tanned.
1t may sometimes happen that wealthy pa
rents will wish to procure for their blind SON
The advantages of higher education; or there
rasts a strong desire for literary attainments,