Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-04-18
Correspondence Of the Christian Advocate and Journal
Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind.
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

On Monday. cordial and polite invitation was
given to The Conference 10 visit the Vngnia Instl
tuition for the Education Of the Deaf, and Dumb.
and OF the Blind" Accordingly, a considerable
number OF the preachers (and your humble cores
pondent among them) availed themselves of that in
vitation, and repaired TO the institution.
The buildings occupied by this noble State bene
faction IS beautifully situated on a wooded eminence
in the immediate vicinity Of Staunton. 1t is ISL
feet in front, with wings extending back and piazzas
Tor the exercise OF the pupils in warm weather. In
10 one ot the spacious rooms Of this splendid edce
we were ushered, where we found assembled quite
aiarge number of the blind some of them in the very
early morning Of life. it was affecting to behold
so many OF our fellow beings who never to look
on this green and beautiful earth, gaze upon the
counienances Of the loved ones Of their hearts but
1t was cheering to think that the blessing OF God
upon the labOurs of the benevolent and Ingenious
has opened up, TO these afflicted ones sources
Oh ENJOY that were not even imagined a few
years ago. When prayer had been offered, the
band composed exclusively of the blind, discoursed
what those who are good judges Ct am noD pro-
1ounced excellent music. The Bible, which had
been printed especially for the blind, was then pro-
duced, at the request of some Of the preachers GER
tain portions of the Holy Scriptures were read by
the pupils. This was followed by readings, Sc,
IN the French language, and also by operations in
mental arithmetic Some of these last were truly
astonishing. The most difficult and intricate ques
tons were proposed by the accomplished teacher,
MI. Gray, (hmself blind ) and answered by the pu-
plis with readiness and eXactIesS that must be wit
messed to be fully appreciated. These and the 9TH
er exercises OF the afternoon, were all in.eTspesed
with well executed vocal and instrumental music
Dr. Merrlllat the intelligent and amable PRINCIPAL
has certainly succeeded in doing much for the anne
iiorati0n OF the condition of these unfortunate ones
The following quotation from former Report of
the Principal, presents some curious statistics and
inferenccs:
al extract" says the Principal, "from the tables
which have formed. the following summary pre-
misng That IN several counties, the persons To whom
had applied for information, have contented them
selves with giving me the names, Sc, Of the blind
persons undcr fuenty one years Of age, and some
times have not even mentioned the number of blind
persons IN their county over that age that, ,here-
fore, the number of adult blind persons in these ia
bles, is not large enough in proportion to the num-
Der of children.
"Of l42 blind persons in Virginia, whose sex |
have ascerianed, there II males and 65 females
vi l49 whose age is mentioned in these tables are
under years of age SO between and 81 and 10
over 2i. was able TO ascertain the age at which
81 oil these persons became blind, 10 never saw
(congenita cases,) and Al lost thei. sight at va
rIous ages. ranging from to 90 years ofagc las
ceralned the cause Of blindness in IS cases of these
20 are hereditary IL are the offspring of blind re-
iatlons, Generally first cousins } 20 lost their sight
by diseases of various kinds, and ID by accidents
VI ia, are wealthy, Sc in easy circumstances
and II poor. ORES cases of blindness, GS are en-
tlrely blind, Id can SEQ luminous objects, such as
the sun, and 10 can large Objects but cannot see
the letters of book.
"These tables, limited though they be- appear
to me to establish beyond any doubt, fact which
cannot but be of melancholy ins,erest to every re-.
fectlng mind. They show, namely. tn at in larue
proportion OF cases, blindnes was owing TO causes
which were comfortable by individuals and by So
ciety. ] allude to the aIge number of hereditary
cases. and also 10 those in which blindness was en-
tailed upon the children by the parents or grand
rents having been themselves nearly related by
blood"
Before we left the room in which we had beheld
and heard so much 10 interest US, the Rev. j. A.
Collins made brief but pertinent address to the
blind, which seems TO please them highly
we visited the buildings in which are the work
shops for the Deaf Muies. They were in state
Of order that deserved high Communications Here
these, whose only language is a language of signs,
are employed in the various mechanical pursuits as
carpentry, cabinet making, cordwanng brush ma
king, Sc. In the prlnting-ofice and book -binderv,
some were engaged in setting types, &c. for books
tor the blind ',:s thought an interesting one,
and 1t shows the mutual dependence ofour race, the
one upon the other that tie deaf mute is thus be
coming eyes 10 the blind noticed that the book,
which is now in 2 course of printing, is one of Pc
ter Parley's works on Geography Little did Good
rich THINK when he began To prepare books for the
young, that he would thus minister to the instruc-
ton and amusement Of the sightless.
regret that was not able TO procure any relia-
BILE Information as 10 the exact number who are
being educated in the institution NJ