The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-01-10


OF all the maladies which aflict humanity n OF one
In the whole catalogue is calanitous to the sub
ect OF 1t, and TO has friends than that of the loss of
reason The institution of lunatic hospitals, in mit-
eating the suferngs of the insane and restoring them
to reason, has proved to be one of the most
ul and benecent public charities of this benevolent
age.
Oar State Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester, is diff
iusng Its benefits all over the Commonwealth Its
eminent success, its thronged apartments, and the
number OF Insane persons ascerained to exist in the
state, will soon press the questions whether another
similar institution or Is not necessary in this Com
monwealth, upon the judgement of the Legislature
Sdch an establishment would of course involve the
expenditure of large amount of money. Before an
appropriation for such expenditure is made. if
seems to me the question of location should be set
tied, accurate plans presented, and the most careful
estimates Of its cost be required from responsible per
sons competent to make them. When the necessity
shall be shown to exist, the location settled and the
requisite information to plan and cost laid before
them, no Legislature could hesitate to do what the
pubic interest demands.
The subject Unpopular education always has been
and always will continue to be- of surprising interest
to the people of Massachusetts. The impress of her
character, individual and aggregate, is made in the
distrlct school-house Her citizens may reach the
highest places of honor and distinction in the State.
III pulpit, VI Ill lIle HldrlS OF business
and commerce; wherever Providence may station
them, they will look back with gratitude and delight
to the days which they passed in the neighborhood
schoohouse, and regard the time there spent as the
forming period of their destiny.
Who then can estimate the importance TO the In
dvldua and to the State, fhavng those nurseries of
education as perfect the lot of humanity will per-
m-Nluch has been done during the last dozen years
to elevate and improve the character of our Public
Schools. of basb
ed from year to year in the reports of the Board of
Educatlon and their Secretary, whose official labors
are appropriated to this important cause The re-
ports OF those public functonaries for the last year are
satisfactory and calculated to increase the confidence
of the public IN the which have been put into
requlslon for the advancement of popular education
The three State Normal Schools are well attended
and prosperous These institutions have been efficient
lnsrumentalltes in increasing the qualifications of
teachers and improving the condition of our Common
Schools Teachers institutes and teachers associa-
tons, both of which under the patronage of the
State, important auxaries ofthe Normal Schools
In accomplishing the great object in view. 1t is
gratifying to believe, that the people themselves real
ze more and more every year, how deeply the dear
est interests of their children, and the prosperity and
glory OF the Commonwealth are involved in the sue
cess or failure of the efforts making for perfect
ing our system of education
i 30 long as human generations pass on with the
rapid flight of time, from childhood to youth, and
from youth to manhood this subject will address it
self with undated force the legislators of the land
In despotic governments, tyranny may array itself
against the cause of education and learning, and,
fearing the light, may frown upon every effort for its
advancement
In this free country education can have but one
enemy, and that is ignorance. Two hundred thou
sand children, soon to be men and women, call on
you TO protect them from the power of such an enc
lmy,-patrlotism, humanity, and religion, demand its
| extrpation
| The State Reform School at Westboro, has been
| opened something more than one year. The whole
number which has been received is three hundred
and thIrty-tour. The present number is three hun
dred and ten, and there is room for no more The
officers of the institution have notified the sheriffs of
the several counties that it is full Whether the
buildings shall be enlarged so as to make room for
greater number some limitations or restrictions as
to the character of those to be received shall be pre-
scrlbed by law what other course is to be pursued
In regard to this new experiment for the instruction
and reformation of juvenile Offenders will be for the
Legislature to decide.
A remarkable degree ofhealth has prevailed among
the inmates during the year No death occurred,
and the physicians bill for the whole time was but
twenty weight dollars. General order and compliance
with prescribed rules have characterized the conduct
ofthe boys So far as the length of time it has been
IA opeIdtlOn dHOruS the means OF Judging, the
lse OF success in this institution is as attering as
could have been anticipated.
| cannot here forbear to allude to the lamented
death ofhat early friend and patron of this Reform
School, the late Hon. Theodore Lyman, of Boston.
In his lifetime he gave and delivered to the institu
ton twenty-five thousand and five hundred dollars
He lived only long enough to see SO much of the
fruits OF his muncence to satisfy MIN of the wis.,
dom of that mode OF liberaty. Following the dc
tates of his generous heart in two codics to his last
will he added fifty thousand dollars to the sum which
ne had before given. The words of his last codic
are,-ln addition to the sumof thirty thousand dol
lars given, in the preceding codicil, to the Reform
School established by the State, at Westborough in
this Commonwealth, now give the further sum of
twenty thousand dollars; and declare it to be my
will, that the whole and sole object of these two dona-
ons OF thirty thousand dollars and of twenty thou
sand dollars, respectively made to my native State,
nthe two codlcis attached to my last testament, is
to aid in enabling the Legislature ofhe same to es-
tablish in the town Of Westborough an institution, or
Institutions, on the most approved plan for the proper
discipline, instruction, employment and reformation
OF 5uvenle offenders, whether male or female, or
| both"
Noble benefactor! Friend ofthe young, the way
ward, and the poor! When the bloody laurels ofthe
warrior and destroyer of his race shall be despsed
and tramDlpd in fha dust hv cd chris,