Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-04-08
lYwlSDDRR EnRDNlGlS
Cores pondence of the Lewisburg Chronicle
HARRISBURG, March 81, 1883.

HAkRlSBO VlaiSh ~ AScO-
The Convention of both Houses met,
when % bids for the performance of the
English Public Printing and Binding for
three years from lst July next, were CIV
en- in, at prices varying from 10 to 20 l-l6
below the prices received by existing laws
and 8 bids for the German Printing at
l to 63 1-l6 below those prices. MIR. A.
Boyd Hamilton-whose connection with
public printing at Washington, must be
remembered by ai!-was the lowest bidder,
but his securities being pronounced insult
ficient by the Speakers, the Convention
adjourned until 3 o'clock, p. NJ, and then
adjourned again until Monday next, to
give him time to get additional security.
The Bill to Repeal the General Guage
Law, after an animated discussion, was
carried, 67 to Is.
EDUCATION OF IDIoTs Ts-Thursday eve
ming, the Hall of the House was crowded
to hear Mr.. James B. Richards, who has
devoted himself to the education of imbe-
Gle and weak minded children. Judge
Kane, aud Rev Henry 5. Spackman, of
Philad., addressed the audience, showing
that Philanthropy had of late taken care
of the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb, the In
sane, aud the abandoned Youth that now,
the Idiotic were also receiving public at
tention and that it had been proved that
they could be made measurably intel ltgent,
happy and useful. About 80 years ago,
1the effort was first made in France. subse
quen,ly in England, in lStS in Massachu-
sets, about 1850 in New York, and near
ly year since in Philadelphia. There
are supposed to be 5000 idiots in Penn
sylvauia, of whom large proportion are
children, who may be benefited.
Mr.. Richards brought before the audi
ence a lad of about ten years of age, (son
Of distinguished citizen of Philadelphia
who had been under his care but few
months, Dut hai iedf ueu w ic"a, aHu ""1
physically and mentally improved under
his instructions. .........The next case was
girl of about the same age "a native of
Delaware who had been born blind, aud
who was distinguished for nothing so much
as her obstinacy, and general responsiveness.
1t took Mr. Richards three hours at his
first effort to compel her into obedience in
a single point, aud five hours to conquer
her will in another point. Blind, idictic,
almost dumb, and wilful, it was indeed a
formidable task, but higher will, intelli-
gence, and love triu,npbed. She can
now talk quite intelligibly, is pleasant in
her expression of coun:enance (wanting
only the eyes light,) very docile, neat in
her habits, and exceedingly affectionate in
her disposition.........The last case, was,
however, the triumphant exhibition. He
is also about ten years old, and native
of Rhode Island. When taken into the
care of Mr. r., he was 81 years old, but
more resembled dead than a living being.
He had never manifested the least sensi-
bility, unless it was that he heard lively
music. He had never crept, or rolled land
could not even masticate, but was fed
wholly on milk. His legs were paralized,
and insensible to pain. He was wrapped
ip flannel gown, and lay most of the time
in his own flth-in fact, he had the leas,
reason of any reasonable being. When
Mr.. r. first took him, and had him clean,
sed and properly clothed, he spent an hour
day for three months, laying down be-
fore the child and reading aloud, before
the child manifested any distinct recogni
ton Of him. About that time, it seemed
to look pleased at his presence, and after
while tried to raise its hand and open
Mr.. RS mouth when he would stop read
ing. A while afterwards, it tried to roll
cent upon the aoor-and thenceforward
slowly and by care and attention its phys
ical and mental powers were developed
Little Sylvester can now talk coherently
exhibits considerable judgment although
slow in its operations, and can read word
OF one or two syllables with much proprie
ty. While sitting in front of the Clerk
desk, an example of his mode of though
and expression occurred, which l repea
as near as possible in the following words
Mr.. r. What gives uslight, Sylvester
Boy. The Sun, sir.
N. r. The Sun gives light BY day, bu