Washington sentinel., 1854-05-31
From Abe n. \. Evening Post.
The Cure for Idiocy.

the present age relates to the education Of
children in whom, on account Of their imperfect
physical conformation, the faculties Of the
mind are never unfolded nor become active.
and who therefore remain in q state Of idiocy.
1t was in Switzerland, where such examples
are most frequent, that this discovery, eqpal in
Importance to any Of the boasted triumphs Of
physical science, was made, and here at Abend-
berg, near InterIachen, isshn institution found
model Of all similar institutions in other coun-
tries, in which his system of education has
produced its most perfect and satisfactory re-
suits. In one-third Of the number Of cases, as
he states in a letter to Lord Ashley. which lies
before u.s. the pupil taken in childhood is res
cued from idiocy, and raised to the ordinary
degree ofhuman intelligence.
We subjoin a paper on this interesting sub-
iect, furnished bya friend who paid recent
visit to the establishment at Abendberg:
At this season, when many Of our country
men are preparing to spend the summer in
Switzerland / should like call their attention
TO place which many omit to see from know
ing little about it; / mean the Abendberg, near
Interlachen. 1t is an institution for the cure
of cretinism, the malady Of the Swiss valleys,
and is entirely supported by charitable sub
scriptions and donations. Lord Ashley, DIR.
Gaussen, Of Geneva, DR.. Howe Of Boston, and
many other English and American phianthro-
pists, have taken deep interest in it and its
benevolent founder.
"The following are some memoranda of Q
visit made to that place in August, 1852:
This morning tried to persuade some Of
my comrades to Join me in a visit to DR.. Gug-
penbuhl.s, but, falling, determined to go alonea
Accordingly set off with my donkey, one Of
the most asinine of asses, and an intelligent
Swiss driver, with whom, Notwithstanding my
very bad German, managed to sustain con-
versation.
" Ny attention had been first drawn to this
establishment about six years ago by an article
in Chambers's Miscellany, and then resolved,
that if ever | should visit Switzerland, that
would be place should certainly see. Ma
king that article my apology introduced my
selft the doctor. He was most courteous;
said it (the articlel had been the means Of
raising up many friends to the institution; and,
before i left, showed me a carefully preserved
copy Of it. DR. Guggenbuhl is man Of great
simplicity of manners, with mild blue eye, and
an almost womanly sweetness in his smile. He
asked me to Join him in a cup of coffee, and,
while we drank II, + obtained from him some
interesting details. He said his sympathies Tor
cretins was first excited by seeing one kneeling
before wayside cross. Although every faculty
was paralyzed by disease, he still retained the
sentiment of devotion instilled by his mother
before he was three years old, 50 that when
ever he passed a cross, he knelt before IT. Or.
Guggenbuhl concluded from this, that the NAL
adv was not SO hopeless as generally believed,
and resolved to devote his life to making the
trial.
"Twelve years have now passed away, and,
while still a young man, he has had the reward
Of seeing his efforts successful. His children,
as he tonchingly calls them, have many Of them
left him, sound in body and mind, raised from q
state little above that of brutes, to the dignity
of rational and intelligent creatures.
"For eight years he never left his noun
tain home. / asked him if he had not some
times felt cnnai or regret, and it was worth
while to have asked the question to see the
look with which he answered Z No, every ono
has his mission in life; this is mine-this is
my place.
the garden, where these rescued innocents were
at play. / had feared that it would be disa-
greeable if not disgusting to look at them, but
nothing could be further from the truth. 1t is
only in infancy or early childhood that DR..
Guggenbuhl will receceive them; and they are
kept so nice and clean, washed in aromatic
baths, and exposed so constantly to the pure
mountain air, that the sight is rather pleasing
than otherwise. They were shown to me in
every stage, from the infant carried in arms to
those whose cure was nearly completed. They
are thirty in all, of whom twenty are taken
gratuitously. They are from France, England,
Piedmont, &c.; crctinism being, by no means,
confined to Switzerland.
"Our next visit was to the schoolrOom,
where every thing is admirably arranged.
There are maps III relief pictures, gymnastic
apparatus, &c. There is also an excellent sys-
tenn Of botany, planned by the doctor himself
The flowers Of every month are painted on
cards, which the children first study, and then
they are sent out into the woods and on the
hills to look for them.
Altogether, was truly gratiied, and hard
" knew which to admire more, the benevo
lence that planned such an enterprise, or the
steady zeal that has carried it out amidst every
variety of obstacle
"ScRoorcmING LITTLE Miss Etzancy,
an elderly maiden,. accused Mr.. Cleaver, the
gay young man who was accustomed to carry