Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-29


domain to find objects Of her charty-penetrated
the cabins Ot her mountaius and the filthy novels
OF her cities, to raise the sons and daughters of
affection from vice and misery, and lead them
with gentle hand to this splendid building, there
to be fed, warmed and clothed, like fond moth
er nourishlag her children from her own breast.
On then morning we walked out to the in
stitutlon Tor the deaf and dumb and blind. We
had the pleasure of an Introduction to MIR. Coyel,
'he assistant principal, who with much courtesy,
led us through the different apartments and i'm
parted to rs all needful information. The chief
teacher of the mutes was Mt Turner. Some
years APO he was married to s lady who, like
himself, is deaf and dumb: they have two chill
dren, who speak fuently, and also converse with
their parents in the mute language. Mr.. Turner
seemed 10 be perfectly acguaintedwilh the differ
ent branches which he processes to teach The
pupils seemed quite contented with their condi-
tion, and convinced us that they were good schol-
ars in geography and arithmetic. We regretted
that we came too late to see the mutes at morn
ing prayer in their own language Whilst en-
gagged in adniring the system and good order of
th:s department. we heard the sound of music in
the adjoining nom.
Va [ can 'neyer forget my feelings when saw be.
fore us thirty. three human beings of dIferentages
and various features. on whose ''sightleSs balls"
no raw of light ever falls. Every countenance
seemed devoid of care or sorrow, except that OF
one young man. He was tall, thin, melancholy
and detected; appeared to take no inIefest'in the
stirling scenes around him-his thoughts seemed
far away in tho deep recesses Of his own mind
indifferent to the wOrld-not DESTROYS of associa-
Iing with his fellow man. He alone Of The whole
group seemed ready to apply to his case the words
Of the immortal bard 49, -
49, Is scThus with the wear - -
Seasons return, bur not to me returns
Day, or the sweet approach Of eV'n and morn,
Or SIGHT ofvernal bloom, or summers rose,
Or flocks. or herds, or human face divine,
But cloud instead, and ever during dark a.,
Surrounds me- from the cheerful ways Of men;
Mcdowell told me that his blindness was not
vet entire. and the mystery of his sadaess was at
once explained. II is law of our nature, that
so long as hope and despair alternately predomi-
nate in'the mind, melancholy must result; but so
soon as our fate is rreyocably fixed, God, in his
mercys s'tempers the wind TO the shorn lamb, -
by reconciling US to our condition No language
can describe the feelings of one doomed to the
scaffold so long as there is prospect of pardon
repreve but when the door Of hope is shut for
ever, he gradually becomes more resigned to his
awful doom.
A martial air was first played on instruments,
by the boys, in handsome style. The professor
Of music, who is blind from his birth. now seated
himself at the piano. The voices of the females
now mingled with its melOdious notes. Katy
Darling was sung in the most pathetic strains,
and then the following song
Farewell farewell is lonely sound and always brings
sigh,
But give to me- when loYd ones part, that sweet old
word good bye
The pupil is instructed in music orally
placed at the piano-his fingers brought in con-
tact with the keys-he is taught that these keys
have different names according to position and the
notes struck by them-is required to practise I'M
til he can take in the whole range of the instru-
ment and to some extent has mastered the me-
chanical part-he attends to the different measures
of time. A simple piece of music is now read to
him note by note,-he finds the corresponding
notes of the instrument and strikes them, marking
the time; taking small portion at lesson, in
the course of few days he can learn the whole
piece. The piece is committed and performed,-
another more difficult than the first is given him.
andso on until he can perform with facility the
most Intricate pieces of music.
The raised letters are used in teaching them to
read aud write in all their studies.
One of the girls was asked what was the inter-
est of one fourth of a cent for so many years.
She answered from memory and brought out the
result with as much promptnesS and accuracy as
any person in the State could have done. A
beautiful little blonde girl, about S years old
read very accurately; boy translated French
into English, and female perhaps ii years of
age, pointed out on the map every town and city
in the UniOn, which was asked of her.
This institution for the deafand dumband blind
was established by successive acts of the Virginia
Legislature, and commenced its operations Janu-
ary 1, l640, with only two scholars in each de-
partrnent: now there are IS deaf mutes, and 33
blind pupils-6 or paying pupils; tue rest are
supported by the State at an annual expense of
$3.50 each; five hours are spent in school every
day except Sunday their studies, are Geogra-
ply, History, Arithmetic, the general principles
ofPhilosnphy, Astronomy, and Chemistry illus
trated by suitable philosophical Instruments
condensed account from the newspapers Of the
passing events of the Woodworking and even
ingdeyotlOn explanations of portions of Scripture
Lectures on the existence and attributes Of God,
aud the nature and extent Of the atonement.-
Fhe boys are also taught shoe making, cabinet
making, book binding and printing--the girls knit
ting, sewing and several ornamental branches.
The fullcourse ofinstruction ;omprehendsS years.
The boys become good mechanics, compositors
and copying clerks before their course ends, and
few are sometimes retained as teachers-the fe-
males live by their needle. The most talented
Of the blind become good teachers, and some ofthe
former pupils are now engaged in that vocation in
private families: others follow the trade of mat
ttass or brush making, fine specimens of which
we saw. Nearly all the books used by the blind
were printed here by the mutes. Each of the
blind girls when they retire from the institute. is
entitled to fair share of common fund created
By the sale of worsted collars, purses, aud bread
baskets, which have been, made BY them. The
blind, in addition to the studies of the deaf and
mute, are taught algebra, geometry and music
Ia this last science they great proiciehts, and
by its aid fill up hours which otherwise might be
tedious.
The gross amount of public money expended in
the purchase of ground aud in the erection of
these buildings is $4,000, and at the last ses-
sion ofthe legislature $4,000 more were added
for the erection Of chapel and the introduction
of steam and gas light, and they increased the
annuity $1,000.
We babe an affectionate adieu to tire polite aud
aniable Mr. Covell, and returned to our hotel
much edited and delighted.
PREsIpESr PIERCE ON THE NEBRASKA Bit.
Elk Senator Clemens has addressed letter TO
Que ofhis constituents which is published in the
Huntsville. Aamaba, Advocate. He gives his
objections to the Nebraska bill. and also gives the
ooinioG of President Pierce on the same subject.
n giving the views oEthe President, Mr.. G. uses
the following decided language, which is worthy
Of remark:
"sBut few days since, says Mr.. Clemens, Gin
a conversation with Northern Senator and my
SELF he president Pierce gave it as his decided
opinion that Douglass bill was proposition in
favor offreedom' added that lift should pass.
although we might absorb the whole of Mexico,
not another slave State you'd oper come into The
Union He ernrsssed great surprise al he oppo-