New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-15


count Of TN ovnons held by ancen; and modern ma
go In rrr.,d to ols. DIR. Il. concluded his r.
n.,ls vii. some highly complimentary illusions g.
i m II ilbur, and those associated with him at ue
II A. an. ..N..,
! . and Willie while under hi, charge for two years,
\ ,ssos. They were then considered hopeless csse- o.
\ iaioc, their habits were very disgusting, as they
\ coald not take Of themselves.
.pOsPTR VI. WETNoRE expressed his great gratiiiea-
ion al witnessing the exercises. He thought that only
boo who were familiar with similar Institutions could
f,I, cornnrehond the magnitude OF tbs task which Dr.
Wihur he'd accomplished. In this remark Dir. Wet
more doubtless referred to the Deaf and ID umb Asylum
with which be has long been co1necieil. Az com
mepcng tie instruction Of these children they were IN
fnct "a ignorant az blocks and siones he had u.ied
the Asylum at Albany where NE puphs appeeicu ~
much better advantage.
SlyEos DRAPER spoke in behalf Of the Board Of
Ten Governors, and stated that The members Of the
Board were unanimous in their opinion of Dr.. VIII
bur's lsbors. They were especially sensible Of the
wonderful change in "Natty and Wile and thus
could understand the positive success OF the Asylum
much better than many Others.
Some other gentlemen made short addresses. a
resolution of thanks to DR.. Wilbur then adopted,
and it was accordingly expressed to him by Mr. NEIL
SON. Chairman cf the meeting The Doctor modesty
acknow edged the compliment, saying that the results
witnessed were owing more to the labors ct his asso-
ciates than to himself
Various specimens Of the pupils handiwork in sew
ing worsted-work, etc, presented for e1amna-
ton and the meeting adjourned. ~
We have been informed that the objects Of this ex-
bjbition. the first Of its kind in this vicinity were
mnnly two: First to give some proof to the many
friends of the Asylum in this City that
fully accomplishing its proposed ends, and also TO
mapv distinguished gentlemen from various States
who were attending the Anniversaries; and secondly,
far tho special convenience Of the Ten Governors who
are said TO have under consideration appropriation
for the support at the Asylum Of of the idiotc
children now on Randals Island. Such appro-
pration would doubtless meet the hearty appreciation
Of our citizens. The " idiot House on the Island
contains some twenty-five thirty idiots, who are
certainly as well cared for, to their physical com
fort rs they would be in their respective families. But
oil, them sLoud he rem0red 10 tie Asyium where
they can be instructed and perhaps made useful to
themselves and others.
The first efforts for the education of idiots in Amer
ca were in 1899 In that year the Institution for the
Deaf and Dumb in this City received mute boy who
was instructed for three years by Prof Morris with IA
vorable results. The same year Dr. Howe of Boston
treated and greatly improved blind idotic child and
afterward two others. Two or three children were
also under instruction at the American Asylum at
Hartford before ls4s In 1916 efforts were made in
both the Legislatures of NewYork and Massachusetts
for the establishment of Asyums for this class
in July, ls4s. DIR. Wilbur opened private institu-
ton for this purpose at Barre Mass, where he had 10
pupils before ISL In that year, having been called
TO our State Asylum at Albany, he transferred that
school to DR.. Geo. Brown, under whose management
il is still in successful operation, having some 25 or
80 pnpils
In October, ls4s the Massachusetts School was
commenced, under the superintendent of DIR. Howe
II was conducted for three years an experiment and
had Is pupils at the close Of that periOd-October,
ls5l Tlcn it entered on its career as permanent
State institution. From 1913 to January, 1855, it had
ll3 pnpiIs. of whom Al were then remaining. We are
informed that the Legislature has lately granted it
s25, 600 for an ediice, etc.
The ASYLUM at Albany was opened in October
1851. For the last two years it has had an average
attendance of 30 pupils, and an equal number OF APP
Intentions for admission are file. The new c1i-
fee at Syracuse costing 900, will be opened next
August Appropriation for current expenses for this
year sl3OoOa
The Pennsylvania School in Germantown was com
mcnced in July 1853 n State Institution, having
bcen founded OF the private school begun IN the WIZ
fer of 1s5l-2 by Mr.. j. b. Richards. His report OF
last January states the number of pupils then remain
ING nj 90. We learn that $4,000 have been
subscribed by citizens of Philadelphia for the erection
of buildings. etc. private School for Idiots wa
commenced last fall near Boston by Mr. Mcdonald
I fo,merlv associated with Dr. Howe-which completes
tbe LIST of institutions of this character.