New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-26

The idea OF making ttese pnfortunases hsppy IN
Themselves, aud useful to others il ooe OF compare
tivey recent conception. and yet abundant prov soo
has been long made 'or the wants and tho improve
mont OF tho two former classes. The idiodc we're
left Last of sH hopeless victims to their wretcded
fate Of which happily they were the esst conscious
Of the three. Ii Is but about ten years since any
systematic effort WA made in their behalf In this
country, and bat little more than twice that time
sioce the l.bors of GuggenbdhI, Seguia, Saesers
and other scientific phisnthropists, were directed
in Europe to this field of benevolesce. The atten-
ton ofthe public was first called to this subject
here, we believe, by DR.. Samuel G. Howe, Whole
life has been continued service Of humanity and
freedom, who procured small appropriation from
the Legislature of Massachusetts and began al eI-
pertinent on email scale at the Blind Asylum, OF
which be 10 the Superintendent From this, per.
msUent establishment has grown, though not on so
large scale nor with the advantages position, thst
might be desired ard expected from the wealth
and intelligent benevolence Of the Bay State.
The next public attempt in this direction and BY
much the most considerable made 10 this country,
was that of this State, commenced in Troy aud
now permanently established at Syracuse. The
liberaity with which this charity has been pro-
NOTED by our Law. makers at Albany BY no means
tie least credtable of their corporate character.
istics. DR.. II. b. Wilbur, the Superintendent,
had conceived the idea Of movement of this kind
about the same time that DR.. Howe began his en-
deavors, and be commenced his experiments in q
private wsyst Barre, Massachusetts,. His sue ,ess
led to bis selection as ths Superintendent Of our
State institution, which his skllful aud happy
labors have fully justified.
Beside Massschusetts and New-YOrk Pennsyl-
vanis has established Trsisng School for Idiots at
Germantown, and Ohio ore at Columbus; and We
believe Kentucky is making move in the same d.
rectOn. We trust that in the oourse of ten years
more, this cass of unfoftunates will be as amply
provided for a. the insaue the blind, or the deaf
and dumb The object of these institutions is to
recover to sanity thst proportion Of youth Of
backward development, capable Of being brought
up to the average the race which would lapse into
utter idocy without the application ofspecia train
ing. There are not q few instances Of persons of
apparent mental inbeciity in childhood, and even
in early youth, who have been brought up net
merely to the level of mankind, but even TO dstin-
gushed intelligence by the use Of wise and scien-
tifc Intellectual, moral and physical treatment.
Failing of this success, they propose developing the
imperfect faculties of those hopelessIy inferior to
the common run Of men, and to teach the habits
of cleanliness, employment and self.control, which
greatly contribute to their own happiness and to the
comfort Of those who have charge Of then. We
believe that no ono who has ever seen what i'm.
provemont car be worked even in what ssem to be
the most desperate csses, has sIudged bis proper
extend it. Beside the public establishments
We have mentioned, there is an excellent private
school at Harlem, under the charge Of DR.. j. B.
Richards, who was employed at the outset BY Dr.
Howe in the Massachusetts school, aud subse-
quently in the Pennsylvania one, and another at
Barre, Mass., conducted by Dr. George Brown.
This gentleman took the school established by DIR.
Wilbur on bis removal to our State institution, ana
has conducted it with signal success since that tme
These private schools are Of course, Intended for
patients whose friends are able to incur an expense
commensurate with the advantages they enjoy
and the blessings which their improvement and hap
piness confer on those connected with them. 1t is
in such benefcent victories as these, more than 10
thoie Of armies or of fleets, or even tho more
blessed triumphs of enterprise and industry, that
We see the proofs that the present days arc indeed
better than the former ones.