Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-07-02
TTcatnIe OF Idiots.

tue dressings Vi sCieuCet IblOrmsu ny uepero
lence. that tho blind. the deaf. add dumb anC
the idiotic were sought out and comforted. Il
They were left formerly, as general thing
helpless snd hopeless burdens On the charity
Of friends, or Uf tbs world.
The idea OF making these unlortunstes
happy il themselves, auI useful ID Others, it
one Of omparaiigeiy reccut conception, unC
vet abundant provision has been long made
for the wants aud the Improvement Of the twC
former classes. The idiJtic were lett last OF
all hopeless victims TO their wretched tate
Of which happily they were the least consci
Gus of the three Ii is but about ten years,
since any systematic effort was made in thell
behalf 10 this country, and but little more
than twice that time since tie laoOrs .; Gu!'
genbuh!, SeguIu, Saegert, and other sclentlh
pnilanthrOpists, were directed 10 Europe &c
this fed of beuevJ!ence. Ine attention OK
the public was first called 10 this subject
here, we believe, by d.. Samue! u. ii ,Te,
whose life has teen II continued service OF
humanity ADD freedom, VINO procured suaiI
appropriation from the Legislature VI Massa-
chusetts aud began al eI pertinent on SINAI.
scale at the Blind Asylum, Of which he Is
the Superintendent. From tbis, O perma-
nent establishment has grown, though not
Oh 50 large scale, nor with the advantages
Of position, that might be desired and ezpec-
ted from the wealth and intelligent benevo-
lence Of the Bay State. The next public a.
tempt in this direction, aud by much the
most Considerable made IN this country, was
that Of this State, commenced IN Troy and
now permanently established a! Syracuse
rnc liDcrality with which !us charity has
been promoted by cur laS-maAers at Albany
Is by uU meaus the least creditaoie OF their
corporate characteristics. DR.. ii. Is. Wilbur,
the IpcrInteudeut, had Conceived the idea
IF movement f this kind about the same
time tina, DIR. Howe began his endeaSOrs,
aud be commenced his experiments III prl'
vate way at Barre, Massachusetts,. His sue.
cess led TO his selection as the Superintendent
of our State institution, which his skAlui
and happy labors have fully justif d.
Besides Massachusetts, aud New York,
Pennsylvania has established i Training
School FOR liiOts at GarmantJwu, ADD OAiO
oue al Columbus; add we believe Kentucky
Is making move IN the same dlreCtiOo. We
,
this class OF unfJrIunstes Will be as amply
provided for "a The Insane, tic tlind, or the
deaf and dumb. Tue Of jstt OF these iDstitu-
tions is 10 recover to sanity that proportion
of youth of backward development capa'
BILE Of being brought up to the average OF the
race, which would lapse into utter ldIocy
without the application Of special training.
There are not . few instances Of persons OF
apparent mental i'm eclllty in childhood, and
even in early youth, VINO have been brought
up not merely to the level Of mankind, bat
even to u distinguished intelligence, by the
use Of wise and sGleutihc inteiiectual, mora!
and physical treatment. Failing VI this sue
cess they propose developing the imperfect
faculties Of those hGpele3sig Inferior TO the
uommpn run OF men, and to teach them Dab.
its u cleanliness employment and se.t.con-
troll, which greatly contribute to their own
happiness and 10 the comfort OF those who
have charge Of them. We believe that 10
one who has ever seen what Improvement
can be worked even III what seem to be the
most desperate cases, has grudged bis pro-
portion Of the expense necessary 10 accom-
piish and extend it, Beside the public co.
Establishments we have mentioned, there Is a o
excellent private school at Harlem, undcr
tue charge of Dr. j. B. Richards, who was
employed at the outset by DR.. live in the
Massachusetts, school, aud subsequently 10
the Pcun>y lyanIa ore; another at barre,
Massachusetts,, conducted by DR.. George
Brown. This geutememan took the school
established by DR.. Wilbur Oh bis remoSa! to
our State Institution, aud has conducted II
with signal success since that tune. These
private schools are, of course, intended tor
patients whose friends are able to incur an
expense commensurate With the advantages
they erjoy aud the blessings which their im-
proSemept and happiness cOnier on those
connected With them. 1t is 10 such bcneti-
cent victories as these, more team IN those Of
armies or Ji Iigets, or even the more oIe--ei
trlumpbs Of enterprise and Industry, ;na;
W. see the proofs that the present days are
lrdred better than tie former oUes.-N. !.
Tribune.