Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-02-03
ASYLUM for Idiots,

We are pleased to notice that the proposition
to establish an institution for the education of
persons of imbecile Mid, introduced in the Leg
islature by Mr. McCue, of this county; is attract
ing public attention and elioiting the favorable
notice of the press in various parts of the State.
Similar enterprises in Europe and our own ooun-
try have met with entire success, and demon
strated that much may be done to ameliorate
the condition and improve the mental capacity
of those whose intellects are naturally weak and
clouded The result of efforts to impart instruc-
ton to such persons in Paris, is thus described by
an intelligent American: fortunately for the
poor idiots, the error of those who denied them
all intelligence, and who pronounced them incu-
rable, has been proved, the interdict against
them revoked, and the fact triumphantly estab-
lshed, that however degraded their condition,
however devoid of all human faculties they may
seem to be, they carry with them the holy spark
which intelligent sympathy may infame. Du-
ring the past six months have watched with
eager interest the progress which many young
idiots have made in Paris under the direction Of
Mr.. Seguin, aud at Bicetre under that of Messrs
Voisin and Vale, and have seen, with no less
qualification than establishment, nearly one hun
dred fellow beings who but a short time since
were shut out from all communion with man
kind-who were objects of loathing and disgust,
many Of whom rejected every article of clothing,
others of whom were unable to stand erect
crOnnhad theu,salyas in cornarc and crova eirns M
life only by piteous bowls, others in whom the
faculty of speech had never been developed, ant
many whose voracious and iudiscriminate glut
tony satisfied itself with whatever they could lay
hands upon with the garbage thrown to swine
These unfortunate beings, the rejected of hu
mainly, have seen properly clad, standing erect
walking, speaking, eating in an orderly manne
at q common table, working quietly as oarpen
tiers and farmers, gaining by their own labor tn,
means of existence storing their awakened intel
lgence by reading one to another, exercising to
wards their teachers and among themselves tn
generous feelings of mans nature, and singing il
unison songs Of thanksgiving"
To accomplish such marvellous results as tn
SOOfc, uOhSNGI, ~ 10 SSoSutlaA tLieal thSAO
be regular schools for the instruction of thes
unfortunates, where the peculiar training neces
sary for them may be Systematically applied
and the object Of Mr.. McCue's proposition is t
supply this want.
We are not aware of the precise plan propose
by the bill, but deem it unwise to establish sue
q school in connection with the Institution 70
the Deaf and Dumb and Blind. We believe
is the unanimous opinion of those engaged in tn
instruction of the Blind and the Deaf and Dumt
that it would be far better to have separate Asy
lums for each of those classes. Their habits an
tastes are entirely different, and jealousies ar
apt TO spring up among pupils and teacher
where both are under the same roof, tending t
interrupt the harmony and lessen the usefulnes
of the Institution. These difficulties would c
course be increased by the incorporation of
third class.
We trust, however, that the bill will receiv
the early attention Of the Legislature, and b
passed in such form as will tend most surely t
accomplish the laudabfe object of its originator