Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-24
HAREIsBURG, March 10, 1859.

'i-A4'A'4'i''
Mr. E. 0. GooDRIcH My friend D. and
myself were certainly fortunate as to our time
of visiting the Capital of the Commonwealth !;
the weather was remarkably fine and the tra-
yelling good.
We found our members and Senator iu their
places as usual and faithfully attending to
their duties. No members in those bodies are
more industrious and faithful, and none who
look after the interests of the State in general,
and Of their own constituents in particular,
with more persevering and untirirg asSiduity,
than they, and but few, if any, are more useful
and influential the kindness with which we
were treated by them, and the First Assistant
Clerk of the House, will be remembered by US
with gratitude.
Really, Mr. Editor, Bradford must have
great interests to be looked after, Judging 10y
the number of members in the Third House
from that county, and the zeal with which they
push their special projects. We had no op-
poTtunties of hearing great speeches in either
house Mr.. WHLIsToN, however did stir up
the ire of some of his fellow members, and his
own just Indignation by some remarks he made
upon the final passage of one of the Philade-
pha railroad bills; he pitched into the lobby
members right and left, but he was as one who
tries to swim against the current, large ma
jority was against him.
On Tuesday evening there was, in the Hall
of the House Of Representatives, an exhibition
of forty,six pupils from the blind schools in
Philadelphia. The principal of that institu-
ton explained to the audience the mode of in
Structing that unfortunate class of people in
the different departments of science, and the
pupils read, wrote, printed and ciphered with
an case and rapdity, that both astoniShed and
delighted all present. but their principal ex-
hibition was in vocal and instrumental music.
especially the latter, several pieces were ad-
miraby sung either by the whole choir or by
the young ladies alone their performance in
full orchestra was very fine during the whole
exercises there did not appear to be the least
error as 10 performance or time.
They seemed to be happy, still their appear
ance so far as mere looks were concerned was
melancholy they could but be happy if they
could look back forty or fifty years, and real
ize, that then, no plan for conveying nstruc-
tiOn to the sightless had been thought of in
this country at least. The plan was first sug-
gested to the mind of benevolent gentleman,
in Paris, about the year 1884, and was by him
somewhat developed; in 1889 a school for the
instruction of the blind was opened in London,
and in 1923 in this country. There are now
more blind children attending such institutions
III the United States, than there are either in
France or England The large hall was filled
to its utmost capacity to see and hear those
unfortunates, who conld not see the anxious,
sympathizing hundreds who had collected to
listen, and, it was said by man who resides
in Harrisburg, that the hall was never so crowd
cd before.
On Wednesday the Legislature adjourned
so that the Democratic State Conuention might
hold its session in the Hall of the House of
Representatives.
We were fortunate in being at the capital
when this event occurred because, here we
saw many of the prominent men of that party,
we also heard some good speeches. We say
nothing about the politics of the meeting, be-
cause political men will attend to that far bet.