Litchfield enquirer., 1861-05-16
WHOLE NO. 1876.

10 HE EDITOR OF THE LrTcHFIELp ENQUIRER Dear Sr:-As you have previously allowed me the privilege of using your columns, in bringing the School for Imbeciles, which Dr. Heury M. Knight has established at Lakevills. to public notice, have again ventured to TO. quest you to insert another notice of of a brief visit recently made to this Institution. As its location in the town of Salisbury on high and commanding eminence, overlooking scene Of the most picturesque beauty, with the advan- tage of the most salubrious climate, has already been described in former letter, l will now confne myself to an account of the condition of its inmates.
 There are at present thirteen imbeciles under Dr. Knights care, some of whom have enjoyed the benefits of his instruction but few menths Hence to casual visitor, there appears to be . great difference in the attainments of the pupils Perhaps it may seem almost like absurdity to talk of improvement in those who are called Id- iots, and as such are regarded as entirely inca pablo of advancement yet to those convsrsant with the fact there can be no doubt that great and even marvellous changes might be made in their condition. It was my good fortune to be- come acquainted with this School soon after it was established and though at first I almost feared for the results repeated visits have shown me that my fears were groundless. The follow ing statements which are strictly true, will show how false public opinion is, in respect to the ca- pabilities of feeble-mnded children.
 l little more than two years since, Q little girl eight or ten years of age, thevish in dispo. sition, and degraded in habits, became an in. mate of this School She seemed utterly des- titute of any moral sense and probably could not distinguish between right and wrong. She was unable to articulate vowel distinctly and though at my first visit when she had been but a few months under his care, Dr. Knight insist. ed on her ability to articulate her name it was only by faidh in his statements that could dis tingush any thing like an intelligent utterance. The next visit, made year subsequent, showed me that she had made no inconsiderable pro- gress. She could read easy words, perform some examples in Addition, and write her name with tolerable plainness on the blackboard. But when I saw her last week, she could read in the Third Reader, and in manner readily in- tellgible Her writing-book was extremely neat, and would compare favorably with that of any girl of her age. Her advancement in Ge. ography, Spelling and Arithmetic, was quite as great as that in Reading Her thievish propen- sities have been overcome, her disposition ia kind, she is obedient, and makes herself useful in waiting upon the table, and in doing those little things which girls of her age are expected to perform.
 Another pupil, little boy ten or twelve years of age, an imbece, and as such, incapable of improvement in an ordinary school, has here made no less remarkable progress. His answers in the studies which be has pursued, quite as- tonished me, and would any one who will take which he had there, peculiar to the class to which he belongs, have been overcome his eye beams with intelligence; in Q short time doubt.
 less he will be fit to be placed in any school, and to be subjected to the ordinary methods of training.
 Other cases might be cited, but these will suf- flee to show what has been done within the last three years in this School. When we reflect upon what might have been the condition of these two unfortunates, whose cases have been been briefly related, had not this School existed, we cannot help rejoicing that Dr. Knight found it in his heart to give himself to this work.
 At It's last session. the Legislature appropria- ted sum sufficient to defray in part the ex- pense of eleven pupils, who otherwise could not have been placed under the paternal in6u- ences of this benefcent Institution. It is to be hoped that the Legislature now in session, will make another appropriation for the same pur- pose and more than this, that the time is not far distant, when the State will establish this Institution, which owes its existence to the selfdenying efforts of it's proprietor, upon as firm basis as the Institution for the Insane, or the Deaf and Dumb.
 Very truly yours. E. F.w.