St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-11-05

. pubRo entertainment il given 1t tho
Bind Asylum, when is vocal and instru-
mental music, with explanations Of the
metbod Of ;nstructiag the blind in read
ins,| writing, arithmetic, geography and
the various branches that come in regu-
lar course ofstudy. The proficiency that
will be obtained by these poor, s;ghtless
persons is truly astonishing-especially
the case where any person. in the audience
is permitted to square a number of any
size, give the sum total to one of the
scholars who will in a very short time ex-
tract the square root mentally and give
the answer. They have an excellent or
ohestn formed entirely from the pupils,
which performed a number Of fine pieces,
and several Duets, solos and choruses were
sung by the inmates of the institution
After these performances were over We
visited the different workrooms, where
the men, and boys who did not attend
school, were engaged in the manufacture
Of brooms and brushes, which they did
with rapidity and accuracy. 1t was truly
sad to see them turn their suuken eve.
balls away from their work, trusting en-
tirely to their sense of touch for the per-
formance Of their work. The schools are
supplied with apparatus Of various kinds,
and two literary societies connected with
the institute have each library filled with
choice standard works. These are read
aloud to them by some Of the teachers.-
The institution seems to be one of great
worth.
So long as marble and granite stand, so
long, at least, will Stephen Girard have a
name. That magnificent structure, Girard
College, which stands short distance
from the business portion Of che city, is
sufficient Of itself to endow man with
Immortality, aside from the noble purpose
to which it il devoted. Every portion,
save the steps and roof, is marble the ex-
cept;ons mentioned being granite. The
immense building, towering up white
and glisteniug, and the great pillars that
entirely surround tho College and reach
from the FIRST floor to the outer roof; op-
press one by their massiveness. You can
not comprehend how such a crushing
weight Of stone can be csmented so rs to
bear up under itself: But it does, and
from what can be judged now looks as
though it might stand az long h the quar-
ries from which the marble and granite
were taken. Entering the building by
the front way you are at once confronted
by a lfe-size statue of the founder Of the
College, standing upon the tomb where
rest the last remains of the original. On
either side are marble stairs winding up
through the different stories Of the build
ing. Thesc arc "keyed" ut ono end into
the wall, the other projecting out, giving
to the beholder The idea that they are self
supporting. Going to the upper floor,
there is a small stairway leading out on
to the roof: This is in keeping with the
rest Of the building, being formed Of huge
squares Of granite, the one overlapping the
other and serving the purpose Of steps,
From here is afforded magnificent view,
including Philadelphia, the Delaware and
Schuylkill rivers, and miles of the sur
country. We doubt if finer is
presented anywhere. Flanking the Col
lege on either side are five other marble
buildings, though not nearly 40 large or
finely finished as the main structure.
There are also Fairgrounds for the boys
enjoying the benefits Of the institution,
and flower gardens, &c., the
whole being enclosed by stone WALL
You cannot go away from the College
without being impressed with the "power
of mind over matter"-the manner in
which Man makes the Material bend to
serve his purposes
While On our way to the College, we
passed, on the corner of Arch and 5th
an old Quaker burial ground,
where lies the body Of Franklin and his
wife. Standing on the former street, you
can read on the tombstone, which rests
close to the ground, the inscription "Ben-
jamin and Deborah Franklin" though
the words are worn and dim, aud seem as
though they would soon be eHaced. e
On the same afternoon, Thursday, with
pass from Mayor Henry, We visited the
State Penitcntiary, taking good care upon
entering to get from the turnkey another
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