Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-03-26
The New York Idiot Asy Ium.


which form it into thick round cakes. In
this shape it is sent off to the candlemakers
The New York Idiot Asylum.
A writer in the New York Tribune give;
the following account of this institution
The asylum for the education of the idiot
and weak minded children of the State Of
New York, was established by Legislative
authority, obout Is years ago, at SYRIA
cuse, and it is considered branch of the
public school system, which is intended to
provide instruction for all the children of the
State. The property consists of a farm of 60
acres, about mile from the city, and large
building standing on raising ground. sur
rounded with groves Of evergreens. This
structure is of wood, well adapted to the use
for which it was designed, and though it
Is less costly than most Of the State charity
buildings. it has an imposing appearance
The Superintendent is Heryey b. Wilbur
There are six lady teachers, an assistant
/ physician, a hOusekeeper and matron; and
the general management is in board Of trus-
tees. The only difficulty now is a want of
room, that more pupils may be received
All the charity institutions Of the State are
, oyertlowing because no provision has been
made for an increased population. The num-
/ Der under cure in 1876; as many more are in
/ the State neeiing cure.
The first movement towards establishing
| this institution was made in ISL when an
| experimental school was opened in Albany,
under the eye Of the Legislature when the mer
its Of the plan were 50 apparent that the
F Syracuse Asylum was established. Since
that time the State Of Pennsylvania, Con-
uecticut, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois have
also established aslyUms. and the whole num-
Der Of children under instruction is not less
than 600.
The pupils Of this Asylum are separated
according To their condition. | was intro
duccd into a room containing about - pu-
pills, TO whom the teacher was imparting the
most elementary instruction with reference
to common objects. Their dress was neat
and plain, the room was clean, the air pleas
ant, and though these children showed a low
condition they gave good attention. \ block
with many holes is % be filed with iron pins
for one lesson; another lesson is to string
button molds; another, To place square and
other shaped blocks within corresponding
shaped rcceptacies another, 10 string white
and colred beads, one, two or more Of each
up to five; another, to place eolored balls
within cups Of corresponding cUlors, and
another, To place skeleton pieces OF paste
board 50 as 70 make an object like one before
them. Some reading Is taught by present
ius picture cards with printed words, which
were pronounced. Spelling seems not to
he taught at all. and it is acquired inscnsibly,
which seems 70 prove that there is some
foundation in the assertion of certain teach
ers that the spelling book is the worst book
that can be put into a child's hands When
any act Is done wrong it is to be done over,
and often the pupil cJrrects himself as readi
ly as an expert clerk, when be mistakes in
reckoning The teacher showed the word
Mtten' on a card, and the pupils named
il correctly. e. What is it ior2'' - To wear.
When, in winter or summer - - In sum
mer. s" o. mo- d" In winter" Writing
commenced by drawing lines between two
point, on a blackboard, then other lines,
and there are states with lines at right angles
for guide.
In another room were children Of a still
lower grade. They were seated on benches
around the walls, and for the most part they
were -tuVii-aims-t demeuted. | noticed
boy In particular. who had nice forehead
and he seemed every way proper. but he had
% hadilv irfrrnir, which Effected The nerves
and s., f.p.. ri. -i'o- confined mental dqvelor.-
,.s,,- NH D.. i,,,r..s-;tJ. -,irI Io,lcd a
~. .-,,. -I;..t. ..,I t..,.t,5 q. c.r,+;r,,,,,sI
a., H., HI. -..,r,rj 7bo - Idir.cy MAJ
T.. J.f.'5.l ~. q, - ~ ,le ,,e,iia ofs.Ds,,-
,i,,r and ,,- on asa mental defsc+ The
Lowest cs., will ,q.,r.eIy Soc hear feel tasr-
~ .,,su and q ,.-.,,,,,.,, ,,r;r,ar., treatment
= ,I,s ~. ..til5 y, d, In, ,rLare s,r,-,
nv drIi,,br are Introduced rbr,r,b the sbuf7
- ~ NJ. ~. 49, ..I;.c,S ave e.i,e,,
-to ,I,, ,-f+b NJ ! ,~,+.l,j -. SOC ,rTot II
viii 4, and ,-bors,er sc,,ss i FIRST ny rast
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,.-I,,--c.-
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,,i.--.-.- .I,. - - - m
~, ,.;-i - -. ia .Ia-,ie- and 1roII
r.--o 49, =. 80, ;-,-Il;.,.,,. emil,
Se,s,+;,,,, .-s-,-~,ii. ,r,s -, ;roctivc thor no
5-.---- ;,,57--...;-- r,1 -. ..,r,,..5 =. ,i,s
t-ain. n Irietsl ,ri-b n min. She Screamed
b-- si. 1T r9t .t-;rt When her cve-baII
,,,s touched She IN mot wink She could
,..;,.e- ,..rl ..- sod NV. ,..,,II ~, -i+ nv
H.. .rr,,ar-s.I AMI ,,,,b If rbe fine .Le
t-.,.+ Ill 1-,rl 70, L.- ,,.-,+b If bcr hi
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IL -,..t.1 FL ar slo j;5 nor n.y. =, ,,,.s-
II. ~ sbs5 an -.+ l-r,o,y trot. .le c,,1J an
AM irf,r- has -hi. Lr-,rlo4.e in an e.rlr
r.ar-13 nj i-- life Sic qa1l5 Rold n0tbinr IN
lev had and -r. arlv sembIance III V-iU
,yas I'm trr,,g-r.- b.r-.If backward with c.,n-
y.,l.ivs u,.-i.rs when snrrv- Tones If en-
5sl-r..-,t .-- "a 4Ia-.,,r made r,o inrress-
i,p rr.,r, her and -5e onlv Imitation or re-
1., lie. b., 49, .vL;Ii-eJ ,ros ;r,,.~-
f..-l,- ~. es,s4 ,or,s;,I s,,,15s
H.. q In - ~. E,3 - f,5 an sr,r,.a
c.lsapI yr,,l, h., brt II was necessary 10
,I,ro rbis r,,5 On II O. I,fI< r,rt ,f -be month
~ b.. would mar s,rolIor for her tonepe
,,-,. ,,.;-i..,+ -,-+o Reside. She was with
ont rho ,a-iys sense of taucb Thus She was
d., I,,,,.,, r..,,.- without mn, of tho seDses
AMI -r.s .-Iii HID !, e,-Ii.i,n MT orlv much
f.,-.. +ho,, thar of a amman newborn in
f,r- Inf lower eyer, than any voun.r animal
SIN -l.r, ,.-s, r. ;r+..ri.,r sensation, and all
-lq i,-,l,r+arv and o,t1mati. phenomena
MOVE. ,.-r..+ ,is, ~, ,,,1.sssas q ,,,,+ri-,,r
ami Il ,,ss-e ,.,,Il az b.ra boe,, .orr;eI
i,
The first stem with this NOM rirI vas IN
Commence ,r,lL t5,+ vrLicb ,r,s JaeDi,eI1,
,-r,, .,,l ,-t.;,,.- ,,-,s jef,itcI, l,,-,,,-,, n
l,rre.t ,5, ..,-t.-;',S vii tbe inte~;or bnt
80, M 49, .I,, - ,,,- ,r 49,. ,,,,+L
WI. -, -. In =, c,rt II Vas
,,,.t,,--i.., f. - ~ h. LII Icsso,,s
al -. - O Ii,-ic dis,a,,ce ar
e-.L - an r. vas c,nrd lbat the taste
f,Il~ye5 -n.;i mr. I,.+ If rsacbed the tin of
tl 80. .,,i ,,. .,.,rrai tbsnc n the
~. ~ rb.. III D,,r;n,. tbis irstrnc-
49, LII - L.- 80 tbat The foo5
,ait, o,re in c ,,l itb the iocalitv where
-, ,,,,s no., .s,atI;sLeJ and nevt ~ learn
81 :, -. Lo- 81 f,r H. rrrr0se If too
-, , - ~. Ia f;sco,r,c,ed
i',,t -, =. ,-;,lI,l I'LL al Inc Tes'
u' rt - - '.',,',-arn.d h.
- ~ 10 Vii ,yi,i
- .i 80, ~ fsot Will the
T'... .''. - - Lor 1.;+L one
-. .. - l,o- e,rl,,,,,
ana with one mana against ner hnees 70 Ple-
y