Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-03-26
dumb, was taught the finger alphabet, and
when she dreamed by night she moved her

dumb, was taught the finger alphabet, and
when she dreamed by night she moved her
fingers.
After the muscles and nerves have been
broughtinto action to become the surest way for
reflex ideas established, and to increase the
VIII, and grow in the mind qualities superior
70 animals, is to teach habits of useful in.
dnstry. Accordingly. so soon as practicable.
the boys engage in farm and garden work,
ana IN the care of animals, while the girls
learn to knit, sew, make beds, set the Ia
PIE and take care of younger children.
When work is done wrong, the person in
eharge VIII direct it to be done over. One
IN low condition learns much from the
one next above, and the children watch each
other; and they are Quick in observing
those who are inferior, while they are Off
ciOus to give instruction. About two-tbird=
of the girls learn to knit, sew. and do other
work, while some become quite skillful.
There is a like progress with the bows. and
the aggregate value of their labor is equal to
that Of the entire production of the farm
and garden. A fair per centage Of both
sexes have been sent to their homes as use
full if not trusty members of their famil-
les 1t is TO be noted that four Young men
and brought up from a state of helplessness.
entered the Army, and served their country
with honor. The per eentage Of cases
which no skill nor device can reach, in the
direction of making them useful, in about
one-sixth and there isinO hope because they
are subjects to organic bodily diseases which
deprive the nervous system Of the frmness
required Tor securing free communication
between the outward and the interior. OF
the improbable cases each differs, and spec
al treatment according to condition Is re-
quired.
Among the details Of instruction for Sc
curing development, an important step Is to
establish the will, for until tins is done no
use can be made Of ideas. In first calling
out will, 1t Is necessary preliminary 10
arouse the muscles to action. They have a
simple device in a small bag nearly filed
with beans. \ pupil is seated. and the
teacher commands him catchit. He will paw
no attention, when the bag Is tossed IN his
face. When the pupil sees the bag coming
again, he Is certain 10 raise his hands tn pro-
tect his face; if he do not, it is thrown
with such force that he will take the hint
next time, and thus, after few or many less
ons, he viii catch it. This Is point
gained, and now the bag is thrown with
still greater force the pupils beginning To
learn that there is work on hand, he squares
himself, his eyes quickly settle with deter
minatiOn, and in preparing hinsettO catch
it, he prepares himself for what is anal1-
gOus TO destiny In short, he Is waking
up, he i strengthening himself with will
Meanwhile, there is another lesson in cor
nection, or, perhaps. it is with feehler
pupil. The bag is put in his hand, and
he Is told to throw it. \ comparatively
heavy weight is held much more easily than
a light one. as if BY some attraction. Per
haIs be viii scarcely move his arm to throw
it, or, if he do move it, he viii swing it to
and fro, still holding the bag, having NJ
will to incite him to throw it. In this case
an attendant viii come behind him, and give
his hand a sudden impetus, and away
the object goes. This is one Of the most
elementary devices for establishing Will.
Thus from low starting point, with short
steps. step at time, and with a slow pro-
gress, development commences, and within
the limits fixed by the capacity Of the pupil,
education l. full as certain as in any u our
schools.
An only son 5 years old, was admitted, not
wholly AZ an idiot, but certainly rs one fee
Die minded he could make no progress at
school, he had an Impediment in his speech,
and he was excessively timid. His mother had
taken great pains with him, and he couid
reada little. In the Asylum he WIS no long
er overawed by superiority he was taught
one thing at a time, and no faster than he
could understand it, and after eight months
instruction he went home. The he entered
a school, the primary department Of which
was graded by five divisions, and an academ-
ie course was attached. In the usual time
he passed through these five grades, without
having been once reprimanded, and Of only
three boys who were qualified for entering
the higher department, he was one.
ldiOcy is not often in this country, as in
Europe, hereditary, but it may be an indica-
ton Of degenerGcy in families, as is also in
sanity. Many children become idiots after
fits Of sickness. and sometimes from iniudic-
ious medical treatment. Its never acciden-
tai before birth but why it should occur in
a family where other children are bright, it is
difficult or improper to explain. DR.. VII
her saws that as a result Of marrying rela-
tons it Is less common than supposed but
he confesses that this differs from the gener-
ally-received opinion. Intemperance, scrotu-
Ia, the marriage Of those who are similar to
each other, whether related mot are canses.