New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-05

pehahs, Win, i iii MS foot ho drew out her feet
little making her position uncolnIotaoie pu.
they showed back hCI III no I~ iov slightly
DIV hack one foot herself. After few more les
sons She learned to step back and forward. Nom,
her holv was moved to one side, when relhenperlh8
how She became comfortable by moving her foot she
moved her body herself, and stood erect 10 secue
other proper positions of the body she was placed III
n large sized baby jumper mus the iessons melit
on until she learned TO stand, TO walk, ana 10 slI
down and finally to follow the other pupils 10 anu
from the dining-room. In bringing her ban9 GhueI
her will hot, cold, smooth. rough, hight. ana IeaNy
objects were placed in it, and as a result the idea at
last dawned that she bad hand. She was not aDle
TO see because the pupils OF her eyes ana not con-
tract and dilate To excite action, objects were
made to fit before her eyes, then there were suuue
changes from light darkness, and at last she came
TO see objects which were not TOO remote II. ,,,.
With other pupils who are deficient IN sight, puU
can hear the eve is strengthened by closing the ears
while conversely If hearing IS deficient, tne eyes arc
bandaged, which proves that, TO some extent these
senses are interchangeable. Sometimes Is necessary
10 educate the eve that il may learn TO fix the visual
angle properly according to the distance OF an oO
ject. large proportion OF ldl0ts are speeCnieS.'
Although speech is perhaps one of the most lmpoI-
tant OF mans powers. il is least elementary Oh any
for the power to speak is based upon ability 10 nea,
hence language depends more upon the ear thl uIoi
the tongue IL would be interesting TO inquire anu
The consideration of the question would cover vast
extent of ground Who first Spoken Dut 10 Is oue VI
place here. Speaking commences Win Co .
not with yowels and with those that are utterou ny
the Inns and are called labals. IL Is hep 10 see INC
Inns move. Still even the use of ConsOnants IL pre-
ceded by signs, whatever may be the cohul'loh "a
the individual. ~
Another important help is muscular exercise, ana
TO secure this there is great variety OF devices anu
not the least is light gymmstlcs. IL may DC sau
that without exception idiots are deficient III phys
zeal powers and that their dlsabIlty IL not hcn,';
but physical Few or none can walk Wei OF staII
firm and straight To stand we'll ones feet, ana
In he nossesscd of firm and flexible muscles, would
seem To he preliminary Tor what Is calleu souIu
mind or nj least for one capable OF even develop
meut I'm securing physical exercise for these uhlOr-
Inmates il is found that the mind becomes receptive
of ideas and il seems proved that in early lie ideas
! depend upon sensation. Laura Bridgman who was
blind deaf and dumb, was taught the finger alpha-
| bet and when she dreamed DY mght she hoNeu heI
| fingers.
| After the muscles and nerves have been brought
into action that Is after the senses nave begun 10
build up elaborate those ideas which, III tc uses Oh
life are 10 become automatic, the srcS way Tor reUeS
ideas 10 become established and to increase inc Will
and grow in the mind qualities superior 10 ahiuais
is TO teach habits ofusefu industry ana these fghy
| considered make the primary element III a con,
structive and creative being, no matter now tNaIGu
! he may be. Accordingly, soon rs pIacucaDIe, Tue
! bows engage in farm and garden Work, ana IN inc
! care of ANNALS willie the girls learn 10 kult, sew
| make beds set the table and take care OF younger
children. When work is done wrong the person III
charge will direct il to be done over ono IN a low
condition learns much from the one next above anu
the children watch each other, and they are quick IN
observing those who are Inferior while they are DILL
cous to give instruction In any human beng there
fore mentatyis not question Oh 1act Out Oh degree
| do other work, while some become quite shllliul.
There is like progress with the boys and the aggre-
cate value of their labor is equal TO that OF the entire
| production Of the farm and garden. fair per cent
age of both have been sent to thelr hores aS
positively useful if not trusty members Oh lheiT ann
lies 1t is TO be noted that four young men VINO hau
been instructed at this institution, and brought mp
from state of helplessness, entered the Army, ana
served their country with honor The per centago of
cases which no nor device can reach in the drec
ton of making them useful. is about one-sNth anu
thore is mo hone because they are subject to organic
fl-1 ulI gI
the firmness required Tor securing Tree coihnluCd
ton between the outward and the interior. or the
improbable cases each differs ana spccal treatment
according To condition Is required.
Among the details of instruction for securing de
veopmcnt, an important step is to estabIsh the VII
for until this - done no use can De maze OF IDEAS
In the highest the will Is the conclusion To
which the mind comes after considering ideas which
have been presented 10 IT, during state OF unCOn-
scousness In less the will is based upon ideas
| connected with sensation while considered IN par
tally conscious state: but there various conditions
of will and it's force depends upon the number and
clcaness of the ideas We might say. too, that viii
is outgTOwth fruit of ideas. After all, this ~
a branch of mental philosophy which presents dlti-
culties of the most perpleXing nature IL IS certain
that the great class of idiots have no viii, and the
same j. 10 he said Of young children. When another
attempts 10 break what she calls the Will of child.
she mistakes for if she succeeds in establishing
resolution she helps create WILL she does not break
IT, In first calling out VIII, IL Is necessary pre-
minary to arouse the muscles to action They have
| a simple device III a small bag nearly filled with
beans. 4 pupil is seated and the teacher commands
i
bag is tossed into his face When the pupil sees tho
bag coming again. he is certain 10 raise his hands To
protect his face if he do not il Is thrown with such
force that lac will take the hint next time and thus,
after few many lessons ne will catch II. This Is
point gained and now the bag IS thrown with still
greater force; the pupil is beginning 10
learn that there is work hand he squares himself.
his eyes quickly settle with determination, and in
preparing himself 10 catch IL, he prepares himself for
what is analogous TO destiny. In short he Is waking
up. he is strengthening himself with viii. Mean
while, there is another lesson III connection or per
ha 1t rs WITH iS eePe 5 P@R aw Inc Oa eSompaPaTd
heavy weight is held much more easily than light
one as if by some attraction. Perhaps he win scarcely
move his arm TO throw it. or if he do move il, he viii
swing IL To and fro, still holding the bag, having no
will to ncite him 10 throw it. In tins an at
tendant will come behind him, and give his hand "a
sudden impetus, and away the object goes. This is
one OF the most elementary devices Tor establishing
will
a step at a time. and with slow progress develop
mcnt commences and within the limits fixed by tho
capacity Of the pupil education Is full rs certain as
in any of schools. An only son, years old, was
admitted, not wholly rs an idiot, but certainly as
one feeble minded; he could make no progress at
school he had an impeachment in his speech, and he
was excessively tImd. His mother had taken great
pains with him. and he could read little. In the
Asylum he was no longer OVerawcd by superiority,
he was taught one thing at "a time and no faster
than lie could understand u and after eight months
instruction he went home. Then he entered school,
the primary department of which was graded By five
divisions and an academic course was attached
In the usual time he passed through these two
grades, without having been once reprmanded. and
OF only three boys who were qualified for entering
the higher department, he was one. The educators
of our land should suspect from this illustrations that
their system for beginners is frightfully defective;
that their pupils violently tear through obstacles
which they cannot overcome, and that in cOnse-
quenco of doing they ever aferwaId untitled TO
adopt natural and best methods Of Investigation.
There are crowds Of half educated men and women
in our land who do not know that the reason why
they less and powerless il because what was
supposed TO have been an opportunity was an engine
4 ~ too
of children IN our schools that they think them
selves dull Could they have the at, antages of tho