Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-07-21
The Education of the Blind.

The people of New England take deep
interest in the subject of education, and
with free and equal hand, dispense food
for the intellectual and moral culture of
all her children. Colleges. Academies,
public schools, and charitable institutions,
are we'll provided for and supported
Liberal appropriations are made by the
States in order to give a chance to all
classes of children for a good free eduea-
tion, and TO avoid the evils resulting from
ignorance and dependence.
Among the charitable institutions,
which provide for the education of the
unfortunate classes of children the
Perkins Institute for the Blind, at South
Boston. il the best and most successful in
the country. 1t is the oldest school of
this kind in the United States It WAS
ts nblished, and is still directed by the
we'll known American philanthropist DIR.
s. G. Howe The radical change which
is noticed in the condition of the blind
educated in this school who become use
full and independent citizens instead of
being burdeus thrown upon the charity
of tho public-attests the excellence of the
institution and of the course OF study
there pursued. 1t is wonderful to see
pupils of this school, who nre deprived of
the blessings of sight, to know az much as
those of the common schools who are ia
vored with it. They learn there to read,
write and cipher, and are thoroughly in
structed in all branches of the common
school, toy means of which they become
self-supporting,
Those having talert for music enjoy
rare advantages i'll this lnsrtuti m, and
many broom, okiIIfml professors .mi
of the Musical Department, PROT. ThomAs
Reeves, who is hiunself blind. WAS former
ly pnpil of this school. After finishing
his studies, he went to Bangor, Maine,
where his success in teaching made it ne
oessary 10 refuse many who applied to
him for instructions From Bangor he was
called 10 take charge of the Musical De
partment of the Institution for the Blind
in Louisville, Kentucky. Here he dis
played such skill and energy in the diroc.
tion of this department that the Superin'
tendent of the Perkins Institution felt
that his aarVin~a ---o.,lA - "al''-l,lo 90
QUESTION to This Institution. He was
offered the dictatorship of this depart
ment, which he accepted. He possesses
highly cultivated intellect, and his emi
nent social qualities render him n most
agreeable and entertaining companion
He ranks among the first in his profes
sion both as "a teacher and performer, and
his brilliant success is beacon light tC
guide other blind to high attainments and
paths os usefulness.
Among the pupils of this State are
Frank Kilbourne and Hubert Baker from
Burlington, and Henry A. Hall from
West Westminster, all of whom have
taken high stand both in the intel
lectual and musical departments. Kill
bourne is one If the best pianoforte play
ers in the school. His touch is remarkable
both for its delicacy and precision, and he
already performs many of the works OF
the best composers. His genius also ap
pears in the skill with which he plays the
eornet. His solos on this instrument are
rendered with degree of expression that
is seldom surpassed. Hall plays both
the piano and cornet; but his greatest
power is exhibited in the higher depart
ments of Mathematics. Baker is partial
to the flute, and he plays that instrument
with a degree of skill that would dc
credit to an older performer. He gives
also great attention to the study OF
foreign languages, and proves himself &
promising hnguist.
All the advantages of this school are
entirely free to those who are unable te
pay for the education of their children
Mr.. j. w. Smith, who is connected with
this institution, is visiting now this State
in search of such children as may be
proper subjects for it, and he respectfully
asks the friends of them to forward their
names and residence to the ouperintend
ent of the Institution at Boston, ano
thereby be the means of saving some chile
from a life of ignorance and dependence