The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-30

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| is understood that the plainest Bible costs from
| $S5 to $45, according to the type, 1t will be
evident how difficult 1t Is for these schools,
which are barely sustained in any place, 10 poS-
sess themselves OF the efficient means of instruc-
| ton which the raised-letter books furnish.
The blind population of the Common wealth
| is supposed to be nearly 1600 This estimate is
based upon their enumeration in the census of
| 1860, which made the ratio of 1 in 244S. The
State supports only ITO pupils and these, with
the beneficiaries from other sources crowd the
! institution unduly. Applications for admission
are from necessity continually rejected, and to
such an extent as to cause great discourage
ments. The board is satisfied that the institu-
tion should be removed to the near country,
where these people may enjoy the healthfulness
of purer atmosphere and where larger oppor-
tunities for industrial pursuits may be secured
and we hope, also, that in effecting this change
liberal view may be extended towards the
for an increased number of admis-
sions. 1t should be borne In mind
also, in this connection, that the sowness which
marks the requirements of the blind In every
species of handicraft, and the extreme sensf-
tlVeness OF their nature, which exposes them to
unusual suffering under hardship and depriva-
tion, render it expedient, as well as humane
that some arrangement should be made to pro-
vide employment for the destitute blind
after they have completed their course in the
institution, and to supplement what they have
learned there with such further knowledge and
skilfulness as will increase their chances
of supporting themselves without the
help OF charity There exists, in connection with
this asylum, home for the industrial
Blind, the inmates of which are occupied in a.
variety of industrial pursuits and some of
whom teach in the Institution, where they also
services, and pay moderate sum for their sub
sistence. The State has never contributed
towards the support of this Home.
BY the laws of New York, in relation to its
support of State pupils of this class, the chill
dren of those who died in the military service
of the United States during the Rebellion have
a preference In the order of admission, and
each county is entitled to admission for
Its INDECENT blind IN the proportion which the
whole number of this population bears to the
! blind population of the State. There are 81
blind persons in the almshouses of Pennsylva-
MIA.
PENNSYLVANIA TRAINING SCHOOL FOR FEEBLE
MINDED CHILDREN.
This Institution way Incorporated April Z,
1855. The Legislature, at the same time, made
provision for the admission of twenty State
pupils, at $500 each and for the term Of five
years. The term has been increasedlto seven
years, and the appropriation has been advanced
to $3.50, and provision made for the training and
maintenance of one hundred children, to be APP
portioned to the representative districts of the
State:.
The school was originally established at Ger
mantown, and was conGEcted there until Sep
tember1, 1852 when the family was removed
to the new buildings erected expressly for this
purpose near Media, n Delaware county.
Its present situation is ON fine elevation, one
mile southwest from Media, in the midst of
farm of about eighty nine acres; and is aH that
can be desired for suck an asylum. At the time
of our visit there were present one hundred and
eghty-seven imbecile ;persoas of whom eighty
five were State pupils
Idiots andimbeciles ARE held to be such from
the imperfect physical Organization of the race,
or they 9re such from Eufantie disease or other
accidental cause. They are legitimate objects
for the same public provision and Christian
charity which, in civilized countries, ac-
corded to the Insane in every community. They
dan
and communicating.
Repelled and nders5ood in public, and
in the institution provide for them; The eX-.
S6n are taacbabetse a5niancss for aoa sn"Se
ment and simple industry for those
too old or unsuited for such
training, and the unmistakable evidences of
kindness and sympathy which exist among
afflicted ones and their cAre-takers, are strong
proofs that this class is best cared fer in such
Institutions as this.
In England four large asylums with, their
attendant schools and gymnasia, are ia most
successful operation. The largest of these, at
Earlswood, twenty miles from Londcn, is in
the midst of domain of $50 acres, aceommo--
dating 1T this time four hundred andiseventy
inmates, with additions nearly completed that
! will increase its capacity to eight hundred.
| There are numerous smaller establishments ina
various parts of Great Britain and no public
! charity elicits warmer support or higher aR-
In our own country the Legislatures, of seEsn
leading States have recognized the Justice OF
providing for this class by the erection, in
whole or part, of suitable buildings and appro-
| priatipg annually means for the support OF cer-
| tain numbers of INDECENT cases. Other States
have made similar recognition, by sending
their imbecile chilaren to adjacent States where
institutions exist.
But the work here is comparatively new,
dating back less than twenty-five years. Ame-
rican superinteAdents and teachers are largely
dependent upon their own observation and tact
for its development. They have encountered
many difficulties but it is believed that the sue
cess of their labors has met the reasonable ex-
pectations of the friends of this charitable
enterprise. Our statistics of idiocy aud
of the improvement under culture
and training agree in most respects, with
those of England. Our own State institution
reports the necessity of q considerate guardian
shin over those who shall be sent out from it as
sell. supporting, there remaining, in the case of
almost all who have enjoyed its benefits, that
lack of Judgment and forecast which makes the
best use of the present, and anticipate and pro-
vide for the needs of the future. With such
guardianship secured, in some Instances, with
families who have adopted these children after
five or seven years residence in the institution,
so out of 500 individuals have been made capa-
BILE of earning their own support in domestic
service: of the remainder 40 are too uncertain
for real dependence, and yet might be rated as
capable of earning half support; lis perform
very little service OF an appreciable value, and
1862 are hopelessly and totally dependent.
, SOLDIERS ORPHANS SCHOOLS.
{ Wisdom and humanity were happily blended
| in the conception and creation of this noble
institution: a charity which has strong holC
upon the public heart, and which ha
r been sustained by the Legislature from
D its inception with unstnted munid
cepce Our so-called benevolence toward
tbaea xVarde of The State TniUht we'll ha Va haaI