Connecticut western news., 1871-09-08
LAKEvILLE SCHOOL. No. 9

uleInOTy, Dub tulJlh SAoAA UG-6UAc LO DC exact in every essential statement.
 Governor Minor, in 1855, as several of his predecessors had done, in his annual message to the Legislature called attention to the condition of the minded and idiotic in the state, and suggested that Connecticut should keep step with her neighbors, in efforts to benefit GH classes of unfortunates within her borders. This portion of the Governors message was referred to the "Joint Select committee on State Humane Institutions" which made a somewhat lengthy report to the general assembly. It was deemed an important paper and was printed. In it, the con- mittee recounted as best they could, the infrmities, peculiarities and needs of the class; sketched briefly the then limited history of movements in it's behalf; re- ferred to reports which had been made to the British Parliament, and to the Massa- chusetts and New York legislature com. pared the statistics they could obtain with our population, and estimated the number of the class in the state, and proceeded to show aohy the feeble minded should be framed and instructed, and what is to be gained by training.
 They said, lst. That their present con dition is painful to every humane heart. 2nd. The natural tendency is to grow worse if neglected. 3rd. Present condition wheth- CT in Alms-h houses or private families, ,af- fords no opportunity for improvement. 4th. Susceptibility of very marked de- gree of physical, mental and moral eleva- ing these facts. we cannot as men, as phi lanthroplsts, as christians, withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of our hand to do it." That committee then carefully considered the plan of sending the class to institutions in 1 other states for instruction, as we send our Blind from Connecticut to Massachusetts, and pronounced it not feasible. They said the advantages of this training should be open to all-while the sympathies of our own citizens would not be enlisted to the l same extent as if an institution were es- tablished in our own state. They recom- mended the passage of resolution ap- pointing commissioners to procure statis- tics in relation to the class in the state, | authorizing them to visit the institutions already organized in adjoining states, and instructing them to report to the next gen. eral assembly, plans for the organization of school, should they, after due investi gation deem such measure advisable.
 It will be seen that the legislative com mittee made an exhaustive and able report The commissioners proposed were appoin. ted, and proceeded at once to prepare circulars and blanks, copies of which were sent to every clergyman, physician, clerk and first selectman in the state. Returns received, showed that in 88 of the 15E towns of the state, having population o1 lS6 83l, there were 514 imbeciles; and a: these towns were located in every county of the state, it was presumed fair to infel that they correctly represented the propor ton in those towns not reported to tho commissioners. In short, we had not les! than 900 imbeciles and feeble minded per sons in Connecticut in 1855. The com missioners visited the institutions in New York and Massachusetts, and convinced of the need of tho work, and the positive good accomplished by such schools, unani mously reported plans to the legislature o1 1856, and recommended an appropriation of $2O.OO by the state, conditioned upol the raising of SIS, ,OOO by individuals, eithe in money, or lands suitable for site, o both, and that the offer be left open fo competition to the towns and cities of tn state, the propositions to be decided upol by the trustees named in the charter, whel the $l5,O0O should have been subscribed.
 The bill passed the lower branch of tn legislature with but dissenting votes, be fore it reached the senate, the state treas urer and the comptroller who thought thei political situations would be injured b appropriations, had succeeded in creatin a sentiment against the bill. The vote ii the senate was tie and the president gay the casting vote against. After two year had passed, finding the legislature had don nothing, private school was established i Lakeville. At first, only orphans or poo children who were sad burden at home could be gathered: nothing was known o the work abroad and but little faith wa placed in it here. After years legac of $30OO from the estate of the honore David Watkinson was offered to this wor in Connecticut. upon the condition tha $lO,O additional be raised from othe sources.
 Upon consultation with many we'll know
 ph1lanthropists of the state, it was deeme hest that the school at Lakeville should b sold to a corporation of well known men SO that the public could feel assured tha whatever monies were placed in this work would be faithfully taken care of. special charter was asked for and granted and the first Board of Directors appointe
 by the legislature. Assured by this act that whatever was received would be sa credly used, benevolent men in Salisbur contributed about $250O towards the $lO, 900 it was necessary to raise. and benevo lent men in other towns of the state mad the sum $5, 900 to which the legislature ad ded $5,OOO. Having thus $l3, 1000 in hand the new corporation proceeded to expen
 the next year $20,0O0. K.
 The Great Dublin Meeting-A Riot. DUBLIN Sent 3-The monster demon stration was held tonight. There was
 vast procession, and 100, 1000 people wer present at the meeting in Phoenix Park tc night. Messrs, Smyth, Butt and Nola spoke. Resolutions demanding the releas of the Feuians were adopted. As the peopl