New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-05
CHARITIES OF PERMANENT BENEFTE

CHARITIES OF PERMANENT BENEFII
No system of charity can be quite satsfc-
tory, and State charities have less chance
than others of approaching ideal perfection
But Massachusetts, has a record in these mat
ters, of which her citizens are justly proud
and in the report Of the last years work Of
the State Board Of Charities, synopsis Of
which is given by one Of our Boston core.
spondents, there seems to be some occasion
for congratulatiOn. The State does not assum.
sole charge of the blind, of deaf mutes, or Of
idiots, but does Of the insane. The three frsi
named classes are temporarily taken In asy'
lums under the management of trustees, who
are jointly appointed by the State and
by private charitable corporations Exactly
why lunatics are distinguished from the Others
and are regarded as the wards of the State
does not clearly appear. But the principle
carried out respecting the other classes named
that they are not to be permanently kept in
asylum-might well be applied to all classes OF
State pensioners. 1t involves the most desra-
BILE feature possible TO charity-the improve
ment, the progress of its recipient. The State
institutions are really training schools; and
as such meet with great success. We
some time since gave our readers extendei
descriptions of the method OF hp-readlns
taught to deaf mutes at Northampton, and u
the growth and prosperity of the institution,
which is now supported by the State. But tie
germ of q wider extension of such benefits
found in practice in Boston, where the educa'
ton of deaf-mutes is made part OF the com
mon school system, and the pupils may 1--we
at home with their parents.
ba IN oal~
charities curative and remedial, and their re-
cipients self-supporting members of the Com
monwealth-is strikingly eXemplifed in tue
care of children, the waits of poverty or
crime. AS soon as possible they are placed
out in families, and numerous corps OF visit
orS, principally women, see TO it that thg
are fairly treated and brought up in a ser
viceable way, their education being among
the matters carefully looked after. In occa-
sional instances these poor children ara
adopted in the families where they have been
placed and in all cases their chances FOR the
future are much improved. When the same
principle shall have been extended TO the IN
sane the pauper and the criminal, some Ot
the most difficult problems of civilization viii
approach solution. Nor is such a prospect
lCIuOlc' N4Ndt suNtIro "~'
been met with in Europe in placing
out the insane with families that arc
willing. under certain government surveillance,
to undertake their charge; and the belief
gains ground in England that the cottage
system, which somewhat approximates that Of
the family. is far more successful than that Of
large asylums. A similar object = aimed II
by the most advanced systems of pri>o0 re-
form. Massachusetts has succeeded in reducing
the number of her almShouseS; and by n
veStgating all eases Systematically, has brought
down the number of State paupers 10 less
than half. This result has been attained not
less by getting rid of unworthy applicants
than by putting those capable of wog6 IA me
way of it. Methods like these give chalu 4
dounlp Vnlup