The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-24
8irl,n,o1d 4ispatfh.
WEDNESDAY. .DEcEMDh" ~ A''''
,oor.sponoence Of the Richmond pssps.cnl
.r",..o,, I,onc by -" Botctours.


rHs uUB AND THE HAhlls-NH,.n ,-s ,r.
urSr or STANTON SINCE TUX W." $500.
. sru,s,rrss, INSANE ASYLUM, INsTITt-
nov FOB DEAF AND DraB-sespAi ~
TON. r.>Loroa 1879
r,. .o;o,,rner in this club" OF the Val
Tow with leisure to look around him, WIN
no at opcc struck, even in these " pahiCh!
times with the push and enterprise OF ti's
crauIng little CITY. The writer has recci't'y
Sis;tcd nearly every place of any importance
n the State. and nowhere has he seen such
evidences Of prosperity. Eighteen years
900 whilst a schoolboy at washington Nol-
Icge. Of fond memories, we spent our Vac''-
zion here with q classmatc. Today we re-
turn 70 find the boys of '55 the business
men of rs, and even leaders in the counci's
Of state. Many. by merely holding ana mn
nroyinp few then almost worthless lots,
have become wealthy proprietors with long
rcpt-rols. The lanes and alleys have DC
come streets the suburbs then, are now III
the centre Of businesslife; and the sur
rounding hills, pretty pasiure-iand then'
are now covered over with elegant resi-.
acnoes and chcqucred with wcll-gradcd
streets broad, smooth pavcments. Pro-
pcrty here has risen in value more than two
hundred per cent. since the war, and every
succeeding month marks still another ad-
vance. Planing-mills, foundries, machine
shops, commission houses, and wholesale
stores are in active and successful opera
ton, while insurance offices-sure IN
,dices of thrift abound. While business
seems 10 be as active here now as
the good people could wish, still they
expect that new impulse to trade VIII
follow the erection OF the machlne-shop5
for the two railroads iEterseciing here and
the completion of the Valley railroad, now
being built. This road is now nearly COM
pletsd to Stanton, and it is confidently as.
serted by railroad men that the trains wiz
be running between Harrisonhue and his
place before the 1St Of February.
The large and llourishing female schools
constitute an attraction peculiar TO this
town. There are four Of high grade, and well
patronized, the Presbyterian school (Nli>S
BaldwiRs) having an attendance OF over
200 young ladies; the Episcopal, numbering
about 1SS, under the charge of DR.. Philips !;
the Methodist, about 125, conducted by
Professor HARRIS; and the Lutheran, more
recently established, under the charge OF
Professor Miller, and steadily increasing IN
popularity, numbering some 40 or % pupils.
The array of youth and beauty turned
loose from these institutions of bright
evesing on the streets of this devoted town
Is really be1ildering, and came well-niSli
upsettiDg the equanimity Of even Pdter'
famil,as like ourselves-we had to get
used TO it by degrees. 1t il trying, Mes>rs
Editors, just rs you turn corner TO hdrt
your column cut an t,co by gay procession
of bright eyes, calico, aud plumes 10 nave
to stand there for ten minutes. till u huudrec
or so pass; to he forced to hear remarks thal
you cunt help thinking are INTENDED iol
you, aud not to feel lattered by them either
to put your hand to your hat, thinking yot
are recognized, and then to find you are mis-
taken and not to know exactly what to DC
with your band; to feel cheap and get red
aud then make q desperate rush up tht
street as the last one goes by only to cncoun
Ter another column and 90 through the SAINT
ordeal. say, Messrs Editors, this is trying
But more to be piticd are the sac
young men who inhabit this town rendered
desperate by constant sight of these unat
tanaGIe sweets. Each one is a living person.
fcation of TaDtalus is they wait 1t the street
corners hour after hour but to catch
glimpse, nothing mole, Of the adorcd one
Observing this state of things, no surprise
was felt when, on visiting the excellent IN
stitutiea for the insane which the State fos
tiers here, We were pointed out 50 many
young men from Staunton who SaZcd will
sad and wisttul eyes on every ribbon thai
fluttered IN the breeze. This institution has
been for years under the excellent manage.
ment Of DR.. Stribling, and we were sur
prised 10 see such cleanliness and order rs
was everywhere noticeable within its walls
There are about $50 patients confined here.
The violent and dangerous ones are kept un-
der lock, wearing straps, muts, and other
appliances to prevent their iDjuring them.
selves and others; while the more quiet are
allowed the liberty Of the buildings and
grounds, and in some cases they visit the
town alone. Many Of them have become
very much attached to the place. and are un-
willing to leave, though they might well re-
avocatiOns Of life. Religious services
are hed in their neat and pretty cha
pei every Sabbath evening, the ministers
of the different denominations In the city
alternating in conducting them. The con-
gregatiOn is large, attentive, and respectful.
In fact, we have seen much more indecorum
in some of our sane religious assemblagcs
than we witnessed last Sabbath evening at
the insane asylum. .--..
We also visited the Institution for the
Blind, Deaf, end Dumb, and were highly en-
ter:aiped with the exercises Of the different
classes. There are about 125 pupils here,
the number Of the blind being small com-
pared with the other class. Captain Mccoy,
tho agreeable and accomplished principal,
reports that the number Of deaf mutes is OH
the increase in our State, while there is no
change In the aggregate of those sltlietcd
with blindness. One must visit this instit,l-
tion in order to appreciate the blessing it
confprs on large class of our fellow. citizens.
The full course here embraces seven years
too short period, as the uncducated pupi!
on entering, though an adult in years is an
infant IN knowledge, and without the aid Of
eyes or tongue must in that short time tin-
ish his education. 1t is remarkable how
rapidly they acquire the language of signs,
and gratifying TO witness tbeir delight at be-
ing able to understand their more fortunate
fellows, and being in turn understood. We
saw ore bright little girl, who entered the
school last September absolutely ignorant,
write her exercises on the board in clear
and readable hand. We could have spent
hours without firing in the classroom OF
Mr. job Turner, who is himself deaf mute
and has groWngra in the service Of the in.
stltutlon. lie has charge of the finishing
class, IN Which are many hne-looking Young
men anu interesting, pretty young ladies,
who write with rapidly and clearness not
often equalled by those of liz who are more
fortunate In the possession OF all our senses.
Their instruction as well as reeitations are
all necessarily conducted in writing, in
which every pupil seems to be intensely in.
terested. Professor Turner, brother of the
gentleman just referred to, has wel-train-
ca brass band, also an orchestra fall blnCD,
ana one rarely bears better music than these
sightiess musicians can make.
A larger appropriation than 1t has