The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-27
A DAY AT THE CAPITAL.

Prison.
THE MUTE ASYLUM
Occupies the grounds and buildings for
merly used and yet belonging to the
Sisters School in the city. The accom-
modations are good and the manage
ment of the Asylum excellent. At the
time of our call there was no one in
or around the building who could hear
the door-bell, except the two little chill
dren of Professor Smith and wife, who
look to be about two and four years ol
age. After some delay the bell was an.
swered by Mrs. Smith, an exceedingly
intelligent mute, with blonde hair, clear
complexion and pleasant face, to whom
we made known our names in writing
We were then ushered into the school.
room, where eternal silence goes hand in
hand with intelligence and harmony.
Professor Smith, with whom we have
for some years been personally ac-
quainted, at once set to work to make
our visit interesting. Children Of ten
der years, who have heen but a short
time in the school, would write without
hesitation the names of any object or
picture shown them. Those farther adj
yauced exhibited q marvellous facility
for learning grammar, and we were par
ticularly struck with the telegraphic
dispatch with which every pupil would
catch signals from the Professors eye or
hand.
We were treated to sign-reading which
was creditably performed, and to the
recitations of "Christ Shilling the Tenn
pest" and the "I4ord's Prayer" which
were excellent Three of the more ad-
vanced pupils favored the visitors with
simultaneous addresses of welcome writ
ten upon the blackboard, as follows:
ave are glad to have Mrs. Duniway,
who is a celebrated lecturer, and her
friends, come here and visit our school
and see how fast we improve. We hope
they will be pleased with their visit.
"DORA BILLINGS
at gives us much pleasure to have
Mrs. Duniway, who is a celebrated lee
turer, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Lawson to
come and visit our school, and see how
fast these pupils improve. Before COM
ing here they could not read, neither
write their names. How we all feel
grateful to the State for supporting our
school. MARY WATKINS
ave feel happy to see Mrs. Duniway,
a celebrated lecturer, Mrs. Lawson ami
Mrs. Peters here. We are in hopes they
will be much interested in US. Before
our coming to school we grew up in ig-
norance aud did not know what was
wrong or right. But now, we are emery
ing from darkness into a more civilized
state. While at school we feel the ut
most gratitude to this State for giving
MS good education.
"JOHN Fl. LARUE"
The pupils wear happy, comfort
able look, and appear as healthy and
well developed as those in other schools.
There is nothing in their appearance TO
indicate their misfortune, and, like
them, we feel grateful to the State for
its aid in their behalf.
Rev. Mr.. knight deserves great credit
for his active interest in the school and
pupils. Few men would do as much as
he has done for them from purely dis
interested motives. Long may his life
be spared to aid humanity's unfortunate
wards.
This visit, like everything pleasant,
came to an end, and we proceeded next
to the
ASYLUM, OR SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND,
Where we were intelligently aud agree
ably entertained by Miss Simpson and
her 'half-dozen pupils. How the phi
lanthropic heart is stirred by the sight
of these pupils and their teacher, over
whose lives the night of impenetrable
darkness has fallen, only to be lifted by
the death angel who shall summon them
at last into the marvellous. light and lib
erty Of Godl
Among these pupils we found two
friends of our younger days, who, though
our juniors by but few years, yet look
to us as young as we doubtless looked to
them some twenty years ago, ere the
blackness of lifelong darkness had set
tied over their fates and shut, as 8
sealed book, the glorious beauties of tEC
earth-life from their physical visiOr
forevermore. This was long ere We haC
gone forth, loaded with the cares of /;
mighty mission, to do battle for the Op
pressed and unfortunate Of every grad,
and color and sex.
Miss Simspon, the teacher, received
her education in the New York Insti.
tute for the blind, and is a most lovely
and intelligent woman.
THE PENITENTIARY.
Accepting the hospitable invitation o
Superintendent Watkinds, half-dozen
ladies accompanied him and us i'm car
riages to the Penitentary in the even
ingi where, after a pleasant chat with
Mrs w. and her little family, we wert
shown through various passages be.
hind which ponderous locks grated omi.
nonsly as they barred us in from the
outer world, until We reached a hall Of
auditorium which was filled with con.
victs who had been assembled to hear s
lecture. The feelings that overcame ms a,
we for the first time sat face To face ,,;,t
these unfortunates, in their striped uni
forms and ill-concealed manacles. ma1
be imagined; We cannot describe them
A convict presided at the organ, and a