The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-03-25
THE VENERABLE D0CE AWL, THE IA THER
OF THE ASYLUM FOR THE BLIND
THE BIRTH or THE ASYLUM
FOR THE BLIND,

the Governor to venerable man to
whom the afflicted owe SO much. For
more than third Of a century Doct. Awl
has been a term synonymous IN ONO
with medical skill and benevolence, and
our readers will be glad to know OF the
physical robustness Of the Doctor, who
is still able to do the biggest kind of. a
professional days work, riOgr fellow
townsnnan, Mr.. Woodward Awl, is a son
of Doct. Awl. 'nclo. 5di l1oisi{0om |
In Come With, this matter We out |
from the Columbus DPgtch the follow
Ing, which will interest all ogr readers b
1 Alta meeting ofthe trustees Of the 0hiot
institution for The Blind, February 10th, i
DR.. VIM. NJ. Awl presented to the 'trqs-
tees for-the use Of the institution the
original resolution drawn by him and
passed by the General Assembly of the
State of l)hia, dated Marchsll, 1886, con-
strtuting,the first board Of Trustees iqf the
IschOolfor the blind. Itwas accompanied
,bya historical accounto of the passage OF |
the same written BY the donor hand
spmely framed, The thanks ofthe trus-
tees were cordially rendered to DR., AWl
for his appropriate and valuable present,
andit was ordered that the be hung
in the public hall ofthe linstitution,neaf
the entrance, and that agGopy OF the
original resolution and historical state-
ment be entered in the minutes. \
Visitors, hereafter, will observe on their
left as they enter the building richly
ornamented and massive walnut frame,
encasing the writing. Dr. Avis brief
history of the passage of the resolution
was written in 1874. This part of the
framed paper attracts general attention
on account of its exquisitely neat and
readable penmanship,
COPY OF ORIGINAL RESOLUTION.
ReSolued, blythe General AsSembLyQ Ohio,
That James Hoge, N. II. Swayne and
VIM. NJ. Awl be and they are hereby ap-
pointed board of trustees for the pur-
pose of obtaining information in relation
to the instruction Of the unfortunate
blind of this State in letters and meChanl-
cal arts; and that said board be author
lied and directed to submit full report
upon this subject to the next General As
sembly, together with the probable ex-
pense necessary fer commencing a public
school.
Passed March IL, 1886.
THE HISTORICAL LETTER
is written on separate paper and at
tached to the lower part OF the paper
containing the resolution. AS the letter
indicates, Dr. Awl and General Wager
Swayne, of Toledo, were in correspon-
dence about the original resolution. 1t
was forwarded to General Swayne, who
framed and returned it, after which Dro
Awl made the presentation. We will re-
mark here that DR.. Awl is physician to
the institution, The trustees made that
appointment at the suggestion of Gov.
Allen, who said il would be a proper
mark of fappreciation for early services in
behalf o. the blind Mr., Henry Ci No
bic, at the meeting Of the'trustees onthe
10th inst, remarked that Gov Aliens
remembrance of DR.. Avis early services
in behalf of the blind exhibited good
ness of heart seldom witnessed in these
days DIR. Awl it may be said for the in
formation of persons abroad, is a physi-
elan of very many years good standing
in Columbus, He is on the verge OF
three score and ten. In the days of DR..
Avis greatest activity his views did not
coincide with those Of Governor Allen
"butall mankinds concerned in charity"
But here is the historical letter:
COLUMBUS, Dec. -, 1874.
Wager Sway,e, Teledo Ohio
DEAR SIR;-Agrceable to request, l send
you the original draft Of the resolution
authorizing the institution for instruct
ing the blind, in my own hand writing;
please examine and return. If worthy
of further preservation, it might be well
to have it framed and hung up in the in
stitution, as you very kindly suggest
The history is briefly as follows: After
obtaining the consent Of Rev. Dr. Hoge,
and your father, to serve with me if ap-
pointed, wrote the resolution, and with
out other consultation with them, imme-
diately carried it to Andrew McMechan,
member of the Senate from Jefferson
county, whom | found in his room at
Russel's Hotel. Noappropriation of any
money was named or suggested for fear
of endangering its passage, and | remem-
Der the Senator saying, "Why, doctor,
you can easily get all the information
without any legislation" eyes" said l,
"but it will give the matter more charac-
ter and importance if we are permitted
to ask for it in the name of the State.
He then agreed to take charge of it, and
| gave him a copy, which he offered in
the Senate the same afternoon, and it
was adopted after short explanation
from him, with but one low dissenting no.
Being near the close of the session the
resolution was at once sent down to the
House of Representatives | followed,
and with the prompt aid of N. Allen, of
Cuyahoga county, and S. Ford, of Geau-
ga, it passed unanimously without debate.
Very truly yours, &c,
WILLIAM M. AwL.
1t seems impossible for the general
public to realize the qualification DR..
Awl must feel in his declining years at
being made physician to one Of the finest
institutions for blind in the United States,
if not in the world; in an edifice that is
noted for large dimensions and beauty OF
architecture; after being out of public
service for many years. The seed that
he and . few others planted forty years
ago has brought forth good fruit an hun
dred fold.
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FPTGHTENED RY A OUEER BUR.