The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-02-24
Letter from the State Capital.
CeLuMBus, Feb. Is, 1876.


COLUMBUS, Feb. Is, 1876.
Ed. PREss:-A government contract
for supplies or for building is ordinari-
iy considered job Of desirable fat
ness. But this supposed rule has its
exceptions, as witness the folio wing ::
When the State undertook the build
ing of the Asylum for the care of the
s.Idiotic and Imbecile YOUTH" VIM.
Aud Il Co., Of Columbus. undertook
most of the work and furnishing the
Mr.. Auld was the solid man
of the firm. "Co." being his son.
When the work was undertaken Mr..
Aud had a fine farm in Southeastern
Ohio and q fine residence i'm the city,
all clear, of debt. He made way, IN
carrying out his contract with the
State, with the farm and city property.
aud from that point was swept under
the waters of bankruptcy. This mis-
fortune overlook him at period i'm
life when its sun was shining on the
western slopes. TO add TO the burden
is the matter of certain claims against
the State, undoubtedly just in them
selves, for extra work. done ia con-
nection with the contract. AS the
claims eau only be satisfied by the &C
tion Of the General Assembly, they
are now OF nearly ten years standing,
while Mr.. Aud has been, and still is.
changing on the ragged edge" Of hope
deferred, with q pertinacity worthy of
present success. If out of this bitter
there be any ray Of light,
it is that the work done for the State
was well done, no word Of carping
criticism having ever been spoken
against the character Of the work
done. While the grand charity of the
is being carried on by rea-
son of the rich provision of legislative
care, this man has been waiting and
watching for his just dues for nearly
a half score of years.
The Ins,ikution has about four hum
dred inmates under the snperintend
ance of DR.. DOren-a man cminently
fitted for the place. Many visitors to
the Asylum g, presuming to meet
only responsiveness, in the forms of
these assembled imbeciles. Bat to
the surprise of all such visitors, they
meet only neatly dressed children, in
the school room or on the play ground
while the work rooms show promis.
ing spirit of industry.
To illustrate the pswer of these pa
tient teachers to awaken the power of
thought, there have been several cases
Of children in which the grade of intel
lect was so low that the child would
fail to notice brilliantly colorcd ball
thrown upon the floor In its presence.
After weeks of patient effort the
awakening intellect would become in-
teres,ed in the toy, and at the bidding
of the teacher, would pick up the toy
and return ii to the table from which
it was made to fall. From this simple
initial point of intellectual effort there
are cases who have acquired ability to
read and write, while they developed
4 care for themselves. As many of
these objects of the States charity are
very feeble in body, very much care
is taken to develop physical strength,
not only by outdoor exercise but by
daily drill in the gymnasium. With
rare exceptions the taxpayer visiting
The Asylum comes away feeling that
50 far as his money is used to sustain
The same it is we'll expended.
The religious element is being moved
tue efforts Of Rev. j. Il. Pot
ter, of considerable note as an Evan
yelist. The Opera House is filled
from hight to night with attentive lis
teners. The effort is sustained by a
union of the churches oil the city. An
element OF community not ordinarily
found in attendance upon religious
services seems to be reached by this
effort. May not some OF the churches
learn from this fact, that a little less
in church arrangement,
would have tendency to call in the
Men are inclined to go
where they feel that they are wanted.
'Free seats," as at the Opera House,
under the present arrangement. has
not little to do with the full attend
lnce, and the consequent attention and
interest. A Rev. Mr.. Moore, in Gin.
taking advantage of this fact.
holds forth in the Opera House of that
sity, TO full houses, every Sunday, and
has for several months past. His au-
1iences may not be "select" but they
ire men and women who need to be
saved TO manhood. y.
ORGANIZED TO ACQUIT.
The sudden production of that let
er carrier and the failure Of The pros
ecution to rebut his testimony. looks
Is though both sides were organized
o acquit Babcock. Ex- Attorney Gen.