The New York herald., 1877-10-07
A DAY WITH IDIOTS.
How the Children on Raudall's
Island Are Taught
THE CHAMPION FOOL.
The Son of Joss and His Fast
Roadster.
MR.. MCARAGHER'S LITTLE BILL.

One OF tho most beautiful hooks In the neighbor- :
hood OF Now York tho OF Randalrs Island de-
tho and education OF idiot children Few
people, among those long resident IN the moropo-
lis of the work that Is doing under tho drec
tion Board Of Charities and Correction for tho
amelioraton OF tho condton Of this class OF unfortu-
mates, aud who has not visited the asylum for
idiots have any adequate conception Of tho utter
nclpiessncss Of the children-or though OF them
nrc past childhoods years they all children In in
tcllcct-who under the OF the city. AZ tho
time there cannot tail to be deep interest among
the public in whatever tho welfare OF these
little ones, and HERALD reporter scnt TO the
island few days ago to gather whatever information
could be obtained in regard to them. The day
bright COOL tho children sportcd tho grass
in the payrooms as happy tho day was long and
cheerful II no cloud OF intellectual darkness
Its shadow thcm. They were poor waits gathered
up from the wreck OF humanity, but better homo
tendcrer could DO procured for them than II Is
plain they enjoy that part OF Randails Island do
voted to the nourishment OF weak minds wc as
weak bodies.
IN THE SCHOOL ROOMS
Two large buildings east Of tho Infant Asylum and
ON tho main tboroughfaro, near Steward Osbornc's
Office devoted to such OF tho weak minded children
considered capable OF Improvement In these
buildings the play and work rooms and the school,
rooms As matter OF course these were first visited
the boys and girls found hard work busiy
coming their lessons. Most OF tho faces lacked tho
intelligence which the writer would remark any
OF public schools, but apart from this the scene
ordinary schooday scene. Eager ana curious
eyes looked up A. the reporters inrusior, but on
every hand exhibited at least some capacity for
study. and tho virtue OF obedience especially
noteworthy.
s'Do these children show any marked signs OF i'm
provement ?" asked the reporter OF teacher In
The girs' school who seemed to take great pride In
her class
''Some OF them have been here only few months"
She answered. land yet they have improved rapidly
that their friends scarcely recognize them tho
same children. When they como here few Of them
are able to speak, but there Is not girl In this
school who is unable to converse AS TO ideas; they
were utterly deficient any such thing"
''What, then, Is tho nrst step In teaching them to
think?" inquired the reporter.
.This" the teacher replied, producing q
bcr OF boards In which blocks Of different shapes
and sizes placed. 1--WE first teach them
replace these blocks their proper order, and
astonishing how puzzl!ng they find the simplest
rangemcnt In the beginning. You this board. All
blocks round and differ only in size, and yoI
first OF the children put the small blocks the
large holes and try put the largo the small
holes Where there Is only spark OF human intellect
the simplest process problem, and It is only by
constant and persistent effort that they learn do
things which babe might be expected to accomplish.
These others, you tee, little moro complicated,
The blocks differing In and shape, that 1t Is
more difficult TO 1T them in their aperturcs; but IL
really requires very little intelligence replace thcm.
A blind man could do 1t with touch, and yet of
the children puzzle this preliminary step OF their
education for month8"
'''yhat is the second stage IN their trainingS"
..ro learn to distinguish colors For that purpose
we use painted blocks and balls Thcn We teach them
count by means Of beaus, which they required
20 string wires, and then amiliarize them with
objects and their names, taking great to
them cnunciate After all this they taught to
form sentences read and write and draw and thon
orr system OF education dissmilar to that Of
the public schools.o
All this was very interesting and 1t was rendered
doubly SO by curious glances from the objects of
much interest and attention.
IN THE PLAYRooMs.
Later In tho day tho reporter tho payrooms
where the youngsters wore gathered to work or sing
or caper. The girls apartment was in way tho
most interesting, because their employments wore
more varied and their disposition please spon-
taneous. The boys, as rule, were dull and listcss,
and disposed amuse themselves apart and In
others society be anxious TO promote the hap
piness OF ono another. Seated round o largo table
were a dozen girls, busly engaged in sewing and tho
work before them showed that many OF thcm had ad-
yanccd the state of grinnng idocy in which
they had bcen received to the capacity to fashion and
combine tho most intricate patchwork. Tho quilts
we're, many OF them, not only exceedingly compii-
Gated design, but very pretty, both In combination
and color young girl looking forward to her we'd
ding day. and thinking OF the household stuff she
10 bring to the man Of her choice, could not have
deeper interest In this work than was exhibited by
these idiot girls While the quilting won't Others
sang concert and many Of them seemed deslrous Of
exhibiting some little accomplishment
.This is indeed improvement" the reporter said
what I see mere I not right In In
fcrrng that OF these children may be
prepared the active duties Of lcY"
"MaDy OF them, " was the response; Indeed most OF
them some improve 30 much that thoy arc taken away
by parents aud placed In the public schools where
they have been known TO compete successfully with
the other children. There several girls and boys
here now who might be called smart children. Many
Of the boys have had have taken positions IN stores
and Offices. and girl is assistant teacher In
q school somewhere in the country"
These encomiums were all The more wonderful,
because tho lack OF personal beauty which is tho
suit of the lack Of intellect s characteristic all the
childron. both girls and boys
s.PLgAsg, MR.. OSBORNE, GmE HArn
On the way from the Idiot Asylum proper to the
,ne ehiIdrons hospital .rhese chIaren u are NOT
idiots, said Mr. Osborne, the steward, but invalda
Most OF them are chronic or ophthaimic cases." One
little fellow totally blind was pounding a drum,
but when he heard the approach OF feet he raised his
head sadly and smiled. 'Johnny, give me Yankee
DOODLE" said the steward, whereupoE the little fol-
low began TO whistle the air with patriotic forvor.
Another little chap, deformed dwarf, very old in
face, but moro child in sizo ana figure, took
lrst TAP Of the drum the children began TO
Tnthcr round him, and Ole Bull or Winawski never
had a more attentive audience So many iaces sad
and prematurely old arc seldom together.
Some OF the iaces exceedingly delicate and
In
ulous kindred diseases or becn welded TO
formed or distorted body few would have justified
the exclamation, sWhat q beautiful childln The
cripples were OF every variety which lnisshapen
humanity assume. and one or them Is q Chinese
without pedal extremitieR great favorte with all
the children Is the young Of joss, who, though
born In New York, has SIN tho characteristics oi the
Nongoan type a. fully developed as II he had first
seen the light in the Celestial Empire. This boy has
and / o N of erhl rnh.