Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-02-28

EDITORS COURIER On February
10th l visited the above named insti-
tuition, in company with Drs. Bosby-
shell and Donnelan, of Glenwood and
DIR. Barrett of Clarinda. This asylum
is in Glenwood, Mills county, in the
building formerly occupied as the
Soldiers Orphans Home. 1t was es-
tablished by act of the last legislature,
principally through the action of the
Iowa State Medical Socicty--Dr. w.
s. Robertson, of Muscatine being the
efficient and able prime mover in the
establishment of said state charity ;
in an address to the State Medical
Society, he presented draft of bill
organizing it, and by a vote of the
Society it was heartily and unani-
mously recommended to the legisla-
ture for adoption, and committee,
with DIR. Robertson as chairman, was
appointed to present it and urge its
passage.
The State already owned the build
ing "a large brick) and fifteen acres of
land. The building is located on a
high, healthy and beautiful place, sur
rounded by a rich and beautiful coun-
try, / thought the roof of the build
ing commanded view of southwest.
ern Iowa and large portion of the
state Of Nebraska. We were received
by DR.. Archibald, superintendent,
who is most unquestionably the right
man in the right place. We were
shown everything from cellar to gar
ret.
WHAT DID WE SEE?
There are now forty-five children,
utmost capacity of building sixty,
many of them, when brought there
did not know enough to feed them
selves.
The school room, Mrs. Archibald
teacher, about thirty pupils present,
clearly in person and neatly dressed,
boys and girls, from 10 to 16 years
old.
l will not describe, at this time,
the method and manner of teaching
such a peculiar class of pupils, but
cannot speak in too high praise of
Mrs. Archibald, her energy and abili-
ty, as evidenced by her success, must
be witnessed to be understood or APP
preciated. They exercise with dumb
bells and climb ladders and do il well
when only q few months or weeks
ago they were with difficulty induced
to walk. Music-led by their tea cher
with piano accompaniment, they
sang well; number of them sung
alone and did well, then the class
sung all together, the teacher simply
starting the words and tune.
The bed rooms, one for boys and
one for girls, filled with beds, etirely
neat and clean and perfectly comfort
able. One room used only for two
or three, now there, who are mental
ly and physically helpless and hope
less. At dinner tables well supplied
with abundance of good and nutri
cious food, all feeding themselves
except one who was received the da,
before, all quiet and orderly. TIL
girls room, where they learn to sew
NC, is comfortable, carpeted, pleas
ant and home-likc.
il learned this lesson from what
saw: That such unfortunate beings
when taken young, are capable, b
proper means, of vast Improvement
J that they are as much entitled to Stat
care as the insane, the blind and tn
deaf and dumb; it is possible to max
many of them self supporting. TIL
J appropriation by the State is made
quatc. l would especially ask tn
J physicians of the State to interview
each, his representative in the ne,
} State Legislature, and explain tn
} character of this State charity an
, ask them to vote an increased amour
at the next session.
} I must not forget to mention tn,
we were shown into Mrs. Archibald
parlor and there interviewed her bah
hope it may live to eclipse, in fam
those celebrated "Helens babies
Our call was impromtu unannoun,
ed, and therefore not prepared for.
Il DR.. S. B. THRALL.