The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-03
UNDER SCnELL's DIRnCroRsHIr.
The Condition Of the Helpless Biind Made =
Prrtext for smnrt specnIntIonA

Thirty years ago Augustus Schcll became
n director In the Now York Institution for the
Blind. For sixteen years he has been Prosl
don't Of tho Board Of Directors. In all this time
ho has been regarded ma the leading man
in its management. These facts give no little
Significance TO the charges Of mismanagoment
recently made against the institution by thc
Adult Blind Md Association. n socicty.orgnnzed
and conducted by the blind mon " New York.
In the pamphlet containing tho constitution
and bylaws of the association the manage
mpnt of the Institution Tor the Blind rs strongly
condemned. The pamphlet henr. the names VI
the Ofllcera Of the assOciaiiou-Jumcs &. Car
lyle, PRECEDENT: Thcodor Noncs. Vice presi-
dent and Peter Sprague. Treasurer and tlirsc
Pontcmcn youch tor The following facts. sum
mnrizel from their publication:,
nuo and Thirly-fourh street, was founded In
1881 b. DR., John $. Ross james Bowman gave
M soS1 S isd7 eg bU USE MI H Vent ,fr so be
hands OF n board uf man gers. who bought two
a.rcs OF land on the west side of ElEhih avenue
mnn stipulated that the land should bc
used for my years oHIc,uflyglg Id dg i2r ,s.gis
tEHdF tEHF'I 'Irsisia,urc T cav sayo the INSTITUTION 5000
to build workshops whore the blind could he
employed. Tho shops were not selt-support-
tho Dire,tore 81 3 600 moro. which wns cxpcnd-
cd in a9dng to tho buildings. stores wero
built and thoir re- ntul was devoted to y sinking
fund for tho benefit oi the manufactures. INC
experiment of workshops was again tried. It
fuilod, md tho bliud worKmen. or most OF them
were discharged.
Under prctcx' that tho health culture. and
improvement OF the blind required moro room
ana larger grounds. Mr.. Srhci and his friends
Obtained from the Legislature permieson to
| sell a part u The proi crtv. Tie building thnt
! frOnicd IN Eighth avenue was sold for tlGOuO
! from which the blind received no benoit what.
| ever.
With this sum. about sixteen years ago. they
purchased thirty-nNe ncrts OF ground In Fort
Wushington. for the ost ems iblc purpose of crcct
| ing IN institution largo enough toaccommoi iate
| all tho bind. Tho managers have since loll five
| ncrcs consisting Of the most valuable buillln
lots on this properly. demonstrating. tho Aid As-
sociation claims. that tho purchase % this prop-
! pry WAS u speculation. and that their prctcNt
WAS Il mere fabrication. Tor they have but low
| moro innntes now than they had ~ TINT time.
and less ground. aud yet they continue to ac-
| ccrt don9iions from private lnilViduais, oni
| they received '"gJcics last year TO tho amount
| OF over OOO.
| Thes legacies are of nc benefit 90 the pupils
| who receive no better food or clothing as the
| State Elkos ample prov islun for "ncll inmate.
| Tho state paDs annually tO this Institution
| $500 per capita for support and cdu'atiOn. Tho
| county from which tho pupil comes pays 800
| annually for clothing since the commchce-
ment Of this inc Son i has cost the St,tc
| hundreds Of tho sands OF dollars have
been received rs gifts and lcgaciee from
| charitable individuals. Tho income ~ this vast
| Appropriation. iudiciously invested would be
| sufficient 10 support In comfort nll the indigonl
| blind OF this state. whereas only small per
ccntago are recipients Of any benefit thcrefrom
| and all such receive IA mn education which
| whom they leave the institution. rarely II cvor
proves any practical benefit in earning hvoli-