The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-12
A GOOD WORK.
South Carolina's Institution for the Ed"ca
ton of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind.


South Carolina's Institution for the Educa-
ton of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind.
This noble institution is situated in
Spartanburg County, four miles from the
county site, and one mile west of the
Spartanburg and Union Railroad, on the
beautiful and historic grounds of Cedar
Spring. As is indicated in the heading
of this article, the establishment en-
braces two entirely distinct departments,
the one being devoted exclusively to the
instruction of the deaf and dumb, the
other to that of the blind. The former
department is by several years the older,
having been founded by the Rev. New
ton P. Walker, a native of Spartanburg
County, about 1850. 1t was at first a
private but purely philanthropic enter
prise, and was therefore quite limited in
its operations until its noble and ener-
getic founder succeeded in securing as
Sistance from the State. It was while
laboring to effect this end that he met
the Hon. Bias Henderson, of Laurens
County, who cordially seconded Mr. WIS
plans, advocating, at the same time, the
establishment of, in connection with the
school, department for the blind. 1t is
needless to say that the gentlemen then
composing tile Legislature of South Car
olina warmly approved their measures,
and by suitable appropriations, soon
placed the noble enterprise on the high
way to grand success, and in few years
the department for the deaf and dumb,
under the personal management of Mr..
Walker, and that of the blind under the
instruction of Mr.. James S. Henderson,
who was himself blind, each attained to
the highest rank among the institutions
Of its kind.
Just here, we would notice briefly the
objects contemplated by the worthy au-
thor and The supporters of this benevo-
lent scheme. In the case of the deaf and
dumb, as we'll as that of the blind, there
were Two branches, the intellectual and
the industrial ; the former needs no conf
ment, further than what is implied in the
term we have used the latter we will
notice more specifically. The industrial
branch of deafmute education at Cedar
Spring consists of, carpcntering, shoe and
harness making and-th arts of agricul-
ture; the blind were taught to- make
brooms and mats and to cane chairs.
The industrial part of female education
seemed to have been overlooked.
The prosperity of this noble institu-
tion was checked in the wear 1861 by the
outbreaking of the late war; in 1862 it
was deprived of its distinguished founder
by his untimely death. At the opening
~. .hc session of 1Sc2 a:c:3:@ 1"c''': :
was manifest, from n marked decrease in
the number of attendants, and partial
suspension of the industrial branches,
which continued -untii-the spring of 1865,
when-the doors were closed. In the fall
of 1866 an attempt was made to revive
this languishing enterprise, but with
small success. the exercises being again
indefinitely discontinued at the expira-
ton of short session. In 1869 it be-
gan new but uncertain lease of life,
which was interrupted in 1873 by the
imbecile Ex-Governor Moses, influenced
by the corrupt and designing Neagle.
In 1876 Ex-Governor Chamberlain
deemed it necessary, by way of concili-
ating the now aroused and resolute Dem
ocracy, to perform one palpable duty.
Accordingly, this noble but apparent
ly ill-fated institution was permitted to
resume its uncertain career, with a re-
striction to twenty pupils. Under Dem
ocratic rule, the attendance on the sue
ceeding term, which closed in June, 1878,
was increased to forty-fve, of which
thirty five we're deaf and dumb
and ten blind. At present, Professor N.
F. Walker, son of the founder of the in
stitution, is its superintendent. The
teachers in the deaf and dumb depart
ment are Professor John NJ. Hughston, a
deaf mute, and the first graduate of the
school, gentleman of fine scholarly as
well as business attainments, and Miss
Ida Walker, sister of the superintcn'
dent. Mr.. r. P. Rogers, also mute, is
master of the shoe shop.
In the department for the blind, Mrs
L. G. Henderson, another sister of the
superintendent, has charge of the liter
ary branches, and Professor w. B. North,
who is blind, and graduate ofthe institu-
ton, is the professor of music. Since
the war, the meagreness of the appro
priations has been such as to prevent the
reopening of the shops for the industri'
al training of The blind. Mrs. Walker
the mother of this remarkable family oi
teachers, presides as matron of the es-
tablishment, and we take pleasure in
stating that despite hard times and short
appropriations, she never fails to have
the table furnished with an ample sup
ply of savnry and wholesome viands.
1t is evident from the above that these
officers are peculiarly fitted for the i'm
portant positions which they fill, and il
is due to them TO state that though they
have been greatly restricted in theil
operations for want of the necessary
funds, yet the most gratifying success
has crowned all their efforts, and the
standard of scholarship among theil
graduates is second to that of no similar
institution in the land.
In regard to the wants Of this institu
ton, we will begin by stating that the
building itself is greatly out of repair
"lhe roof lets in the rain" but not "th'
sunshine;" the plaslering is frequentl!
dropping, thus endangering the lives o
the inmates; the grounds and enclosure
are likewise in bad condition. The Ii
brary for the blind contains little variety
the few volumes of which it is composed
presenting uniformly dilapidated as
pect. With the exception of few tex
books purchased from time to time since
the war, the collection has not been re
plenished during the last fifteen O
twenty years. The musical instruments
with scarcely an exception, need replace
ment by new ones. :,
Thus it appears that the only estab
lismment in South Carolina designed fo
the mental and physical training of thi
unfortunate class of our population j
fast drifting into an untcnab!e condition
for want of a respectable support from
the Legislature. Certainly such
course on the part of the State has Meth
er the commendable quality of econom