The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-05-01
CORRESPONDENCE.



tn. near ana D-mb A.vl-~-rh. Tenn
rerrfaery,
Passing up from the depot to the business part OF
Olathe, observed fine four-story brick building in
a neat enclosure, with score more Of children
playing in the yard. The absolute silence reignng
at first surprised me. bat observing the children
for moment, for the first time became aware that
the State had deaf and dumb asylum at this place.
went through the building in company with Mr.
Geo. Wyckof, acting Supcrintendent-Mr. Bowies'
the Superintendent, having sought still more silent
gathering-the graveyard. He died very suddenly
from that terrible disease, Brshts Disease Of tho
Kidneys, q disease a few years ago nearly unknown
in the United States, but now OF frequent occurrence
Let beer drinkers take notice The institution con-
tans 80 pupils, divided into four classes, witnessed
the exercises of the primary class the teacher herself
mute. Considering the difficulties Of conveying
ideas to a mind deprived Of leading sense. It was
surprising to see the progress they had made In
obedience to signs from the teacher, they wrote on
the blackboard perhaps hundred words in rotation
Ten or twelve pupils were at the board at once YET
so accurate was ther memory tnat NOT s'ngie nus
take occurred etner IN 'ne Woru 70 oe ~nten or tne
spelling. NO Young miss dispiayins hef accomplish
men's AZ tne piano eou'u nave e',nceo more pfae
pleasure. fhey dispia! unusual VNaei'y Oh iac'A,
expression. Indeed, tne phyaosnomies averaged
unusually well. observed very lew duii, s'oha or
vicious faces. some looked unusually ofgnt anu IN
teiiigent. ihere are TWO puphs rom DoniPhan Noun-
fy-one from White Cloud, s Berkeley ana one nom
wathena samuel Soiiern. Inc pupis are also .ausn'
trades the girls needle-work and the boys pruning
shoe-making' and ca'netuakius- Inc printing Of
nee is in charge OF l. bowies' son Oh tne ia'e gu
perintendenf- Aithousn m charge 10, 'nree yea.'
past, he Is now put nineteen years o'u paper s
published weekly called 1he Adnsds Sa'' Urine
smaller than the d'ghidaa Erhsg"ssa", "eeeaseo'
Ihe ehHf Is on tneir exchange hst. Char'es h!e' -
In charge OF the shoe department with ABOUT
apprentices. Ihe cabinet room has tweive puPiis'
Both of the last named departments are more than
selfsupporting.
In such places as ths-the Blind, the Lunatie' anu
the Deaf and Dumb Asyiums-are seen our modern
governments from the brightest sde. SICK as one rs
with the polluted stream Of politics, the bribed Leg
isature the theving ofcehoider, when We look upon
one Of these great humanitarian institutions with
the benificent work they accomplish; when We see
these brishteysd unforunates, full OF laughter and
vivacity creatures once condemned to mental dark
ness and fastgatherins imbeciify the mind decayng
far want Of exercise one looks upon the State with
warmer feeling and feels like thanking God that
there Is some good in the State, after all! But even
here the serpent of party tras his hideous length
along The teachers are anxious that an expert
enced person should be appointed Superintendent,
but the signs are that some political hanseron viii
get the appointment. Mr.. Wyckof is really deserv-
ing of the place, his whole life having been spent IN
this benifeent work. Both the father and mother
were mutes. The defect was not transmitted. He
says he has recollection of learning the sign Ian
puape any more than how tn talk