Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13
THE MUTE AND BLIND.

Visit of the Legislative Committee to the
In ,titution at FariL luIt-Every Evidence
of Careful Man agemelt and JudieiOus
Inst uction-Great satisfaction With the
Work of The Teachers.
The senate and house committees of the
legislature. on the deaf, dumb and blind,
accompanied by a number of members
with their ladies, and several citizens OF
st. Paul and Minneapolis, in all number
ing about sixty persons, visited those in
stitutions located in the beautiful and hos
pitable city of FaIibault yesterday. The
visitors were conveyed to Faribault and re-
turn by special train on the Iowa
division of the Chicago, Milwaukee
q St. Paul road, leaving st. Paul
at ;45 a. m, and arriving at Faribault,
after pleasant run, al 10 o'clock.
Upon arrival tie visitors were met by
the officers of the institution. Senator Gle
ment, Representative Cole and Martinson
and leading citizens, with 5leighs for the
accommodation OF the entire party, in
which they were rapidly driven to
the deaf and dumb apartment,
whereT between two and three hours
were passed in inspecting the different in
dustries now in successful operation. There
are the printing Office, from which is is
sued a handsome sheet, The Mute'S Com
panion, the product of pupils, both in it's
editing and mechanical departments, an
issue of which was being worked off at the
time of the visit. Visits were also made
to the cooper, tailor and boot and shoe
shops. The tailor shop and boot and shoe
shop have foremen or instructors from
outside, but the cooper shop is conducted
entirely by mutes. This latter shop is
hive of industry, from which very hand
some revenue is received. The other shops
named are mainly for sup
plying the pupils with their
clothing and boots and shoes. The mutes
as rule manifest great interest in their
work, and many of them are reaching
high state of proficiency, Prof Noyes, SUI
perintendent of the institution, showing
commendable pride in inviting attention
to an elegant suit! of clothes
work upon which was done by the mutes,
even to the cutting and fitting.
After thoroughly inspecting the shops
the committees and visitors repaired to
the chapel, where the students went through
with number Of their peculiar
and very interesting class ex-
ercises greatly to the delight
and establishment of the spectators. These
exercises concluded, the visitors were con-
Quoted to a large and pleasant dining
room to partake of an elegant banquet,
prepared and served by benefciaries of
the institution, to which most ample JUS
tice was done
After the banquet the party were driven
to the blind department, located upon the
old Faribault farm, where the mode Of
teaching was illustrated by interesting
class exercises, in which were included VIC
lin solos, piano duets, examples in arith-
metic. etc. Here, as at the
deaf and dumb department, the
most perfect order and system was observ-
able, showing perfect discipline accom-
panied with a kind thoughtfulness which
found earnest expression in the soul
through peaceful countenances of the I'M
fortunate inmates.
The last and in many respects the most
interesting visit of the day was that to the
department occupied by the imbeciles, g
fine stone building built last season. The
Improvement in the condition of the IN
fortunates is most wonderful. When re-
ceived many of them we're perfectly help
less, having no brain or muscular power.
By the system of physical and mental
training pursued not only have their phys
ical frames been built, but their sleeping
minds have been awakened and quickened
to receive and retain, as was demonstrated
by recitations in geography, going through
with the changes of cotiljion, practicing
with the dumb bells, and other sim
pie physical and mental exercises.
Both these latter departments are now
greatly overcrowded, and proper subjects
for the kind care and judicions instruction
given, have now to be refused admission.
To remedy this defect, and enable the in
stitution to 60 forwa and accomplish the
great work designed, and for which its
officers and instructors are SO zealously
and efficiently laboring, the legislature IS
to be asked for an appropriation of $780,
600 in addition to the amount required for
current expenses, for additions to each of
the two buildings, $4,000 for each.
Having completed their inspection of
the institution the committee and visitors
were driven to their train at 5 p. m., and
were rapidly rolled back to st. Paul, ar
irving few minutes rast o'clock, thor
oughly pleased with what they had seen
and outspoken III communication of the
noble charity.