The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-12
A TRIUMPH FOR HARRISON.
Mrs. Sproule To Be Removed as Matron
of the Blind Asylum.
The Board of Trustees and Superintendent
Jacobs Arrange Matters at the InSti-
tuition to Their Liking.

for several weeks the report has been going
about that Mr.. Jacobs, superintendent Of the
Institute for the Blind, assisted by DR.. Harrison
and Howard Briggs, of the board of trustees,
were %scheming to throw out the matron, Mrs.
Frances Il. Sproule. the place she held being
wanted for another person-probably for Mrs.
Jacobs, wife of the superintendent. Mrs.
Sproule IS an estimable woman of the most IN
lmpeachable Democratic antecedents, and has
been matron for eleven years. The pupils of
the institution love her, she is we'll connected,
has many friends, and the schemers, while re-
solved to get rid OF her, have been afraid of the
sentiments a dismissal so unjust would arouse.
The salary of the superintendent is 81, 700 a year
and his family live in the institution, receive
board, washing, medical attendance and about
everything else at the expense of the
State. The salary of the matron is $3.50. But
$3.50 to be added to the income of the Jacobs
family is a plum not to be overlooked nor lightly
abandoned. 1t must be remembered that Mrs.
Sproule came to the institution during the
superintendent of that eminent teacher of the
blind, the late VIM. H. Churchmap, a man
whose reputation was of more than national
extent. 1t may be said, further, that the insti-
tuition today does not contain half a dozen more
pupils than it did at the close Of Mr.. Church
mans last term, Notwithstanding the constantly
increasing number Of blind children in the State,
and that in efficiency it has re-
trograded instead of having advanced
as it should have done, under
the impetus Mr.. Churchman gave it. People al,
over Indiana have a hesitancy about sending
their unfortunate little ones to this institution,
which hoe haonpoa ,o1po1- n ,jooo 80 xo1;4;oal
brokerage.
When the report reached this office, last even
ing, that Mrs. Sproule had at last been removed,
1T occasiOned no surprise, but a reporter was
sent to hear what the matron had to say about
the matter. AS the reporter walked up the
broad path leading to the asylum he noticed sew.
eral dUsky figures upon the broad, cool porch at
the entrance. They were DR.. Harrison, Mr..
Jacobs and one or two others. Like the North
Carolina darkey, they. were ''all sittin' in de
encircled the group. They had beaten a woman.
Trustee Stodgill was not there. In fact, for
some time Mr.. Stodgill has not been considered
desirable society by the other members of the
board, as he has been a steadfast friend of Mrs.
Sproule, knowing her worth to the institution,
and refusing to enter into the pusillanimoas
Vaccinations against her. Mr.. Briggs himself
must be a recent convert TO the cabal, as only a
short time ago he is reported to have said of
Superintendent Jacobs: Il admire this mans
educational views, but | despise his government
here, which is of the police spy system"
1t seems Mr.. Jacobs has a way of going about
the place, stepping as if shod with velvet, and
jumping out at the blind pupils unawares, so
that the children feel as if spies are constantly
about them. There have also been some naughty
scandals about the institution that have been
suppressed.
board of trustees met on Friday night. Ali the
officers were elected in July, except myself. 1
understood then that l was to be tortured into
resigning. Mr.. Briggs, l understand, is telling
people that the Office of matrcn is to be abolished.
Nobody will believe that. The understanding is
that Mrs. Jacobs is to be matron. For almost
nine months l have been a victim of petty per-
%secution at the hands of the superintendent. the
intention being to force me to resign. I would
have done so long ago had not my friends told
me to stick. For nine months the duties
of my Office have been taken away
from me I did not think it possible any man
could heap indignities and Sights upon q woman
as this man Jacobs has upon me during this
time. These things, each Insignificant in itself,
in the aggregate have formed a burden too heavy
to bear. There is, under the circumstances,
nothing to induce me to keep the place. Now.
as to the story that the Office of matron is to be
abolished. See these two rooms | occupy? They
have both, within a few days, been furnished
with new carpets and been repapered. That
doesn't look as if the Office of matron is to be
abolished, does it, l have not been officially
notified of my dismissal, but from indica-
tons l believe it will be given me to-
morrow. l have been here so long I
really do know what will be able to do to earn
a living. Having been here eleven years 1 feel l
shall be quite helpless in a struggle with the
world"
Mrs. Sproule is the widow of the late
Robert L. Sproule. formerly editor of the In
dianapolis Sentinel, and long a well-knowu lead
ing Democratic politician. Shei is a fine looking
elderly lady, we'll educated, Of pleasant address,
excellent Administrative ability and has many
influential friends, among whom are Vice pres
ident Hendricks and Senator Voorhees,, and her
dismissal will probably cause something to drop
in the immediate neighborhoofof DR.. Harrison,
not to mention the smaller game, Lis colleagues.
Reunion of the "Old Guard"