The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-16
GOVERNM MENTAL.
WHAT is GOING On IN THE
DEPARTMENTS.
AN EPIToME OF WHAT WAS
LEARNED AT THE CAPITOL
yesterday.
STATE DEPARTMENT.

The following senatorial and representa-
tive districts have not forwarded election
returns to the secretary of state as re
quired by law:
Senatorial districts Fourth, Seventh
Eighth. Ninth, Eighteenth, Twenty-6fth
Twenty-sixth. Twenty eighth and Thir
tieth.
Representative Districts Fourth, Thir
teenth, Fourteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth
Twenty fourth, Twenty SIXTH Twenty
seventh, Thrtieth, Thirty first, Thirty
second, Thirty fifth, Thirty eighth, Forty
second, Fiftieth, Fifty first, Fifty-fifth
Fifty sixth, Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth
Sixty first. Sixty-second, Sixty-seventh,
Seventieth and Ninetieth.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Major George Breckenridge has &C
cepted the appointment as member OF
the board of regents of the university.
THE BLIND INSTITUTE.
The report of DIR. Frank Rainey, super
intendent of the Texas institution for the
blind, is out and it is comprehensiverep
resentation of the internal affairs of the
institution. He says:
"There was an increase in the number
of pupils over the attendance of previous
years. The number of blind persons en-
rolled was 112. As / have mentioned in
other reports, the skill of the oculist pre-
vents more rapid increase every year.
The health of the ousehold-exceptiug
harmless epidemic of dengue (den ga
fever, and a few mild cases of ordinary
fever near the end of the session-was
excellent. ! have to report the death of
one of our teachers, Mr.. NJ. NJ. Spencer
(blind). He was educated in this institu-
ton, and was appointed to assume the
duties of teacher i'll 1883, the year be-
fore l took charge as superintendent
therefore he had been in service long
time. In January last he was stricken
with paralysis, and after having tried
several modes of treatment, he gradually
declined until the morning of August 4,
when he died. He was man of quiet and
unobtrusive manners.
"The ordinary AFFAIRS of the institution
moved smoothly along uninterrupted by
the occurrence of any untoward event in
any of the departments. Prof. r. w. |
Lowry was principal of the literary de
partment, and was assisted by Miss Jen-
ME Latham, NJ, M. Spencer to January
15), Miss Ella Stuart, Miss Lizzie Cook
Miss Sadie Stuart and Miss Alice Hamil-
ton.
The department of music was, in divi-
sions, under the care of Prof. George Her
zog, teacher of the wind and stringed in
struments, piano forte tuning and organ;
PLof. II. A. Klotz teacher of piano. and
Miss X. W. Hunt teacher of piano, organ
Il Mic- Iaoh LIMO hal
charge of the kindergarten and calisthen-
les. VIM. Korn was the teacher of trades,
and Mrs. M. Cox teacher of sewing.
Everyone seemed devoted to his or her
work, and took great interest in the well
fare of the pupils. To do conscientious
work seemed to be the guiding principle
which animated them in their great task.
In response to the spirit of their teachers,
the pupils studied with alacrity, and at
the commencement in June gave evidence,
when being examined, that they had made
good progress in their studies"
DR.. Rainey has had charge of the insti
tuition since May l, 1874, and at that time
there were only thirty-one pupils of both
sexes present. Now it is the largest
school for the blind persons south of
Mason and Dixon's line. The doctor
says: "Nearly one-third of the pupils, ex
GLIDING those who have no eye-balls, have
been benefited by operation or treatment.
During the past twelve years twenty three
cases have been restored to good sight in
one eye and twenty-one to good sight in
both eyes. About forty cases have
been given partial sight"
The report says:
No blind person will be admitted for
treatment; but will be allowed to enter
for the express purpose of attending
school. Now, if we find upon examina
ton, that the child can be given good |
sight, or BE partially benefited, it is our
moral duty to that child to operate upon
and give it sight, and send it home to its
humble cot, where it may behold for the |
first time its blessed mothers face, rather |
than keep it and educate it in darkness. |
1t is also an act of economy for the state;
because when the child is thoroughly |
cured it must remain away. When we
operate, the person lies in bed, generally, |
about two days, and then gets up, ready
again for school; but during the treatment
the pupil continues his usual duties.
Thus you see, the trouble to us is trifiing
and that but little attention is given to it.
1t is frequently the case that pupil has
been operated upon, and has recovered,
without dozen persons having
any knowledge of the circumstance.
it operates as though each
pupil who had been operated upon, had
been merely indisposed, and was excused
from duties for couple of days.
The following is the class of people to
whom the pupils belong:
Farmers, 22S; merchants, Z; teachers,
g; ministers, 81; stockraisers, 81; sexton, 8;
editors, 9; mechanics, 2; owners of livery
stables, 2; district clerk, 2; saloon keepers,
2; drummers, /; oculist, Il hotel keeper,
/; boarding house keeper, L; painter, l;
plasterer, 1; brick mason, 1; blacksmith,
1; lawyer, 1; music teacher, /; salesman,
l; unknown, 15.-2S3.
The parents of these children, like
those of the public schools, are nearly all
poor, but honest folks, and only a few
well-to-do persons get the benefit of this
institution. Everything here is free to
ali classes, and all must fare alike. II is
truly democratic in every sense Of the
word
The course Of study followed in the IN
stitution is as follows:
"Orthography, reading by touch in