The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-08
THE BLIND INSTITUTE.
FEELING THEIR WAY TO
KNowLEDGE. -
DIR FRANK RAINRN's OFFICIAL
REPORT TO THE GOV ERNoR.

|
As required by law, DIR. Frank Rainey
has made his official report to the COVER
nor showing the operations of the insti
tute for the blind for last year.
He says! Zone hundred and five blind
persons were enrolled during the session.
In June last four of the students Miss
Tilla Peay and Miss Katie Johns, of San
Antonio, Messrs. Stonewall Carroll, of
Henderson county, and Walker Higgason,
of Burleson county finished the pre-
scribed course of studies and received
their diplomas
THE DEPARTMENTS.
"The literary department., under the
able management of Prof. r. w. Lowry
who was carefully assisted by Misses
Latham, Hamilton and Stewart. and Mr..
NJ NJ. Spencer), was, during the whole
session, model of good discipline, good
feeling, respectful department, and studi
BUSINESS. The progress of the pupils was
eminently satisfactory. During the clos
ing examination in June, Judge z. 4. Full
more, one of the trustees, who questioned
the classes, especially in philosophy and
physical geography, expressed himself as
being not only satisfied, but somewhat
astonished at the proficiency of the
pupils.
In music, Professors Herzog and Klotz,
and Miss l.. j. p. Smith, gave evidence, as
usual, of ability as teachers of that noble
branch of sud-.
In calisthenics and kindergarten, Miss
Leah Boulware was untiring in her efforts
to train the little ones under her care.
In the industrial or workshop department
reasonable amount of work was done.
Somehow. during that session, the pupils
who were placed in the workshop became
imbued with the idea that other studies
consequently they were not so active as
usual.
The household work, presided over by
Mrs. Bette Chamberlain. was faithfully
done. In the sewing room Mrs. Cox wor! 8
energetlcally Ill ehdeaVuring to instruct
her pupils. Miss Emma Pollock, as nurse,
was very useful, and A. G. Wheeler, night
Waterman, ever trHe and faithful, was al
ways at his post
h. q. Helm, steward and bookkeeper
was, as usual, indefatigable in his work.
IMPROVE MENTs..
'As the buildings, galleries, etc, were
sadly out of repair, the superintendent
asked the legislature to grant $4,000 t.
. remedy the matter. The request wa
n granted, and during the summer the re
pairs began, and were completed in tim
for the opening of school. Three new
N but somewhat small additions, we're made
: Nearly all of the plastering and painting
I'LL
nicer and more comfortable. The size q
- the chapel and of the dining room
" nearly doubled; but, after all, we no
Bs have the space that was needed at leas
is four years ago. ~
THE HEALTH.
The health of the school was bette
than during any previous year; OWN
chiefly, perhaps, to heating the buildin
by steam, instead of by stoves and fir
10 places. By this method of heating all II
ty rooms are kept of a uniform temperatu
throughout the whole day, 80 that when
d. pupil leaves one room and goes into al
a. other, he meets with no sudden or dis
9: greeable change of temperature. Fo
III merly, it was a common affair to find
q difficult to call the roll, because of ii
hOioO hiuuo ny lOIpJ vi hipy puPii
<. afflicted at the same time with harras
q. ing cough bnt now colds with cough al
A. rare exceptions. Experience teach'
O me that there IS nothin
which endangers the health {
a student so greatly as the sitting in
he cool room where the feet and legs are
Sc able to become chilled. A draft of col
air from the lower part of windo
$, sweeps over feet and lower limbs Will
e, they are inactive, and thus the foundatio
D, is laid for one of the following CON
II plants, viz: Chronic headache, intel
,; mittent fever, rheumatism, neuralgia
l. pneumonia, Indigestion, and liver trouble
/ and then, the student cannot study wit
satisfaction when his feet are cold. Th
unvarying warmth of our rooms, in COO
weather, obviate these dangers, and give
: us much less trouble in the way of care
u full nursing"
ADDENDUM.
!, About the first of July, of this yeal
: Miss M j. Pickett, who was afflicted wit
, phthisis pulmonalis resigned her positiol
; MS assistant teacher in the literary depart
y ment, in which pursuit she had been en-
, gagged in this institution for period o
, eleven years, at least. She was educate
; in this institution, for she had lost he
!; sight when quite young. About the thir
= teenth of last October she quietly breathe