The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-13
TEACHING CRAZY rUPILs.
a School for the Insane and How it
Works.
From the Neao York Press.

kho paraded up and down the platform at
Poughkeepsie on Tuesday morning.
"a cre zy sch6olP' rejoined the reporter.
NWhy, there's no such place in this coun-
try"
"Oh, yes, boss. there is one right up here;
tut it's the only one of its kind in America,
ind, with the exception of another in
Ireland, l believe the only one in the
world"
Becoming interested, the reporter boarded
the antiquated stage, which soon conveyed
him to an eminence about two miles from
the railway depot and the nearest point to
Poughkeepsie Directly in front of the
Roadway leading thereto and overlooking
t. river is a magnificent building, which
the guide informed the newsman was the
Hudson River State Insane Asylum and
crazy school combined. The la ter is an
experiment OF three years growth, which
Is watched with considerable interest by
the medical fraternity. The reporter
Higdted from the stage, and, after intro
Gu2ing himself to a uniformed employee of
tde institution, the latter led the way to-
the school room, which is located on
the second floor. As the writer entered the
schoolroom ninety pairs of male eyes were
turned toward the door at the welcome
sight of a visitor One boy mechanically
q preached, and, in language more forcible
thlu polite, began discourse on the mod
ern methods Of school teaching. But just
as he was about warming up 80 his subject
an attendant tapped him On the shoulder
snd quietly led him away to his seat. Tne
school was established with the hope of
promoting the comfort and pleasure of the
patients. And it has been found to be
most valuable auxiliary in recaiming the
pupils who attend its exercises.
The school hours are from 10 a. m. to IL
M for the male patients and from 2 p m. to
Up. m. for toe females. Attendanceis volun-
tary, but there is scarcely a child III the in
stitution who does not look forward to
school hours with the keenest sense Of
delight and anticipation. Their clothing is
as ugly as it is grotesque. Imagine, if
po sble, ninety children, attired in terribly
short suits, huge coats, no vests, and
immense slippers, which barely cover the
soles of white, staring stockings, and faint
idea is acquired of the appearance presented
by the pupils of the Graz school. Their
countenances, with very few exceptions
betray the characters of the
owners. Some show the utmost
complacency, others the fierce glow Of
a wild beast, the grin of a monkey, and
complete idiocy. Some occupied their time
at writing, others fixedly gazing into space,
while a few others vigorously pounded
piano and an accordion, which lay within
easy reach of them. Two male attendants
besides the professor we're present at this
session. At the beginning, pens, ink and
paper were distributed but only a small
few seemed to derive any diversion from
writing or its materials, so states, books and
the harmonica re next introduced with
the most gratifying results
THAT'S how we please them," said the
teacher. eff one thing doesn't do, why,
another will
Toward the close of the session all the
pupils were busily engaged at some exer-
else, with the exception of a few, who
when subjected to temporary fits of insanity
seem to take no interest in anything. Be-
fore school was dismissed the teacher
requested a small boy to sing song. He
had a magnificent tenor voice, though the
volume was partially gone and it was with
much difficulty he remembered his words.
''Now." said the professor, eff don't ask
the rest of the boys to sing, why they'll be
awfully jealous and hard to manage for the
next week"
All the pupils were then asked to join
and sing, which request was complied with
in the most graceful and obliging manner.
Many of the boys evince an aptitude for
prefacing their songs with short speeches
eulogistc of the fair sex. while others in
dulge in bursts of noisy laughter. But the
good order and decorum which was main
tanned in the room was peculiarly striking.
A better example could nowhere be found
in our public schools. The teacher in
formed the writer that seldom or never
have he pupils demurred at his authority,
or INDUCED in tistic encounters or the more
dangerous and common practice OF firing
inkstands When the school was first estab-
lished, of course, these difficulties were not
uncommon occurrences, but now little or
no trouble is experienced IN maintaining
discipline and order
As proof of the progress and efficiency
of the school it is well to note that at its
commencement only the common branches
were taught, but now the curriculum in
cludes not only the common school branches,
but algebra, bookkeeping, crayon work,
portrait drawing vocal and instrumental
music, English literature and natural
philosophy. The pupils ages range from
IA to 40. A young man, with an intel
lectual head, but on whose face insanity
was plainly stamped, attracted the writer's
attention. He was at one time wealthy
business man in Troy, but is now hope
the study of French, and is progressing
so rapidly that in a few weeks more
he will be able to master it. After the reci
tations tho dinner bell rang and the school
was dismissed. The more general form of in
sanity prevalent among the inmates of this
institu tion is their refusal to speak. To this
class the school is of the utmost benefit,
standpoint. Several of these pupils who
had not spoken for a number Of years prior
to their admission to this school began when
first attending to read and spell To stimu-
late the pupils to activity, prizes are gener-
ally offered for the best compositions and
the winning essays published from time to
time in one of the local papers
A DRAMATIC SOCIETY.
In addition to this means of instructing
and dlverting the mind, there is a dramatic
society, which is under the guidance of one
of the resident physicians. Many credit
able performances have been given on
stage with painted flies. An entertainment
of some sort is usually given about twice
month, and altogether nothing Is left I'M
done to cater to the qualification Of the
most fastidious patient. A band Of fifteen
pieces is organized from members OF the
school, and each school year closes with
grand picnic, which Is attended by all the
Inmates of the asylum.
THE GIRLS SCHOOL.
At 2:30 o'clock p. IN. the reporter visited
tho school again TO see how the insane
female pupils!behaved themselves. With
one exception they were very orderly and
played several pieces of music with degree
of proficiency difficult to excel Their
clothing was as comical as that worn by
the bows, but with that modesty character
lstc Of their sex they desired to hide 1t as
much as possible and therefore kept in the
background. One woman, however, up