The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-03

II. Holland, of this colored Deaf and Dumb
asylum, the only colored superintendent
of such an institution in the United States,
is just out. He says:
To His Excellency L. S. Rose, Governor of Texas ::
In obedience TO a request from the
board of trustees and your excellency,
herewith submit my report of the history
of the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and
Blind colored youth of Texas, from its in
ception to date.
APPOINTMENT.
1 was appointed to the position of su-
perintendent of the Institution and quail
flied on the 10Th of August, 1887, and i'm
mediately entered upon the discharge of
my duties.
The improvements upon the property
purchased for a cite for the institution,
with some repairs, were deemed sufficient
for the accommodation of about forty
children, and the trustees thought it ad-
visable to put the school in operation on
the 18th of September, 1887.
Having been furnished no data as to
the probable number of deaf, dumb and
blind colored children in the state who
were of the proper age and otherwise
suitable for admission into such an in
stitutiop, and being unable to procure
such data from any source, official or
otherwise, and knowing that our colored
population as a rule were not reading
people, and that very few would be aware
of the existence of this institution, i'm
mediately advertised in the leading
colored papers of the state, and made
preparations to visit the portions of the
state where the colored population was
the densest.
1 visited, at my own expense, eight or
nine of the principal counties having a
large colored population, and by different
methods succeeded in advertising the ex-
istence of this institution, and making
known to the people the great benefits
which could result from it.
1 succeeded in securing a sufficient
number of pupils to open school with, but
owing to failure in getting a teacher for
the deaf and dumb the school was not
under full Roadway until about a month
after the time first appointed. The board
had fixed the scholastic age from seven to
twenty years.
We secured the services of Professor
Julius Garrett, q deaf mute, who had been
recommended by the principal of the
North Carolina institute, and placed him
III charge of the deaf mutes. The services
of Miss Cora l.. Moore, of Waco, we're
secured for the instruction of the blind
children.
A two-story, two-room stone building, a
few yards northwest of the main building,
was repaired and fitted up and the rooms
used as class roUms. Suitable books, music
and musical INSTRUMENT were purchased
for the instruction of the blind children.
The children, upon their first entrance,
were totally ignorant of letters, unused to
discipline; in fact, so far as their mental
and moral culture were concerned, 1 had
virtually to begin at the very beginning.
Instruction had to be given IN the utmost
detail in all the ordinary matters of do
nestle life and social intercourse. / am
much gratitied to be able to say, however,
that their progress mental, moral, SOCIAL
ana physical-has exceeded my expeota-
tons. Nearly al the deaf mutes have a
pretty fair knowledge of the sign Ian
guage-sufiicient for all purposes of social
int course-and can read and write, and,
as rule, take considerable interest in
their studies.
better. The New York point system and
Buffers raised letters are in use. After an
experience of fifteen years in teaching
school L am prepared to say that the
progress of these children is fully up to
that of the seeing children under my
charge during that time. The necessity
for the existence of such an institution as
this in Texas has been fully demonstrated,
and my observation during my short ex-
perience convinces me that great good
will result from it,
The native musical talent of the colored
race is we'll known, and the susce ptibility
of cultivation of this in the blind is even
now attended with good results. The
mass of the colored laborers of Texas are
farm hands. The very small amount of
skilled labor among the race is due more
to lack of opportunity to learn than any
thing else.
There are in Texas perhaps 100000 col
ored people, yet there are not twenty -five
professional tailors or dressmakers among
them. There is larger proportion of
carpenters, but very few who have had
more than an accidental or occasional OPP
portunity to learn more than the mere
rudiments of their work; so it is also with
blacksmiths, shoemakers and the other
trades. Under these circumstances it
seems to me that the field for skilled labor
among the colored people is virtually un-
occupied and offers the greatest induce
ments to the educated and trained experts
in this line.
Accom- pauying this report you will find
the class, names, ages, and residences of
the pupils of the institution, together with
an itemized statement of the disburse-
ments since its beginning. am in pos
session of a duplicate voucher for each
item of expenditure, and will take pleasure
in exhibiting the same at any time to any
one desiring to inspect the affairs of the
institution.
Owing to an increase in attendance the
present session, an additional teacher,
Mrs. johnson, has been employed. She
comes to us highly recommended from
the North Cardinal. instituion, and is
doing excellent work in the school.
The handsome new structure Just COM
p!eted is not more then sufficient for the
accommodation of the pupils now in at
tendance, and others expected soon. 1
have the names and addresses of other
children seeking sdmittanoe, and am of
the opinion that the attendance will be in
creased to eighty or ninety during the
next two years. If l am correct in this,
more building room will become nee
essary.
The buildings on the place now are one