The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-10-05
OUR BLIND.
ST. LOUIS, September, 1889

Oh. LOUlos DCpLChhDSit ACS"
! EDITOR INTELLIGENCER; Are Their
any blind children in your town or il
vicinity? If so, we want them here.
Think about it, please, and induc
| your readers to both think and tall
| about it.
Ii is important to the state-it will
| be "A great kindness to the child.
The parents Ill your community
would doubtless give unanimous EN-
dOrsement to the proposition that th'
father or mother who denies to an,
| child common school education, il
guilty OF not only great wrong agains
| the little ones, but of serious offenst
against society. In the present state
| of popular enlightenment. when a
least All elementary knowledge of sucll
| branches as are taught in our public
schools constitutes an almost absolute
condition precedent to business success,
to keep a child in ignorance is to Grip
pie him for life. Applying, as this
| declaration does, in cases where chill
dren are possessed of all the natural
| faculties, how vastly more forcible is
its application to the afflicted few who
are without the most useful of all OF
the senses!
Inasmuch as blindness without edu-
cation OF mind and hand means life
of constant dependence upon others-a
melancholy life of paupersm unless
that fate be averted by gift or inher-
itance-it seems incredible that any
father or mother should need TO be
urged or persuaded before cOnsenting
to DO that which would make child
measurably Independent and happy
throughout its career. Yet such cases
do exist all over this state, and hence
this appeal.
The subscribers hereto are managers
OF school which offers splendid ad-
vantages to all the blind children and
youths of the state, and are desIi ous OF
gathering within its walls every person
whom it was designed to benefit. The
Missouri school for the blind is just as
distinctively a public school, and just
as little open TO the objections which
are sometimes urged to institutions OF
the asylum character, as is the district
school in your own town. Under our
present system of public education,
every parent has right to expect the
state TO provide school facilities tor his
children, and this the state seeks to do.
AS the blind are not SO numerous as to
warrant the establishment of district or
even county schools for their special
education, the state determined to
locate one first-class public school for
their uses at sOme central point, and
st. Louis was selected. AS majority
of the pupils could not live and sleep
at home, while attending this public
school, the state regarded it as only
right that the Appropriation for main
tenance should be such as to place
blind children, as nearly as possible, ,On
the same plane with other children, in
SO far as the cost of securing All educa-
ton was concerned; and hence, pro-
vision is made by which pupils are
relieved of all expense except the items
of railroad fare and clothing.
In large, handsome and substantial
building at the corner of Nineteenth
and Morgan streets, the school for the
blind has grown from modest begin
nings to an institution which is model
of its kind. 1t is provided with large
corps of teachers, who instruct the
pupils not only in all the common Eng
lish branches, but in vocal and instru-
mental music, and in manual work
which fits them Tor earning liveli-
hood. The rapidity with which the
blind acquire a knowledge of history.
geography, grammar and mathematics
is marvellous, and their progress in
Instrumental music, embroidery and
fine needlework is even more amazing.
Some of the most famous blind piano
artists in the country graduated from
this institution.
First class food, aud light and health
full sleeping quarters are provided, and
in all that goes to make comfort the
school is equal to the best of colleges.
Any blind persons between 9 and 25
years OF age, who is of good mental
and physical condition (this is not an
ment and i8 VINO b16fiS1t IS bona s resident
of Missouri, is entitled to the advan-
tages of the school, and it will comfort
ably accommodate fully fifty per cent.
more pupils than have been in atten-
dance any year.
Surely there can be no hardships in
paying the railroad fare of blind
child to and from St. Louis, when,
without further expenses, SO much is
to be obtained that will be of benefit
through all the years to come.
Parents having blind children, or
citizens knowing of any afflicted little
folks who should be given the oppor-
tunity which this school offers, should
address q note to the Superintendent
DIR. John Il. Sibley, or To any member
of the board of managers.
The school opened for the tall season
on Sept. 11th. and new pupils will he
welcome at any time. Notice being
sent in advance, an agent will receive
the pupil at the Union depot, so that
there will be 10 occasion tor parents
TO accompany their child.
BEN BLEwETT,
M. Ii. PosT,M D.,
E. w. STEPHENS,
FRANK Il. O'NEIL,
Managers.