The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-15
THE PASSING THRONG.
Visitors at Hotels and What
They Have to Say.
SCHOOL FOR DEFECTIVE YOUTH.
What IL Being Done at vancouver-sfiss
Emma Thursby I'm Seattle-Mex-
lean Traveller.

Professor J. C. Watson, of the State School for
Defective Youth at Vancouver, is at the Grand
/ hotel and will remain in the city for few days.
He says that the departments of this institution
/ for the blind and for the dumb viii reopen
August %, after the regular annual summer
vacation. "The enrolment of the school has
| increased each year since its inception" said
/ the professor last night, ''yet there are many
| for various reasons not in attendance who would
nevertheless be benefited by availing themselves
| OF its advantages This Indifference of the par
ents OF this class OF children is deplorable il
| works great injury 70 many unfortunates-
| those to whom through accident OF sickness the
avenues OF sight or hearing, as the case may be,
are forever sealed, and who live in a world
either OF darkness or one void OF sound. unlit by
single ray OF intellectual development
This institution cares also for feebIe-minded
and backward children, but it does not eontem-
plate the admission of the hopeless or profound
idiot Ii is essentially a school, and not an
asylum. Its great aim is so to equip its students
that In alter life, when they have left its friendly
walls behind, they may by their intelligence ana
INDUSTRY occupy an honorable place in the COM
munity in which they may live
The main building of the school is OF stone
ana brick, rising TO height Of five stories, sur
mounted by tower, and is located on COM
mandiDg eminence about mile east OF the city
of Vancouver, overlooking the Columbia aud
affording view of one of the finest Landscapes
In Washington. In point of modern convent
ences the building is fuily abreast OF the times.
1t Is heated throughout BY steam and lighted By
electricity generated on the premises. For night
lights an electric storage battery system is in
use. Hot and cold water is conducted through
out the building for lavatcry and bathing pur-
poses, and an Otis elevator affords rapid
transit to the class rooms. which are
located on the fourth floor. This build
ing is occupied by the deaf and
feebie-minded, but no pupils are admitted at
present owing to the lack of proper and ade-
quate accommodations for their successful
training and instruction. However, ground has
been broken for new building for their use.
about a quarter Of mile from the main build
ing This is expected 10 be completed by the
month OF January, when il will be opened forth
with for the reception of this class of pupils.
'The school embraces three distinct and sepa-
rate departments. The first OF these, that for
the deaf. the deaf and dumb or the dumb gives
common school education or college prepare
ton. In this department special instruction is
also given in articulation, training and develop
nent OF hearing. reading from the lips drawing
and such trades as netmaking and shcemaking.
The department for the total or partial blind
instructs in the ordinary Misunderstanding
point and INCREASED type, typewriting, mu-
sic, etc
1.-THE department for feable-ninded. when or
ganized, viii use the kindergarten and the usual
methods in vogue 70 train and quicken clouded
intellccts.
The school has gained an enviabe reputa-
ton for scholarship and has reached the front
rank OF such eleemosynary institutions on the
continent and already parents of defective
children are considering making Washington
their home so as to take advantage of the school.
On humane and economic principles everything
except clothing and transportation is furnished
free of charge by the state aud in cases in which
parents are unable To meet the expenses men
toned the cost is betrayed by the county in
which they live. With generous provision
every child in the state with any OF the specified
defects should be in attendance aud avail him
self OF the privileges offered, which will mean
so much to his happiness and well being in after
life. Parents OF such children cannot be too
strongly impressed with the responsibility
which rests upon them"
Professor Watson will be pleased to talk with
any who may desire information regarding the
school or its requisites for admission.