The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-08
DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND.
Tho West Virginia stnto Institution n,
i,omuoy and Its Work.

Tho West virginia state Institution Mt
i,oniuoy and Its Work.
Tho following circular has been is
sucd by Principal Hill, OF tho West Vir-
ginia School for the Deaf and Blind:
TO he People Qt Vest Virginia:
For nearly twenty-five years West
Virginia has BEEN supporting II achool
for the education OF tho deaf and blind
children OF tho state. Every possible
provision has been made for their bod.
lily comfort rs well rs intellectual and
moral development. Wo havo n corps
OF competent and skilled teachers, com
Portable buildings, n hoalthiul climate,
GOOD medical attendance, and tho bone-
fits OF tho school arc offered to all be-
tween tho ages Of eight and twenty-five
years without money and without price.
The school Is absolutely FREQ rs TO board
and tuition, and even tho travelling ex-
penses OF those, whose parents or
friends are unable to defray them, nre
paid by tho state. In addition to this,
clothing is furnished to INDECENT pupils,
and chNrgcdt TO tho counties from which
they come. .*
Notwithstanding all these advantages,
tho lamcntable fact remains, that nearly
two-thirds OF those who aro entitled to
the privileges OF tho school have never
availcd themselves OF its blessing. This
is due, We think in largo measure, to
lack OF information. Many parents do
not know OF tho existence Of such Il
school, and others have no proper con-
ccption OF its nature and purpose. There
are quito II number also, who through
mistaken love and sympathy for these
afflicted children, arc averse 10 sending
them away from home, fearing they
may not fall into kindly hands. Many
have IN idea that 1t is sort OF reform.
atory school, n department of tho peni.
Tertiary, whero incorrigible boys and
girls arc placed under harsh taskmas-
tiers to be trained in tho ways OF wisdom
and virtue. Such notions Gun only find
q lodgment in the minds.of tho dcnsely
ignorant. There arc still others 1--WE
trust for the sake OF humanity that their
numbers are small) who keep their
children ut homo on account OF tho
pnltry. profit, which may be derived
from their labor. They are willing to
dwarf their intellectual and moral
natures, il only they can convert them
into profitable beasts OF burden. e For
such sordid souls, We have no word OF
argument or appeal. But tor the infor-
nation OF all who feel an interest in
these children, and with the desire Of
arousing thoirheartv corporation in tho
work, we would state, that this is strict
ly an educational establishment, part
OF. tho common school system Of the
state. The only difference between
it and the ordinary schools is.
that from the nature OF the case, special
methods OF instruction must be
pursued. Not only are they taught the
ordinary branches OF common school
education, but are instructed in such
handicrafts as will enable them to earn
q livelihood aftor leaving school. The
deaf are taught printing, shoe making,
tailoring, carpentryand cabinet making,
while the blind learn broom and mat
tress making and cane seating. 1t can
readily be seen that with the education
and manual training which we are able
to give them, they can be developed into
intelligent, useful and self-sustaining
citizens, while without it, they must
grew up in the grossest ignorance, in
capable OF doing any thing except the
merost drudgery, a burden to their
friends and useless members of society.
In view Of these facts, it becomes not
only an act OF injustice and cruelty to
the child, but crime against the state
for any parents through negligence or
selishness to cut him off from the adj
vantaces which have been so literally
provided, and by which alone he can
ever be fitted for a life OF usefulness and
happiness. A child thus doomed to
gropo his way through the world in
mental and moral darkness is an object
which should excite the profoundest
pity in every generous mind.
We sincerely trust that the efforts
which are now being made to get into
school such OF these unfortunates chill
dren as are OF suitable age and mental
capacity will be earnestly seconded not
only by their parents and immediate
friends, but by every good citizen OF the
state.
This institution should be matter OF
pride and interest to every citizen OF
West Virginia, not only for the noble
work which it is doing, but for the fact
that it stands an enduring monument
to her Christian philanthropy. It
should also touch 4 sympathetic chord
in tho hearts OF all our people, because
no ono knows when, in the providence
OF God, he may have child that will
need its fostering care. We are about
completing large additions to our build
ings, which will afford us ample accom-
modations for at least one hundred and
seventy-6ve or two hundred pupils. The
attendance this year, OF both classes, is
one hundred and nineteen, which, We
are sure, is barely one-third Of the num-
Der in the state. OF schoolage. To the end
that a knowledge OF the institution may
be more widely extended, and that all,
who are entitled to its benefits, may be
reached, we call upon all public officials,
such as sheritls, clerks OF courts, assess.
ors, county commissioners, etc., to dis
seminate information on the subject, rs
far as possible. and to use their personal
influence in having these children sent
to school. Our session begins on the
second Wednesday in September and
continues forty weeks. Applications
for admission should be filed as carly as
practicable. All letters OF inquiry, nd
dressed to the principal, will receive
prompt attention.
G. II. HILL, Principal.
Romney, ". Va, Feb. 30.
. I'D . # .
Your Blood
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