The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-06-24
FEEBLE MINDED.
AN ARMY OF THEM IN THE
LAND.
WHAT OUGHT TOBE DONE WITH
THEM.
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY sssNEMO."
Some Rambling Thoughts.
. BY "'NEMO."

by "NEMO."
(Copyrighted.)
Some months ago dared to suggest
to young men who had more energy
than they could exhaust on the ordin-
ary affairs OF life, that it might he we'll
to expend that energy for their fellow
men, by devoting themselves heart and
soul to bringing about justice for work
lngmen In the form of employers liabili-
| ty for injuries suffered while at work.
pointed out that by modern condi-
tions workman was unable to guard
himself fully against the criminal care
lessness of his fellows, and I also show
ed that nothing but law equal in its
obligations in all States would be fair
to the employer. Where this sugges-
ton may have lodged effectively, may
not know, since these ''Thoughts' are
not like bread cast upon waters, to re-
turn after many days, but more like
arrows shot forth at random, hitting
sometimes and missing often.
come now with another subject
that affects every community and that
is clamoring for proper answer with
louder and louder tones as the years
roll by question that must be answer
ed properly by this century or it will
remain problem for the Goth century
that is absolutely frighttul to contem-
plate-the question is as to the proper
care of the feeble-minded. Now men
ton it, you of course admit that there
is such question, but its importance
and its magnitude are hardly likely to
be felt by you, save perhaps in your
community there are but few such
afflicted ones. Bear with me as I lead
you to deeper feeling.
According to the Bureau of Statistics
at Washington there are in this country
over one hundred thousand such people
Il am not referring to either idiots or
insane but only to those of insufficient
intellect. This 100000 includes only
those who by their parents or guardians
are acknowledged to the authorities
and learned ones on this subject think
it fair to suppose that there are half as
many more concealed and unreported
by sensitive relatives +; so that our prob
lem resolves itself into the care taking
of 10000 people too lacking in intel
ligence to properly look after them
selves. They are pining out limited
existence in our towns as the butts for
all sorts OF jokes, in our poor-houses as
those who may be abused without fear,
in our jalls as those who have done
crimes that seemed to be committed
without any sense of wrong-doing, in
our land as vast army whose dull eyes
look out upon life as if it were dream.
What is being done for them? The
total accommodation in all the institu-
tions that already exist for their proper
care and training is 5000. Fully
twenty States give them no attention
at all. In South Carolina, Virginia,
Missouri and Oregon some few OF them
are sent to the Insane Asylums, the
very last place they ought to be, since
they can be trained to some degree OF
usefulness. In Montana they are group
ed with the Deaf and Dumb, CLASH /
fcation that must be of damage to the
deaf-mutes. Maine, Vermont and
Wyoming pass them on to other States,
If accommodations can be found. In
the case OF Maine and Vermont, Mass
achusetts is looked to tor help, though
Its own State applicants exceed by hun
dreds every possible accommodation at
either Waverly or Barre. North Caro-
lima, Georgia. Arkansas, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Texas, Utah, South Dakota,
Colorado and few other States do
nothing for them. unless the fact that
many of them naturally gravitate to
the poor-houses be regarded as some
thing done.
Now then, am merely setting up a
man of straw in order to make great
show of bravery in demolishing him ?
A glance around your own community
will confirm or disproxe what say.
Unlike the idiot, the feeble-minded
man is able to reproduce his Kind, and
strong intellects do not come from
feeble-minded parentage. Look around
your nelghborhood and see if this is
correct.
In nearly every poor-house OF the
.,,;1i I,o fn,1u1 ono or moro