The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-28

large collection of objects and models.
Ihere are three kindergarten classes, the
pupils being between six and twelve years
OF age instead of under six, as would be
the case among normal children. The in
struction in the common branches is SINH
lar to that given in the primary and lower
grades of any school. The progress is, of
course, much slower, but the results, at
tanned by long and patient effort on the
part Of pupil and teacher, are often won
derful. The delight of a child who comes
to >Elwyn incapable Of any useful action
when he is able TO send home a letter
written by himself and telling OF his new
life, is as pathetic as it is pleasant 10
see. child who in public school would
have learned little or nothing, may be
taught at Elwyn TO read, to write, TO
know something of the geography and
history Of our own country, and TO under
stand the simpler arithmetical operations.
He comes from a world which has adyan-
tage Of him, a society which constantly
pushes him aside and leaves him behind.
He finds himself here in a world of his
equals, with some indeed less capable than
himself, whom he can help, a world
vironment he loses his sense of inferiority
and defeat, and begins to develop.
No book lessons however, but manual
and industrial training are the chief means
TO this end. I'VE learn by DOING is the
motto of the institution paper Develop
ment, printed by a corps of minded
boys. 1t is also the keynote of the Elwyn
method The work in freehand drawing,
designing, modelling and sloyd compares
favOrably with that or normal children,
and is wonderful when one learns from
the Swedish teacher what mental and
physical disability her pupils have con-
quored while handling pencil and knife.
Beautiful needlewOrk lis done by the girls
and classes made up of both boys and
girls are taught cooking. The manual
training is closely allied with the indus
trial work, some of the scnool children
being employed in useful labor after
school hours, and many, after completing
the school course, entering the Industrial
department, which includes the carpen-
ter, painting, shoe, hammock, and mat
tress shops, the printing office, the laun-
dry, the tailoring and sewing rooms, and
the various branches of household labor.
For seven years all the breadstuffs for
eleven hundred people have been furnished
by six grown boys Of the institution, no
paid baker being employed
The industrial training of the inmates
is an important factor in the economy OF
the institution. The value of their labor
IS strong argument in favor of the col
ony system, as opposed to the separate
custody of low-grade cases, which makes
necessary more paid service Moreover,
the training given these feeble-minded
persons enables many of them to earn the
cost Of their maintenance, and therefore
to remain at Elywn after the expiration
of the term of years during which they
are supported by the state. Others go out
into the world and earn a living. Not in
frequently the marry, unfortunately for
society. With very few exceptions they
need lifelong care and supervision Par
ticularly is this so in the case of the
girls. The Girls Cottage and similar
homes elsewhere shelter but a fraction of
the host of weak-minded women. who are
almost sure to go estray If left without
guardianship.
The custidial department. is not left
without educational supervision. In each
a teacher gathers around her all
in any degree teachable, a strange and
uncouth company, whom nevertheless she
comes to love. Beginning on cheap ma
terial, Irvine, paper and straw, the clum-
sy fingers and sluggish brains are slowly
trained until rugs, buekets and other
things are skilfully made. These build
ings, which the casual visitor is never per-
mitted to enter, shelter the most unfortu-
nate Of human lives. And yet the sight
Of these beings, someof them almost mind
less is less painful than one might ex-
pect. Comfortable and well cared for,
they produce a very different impression
from that which one would gain from
seeing them under the conditions from
which most of them have been rescued.
The military organization in the train
ing school has done wonders for the boys
morally and physically. The drilling of
Company A, the crack company, would
do credit to any state militia, and so proud
are the boys of their uniform that they
strive never to disgrace it. It is a severe
punishment to deprive them of wearing it.
Every summer tents are pitched at Sky
Crest, and the boys enjoy a season of real
camp life. Swedish gymnastics form part
of The regular training for boys and girls.
The Elwyn band is in demand at fairs
and entertainments in the vicinity. and
the Elwyn baseball team has been known
to defeat theteam in the neighboring
town.
For an hour every evening the various
clubs and circles are occupied with sew
ing, reading, games and light work of
various kinds. In the lace-making class
elaborate and beautiful work is done, the
Children handling with ease spty or eighty
bobbins. There little hunchback jake
may be found teaching some great big
awkward fellow the pattern he has to
work on; for it is a rule that no one may
learn a new pattern until he has taught
his old one TO his claSSmate.
The schools are closed during July and
August, but the young children are cared
for in the summer schools, which are
really out-of-door classes for nature-study
and recreation, with a picnic dinner as
daily feature.
Space IS lacking for more than men
ton Of the amusement and entertainment
provided for the children all through the
year, beginning with the annual dinner in
January. when the directors dine in eky-
stone Hall. with their charges, and includ-
ing the Fourth Of July and Christmas Ceie-
bra tons, which attract many visitors TO
Elwyn, the yearly excursion TO Port De
post, and numerous lesser festivities,
such as visits TO the circus, birthday par
day parties and dances IN the hail In
their pleasures. as in their sorrows, their
afeoAions. their Interests. their faults. they
are much like other people.
Under the beeches IN Kerlin Park, in
ground not concentrated by ritual. BUT
made sacred by association with his lie,