The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
MODERN PHILANTHROPY
THE SPIRIT THAT ACTUATEs PE0-
PIE ENGAGED IN THE WORK.
Education Of the Blind and Deaf
Work Of Dorothca Lynde Dix-Es-
tablishment of Federal Prisons.

New demands were laid upon modern
communities by the vast increase of pop
ulation, the congestion of cities. the vicis-
STUDIES of speculative commerce, the swift
changes in industry, the rapid separa-
ton Of operatives from control of instru-
ments OF production Charity itself often
created demand for itself, and sanitary
science spared the weak from elimination
by disease and hardship
Modern philanthropy has. however,
marched forward with discovery and in
vention. with science and art 1t has
taken the form of legal relief, inspired by
the community conscience; while the vol
untary association and churches have led
the way and tried the experiments, not
without lavish expenditures OF generous
individuals.
The history of the German inner mission.
Catholic and Protestant, best illustrates
the most complete and organic develop
ment of unified movement, beginning with
the depraved and ascending steadily TO
higher and wider enterprises on behalf
of the working classes. The same works
are carried forward in America with less
unity but more Of invention, private in
itiative and generous contributions
The directories of our great city char
tiles are bulky volumes, and our selection
of illustrations must be severely limited
&c few typical examples which indicate
the direction and genius of the movement.
OF the inner spirit and motive 1T is more
difficult to judge than of the magnitude
of gifts and the Improvement in methods.
Yet it is through study of external mani
festations that we are enabled to interpret
the actions and dispositions Of the soul.
THE BLIND, DEAF AND INSANE.
The education of the blind and of deaf
mutes is a function of our school system.
not of our charities. And yet many of
these pupils are from dependent families
and would be helpless without public as
sistance. Their infirmity makes eloquent
appeal to social sympathy and response
has come in costly institutions, improve
ments in methods of teaching, provision
of suitable books and organization of self
help among adults.
From motives of safety as well as hui
mainly attention was early called to the
insane The progress of social care of this
class has been marked by greater kindness
and skill, by the substitution of the de-
tached cottage system for the older, more
expensive and less suitable congregate
style, the provision of detention hospitals
instead of restraint with criminals in sta
ton houses and jails the tendency to re-
move chronic cases from pauper houses to
asylums. saint canOnized by all friends
of those bereft of reason was Dorothea
Lynde Dix, Massachusetts school teacher.
who was taught sympathy by early or
phanage and the dictates of a noble spirit,
who learned the needs of the insane by
visiting institutions and by travel in
Europe. From 1887 she addressed commit
tees and legislatures in all the States and
contributed greatly to the effort to transfer
the insane from local jails and almshouses
to hospitals erected by the commonwealth
and conducted by experts The apparent
increase in insanity shown by statistics is
PARTLY due to the greater readiness of
friends Of the insane to place them in
hospitals for nervous diseases in the early
stage when cure is most hopeful, and also
TO the longer life of patients under modern
conditions. Opulent and generous COM
monwealths now very generally provide
for all citizens thus afflicted without in
vidious distinctions between pauper and
ray patients a triumph of the democratic
principle
SPECIALIZATION.
One of the finest examples of specializa-
ton applied to humane organizations is the
recent establishment of colonies for epilep-
tics. The story has just been told in the
beautiful volume of Mr.. w. P. Letchworth.
An enlightened public demands for this un-
fortunate class the quiet and seclusion, the
open air life, the industrial opportunity of
farm, garden and shop. which are required
by the nature of this malady. Admirable
models may be cited in Ohio and New
York, while excellent provisions are made
in several States, and a general movement
TO secure legislation throughout the Union
deserves universal and hearty co-opera-
ton.
OF the Predetermined, idiots and imbe-
Giles, it is said there are about as many as
of the insane. They are generally inca
pable of self-support in competitive life.
Recently this fact has been practically
recognized, and schools have become per-
manent asylums for the segregation of
those who are unfit to pe parents and un-
able to meet the demands of struggle in
industrial society. This segregation is espe-
cially necessary In the case Of girls and
women of child bearing age. All of this
class would be happier in colonies, where
sistence in a simple and comfortable way
of life This is the best example of the
growing determination of society to elm
mate the unfit and consciously give pref
erence to the capable. A humane method
has been found for DISCRIMINATING grad
ually the vicious stock. and this method
will doubtless be extended to habitual
drunkards and criminals and to epileptics.
In prison science and art philanthropy
displays that highest proof Of goodness,
charity to social enemies. But it is ra-
tienal and austere charity. For revenge
and retribution have been substituted So
cial protection and individual reformation.
Deprivation of liberty and severe indus
trial training have been found to be more
humane and more efficient than torture and
capital punishment for theft The grade
and mark system has been widely intro
duced and the prisoner is enabled to meas
ure and direct his own preparation for lib
erty. Conditional liberation on parole and
under guardianship completes the applica-
ton of the terminable sentence and intro
duces the offender to his new trial Of free