Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-01-06
WHAT is AN ASYLUM


wish TO disclose, because w. have moth
Ing personal IN view in making public
the matter. over which he seems
to be much exercised. We give the
communication In its entirety. spelling
unchanged, but without the signatures
In your editorial colum Of Dec. 18Th
you have an article on Gospel for the
Deaf and Dumb, ! am very sorry 70
see you call the pupils Of the school for
the Deaf Inmates OF the asylum
Webster defines 'aeylum~a place OF re-
fuge or shelter for criminals, debtors
or the insane. A moments thought
win convince you that the Utah school
Is not an asylum. II Is an educational
institution and should be classed as
such. 1t ~ a shame that newspapers
which reach the masses and form q
basis Of their daily education should
give such an errenous classification,
AS formyself II | met q man and he
asked me II ! was from an Asylum for
the deaf | would tell him that such .
thing was never In existence, and
would remember this man as one not
oonyersant with modern language and
It's usages,
"You wil confer an incstimable favor
on the school by hereafter calling II by
It's right name"
One who undertakes to lecture ono-
ther on tho meaning Of q word should
inform himself correctly before making
the attempt, The writer OF the forego
Ing letter has neglected To do this and
so his effort suggests the adage Of the
poet, "A little learning Is dangerous
thing"
Reference to the article Of which he
complains, shows that no such phrase
as inmates Of the asylum" can be
found therein, The criticism he in
dulges In was evidently made In haste.
We hope he will find time to repent Of
Il at leisure"
Now, as to the meaning Of the word
asylum, which does appear once in our
article, referring 90 the building In
which the State school for .he deaf,
dumb ana blind Is established The
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedla,
which is pathological standard, and Is
considered by many Of our foremost
educators the finest work In the Eng
lsh language. among the definitions
Of the word gives the following
speclncally--An institution for recely-
Ing, maintaining and 80 far as posi-
bic. nmelloratlng the condition Of per-
sons suffering from bodily defects.
mental maladles or other misfortunes;
az an orphan asylum. an asylum for
the blind, for the insane, etc.
The institution referred to In our ar
tlcle is not only school FOR children
who are afflicted with the loss or alb
sence OF the powers OF speech and
hearing, or OF sight, but ~ charitable
in its provisions for persons destitute
OF the means for necessary clothing,
travelling, etc, and Is supported by the
state as a home for such persons, II
IL, therefore, an asylum, retreat, and
the term is not one Of opprobrlum, by
any means. II the phrase asylum fol
the blind" is correct as used in the Cen.
tury Dictionary, then the institution al.
luded 10 by the News" is properly
called an asylum, because the blind arc
received there as well as the deaf an(
dumb. Under the definition given by
that work, the word was appropriately
used In these columns.
Now for Webster, whose work, which
is passing rs standard, is clteC
by our correspondent but In {
by no means dlslngenuous manner. II,
has omitted Websters chief definitions
IN an endeayor 20 put the matter In al
unfavorable light But Webster de
fines asylum to mean
Exemption from spollatlon an'
spoil"
"a sanctuary or place Of refuge an
protection"
Amy place Of retreat and security.
Specifically an institution for tn
protection or relief OF the unfortunate
as an asylum for the poor, the deaf an
dumb. or the insane
The Standard Dictionary an i'm
proyement on Webster's, defines tn
word thus;
IAN institution, charitable or other
wise, for the care Of some class OF al
flicted, unfortunate or destitute pei
sons, etc.
As We have shown, the institution &
ogden is for the relief Of classe
mentioned by Webster therefore. usin
our critics own authority, our use
the word was precisely correct 1t
true that the Standard states that n
term is sometimes enormously apple
also to purely educational institution
as for the deaf and the blind, But o,
state institution is something moi
than a purely educational establish
ment. 1t is charitable IN its nature, al
Is for the care and maintenance Of 4
inmates as wen as for their educatlo
and takes In not only the afflicted" az
the unfortunate" but also destltu
persons who are either deaf or dun
or blind.
Our rash critic evidently needs son
training himself in the use OF the En-
lish language. and does not shine We
brightly as an educator in an America
college He would probably gag at ca
Ing America an asylum for the o.
pressed" Another thing which
should consider is, that in trying