The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-19

that a number of children, supposed by
their parents 10 be deaf and dumb, be-
cause they had never spoken, were not
really deaf at all, but feebIe-minded or
idiotic These facts, taken in conjunc-
ton with a movement arising about the
same time in the hospitals for the insane,
TO improve the condition of idiots and
imbeciles, then confined in the same
buildings with the demented, resulted in
the establishment of what was acknowI-
edged to be an experimental school for
the feeble minded at Faribault, and
commission was appointed to select the
proper subjects for such school from
the asylums, and also to gather to-
gether those of this class who were be-
ing frequently brought to the school for
the deaf.
DR.. H NJ. Knight, of Connecticut, who
was an expert in this field, was employ
I'd to organize and start the school, and
his son, DR.. George knight, became the
first head Of the institution, with the title
of acting superintendent, for this expert
ment was made in 1879, before the other
two schools had been divided as to the
general SUPPLEMENTARY. Three years lat
er, in 1882, each of the three schools was
separated in name, as they had been for
some time in reality, and each superin-
tendent became directly responsible to the
state board instead Of to DR.. Noyes, as
formerly
In~1SS5 Dr. A. c. Rogers, the present
superintendent, who was up to that time
assistant physician at the Glenwood,
Iowa, school for the feeble-minded, be-
came superintendent, a position which
he has ever since filled.
The first of those which form the main
buildings today, was begun a few years
before he came,- in 1881, and the insti-
tuition from comparatively small and
tentative beginning has steadily increas-
cd In numbers, until now there are more
IMAM thousand persons connected wit n
it, and it is a small town by itself. This
increase IS due to several causes, partly,
OF course, to the growth of population
throughout the state and partly to an
enlarged recognition on the part of many
parents that this is the best place for the
1eepIe-mlnded boy or girl, and that the
abnormal child is better here than at
nome. Children of extraordinarily yio-
lent temper, and of uncomfortable, ner-
FoUs and eXcitable temperament are
treated and trained here, frequently with
much benefit
The institution consists of the central
building a really magnificent stone struct-
ufet with TALL square tower; Sunny
side;- Skinner hall Called after George
Skinner, who for many years was one
OF the drtctorS); the epiIeptic hospital:
Lind cottage, Springdale the farm col
cny for boys; the Retreat, and two new
cottages Tor boys, epiieptics to which
next spring there will be added two more
cottages Of the same description for cpl
1eptic girls. These buildings. costing HIM
dreds of thousands of dollars, are among
the handsomest institution buildings in
minnesota, and the surrounding land is
greater IN extent than usually falls to
the snare Of the state schools. A wear
or so ago a landscape gardener was en-
ploYed, and the grounds of the State
School for the Blind which adioin the
School for the Predetermined were beau
TRULY planned, with driveways and
walks, making a really attractive park
surrounding the two schools The en-
france 10 the main building is noble and
impressive
The halls and office are broad biob
well lighted, with polished floors. Here
beside the. administration Offices the
arainlnS school is carried on. The in
mates are divided into three classes he
longing TO one or other of the following
departments: The training school, the
CUSTODIAN, and the epileptic hospital
Naturally, only the brighter of the in
mates can be entered in the training
school While, in the custodia are those
who are not capable of learning much
The hospital is used principally for an
epileptic department.
The objects aimed at by such schools
as these are manifold; first, to train the
selves as far as p9ssible; second to i'm
prove and make efficient helpers of those
who cannot support themselves, but who
may thus be assisted to become less of a
burden to others; third, to train those
who are capable Of it, to contribute to-
ward their own support Gt must be re-
membered that the number of weak
minded persons who can go out into the
world and make even a poor livelihood is
very smalD; and, fourth, to provide GUS
todial care of the feeble-minded to those
who need it.
Incredible as it may SEEM the officers
Of the institution assert that some of the
brightest and most attractive looking of
these children are the most hopelessIv
feeble-minded, and it is impossible for an
outsider to say of a certain child because
II has bright and attractive expression.
that he or she must be mentally brighte.
chan certain other inmate who appears
aull and heavy. A due lack Of apprecia-
lion Of this fact frequently leads strang-
trs TO express the opinion that such and
tnch child looks too bright for such an
5lstiuHon
Manual training forms a very import