Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-07
STATE HOUSE.
Councillor Mayo Speaks of
Schools Patronized by State.
Distribution Of Stipend in Aid Of
Agricultural Societies for 1901.
Rate This Year Is IS Cents on the DolIa' q
Premiums Offered.

Hon. Henry w. Mayo Executive
Councillor from the 9Th district, is the
chairman of the Council committee on
State beneficiaries and pensions, and in
his capacity as such visits the insti-
buttons in the State and in Massachu-
sets where wards of the State are
domiciled. He is very enthusiastic on
the subject of caring for the deaf,
dumb, blind and feeble minded, and
says that the results more than repay
tine State for the amount of money it
costs.
1.-The Maine School for the Deaf"
says Mr.. Mayo, lis one of the institu-
tions patronized by the State. 1t is a
model of it's kind. 1t is public school
designed for the instruction of those
children whose hearing $3.50 seriously
affected as to be incapable of receiving
instruction in the common schools. 1t
is sustained by the State and is open
to all deaf children in the State of
Maine. The combined system of in
struction, which includes all known
methods of teaching the deaf, is used,
especial attention being given to
speech and lip reading. The course of
instruction includes all the English
branches. The boys are taught man.
ual training and the girls are instruct
ed in sewing, cookery and other house
hold duties.
Miss Elizabeth r. Taylor is the
principal and she has several assistant
teachers. each competent to render eff
Gent aid. AT present there are 30 schol-
ars at the institution. The accommo-
Il ;a:@
deaf children in the State Miss Taylor
says there are 200 in Maine. The APP
preparation granted by the Legislature
for each of the two years 1901 and 1902
is $1,000, or $35. 900 for both years. The
money, to my mind, is we'll expended.
1t is an interesting sight to visit the
school and see what great progress the
children make in their. studies.
In the Perkins Institution and Mas
sachusetts School for the Blind in
South Boston, an elegant institution,
the State is now supporting % blind
boys and girls belonging in Maine, and
giving them an excellent education.
The State appropriates $4,000 a year for
the purpose, and / do not know of
single blind girl or boy in the State
who does not attend the institution.
The cost to the State averages $500 per
scholar. 1t is the settled policy Of the
State to reject no applicant who ap-
plies for admission.
THE scholars there are doing finely.
The last time l made visit to the in
stitution one little girl from this State
gave a recitation from Virgil that
could not be excelled in any school or
al.
belongs in Jackman. Another student
from Portland, William Lynch by
name, has graduated from the institu-
ton with high honors. So well was he
instructed there that he has success
fully taken the examination for add
mission to Bowdoin College. Now, al
though he is little past the age of
admission, he has secured permission
to take a postgraduate course in the
Institution before beginning his course
at Bowdoin.
''The principal Of the school is
Michael Anagnos who is a most efli-
Gent scholar and instructor.
"At the Massachusetts School for the
Feeble Minded, in Waverly there are
nine persons from Maine supported by
TIC 'otdte. L lie oldte dppTOpTldteS SoUUU
annually for their support. This
amount of money is used up, the quota
always being full.
II do not know of any expenditures
made by the State that produces more
satisfactory results than these l have
mentioned. For my part | should be
glad if we could afford to spend even
larger sum for these humane and
kindly purposes