The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-07-12
with a capacity Of IS inmates
.............................S 1o5 600
An Assembly Hall &, Manual
training department............ 25 900
Addition to Thorn Cottage
SO additional inmates.......... 10000

there is unjust discrimination agains
those who are excluded Funds SHOULD
be supplied to relieve the congestion tina
now exists. We must recognize the fac
that persons with deranged minds alt
not selfsupporting unless a spark of in
teliect may be found, which can be de
veloped by careful training in the State
Institute, otherwise these unfortunate:
must and will, and are supported in ou1
Almshouse, Insane Asylums, jails anc
penitentiaries, at public expense, or ky
private charities, or by selfsacriicine
friends. Every consideration of humani
ty, of wise craftsmanship, of good public
policy, combine to sanction and enforce
the cause for the feeble minded. Even
upon the lowest and most practical con-
sderation there is nothing which, dore
rightly, will help so much to diminish
the drain on the pockets of the taxpayers
as the wise and prudent care of these I'M
fortunates.
~ - lhdl SlShlJ PEI NClls
of the children of feeble minded parents
are feeble minded, and the reproduction
of these alarmingly increase, and whole
families, generation after generation are
found in our Almshouses. Many scarcely
able to distinguish right from wrorg
are incarcerated in our prisons, where !
am informed that over one third of those
undergoing punishment show in thtir
manner and physical deformities, unmis.
taxable weakness of mind Many go or
developing more and greater mental de-
hciencies until an insane asylum becomes
their home. Many are in eleemosynary
institutions which receive aid from the
state. Lastly many are born to worthy,
but poor, devoted parents who fondly
watch over and care for their imbecile
offspring, day after day, unable to 60
forth to earn precarious livelihood.
This unhappy home, through no fault OF
the inmates gradually becomes burden,
upon the public, unless relief is offered.
Let US take these children from our Aims
houses, where the expense of keeping
them is great, and send them to the
feeble minded institution, where they will
be properly trained and cared for, nurse
the ray of intellect that may be in then
and the state will not have so many in
sane to care for. Let us gather the Incl
pient criminal, who is not able to fully
understand what he should and what he
should not do, into a home where he
might be educated to do what is rig hit,
and the expenses of your criminal courts
will decrease and your prison houses will
not have to be enlarged. Let private
charity turn its benevolent eyes to other
fields of usefulness. Let US free our pub
lie schools from imbeciles who are a
stumbling block to both teachers and
scholars, and most of all relieve poor
struggling families, by giving to their
feeble minded children, happy home
prepared by the intelligent taxpayers,
who will willingly contribute the cost.
Leaving more to the imagination than
dwelling upon all the evils to which every
community Is liable, | reluctantly call
your attention to the tendency, especially
offeeble minded females, to lead dissolute
lives, nearly all their off spring being il
legitimate. 1t is intolerable to permit
such creatures to become parents, and
perpetuate pauperism, idiocy and crime.
1t is impossible to calculate what even
one feeble minded woman may cost the
public, when her vast possibilities for evil
as producer of paupers and criminals,
through an endless line of descendants, is
considered If the State can seclude such
a woman and thus at one stroke cut of
the possibility of never ending and ever
widening record of evil and expense,
should it not do so at once? CAN'T affoi
not to do it? The people cannot choose
whether or not they will support the
feeble minded; that problem solves itself
always in the same way. The feeble
minded must be supported by the public
The State itself is the only agency by
which the feeble minded may be humanely
and mercifully, but firmly, taken in hand
and placed where they can be utterly
prevented from producing evils touched
upon. Does not every sentiment of hui
mainly and pity and business demand
that the State shall take this step? II
would mean the expenditure of some
money. it is true, but it would save ir
time to come so great sum of money
that the expenditures now needed to pro
vide for these people would seem besideit
comparatively small.
Endowed with an affectionate dispo
sition and cheerful nature, these children
are easily made happy and contented, un
mindful Oft the restraint placed upon them
No corporal punishment is necessary OF
permitted. The rapid progress made by
those who have sufficient understanding
to be educated in elementary principles i:
astonishing, and compares most favor
ably with children in the public schools
They are taught basket making, lact
weaving, sc ewing. laundry work, servant!
duties, farm labor, and road making tx
cavations, and other pursuits. anC
naturally diminish the expenses of the In
stitution The Institution has Woman:
Aid Society composed ola number ofnoblt
minded women, who visit the Institut,
and carefully look after the comfort arc
and welfare of these children, make sug
gestions and monthly reports to TIE
Board of Visitors and generously con
tribute of their own means to give pleas
ure and tertainment. such as the BoarC
does not feel itself authorized to use tn,
States money for.
All inmates admitted into this Institu
ton and supported by the State, become
wards of the State, subject to the CUSTODY
and under the control of the Board o
Visitors, and shall not be discharged from
the reform until they shall cease to be
menace to society, and become mental,
and physically capable ofearning liveli
hood. 1t beirg the intention and scor
of the Laws, vigorously to stamp ou
this frightful plague, to attack it at tn
fountain head and eradicate it as far a
wise and proper legisl alton can effect thi
end.
If may speak for the Board of Visitor
and for Dr. Frank W. Heating, its abb
superintendent, and for the Woman's Ait
Society, l will say that they take TIL
greatest pride in this, one of the State
noblest and greatest Institutions, NOR
useful, more philanthropic, more reform
ing and more beneficial to the people O
the State than any of its other publi
charities, and they invite the most critica
inspection of the work they are doing
With the State debt practio ally pail
and its fnancesin most prosperous con
dition under the excellent man agement O
, oar Governor, Comptroller and Treasurer