New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-23
Feeble. Minded Boys" e-t Work in the Garden

/: IS 10 be an important feature of his cuTric-
ulum. Here is where his experience as a
/ football player enters his philosophy.
Play Is mighty stimulating and should
/ help in the work Of the institution II the
/ boy or girl is interested in his work and his
play he will eliminate the need for disci-
/ pine In his or her case. You do not have
10 discipline II you have play enough. II
furnishes an outlet for the energy OF the
inmates and makes the work of the institu-
ton 20 better. It Is the improbable boy
who is the most dangerous. The low grade
boy or girl is not dangerous, although he or
She IS very troublesome 10 the families so
unfortunate as to include such. believe IN
doins something for the community first
and therefore am planning for the high
grade mentally deficient 1 want 10 get
into my institution some Of the spirit OF
60, and / can get It only from boys.
THE SPIRIT OF PLAY.
That is another reason for planning for
them first \ helpful influence will then
become intertwined with the work and
constructive point Of view established,
tradition Of optimism fixed. This will make
II 20 better wher the less hopeful cases
are received But it will he impossible II
we carnot develop the spirit Of play in the
boys ~ will have q field for sport ad-
Joining each Of the dormitories, so that as
soon as work is done the inmates may
have their play. This is to occupy an i'm
rortart place. 7 want them to come 10
'oo< forward 10 the hours of play as some
thing which is due them. Holidays will be
given up 10 games Of various sorts, and
there viii he occasional matches Of foot
taU. baseball. etc, in which the whole in
stitutioa will take an interest.
Il want them 70 have their picnics and
have opportunities to 80 fishing All this
will aid materially In solving the problem
Of discipline There are TO be no bolted
doors or windows here"
Ev this time the automobile had deposited
us PASSENGERS AT their starting point.
one Of the kind Of picnics in which Dr.
Little IS interested in providing for his
wards is a "sugdring off" bee. In the part
Of New England from which he comes the
making OF maple sugar is one Of the IN
dustrics. lie knew the opportunities for
srort In a sugar camp. and when he dis
covered grove OF sugar naples on the
site Of Letchworth Village he know how 10
make {. contribute - the pleasure or the
inmates. They have already tasted IN
literal manner Of the joys % boiling down
maple sap.
Dr. Little built up successful insrtl-
ton for feeble nj nted at Lacouia in his Ta'
tive state, which has gained tor him
rcputa ton FOR efficient and orisinal meth
DDS among those who are interested In me
problem Of the fcehle-minded.
This IS the way one o. the friends OF d.
or squash" Little ha- los ,rihed the unos-
tentat!ous but aggressive Superintendent 81
Letctwo-th Village:
In his day IN college the old-iashioned
FRANKS were much more in evidence than
nj the present lime Little was always IN
the middle Of everything, and it took
fertile mind to suggest anything that ne
was not entirely ready for. He was gratu-
ated from Dartmouth In the class OF a.
When he entered college he was a big.
husky. raw -boned country how. straight
from the farm. During tho first two weeks
OF his college career he distinguished hiw-
self in the frcshmau-so sophomore football
PUSHES The sophomores found it necessary
To detail five or six men to take care OF
him, and they had their hands full.
He made the varsity football team