The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-04
STATE SIDESTEPS
CHEERFUL IDIOTS
Law Says They Must Not Be
Admitted to Feeble-NIinded
Home.
ORIGINAL BILL is AT FAULT
Capitol Officers Relieve Them
selves OF Blame, but Act
Will Stand.

| Only idiots of a melancholy disposi-
| ton are to be taken care of at the
! Virginia Colony for the Feeble Minded,
which is soon to be located on the
| grounds of the state Epileptic Colony
near Lynchburg. 1t is distinctly and
specifically stated in the law on the
subject that "congenial idiots are not
! TO be admitted" There can be no
doubt about 1t. Not only do the print
I ed Acts of Assembly so record the bill,
but the original copy shows the word
spelt in this way. While "congenital"
was, Of course. meant, II was not SO
nominated In the bond.
Finding that this was SO. sundry
state officials and others interested
have been trying to find out why dis
elimination is to be made against idiots
OF congenial disposition. 1t would
seem that association with those of a
companionable temperament would be
good not only for tho officials and at
PENDANTS of the institution, but for the
Inmates of the epileptc colony as we'll.
Congenial persons are usually sought
by those In all grades OF society. Why
DIR. Priddy, the superintendent. OBJ
jected to them could not be determin-
cd.
bars sympathy.
Kindred. sympathetic, suited for
each other; as 'conEenial souls" runs
the dictionary definition of the word.
II was surmised that DIR. Priddy did
not want sympathetic folks at his in
Stitution.
Much correspondence has ensued, all
of it making excellent reading. The
first call for help emanatcd from Capt.
Upton d. Jennings, the veteran House
member from Lynchburg. PersuinG
his advance sheets of the printed Acts
of Assembly. to see if pcrchancc any
measure establishing liquor dispcnsa
ries got by without hos knowledge.
Captain Jennings saw that "congenial
idiots are not to be admitted" AS
founded he at once saw a blow att
Lynchburg.
The institution is in Amherst county,
but is an adjunct OF the Hill City, onl
the opposite side of the James. So the
chairman of the Committee on "Coun-
ties, Cities and Liquor Legislation"
sat him down and wrote TO Clerk John
w. Williams. of the House OF Dele
gates. Il move to amend he said.
The printer must have been to the
ball game. or perhaps his grandmoth-
er is dead"
y courteous reply came from Mr..
Williams, who said he had passed the
matter up TO Public Printer Davis Bot
careful to explain that MIR. Bottom
knew more about congenial idiots than
anybody else in the Capitol. and the
printing was his job anyway.
MIR. Bottom looked 1t up at once. He
slept not until he found the orig inai
copy of the bill. 1t read "congcnial."
Radiant with JOY because 1t was not
his mistake, the Public Printer noted
that the measure was fathcred by DR..
IL. l.. Stephenson, of James City coun
ty. The physician, he figured. ought to-
know his business, and there must be
some reason why a cheerful and SYM
pathetic idiot should be barred from
the joy OF the Epileptic Colony. Mr..
Jennings was duly informed of the
truth regarding the matter. and adj
amend the law at the next session of
the Legislature. so that congcnial
folks might visit Lynchburg and Lei,
the people OF that town iind out what
congcnaiity was. The experience. il
is suggested. might be novel one.
But the real cause of trouble was
not discovered until yesterday morn
ing There came a call on Mr.. Bottoms
telephone from the State Board of
Charities and Corrections. There. too,
the printed sheets had been read
What do YOU mean by letting such
! an error go through" was demanded
The printer explained that he fol
lowed copy" and what more could
! printer do?
"Why. that bill came from this Of
| fee" said the voice.
Glad to hear It," responded Mr.
Bottom.
|