davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20
Feeble Minded School

Oregon provides generously for all its
helpless and dependent, and in no line
is this shown more prominently than in
the care of the feeble minded and help.
less, Looking back comparatively but
a short time we find this class was en-.
tirely uncared for, except of course, in
cases of those who were able to look
after the unformnates of their families,
The helpless and weak.minded poor
were the butt and jest Of every com.
munity, and this was especially so in
the villages where the weak minded
boy or man was "the town fool, used
to play pranks upon, and thus made
doubly unfortunate A broader human.
ity and q tenderer sympathy has now
changed all this, and the state has
wisely arranged for the care and protec.
tion Of this class.
The Oregon Institute for the Feeble
Minded, located about two and q half
miles southeast Of the city is provided
by the big.heorted people Of the state
for the care Of this class, and the pres.
ent buildings are capable Of taking care
Of goo The site is beautiful one and
the buildings well arranged for the pur
pose, though the time is not far distant
when there will have TO be a remodel.
ing and rebuilding, TO meet modern re.
quiremeuts. aud increased attendance.
The care Of these wards Of the state
is peculiarly difficult one for the
reason that they are in one respect
children, yet at the same time utterly
irresponsible children, that require the
closest watching on this account They,
as a rule, can no more be trusted than
can two.year.old child, and they must
be watched just as carefully for this
reason. While the capacity is supposed
to be- but 200, additional cottages have
permitted the caring for a greater mum
ber which the rapidly growing state has
caused and there are not at the insti.
tuition e5l inmates and 80 imployes. OF
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20
State Training School a Model Of Its Kind

these 251 inmates 80 are considered as
being capable of being mentally i'm
proved to greater or less degree.
DR.. ]. H. Thompson, of Portland, took
charge recently and is with more mod
ern methods and wise business manag-
ment rapidly bringing the institution
up to the highest state of efficiency
possible. Every department is being
systemized and the work of each made
to dovetail in with and harmonic with
all the others. The big farm of 700
acres is being put in shape so that every
acre will be in cultivation and the in
stitution will grow not only all the
garden and farm products used on the
place, but will have a surplus for some
of the other state institutions. Like
the other state institutions this has a
fine dairy, making all the butter re-
quired and a splendid poultry yard,
supplying everything in that line need
ed.
Mr.. Earl Race, of this city, whom
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

having no guidance and direction, His
plan is to make them all interested in
the school, make thom understand that
IL Is not the statos school and homo,
but theirs, After fixing up one of the
dormitories and rcpapering it, he was
told II would last about week, but he
impressed on the boys that It was their
dormitory, not the states, they were to
occupy IT, not the state, that Il was up to
them to keep II so they would not be
ashamed to have strangers SEQ It, and
in the three months since there has been
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20
State Blind School

The Oregon State School for the Blind
located in Salem, was established by an
act of the Legislature in 1876. The
school has been provided by the gener-
osity of the state with beautiful grounds
and convenient buildings and suitable
apparatus for the instruction of the
blind. The school is supported by ap-
propriations made by the legislature.
The advantages it offers are free to
all the blind youth of the state, and to
those whose sight is so defective that
they cannot receive an education in the
public schools of the state.
The aim and purpose of the Oregon
state school for the blind, in addition
to furnishing general education to
those who are in attendance, is to train
the pupils in some useful occupation
which will enable them to assist in max
ing a living for themselves. The school
seeks through systematic training to de-
velop the students so that they may
become manly men and womanly wo-
men, and ever holds before the students
the idea of self dependence.
Conditions for Admission.
l. insufficient vision to secure an
education in the public schools
2. Ability to receive intellectual,
physical, and moral training.
3. Willingness to conform to neces-
sary rules and regulations.
A. Good moral character.
The school carries on five distinct
lines of education:
l. Literary-The work that is re.
quired in the public schools Of the
state
Q. Musical-Chous work, individual
voice training, piano, and pipe organ.
3. Industrial - Sewing, knitting,
chair Gaming hammock making, basket
ry, piano tuning, typewriting, weaving,
and sloyd In addition the pupils as
sist with the work of the institution,
such as, washing dishes, making beds,
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

Of Is to be sent to it. Experience has
demonstrated that boy of that age if
he is bad, is not fit to be placed with
the younger ones, being more or less
hardened, and too apt by his teachings
and association with the younger boys,
who naturally look up to him, to de-
stroy the effect Of the teachings of tho
school,
The school is located about four miles
southeast of Salem, the main building
being on top of rather small hill from
which one of the finest views of the
valley can be obtained, Like all 9th
or state institutions, II is painted a light
gray and is well planned for its pur.
pose,
As we stated, this is not a penal in
stitution, but is in every sense a school,
place where boys, generally wayward
because they had no home and no gui5
ance, could be cared for, educated,
taught useful trades and instead Of be-
ing allowed to grow rs weeds in the hu
man garden be made into useful citi
zens. That is more than ever the air
and intent of the school since il came
under the management Of It's present
superintendent, Win S, Hale, who is
pre.emnently fitted for the position,
for the one reason more than all 9TH
ors that he understands boys and boy
nature. This is shown by the way the
boys 90 TO him, not in fear and trem
bling but with the same freedom aul
confidence that boys approach kind
father TO whom they look for every
thing with answering confidence
The writer visited tho school Mon.
day, and IL was indeed revelation, for
he as other had done, looked on II as q
sort of Estate prison for boys" He
was soon disabused Of that idea, Al.
most the first thing one little fellow
came up TO Mr., Hale and slipped his
hand in that Of the superintendent, ask.
ed for something and--got IT, Then as
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

have refinished the big hall at the en-.
trance, doing the woodwork and warn.
ishing. They refloored part of the
dormitories and put in a lavatory, in
fact are doing something of this kind
every day and making the building and
the grounds more beautiful and com
Portable A new boiler house has been
built and this will permit the beautify,
ing of the grounds and the keeping
them clear Of unsightly woodpiles.
The school department is under the
direction of Professor G. L. Knapp, and
under him are Miss Mcclure and Miss
Bieknell. A fine assembly hall has
been fitted up and here q series of lee.
lures have been given.
Among these was a lecture by Pro
fessor Lamb, Of o. A. c., who also show.
ed his poultry department with moving
pictures and an interesting talk about
chickens that delighted the boys.
The big farm of $50 acres is cultivat.
ed by the boys, and the dairy with its
cream separator and churns is in their
charge. In fact it is a great big family
of boys, little republic in which each
is made to feel that he is a citizen and
part owner and manager, and that they
respond to this treatment and appre.
ciate it is shown by one boy, who, when
his time was out, said he would like to
come back when school started and fin.
ish learning his trade, and did so, and
another who, being at liberty to 60,
asked to be allowed to remain until
spring. The boys at first, when coming
to the school, have an idea it is a penal
institution and naturally dislike it.
They soon get this idea worked out and
then they are all right and like it. It
is in fact the only home many of them
have ever known, and it is safe to Jay
that most Of them will have for the old
state of Oregon That "gave them a
chance" tender spot in their hearts
while life lasts. And it is safe to say
that with this memory will be always
that Of the man who understood boys,
who sympathized with instead of laugh
ing at them, who gave his time and his
talents to shaping humanity's odds and
ends and waste material into good Am.
erican citizenship, who placed their feet
in the path and helped them keep them
there until they were familiar with it,
who was not n prison superintendent
watching over them, but kind and big.
hearted friend to whom they could 60
with all their troubles and find SYM
pathy and comfort, to a man who un.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

hardly n scratch ON wall or furniture,
and these accidental.
All the work on the place aud about
the building ia done by the boys who
take turns at working and attending
classes The cooking aud waiting ON
table Is done by the boys, as is the dish.
washing and all other work, They are
efficient, too, There was head cook
employed, aud when For some cause he
did not come to work In the morning
the boys were there and had breakfast
on time and NO one knew anything Of
the cooks absence until n@rly noon,
and when the Youngsters had dinner
well under way
Since Mr. Hale took charge many i'm.
nroycncnts have been made The boys
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

there is the same enthusiasm and in.
forest that is shown by children every.
whore, though some Of these "young.
sters" are 30 years old. Candies are
being made and there will be an abun.
dance Of good Christmas cheer for all.
Much Of the farm work is done by
the inmates and besides they do con.
siderable work in industrial lines, such
as knitting hammocks weaving and the
like, though they require much super.
vision,
DR.. Thompson has outlined a vigor.
Gus campaign for next year and under
his energetic management the farm will
be brought to It's highest efficiency, and
the school placed in the front rank Of
such institutions in the United States.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

tracery of fern and vine, the winding
stream, or the majesty of the ocean, all
the beauty with which God has adorned
the world, our home. Here, where the
state has provided a place for these lit
tie ones deprived of all these things,
who live in eternal darkness, there is
neither discomfort nor repining.
But who can tell itl Who convey an
idea of it2 Go and visit the blind
school, and then the next time you are
disposed to feel blue or discontented
just remember the cheerfulness of those
you see there and then realize your
baseness and your ingratitude to the
good God who said for you, "Let there
be light"
The pupils are taught music by Mr.
Roberts, himself blind, who has been at
the school several years. The superin-
tendent, assisted by Miss Mildred Kruse
and Miss Ethel Harding teaches the lit
tie charges the branches taught in the
public schools, but the methods are Of
course different, for their information
must reach them through the medium of
touch.
In geography, for instance, the maps
are made of blocks and these in separ-
ate pieces, fitting together and making
continents and countries. Handed one
of these little blocks the pupil will say
"it is Ireland" or "Spain" or what
ever it is, by just running his or her
supple fingers around it. So with other
studies, and the books with raised let
ters that speak to the intelligent fling
ers. There is library, too. The books
are costly, history that in print fills
one small volume, and costs $l.60 in
this form fills six volums and costs $2l.
The music too, is all with raised notes
that speak to the fingers. Besides the
education the plan is to teach industrial
things. Chairs are caned, hammocks and
similar things knitted and the needle
and other work is really wonderful,
The state appropriates for this work
only $l2,50O year, and it surely is
money well spent. So long as the state
can pay $l25,0OO year for protecting
its game it is not going to make any
objection to any sum that may be need
ed to care for these little ones The
location is an ideal one, and the grounds
naturally very beautiful. The legisla-
ture should provide at its next session,
for making them still more so. At the
same time arrangements should be made
for larger building, and fire-proof
one at that.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

The main building is more than a mile
around, measuring the walls and their
angles.
The law providing for the asylum was
passed in 1880, and the building was
completed in 1888. Previous to that
time the insane of the state were cared
for by the contract system. When the
removal of patients was made there.
were 26S men and l02 women, total
of 37O The number steadily increased
until in 1913 there were 14l6. During
the two years ending April first, 1917
patients were received and 40 per cent
of these were cured and sent home
There are about 220 employees and these.
cost about $4,000 month in the wa
of salaries, Last year new receiving
hospital was completed and this is one
of the very finest anywhere In con-
nection with the asylum is,a farm Of
400 acres, which is cultivated part by
inmates and partly by labor from til,
prison.
On this there is grown everything
practically that is used at the institu,
ton. There is a fine dairy and poultry
yards and everything necessary for tac
carrying on Of a great farm, in the wav
Of machinery. Some idea of the pro.
ducts of the farm can be gained from
the report of the farm manager which
shows that in the years 1911 and 1912
there were grown products valued at
$ll9,394, 1t will also be seen from this
how large a portion of the expense of
the institution is paid by products rails.
ed by its labor and on its own land.
In 1910 branch asylum was provided
for at PendletOn and on January 25,.
this year, 325 patients were removed
from the asylum here to the Pendleton
branch, and since, the number has in
creased here until there are now about
1900.
The world over, according to DR.. n.
Il. Lee Steiner, the superintendent, the
average of insane to sane is as one TO.
$3.50, and this proportion holds gooi
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

two other one of each kind for the boys
and for the girls.
just now the preparations for Christ.
mas are being made, and this is a great
occasion for the inmates for they are
after all but children and for them the
Christmas festivities are as they are
to other children, an event. There will
be Christmas tree, of course, and the
carols will be an especial feature, as
there is considerable musical talent, and
some really fine voices among the in.
mates
There will be something on the Christ
mas tree for each inmate and just now
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

we followed him through the big build.
ing whero the little fellows were at
work, the bright boyish smiles that
greeted him, and the evident pride the
little fellows had in their work as the
superintendent paused to speak TO them
and to call attention to II, spoke clio.
quently Of the wUy they felt towards
him. Tho boys are doing good work,
too, and lots Of IT, There is a shoe shop
whore all the shoes used at the place
are made, and they are good shoes, too,
the workmanship being really first.
class. How well they can do their work
Is Illustrated by the fact that some time
ago the man employed to tcach the
shoemahiug ART, ieft, and II was no, nee.
essary to have him back. one hoy was
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20
STATE ASYLUM
FOR INSANE

TIE Oregon Asylum for the insane is
one of the finest and probably the most
beautifully located of the asylums in
the United States. Just in the edge
of the Capital City and standing on a
gentle knoll, it commands magnificent
view of the valley and the grand Cas-
cade range with its snow peaks, while
to the west are the always beautiful
rolling hills and farm-dotted slopes of
Polk county.
The building is an immense one, as is
to be expected when it is known that it
must house not only nearly 2OOO pa
tients, but a small army of employees
necessary in caring for such an array.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

here in Oregon, where there are nov
close to 1000 insane, which would make
the states population about 100000.
DIR, Steiner, who has been in charge
Of the asylum here for several years,
has an. onviable reputation as an alien.
ist, and has on top Of this the manage.
rial quality largely developed, and the
big institution runs along as smoothly
as small school under his supervision.
The large number received who ara
treated, cured and sent home, speaks in
the highest terms Of the standard Of
excellence maintained by salem's big
hospital for sick minds, and for tue
ability and Judgment of those in charge
OF H.
Continued on page l6)
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20
.FRIENDLESS BOYS
MADE MANLY MEN

The Oregon legislature never did a
wiser thing than when it changed the
name of the "Reform School" to the
Oregon State Training School. The
former name gave the public the idea
the school was penal institution whore
young criminals were sent for punish
ment and "reform."
That is not now the idea of the in-
stitutiOn and it never was intended as
such a place. Under the present law
only boys under sixteen can be sent to
this school, and this great improve
ment over the old law permitting boys
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

eberybody knows, has charge of the
books and accounts of the institution
and has its affairs in such shape that
every item of expense and all other
matters pertaining to the place can be
shown at a glance, and on moments
notice
Miss Anna Stout is matron; Miss
Maud Stewart, principal of the school
with Miss Valerie Hazeton and Miss
Bernice Reid assistants. Fay Howe is
engineer.
There are two custodial cottages and
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

eide what we was making. Others were
just as busy. The boys make all the
clothing Of all kinds used by the school,
and among these the really fine suits
that are given each boy when his time
is out and he is turned out to be
good citizen instead of a useless bit of
human flotsam, which he would have
become IL left to roam the streets home
less and uncared for.
Mr.. Hale expressed the idea in saying
that boys are not naturally bad, but are
made so by their surroundings and by
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20
Oregon state Capitol.

sweeping, feeding and caring for the
chickens, pigs etc.
4, Physical--Exercise in the open
air, and daily drills in the gymnasium.
8. Moral lnstruction--Chapel exercis.
es are held daily, and pupils attend such
churches as are designated by their
parents
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

put in as foreman and has full charge
of the shop. He manages it well and is
proud of his work as any boy anywhere
could be. The other young shoe-mak-
ers were hard at work and apparently
as much interested as though the shop
belonged to them. 1t was the same in
the tailor shop, where several sewing
machines were being made to hum by
enc boys. AS we entered one was max
ing shirts, and the way he made that
sewing machine "hike" was wonder.
He took hem around the tail of a
gingham shirt before we could well de-
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

This is the bare facts about the
school II one could 70 into its daily
life, get in touch with the human in.
forest side Of the institution it would
be very different story The writer
visited the school recently and was
shown over il by Superintendent h. IT,.
Moorcs, who has placed it high in rank
among similar institutions Of the United
States We cannot describe Il nor can
you If you visit it and see as did we the
smiling bright faced little folks, smil,
ing and bright faced in spite Of the ap.
palling affliction Of blindness. As we
watched them at their studies and their
play, we thought Of the millions Of men
and women who complain Of their lot,
and to whom the good God has given
sight The latter can be miserable and
because their surroundings
arc not just what they desire, and yet
they can see the sunrise in all It's glory,
the storm clouds sweep in terrific gran.
deur across the skies, the mountains
lift their firclad SUBMITS, u wall Of pur'
plo against the horizon, the broad sweep
OF meadow aud field that make the
beautiful emerald valley, the summer
clouds that drape their lace-hke curtains
across tho azure sky, the myriad bios
SONS Of countless shade aud hue, the
dainty outline Of leaf and the delicate
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

By courtesy of Parker's
studio, these cuts were
made from photographs
taken by them.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-05-16
ANOTHER INCENDIARY BLAZE
SERIOUS FIRE AT WHITE RIVER
JUNCTION.
Picture Theatre Destroyed.-Damaee
$4,000.

West Lebanon.-A fire which was
discovered at an early hour Friday
morning in the neighboring village of
White River Junction destroyed pic
ture theatre, threatened the destruc-
ton of the we'll known Junction House,
and caused property loss of 100000
before it was under control. When
discovered the rear of the theatre was
all ablaze on the outside. The juno
ton House across the street caught
fire on the roof several times and the
side was scorched and windows brok-
en- The 125 guests in the house were
aroused and packed up ready to leave
if necessary while many appeared on
the street in scanty costume. In ad-
dition to the theatre the several
smaller buildings adjoining were eth
er burned or seriously damaged. The
entire loss of $4,000 is we'll covered
by insurance. The fire apparently
started on the outside of the theatre
building, and is thought to have been
incendiary.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-05-16
new HAVEN INQUIRY
ATTY.-GEN. McREYNOLDS PLANS
INVESTIGATION.
Commerce Commission Evidence To
Be Studied by Department.

Washington-Atty Gen. McReynolds
will soon begin a broad investigation
of the New England railroad and
steamship situation, with particular
reference to the New York, New
Haven & Hartford system.
President Mellen of the New Haven
and President Chamberlin and Chair
man Smithers of the Grand Trunk
railroad of Canada, are already under
indictment in New York on charges
of conspiracy to restrain trade by al.
legged relations of the two roads The
broader inquiry of the department of
Justice will reach beyond those
charges with the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether monopoly has been
attempted or accomplished in New
England through the suppression of
competition.
The testimony now being taken by
the interstate commerce commission
regarding the situation and the re-
suits of the investigation by the grand
jury which indicted Mellen, Chamber
lin and Smithers will be studied by
the department in connection with
the new inquiry.