Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-29
MIDWINTER MEETING OF
PHILANTHROPIC UNION


The mid winter meeting Of the Phil
anthropic Union was held Saturday
afternoon at Grand Army hall AS is
always the case there was a large at
tendance. every available seat being
taken. The hostesses of thea fternoon
were the Gardiner Red Cross Chapter
was presided over by the president,
Mrs. Laura f. Richards, who after a
rev words of welcome introduced DR..
Carl Hcdin, superintendent Of the State
School for Feeble Minded
DIR. fiedin opened by calling atten-
ton to the fact that the care for the
Feeble Minded in the State of Maine is
one of the great problems which the
state must face, and at once. In years
past they have been neglected simply
because the people of Maine have not
understood the great importance of the
case and had not then conceived even
- vague idea of the method of hand
ling tho situation.
Dr. Hedin said that majority of the
fccbIc minded are born so and this is
not true of the insane. To the general
public they are even a greater menace
than the insane He stated that normal
intelligence is relative term and that
some of the various degrees of mental
effectiveness become only when the
complex situations of life arc not met
as they should be. The mentally de-
fcctivc are divided into three groups.
the idiotic imbecie and the moron.
The low grade of detectives is often
accompanied by@ some physical defects.
though not so of necessity, and this
phN steal defect is seldom found in tn"
higher grade detective.
vs. TO the cause OF feeble mindedncss
cent. is hereditary Accidents and dis
case are other frequent causes. he
stated that there are now about 100
applications for admission to the nom"
at rownal now waiting and that there
arr accommodations Tor but 80. u the
average of mentally detective that is
found in other states holds good IN
Maine. there arc then about 2500 OF
this class Or. Hcdin then gave inter
cstinG statistics showing that from ~
to 80 per cent. of criminals are ment-
AIN defective: that conSIdcldbl" per
cent. of nebriateS are OF TINS class.
that ullN one-half OF the prostitutes
ard fully - pr cent. OF p1up"rS are
feeble minded. lie further gave sever
~ startling illustrations Of Where lack
ui care Of this class of untortunaIcS
have. resulted not only in large in
crease in numbers but in expense, Doth
in this state and others.
nr. Hedin stated how the State of
Maine had provided for her insane for
a. period of - years, and the S>n""l
for Feeble Minded was established ~
1905 III fact that the state does no,
J.. ve, provide adequate room for the
care Of her feeble minded. he sad.
Wa cue to the feet that the public mad
Tot yet -Iasped the fact tfht icy
were u greater menace to the STATE
,,,, lie insane. When the great need
segregation becomes fully under
..ood then provision will he made
ere sneaker then exhibited some OF
go. ,-n,.r, made lv some of the h.gner
Grade inmates and told Of tn" work or
iovtitution only the higher
.,,ics' said he. "arc ALL" 10 read ana
,ito. All but the lower grades ais
10 10 learn to work with theif haliuS'
,ri,c 1000 acre farm provides OUTDOOR
.rlrlnl ment for the large hoNS -"
roi.:rholI work for the larger Sl' -
,rb, lower cr,des arc abb" to learn oh-
40 more silnnl" tasks if they learn
an Sor1e three months arc some
,.u,,r required to teach some OF inns
i,,.s how to button and unbotton, 10
Il. and mite. to hook and unhook
DR.. Hcain laid especial stress on ,l'e
necessity of recognizing the mentaliE
defective carly in life. This. SAID ne
.i. host done in the public SCHOOLS
.,verv case should he reported ana re-
&, rded.
81 inc close opportunity for aueH-
TONS WAS given Supt. of Schools Chase
was called upon and gave hilet tatk
,crardinc This class of unfortunates IN
cur public schools.
The next speaker vas Arthur y.
,Jcald of Waterville. who spoke al TOO
hrief,y on the recent Community Efi'
Cheney conference in Augusta. He re-
forrcd to numerous asses of eh1c'encE
~ anuIied to business and SAID tnat
efficiency was the ratio between ac-
ACCOMPLISHMENTS and opportunity. nc
said that the first step toward mahuis
a commuritH efficient was to know the
community thoroughly. Another is an
Increased interest in Young people, ooth
as to recreation and religion
,