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iteiii'i
8 The Conservative *
THE EDUCATED ISLINI ) .
Many otherwise well-iufonnod persons
hnvo n very limited knowledge of the
attainments and capabilities of the
educated blind people of this country
and some crude ideas as to the functions
of the institutions of learning which are
devoted to the education of the blind ,
and continually refer to these institu
tions as "asylums. " This indicates a
misconception of the objects of the
institutions and is an injustice to their
students and alumni as well. These
places of learning are no more"asylums , "
in the generally accepted sense of that
word , than are the schools , colleges and
universities for the education of the
seeing boys and girls ; the only difference
being that the blind receive their board
and tuition at the expense of the state ,
while those in attendance upon boarding
schools , colleges and universities are
compelled to pay their own way. There
attaches to the word "asylum" a sense
of helplessness , aimlessleps and ineffi
ciency , while as a matter of fact the
persons who have attended and are now
attending our institutions for the educa
tion of the blind are in many cases the
equals and superiors , in intellectual
attainments and even in professional
walks of life , of those who are blest
with perfect vision.
Tlio I'erUiiiH Institute.
In the 44th annual report of the trus
tees of the Perkins Institution and
Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind ,
issued in October , 1875 , Secretary Samuel
G. Howe made the following very truth
ful statement :
"A blind man is no longer necessarily
classed among paupers and dependents.
Lack of sight is no longer a barrier in
the way of exercising various callings
and professions , and of filling positions
of usefulness and distinction. There
will be found among the graduates of
the institutions for the blind in this
country , not only ingenious mechanics
and skillful workmen and women , but
good writers , talented musicians and
able teachers. Taken as a whole , the
blind of today abhor the idea of depen
dence , and strive to become industrious
members of society , and useful citizens.
They are brought up to regard individual
independence as one of the essentials of
human happiness , and the ability to
work as its only secure basis. They
have , in short , so raised themselves in
the esteem of their fellow-citizens , that
they are no longer regarded as objects
of pity or charity. "
Samuel liacon.
This calls to mind an illustrious ex
ample , a person who has been blinc
since he was eleven years of ago , and
whose history is particularly interesting
to the people of this locality. We refer
to Prof. Samuel Bacon , who resides
upon a farm a few miles from Nebraska
City. This gentleman was the founder
of the state institutions for the blind in
Illinois , Iowa and Nebraska. The En
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cyclopicdia Americana contains the fol-
owing relative to Professor Bacon :
"The Illinois Institution for the Edu
cation of the Blind owes its origin to Mr.
Samuel Bacon , a former blind pupil of
.lie . Ohio Institution , a student of Ken-
yon College , Ohio , and a superior
mathematician. Leaving Ohio for the
West , ho stopped at Jacksonville , 111. ,
where the citizens requested him to start
a school for the blind. He commenced
u April , 1848 , to procure statistics ,
woks , etc. , and on Juno 1 , 1848 , aschool
was opened with four pupils under Mr.
3acon's charge. These pupils were ox-
libited before the legislature January
18 , 1849 , and the impression was so
avorable that an act establishing the
ustitution , under a board of trustees ,
was passed at once. Mr. Bacon was
appointed superintendent. The number
of pupils increased ; a building was
erected , which a few years later was
jurned ; a new building was soon after
erected. On the resignation of Mr.
Bacon , Dr. Joshua Rhoads was appointed
superintendent.
"Mr. Samuel Bacon , who had success
fully established the Illinois institution ,
resigned and became an instructor in
mathematics in St. Louis , Mo. After
two years he decided to commence a
school for the blind in Keokuk , Iowa.
Se collected four children , and com
menced the work of instruction in Sep
tember , 1852. Desiring to avoid the
influence of party politics , he requested
the legislature to place the institution
under the management of a corporation.
The senate passed such a bill , but the
nouse refused , and it was established as
a state institution , with a board of four
trustees , in 1853. Mr. Bacon was ap
pointed principal.
"Mr. S. Bacon visited Nebraska in
1873 , and , encouraged by his success in
establishing the Illinois and Iowa insti
tutions , at once decided to make a
similar effort in Nebraska Gity , which
was successful. On September 2,8,1874 ,
the legislature made an appropriation of
$18,000 fpr a lot and buildings for the
accommodation of fifty pupils. A board
of trustees was appointed January 18 ,
1875 , which was the date of its organ
ization. Mr. Bacon was elected principal.
Some legal difficulties having arisen as
to the real character of the institution ,
whether it was an asylum or an educa
tional institution , the supreme court , it
is said , decided it to be an asylum. Mr.
Bacon vacated his charge in November ,
1877 "
During recent years Professor Bacon
has resided quietly at his farm home near
Nebraska City , but his interest in edu
cational matters , especially as they per
tain to the blind , remains undiminished
Like every other good citizen , he is in
favor of removing the institutions for
the education of the blind from politics
Appointments to positions of trust anc
authority in those institutions shonlc
not be made to liquidate political obliga
tioiis , but should be made regardless of
politics and in the interests of good gov
eminent and proper education. In Ne
braska wo have too often experienced
the sad results of political appointments
in the state institution for the blind.
A"I
NKW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD.
EDITOR THE CONSERVATIVE :
Dr. George L. Miller , in a late number
of THE CONSERVATIVE , was not quite
correct in giving the many original links
n what is now the New York Central
lailroad. The original route built from
Syracuse to Rochester , was via Auburn ,
Geneva and Cauaudaigua , being quite
circuitous. The Rochester and Syracuse
hort line is very direct and was built
ater.in 1851-2and is the main line of the
Nevr York Central.
The Rochester , Lockport and Niagara
Falls R. R. was also built in 1851-2.
The writer was an assistant engineer in
charge from Rochester to Speucerport
on miles. The road ran across the
corner of a large farm three miles west
of Rochester , owned by Mr. William
Otis , who , in addition to being a farmer ,
was a railroad contractor. He was a
man of marked practical ability , and had
; he contract for building the first twenty-
ive miles of the railroad west from
Rochester. He had three sous , one of
whom , at that time , was a lad of fourteen -
teen years , and ten years my junior , and
is now the famous Gen. E. S. Otis , of
Philippine fame.
The New York legislature , at its
session in 1852-3 , passed an act providing
for the consolidation of the several links
in the original line , aud the two new
roads , the Rochester and Syracuse and
the Rochester , Lockport and Niagara
Falls into one corporation to be called
the New York Central Railroad Com
pany.
Among its provision , very remarkable
at that early day , was one providing for
a maximum passenger rate of two cents
per mile for all distances , whether longer
or short. This low rate has been in
operation for nearly forty-eight years
and has saved the people of the state , as
well as the general travelling public ,
many millions of dollars.
But there were kickers in those days
as well as in these. Many members of
the legislature , on their return home ,
had to face an angry aud excited con
stituency , and were roundly denounced
for having "sold out , " and turned the
state over to a grasping monopoly , and
the Spencerport member was threatened
with a coat of tar and feathers.
This wise consolidation was the begin
ning of the magnificent New York
Central Railroad as it is today , the
finest piece of railroad property in the
world , and whose quadruple tracks , its
trains aud train service , in excellence ,
luxury , speed and promptness , are with
out a peer. O. B. GUNN.
Kansas City , Mo. , June 28 ; 1900.
An autopsy on a 18-year-old Ohio boy
whose head measured thirty-one and
one-half inches in circumference re
vealed a hollow brain. Thus has death
removed another prospective populist
statesman. Washington Post.
