The Davenport Gazette

Father Mathew at the Blind Asylum.-By invitation of Dr. Howe, the able superintendent of the Perkins Asylum for the Blind, Father Mathew visited the institution on Thursday, (yesterday,) in company with several friends, and was highly delighted. There are between 80 and 90 scholars, or blind persons, at this excellent institution. Among the number are two blind boys, twins, about nine years old, with flaxen hair. They are from the State of Maine, and arrived at the Asylum only a few days since. They were hardly tame, or easy, so long had they run wild at home. Father Mathew was particularly interested in Laura Bridgman, the deaf, dumb and blind girl, having never seen such a case before. On being informed that she was shaking hands with Father Mathew, Laura expressed great pleasure, by her animation. He gave her a temperance medal, and she wrote on paper, in reply, "I thank you for the medal; we are all very glad to see Father Mathew." He thanked her, and remarked, "I shall keep the writing and put it in a frame, and take it home with me to Ireland." Eighteen of the scholars expressing a wish to take the pledge, it was administered to them with great interest, and each received a medal and certificate, with which they were much delighted. Having visited all parts of the institution, including the workshops, and heard some good singing and instrumental music, Father Mathew left, highly delighted with his visit. He passed to a part of the building where an experimental school is kept for weak minded and idiotic children. This also was entirely new to Father Mathew, who was deeply affected at the sight of eight boys from six to fourteen years of age, who had made considerable progress in reading and such useful things, as it has been heretofore thought they were utterly incapable of. It is computed that there are from 1200 to 1500 of this class in our State.-Boston Traveller.