idently wise in the busy Hing-school. or every one form is gen ned? Like through life d, but with me can nev re is hope. 80. revenue to ppiness of and virtue se boys to e of useful e labor. In 1857 a portion of them were contracted at twelve and a half cents per day of seven hours, for making boots and shoes; in which business however, the contractors did not succeed. A contract has been recently entered into, with Messrs. Woodhouse, Butler & Co., for twenty to forty boys, for five years, at eight cents per day of six hours, in manufacturing chairs; to be instructed, so that they may be able to obtain a livelihood at the business, when they go out into the world, dependent upon themselves. This looks like a small price, but considering their age and inexperience, and the fact, that six hours constitutes a day, that the more competent and faithful they are, the sooner the contractors will lose their services by their dismissal—their places to be continually supplied by inexperienced hands—it is believed to be as high a price comparatively, as is paid by contractors in the State Prison. Few of the blessings of life, either moral or physical, are obtained without labor and expense. The poor we have always with us; and one of the highest duties of a State, is to protect its poor and unfortunate, and to educate its youth. But Schools and Asylums are not expected to be sources of revenue. The House of Correction is both a School and an Asylum. A School, in which these boys,equal in native intellect, to boys in general,—are given a good Common School education, and taught some useful occupation; an Asylum, where the unprotected orphan, and the boy doubly orphaned in a besotted or depraved parent, may find a refuge from the ten thousand lures set by his poverty or by bad men, to entrap his unwary feet. Perhaps there are men who cannot appreciate this; but there are boys who can. During the brief period since the institution was opened, several homeless lads have presented themselves at its door, begging admission to its protection. Unfortunately they could not be received, under the law as it now stands. All the worthy Superin tendent could do, was to interest himself unofficially tain them a home. It is to be hoped that the next lature will make provision for this class of orphan wish even at the cost of personal freedom, to esca ruin that overtakes so many of their class. A few r since, an orphan boy stole a horse from the most street in Lansing, in broad day, on purpose, as he to be arrested and sent to the protection of the Ho Correction! Shall such an institution be decried because it tended with expense? Then abandon, for the same r our other Asylums. Nay, let us pay out money for ing that does not bring a money return, with int Abolish all our Schools and Churches; let all our and private charities cease; let us pay no more tax the support of the Government, or for building Houses, Jails, or other local public buildings, or for roa bridges; let us invest all our money where it will pr us a direct money profit in return! Who is so poor losopher as not to see that such economy would signally defeat its own end, and that we should spe sink to a nation of barbarians, where there would security for property, and every man's hand woul against his neighbor, and his neighbor's against Who doubts that such a withholding would tend to erty? But what is the burden of expense which we must to support this institution. To complete the south of the building, and fit the whole for the accommod of one hundred and fifty inmates, with shops and a cessary appurtenances, will require, from the comm ment of the enterprise, not more than $65,000. Thi permanent investment, and will amount to not over THIRD OF A MILL upon the dollar of the property in State! The current annual expenses, with 175 inm ›fficially, to ob- → most public cause it is at- oney for noth tend to pov ve must bear e south wing commodation s and all nee commence 0. This is a ot over ONEerty in the 75 inmates, which it ought to provide for, will not exceed $10,000; and this amounts to not over one mill on every eighteen dollars of property in the State! Some of these very boys may yet be in positions to to render our children the same protection we now extend to them. The wheel of life in society revolves; let us see to it now, that the wretched appeal to us not in vain, as we may hope for succor for our ourselves, or our posterity, when the wave of misfortune rolls over us or them. 15 ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB, AND THE BLIND. Article Thirteen of the Constitution of the State of Michigan is entitled "EDUCATION." Section ten of this Article, reads as follows: "Institutions for the benefit of those persons who are Deaf, Dumb, Blind or Insane, shall always be fostered and supported." The Asylum for the Insane perhaps cannot strictly be called an educational institution; yet it is so in this important sense: Its design is to restore wandering Reason to its dominion in the Mind. As a hospital, it deals with physical disease, which is the cause of the loss of reason; but that very disease is often the result solely of the mind's action upon the brain, and probably in all cases aggrava ted by it; and the restorative means are quite as much of an intellectual, as of a physical character. There is therefore, evidently no impropriety in classing the Asylum for the Insane, as is done by the Constitution, among the edu cational institutions of the State. But the institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind, though popularly styled an Asylum-" a place of retreat, or security"--is strictly a School, according to the popular usage of that term. It is a School for the intellectual development of a class physically unable to receive the benefits of the Primary School. It is the boast of our institutions, that all classes shall have the means of education. Here are large numbers who, of all classes, need an education the most. They are to a great extent, deprived |