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They may be trained to be cheerful and obedient. They may be taught habits of self-control, and the more obvious distinctions of right and wrong, and to act upon these in their intercourse with those about them.

Such were some of the considerations that ruled in the foundation of this asylum, as well as in the case of similar institutions in other States of the Union and in foreign countries.

By the determination of the original board of trustees of this institution, its scope and purpose was limited to those degrees of idiocy which might prove to be teachable or improvable in the sense already suggested. One requisite for this was obvious, namely, the youth of the subject of instruction. Beyond this, it was assumed at the outset that somewhere in the descending scale of idiocy the line between teachableness and unteachableness would be reached. Of some at a distance from this line, it could be affirmed at once that they were susceptible of instruction, or they were not. And for these latter, it was presumed that a custodial institution would sooner or later be provided for their necessities. But with reference to others nearer the line, the fact in this respect could only be determined by a fair trial. The conditions of admission of pupils were based upon these principles.

From a variety of causes, principal among which was the want of a custodial establishment for the improvable cases, it has occurred that those found to be unteachable have not always been dismissed when this fact was ascertained. Custodial cases have been gradually accumulating till they now include, perhaps, twenty per cent of the inmates. But even with this drawback, the general success of the institution seems to be fairly established. It has now been in operation for twenty-one years, and in our annual report from time to time the evidences of this success have been put on record. These may be briefly referred to here. Thus, there has been a constant demand for the admission of pupils far beyond the former capacity of the institution for their reception. Of late years, the most of these applications have come from parties who have been induced to seek its advantages for their children from their knowledge of cases that had already received its benefits. There have been annually dismissed a greater or less number of pupils after the usual period of training, who have been improved in habits, rendered more intelligent and manageable, and what is most essential, capable of simple employment under intelligent direction.

And all the while, the institution has been freely opened to visitors, who can testify to the general healthy and orderly appearance of the pupils; the obvious adaptation of the educational means and appliances to their mental needs, and to the practical ends of their instruction, and the general progress of the pupils in their school exercises.

In fact, so well adapted are the modes of instruction to the different degrees of mental endowment of the pupils; so interested and attentive are they in the various exercises of the school-room; so well disciplined in the prescribed movements and changes of the several classes, from hour to hour, and so free from the repulsive habits that are supposed to be inseparably connected with idiocy, that it needs some explanation to convince strangers that the pupils represent the average idiots of the State.

Some of your number, familiar with the working of the institution for a series of years, can bear witness to their improvement in industrial matters; the household work done by the girls, and the farm and garden work accomplished by the boys.

Even in the case of the unteachable portion of our inmates, this much may be said: the relief to their friends has been so great by their continuance in the asylum as to fully compensate for the cost of their maintenance and care. And this question of cost deserves a mention here.

Though, as might be supposed, the cost of management would seem to be necessarily increased, whenever the twofold objects of custody and education are combined in any one institution, yet the experience of this asylum has shown that the annual per capita cost of the support and instruction of idiots is not much more than two-thirds that of the inmates of the other charitable institutions supported by the State.

It remains to speak of the increased accommodations that have been furnished by the legislative appropriation of 1871.

The original buildings provided for the reception of about 150 pupils, with the necessary officers, teachers, attendants, etc.; the additions made during the last two years, and the necessary furniture for the same, for which the sum of $35,000 was appropriated by the Legislature, will enable us to accommodate 225 pupils.

The increase of room has subserved the double purpose of adding to our accommodations for pupils, and of giving a better opportunity for a proper classification of the inmates.

The additions made in the summer of 1871 were described in the last report. During the past year a new detached wing was built at the north-west angle of the original building. It is 100 feet long, with an average width of thirty-five feet, with two stories and a basement. The exterior was made to conform to the style of architecture of the main building.