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It is most certain that many idiots who were once profane and vulgar have been thus brought into the sunlight of religious purity and decency, taught the fear of God and the necessity of keeping His commandments, with a sense of moral obligation seemingly beyond the scope of their limited capacities, because they have been led to look to Him who alone can bring light out of darkness. The late Joseph John Gurney published the following lines as the authenticated composition of an idiot, and they who have witnessed many an imbecile's manifestations of capability of such thoughts more recently will not be surprised when they are read by them: --

'Could we with ink the ocean fill --
Were the whole earth of parchment made --
Were every single stick a quill --
And every man a scribe by trade: --
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole.
If stretched from sky to sky."

The eccentricity of the language is much like what many of the same class would use if the like thoughts were presented to their minds; but sometimes they break forth with a nobler glow, as in the case of the boy at Essex hall, who, when walking in the fields before harvest, turned to his attendant and quoted the passage from the Psalms: -- 'The fields stand so thick with corn that they laugh and sing.' We have, then, in such an asylum, as was observed of the one in Pennsylvania,

"A home with good nursing for the very young, a school for such as may be qualified to enter upon its humble curriculum, and a course of physical training for those who need it; while the genius of a cheerful, hopeful morality, and a faith in the spirit and principles of a pure Christianity, are cherished as the only safe foundation for this, and every work, which has for its end the highest good of the race."

It was, in furthering the many schemes for the improvement of idiots, a most important object to enable those capable of reaping the highest advantages to become adepts in some useful branch of industry, and to make their work remunerative, exchanging their solitary and idle habits for social, industrious, and productive occupation. One of the employments in which it has been found that they may be profitably engaged is that of mat-making. Some learn to plait the cocoa-fibre, and others to make the mats. In time they advance beyond the plain mats, and make excellent figured hearthrugs, and hall and door mats. Some are even capable, under direction, of producing god matting for corridors or churches, or even fancy mats, and the work is generally done in a creditable manner.

Those who are thus engaged have mostly selected this department of industry by their own choice, and are exceedingly proud of it; and if a visitor meets one of them in any other portion of the establishment, he is sure to be eagerly invited to come and look at his progress, or is told by him, 'I can make fancy mats now.' On one occasion, when the boys were taking a walk, a matmaker lagged behind, and, on being asked why he did so, he answered, 'I was thinking of a new patern for my mat;' and nothing could more strongly show the pleasure which useful work affords to the rescued imbecile, often previously miserable by reason of a blank mind and listless body. As in the school so in the workshop, the pupil must never be allowed to become wearied or jaded by too long continuance in the same occupation, and the consequence is that both learning and labour are looked upon as recreations. Out of between seventy and eighty mat-weavers and helpers at Earlswood, it would be rare to see one showing symptoms of the work becoming irksome, but all goes on with the greatest cheerfulness and good-humour. Amongst them at this time is one boy who was, on entering the asylum, helpless, and unable even to feed himself, and yet he is now no common adept at making mats with pretty borders. Such a fact as this is of great value, as it shows clearly what a change may be hoped for under the treatment we have described, in almost any idiot. The eccentric bearing of an idiot will always, as far as may be judged from experience, more or less remain, but, nevertheless, he may become, in all essential characteristics, an elevated, happy, and useful being. As an interesting confirmation of this, it may be mentioned that a boy graciously placed in the asylum by the Queen, succeeded in making mats that were accepted for use in the Palace of his beneficent sovereign. He is now advanced to the office of letter-carrier, taking the letters to and from the post twice or thrice daily; but he still shows what he has been and the remains of it, by standing erect and making a grand military salute when he meets any person to whom he considers this respect due.

Shoemaking is also one of the favourite trades with the imbecile pupils, but there are not found so many ready to engage in it, or qualified, as for the mat-shops. Nor has any one yet been found able to measure the foot or cut out the boot or shoe; but when these are done for them by a skilful hand, they learn to sew them admirably. One boy at Earlswood makes a pair of boots a day in workmanlike style, and declares he could make seven pairs in the six days if they would but let him have his tea a little stronger, which is a sample of the funny sayings heard by visitors in every department. Many persons go to the asylum thinking they shall see nothing but wretchedness and misery, and come away astonished at the merriment which pervades almost every room in the building, and every turn of the grounds. Sometimes there is the most facetious politeness, as was shown to a lady of rank who asked one of the shoemakers what he would charge for making her a pair of slippers, when he replied 'four shillings,' on which another exclaimed, 'I would do it only for the honour.'