Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/432

Rh “They must do nothing on account of their eyes.”

Any one who knows how easily children will create for themselves a whole little world of living objects merely with small stones, pieces of wood, fir-cones, and such like trifles, and how happy they will be with them, must wonder to see these little creatures so devoid of all means of enjoyment and pastime, because “they break their playthings.” And if they do, what is that in comparison with the blankness and deadness of life which they are now reduced to, and which must convert them into idiots if it be long continued thus?

There were at the Deaconess' institution at Kaisersworth children also with diseases of the eye, but how cheerful and animated they were, each and all occupied with games or little playthings which did not require eyesight. All could sing cheerful and beautiful songs, and gentle sisters, the deaconesses, took motherly charge of them.

These institutions on Randall's Island as little corresponded with that which one has a right to expect from the Christian mind and power of the New World, as the prison of New York. The mismanagement of the prisoners is chargeable upon the men, that of the children upon the women.

The Houses of Correction on Blackwell's Island are celebrated for being well managed, and for fully accomplishing their intention, and it was my intention to have visited them; but Marcus S. and H. W. Channing had invited me to a meeting of the North American Phalanstery, and this was what I could not by any means neglect. On the 29th, therefore, I left New York company with Channing.

It was an indescribably beautiful day. The softest breezes wafted us from New York to the shore of New Jersey. Here we were met by the wagon of the Phalanstery, and joined by various persons from other places who were all bound on a visit to the Phalanstery.