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taken; came to Training School when 10 years old. A pretty boy, 
whose rosy cheeks, blue eyes, light hair, and winning ways made 
him a favorite with all. Articulation distinct and voice low and 
musical. Wrote fairly well, read in second reader, and had mas- 
tered the first four rules of arithmetic. Could distinguish colors, 
and draw readily various lines, angles and simple geometric forms. 
Was slow of comprehension — it was difficult for him to understand — 
but once he apprehended a subject it was his thenceforward. Was 
deft in use of hands and began at once simple manual work. 
Obedient and attentive with an excellent memory, was a trust- 
worthy and capable errand boy. Manly and fond of active sports. 
I was treating him one day for a sprained ankle, the result of a fall 
from a cherry tree. As I bandaged it, the tears rained down his 
face, and when I asked, "Does it hurt?" he replied, "Yes; but I 
don't mind that ; I'm not a baby ; but I can't go to the circus to-mor- 
row, and that does hurt." At II years began the study of music. Was given an alto horn 
on trial. In a week learned the staff notes and could make all the 
tones of the scale clearly from low " C " to upper " D." Within 
4 months he had learned perfectly 6 simple airs, and within 
eight months from the time he began, he was playing the " solo 
alto," and had developed a fine tenor voice. His record reads thus :

" He is intelligent, ambitious, persevering, and makes excellent

use of his thinking powers."

At 12, promoted to the highest grade, became more and more

interested in his studies ; learned to draw admirably, became fond 
of reading and was able to discuss intelligibly what he read. Con- 
tinued to make progress in his music, and played finely on the 
cornet. At 16 he was one of our best boys; a good influence in the 
school — fearless, gentle, appreciative and sincere, always ready 
to confess any little dereliction of duty. Devoted to athletic sports, 
in which he excelled, he developed physically and, interested in military 
drill, was one of the officers of the company. A leader in theatri- 
cals, was a good actor. Devoting a portion of his time to manual 
training, he did very good work in carpentry. Was neat and ex- 
act, although lacking originality and " planning capacity." 

At 18 he had completed the school course, and in order to

prepare him to take charge of a class in wood-work, he was entered 
at a Manual Training School in Philadelphia. Here while advanc- 
ing steadily in mathematics, wood and iron working, he continued

his music practice, rendering with expression the compositions of

Wagner, Donazitti, Verdi, Balfe, etc., leading, on occasion, the 
entire band of twenty pieces. In vacations he gained an additional 
experience in charge of a group of small boys, and would have more 
than equalled our expectations, when in his twentieth year, on the 
eve of leaving school, he broke down with phthisis. 
Father a blacksmith, an epileptic from his eighth year, became 
insane and was incarcerated in an insane hospital for seven years 
before his death. The mother, of very ordinary stock, barely 
reached the normal. Maternal grandmother had softening of the 
brain and paternal grandmother died insane. 
The boy when two and a half years old was kicked in the face by 
a horse, and the wound, three inches long, was twice sewed up. In 
infancy and early childhood was much neglected, and from seventh 
to tenth years was " bound out " ; did rough work on a farm from 
which he persistently ran away. Finally, deemed mentally defective,