"GOD'S FOOL."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7587, 22 December 1902, Page 2

"GOD'S FOOL."

Not in fcom, nor in irreverence, but in all love and pity, the Dutch have an expression by which they characterise those of their fellows who are afflicted by a lack . of intellect, which is probably more expressive tham half a dozen sermons: on the subject of their irresponsibility. " God's fools'' they call the little ones who are bom to mental blindness, with a quick appreciation that, their affliction is one of divine interposition. But this admission does not remove the responsibility which rests upon every country for the proper care and encouragement of suchvof its citizens as are weak- wit ted. We are not above reproach in this respect. Although the cry of the children is not heard in our midst as it is heard in older' countries, and' sorrow, fortunately, only comes to them with years, we are- still, it seems, guilty of at least a sin of omission towards those who are deficient in intellect. The local Children's Aid Society has been interesting itself in the matter lately, and the agit-ation initialted here has been reflected vigorously elsewhere. Tho children, it appears, are sent to the large hospitals and asylums for the insane, "where it is impossible to afford them that individual care and attention which will so often^ win a little afflicted soul from darkness into light. Through this policy of indifference many boys and girls) who would otherwise grow up into at least useful citizenship are allowed to languish in the outer -darkness of imbecility. Tho asylums are already overtaxed in their accommodation, and the little ones are truly "in the way " among their elders. This is as wrong to them as it is harmful to their elders. The " Ota-go Daily Times," in an earnest appeal on the subject, demands a better system of -classification for the inmates of our asylums. When that system comes, says our contemporary, "the necessity for establishing these particular inmates in separate blocks, if the policy of committing them to the general institutions is to lie continued, will have to be recognised." There seems to be ample room for the State to establish a special Home fc-r the treatment of children, and the success of other institutions founded for the treatment of tho blind and 1 the deaf shoiild be an additional incentive towards action in this direction. A Christmas announcement to this effect would be ai seasonable gift to many a suffering child'.