h stealing. The police, in giving their evidence, said
that many complaints had been made of the boy's conduct. One lady
complained of his illusing her dog, another a cat, and another killing
her bird; others that he was always throwing stones or stealing, and
that he had actually tried to upset a railway train. It appeared that
twice previously the boy had been taken up by the police, but owing to
his tender age nothing could be done with him. The Mayor, addressing the
Head Master of the Institution, said something must be done with the
boy; unfortunately he was getting worse and worse; the case was a very
sad one, the boy being deaf and dumb, but the public must be protected.
The other magistrates present concurred with the Mayor's remarks, and
after consulting with Mr. Bailey, J.P., Chairman of the Committee of the
Institution, who was on the bench at the time, the boy was sent direct
to the Institution, where food was given to him, after which his
photograph was taken. The sketch given on the previous page is copied
from it. The boy settled down, but not without giving considerable
trouble; it was not to be expected that a boy, though so tender in years
yet hardened in bad habits, should at once conform to the rules of the
Institution. The teachers were not, therefore, greatly surprised to find
him early one morning prowling in a quarter of the Institution to which
he had no proper means of access. From time to time his teachers had
difficulties to contend with not easy to describe. There has, however,
been a gradual improvement in the boy's life and character. The sketch
given above is from a photograph taken when the boy had been in the
Institution one year.

[Illustration: THE SAME PUPIL AFTER ONE YEAR'S TRAINING.]

AN INTERVIEW WITH LAURA BRIDGMAN.

[Illustration]

We presume most of our readers will have read of Laura Bridgman, who is
without any perfect sense except that of touch. A correspondent of the
"Christian Union" gives an interesting account of an afternoon spent
with her, from which we make the following abstract:--

If any one supposes that by reason of her deprivation she is queer or
awkward in person or manners, he is altogether in error. There is
nothing at all singular in her appearance. When I entered the parlour, a
member of the family with whom she lives was playing on the piano, and
close behind her, on a low seat, there was a very slight, very erect,
quiet, self-possessed looking