ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The Institution is indebted for the following contributions: Publishers of Chicago Journal of Commerce, for weekly paper. We are also indebted greatly for favors from the officers of the following railroads: Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroad. Toledo, Wabash and Western Railroad. Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. Milwaukie and St. Paul Railroad. Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. Illinois Central Railroad. Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western Railroad. Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw Railroad. Western Union Railroad. Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad. St. Louis and Southeastern Railroad. Jacksonville, Northwestern and Southeastern Railroad. Chicago, Danville and Vincennes Railroad. Quincy, Alton and St. Louis Railroad. Fairbury, Pontiac and Northwestern Railroad. St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Railroad, Belleville Division. Paris and Decatur Railroad. Peoria and Rock Island Railroad. Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis Railroad. Springfield and Illinois Southeastern Railroad. Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad. Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad. Gilman, Clinton and Springfield Railroad. Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad. Kansas Pacific Railroad. St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Railroad. Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. Lawrence, Leavenworth and Galveston Railroad. Also, East St. Louis Transfer Company to C. & A. R. R. APPENDIX. It has been customary to send the children home two months each year, July and August, for a vacation. In 1872, during the annual vacation, a printed formula of questions was sent to parents and friends of pupils, designed to call their attention to the particulars of each child's improvement, and to a more careful scrutiny of their general behavior and condition, in comparison with what it was when they were first sent to the Institution, with the request that they would answer the questions, and return the formula, that their testimony might be recorded, showing whether the results of the efforts to teach and train their children were satisfactory to them, and were fully answering their expectations. Parents and friends are the best judges in many respects of the improvement in their children-as they were thoroughly familiar with their condition when they were sent to the Institution, and could contrast it with what it was while at home during the vacation, and thus be able to appreciate improvement or beneficial results, if any had taken place. It must be remembered, that some of the cases were taken on trial, and were found to be custodial cases, and were not the best subjects for the school room; even these, however, have been benefited to a greater or less extent, but the real aim and design of this Institution has been to educate the better class of imbecile children-those who were likely to improve to the most profitable extent. I will now introduce some of the questions asked and the answers received, giving the exact answers of the parties, as they are now on file in the Institution, in the hand-writing of their parents or friends. The length of time these children were in the school varied from six months to three or more years, averaging about eighteen months each. Question "Is there any improvement in his or her health?" Answer "Considerable."-" There is." "I think there is a large improvement."—"He is more rugged."-"A great deal; his health could not be better."-"He is not so much troubled with headache, which used to be his only trouble as regards health."-"There is improvement in her health."-"Yes, there is."-"There is."—"There is Vol. II-5 quite an improvement."-"Her health is decidedly better."-"Yes.”—“I think that there is a little improvement."-"I think so."-"Yes.”— "I think her health is better than when she left home."-"Some healthier than he was last summer."-"There is a great deal."-"Yes.”—“His health is much better."-"She looks better and healthier than ever before."-"Her health has improved very much."-"Yes, a decided improvement."-"Good deal."-"There is." Q-"Is there any improvement in his or her personal appearance, or does his or her countenance indicate any more intelligence?" A-"Yes." "Yes."-"I think there is."-"I answer in the affirmative."-"There is, in both."-"Has more expression of countenance.”"We are very well pleased with improvement, both in his countenance, and we think it indicates more intelligence."-"There is a marked improvement."-"There is; at least, I think so."-There is improvement in her appearance and she is more intelligent."-"I think there is quite an improvement in her appearance, and her countenance indicates more intelligence.”—“I think there is; yes, she seems more intelligent.”— "Yes."-"Improvement in personal appearance is quite marked during last year."-"His personal appearance is very much improved."—"Much more than last year."-"Her personal appearance is very much improved, and her countenance indicates a great deal more intelligence.”—“I think he appeared more intelligent when he came home."-"Yes, indeed."-"Some little more intelligence in countenance."-"His personal appearance is very much improved, and I am satisfied his countenance indicates more intelligence."-"Yes, it does."-"There is considerable improvement in his appearance; he has a more intelligent countenance.” "Quite as much."-"I think that she has improved in both personal appearance and intelligence."-"I think there is."-"Some, I think."-"I think his countenance does indicate more intelligence."-"They do.”— "Yes, and his countenance does indicate an improvement in intelligence." "There is some improvement in her personal appearance, also her countenance indicates more intelligence; she has more strength than she had before and better control of herself."-"Yes."-"Yes, he seems more intelligent." "Great deal more."-"There is a great improvement."-"Yes, I think there is in both."-"Much improvement in her personal appearance, and her countenance shows much more intelligence."-"Very much in both.”—“His personal appearance is much the same; his countenance shows more intelligence than formerly." Q-"Is there any more control of the muscular system in his or her case ?" A-"Yes."-"Yes."-"There is, far beyond my expectation."-"Some." "And a decided improvement in control of the muscles."-"Yes."-"She has better motion."-"Yes, there is."-"There is."—"There is."-"There is." "I think there is."-"Some."-"Yes."-"Yes."-"I think he has." "Yes."-"She has more control of herself."-"She has improved."— "Yes."-"Yes."-"She does."-"Yes."-"Yes, there is."-Yes; great deal ·more.”—“Yes.”—"There is, much.” Q-"Does he or she stand more firmly, or walk better?" A-"Yes." "I think she does."-"Yes, sir; she does both."-"He does.”—“A nervous movement of the hands, especially at the table; is much improved."-"I think he does."-"Yes."-"She does stand better and walks better."-"She stands more erect and walks better."—"Yes; she walks better and stands more straight."-"About the same.”—“Her manner of walking is improved."-"He is more firm in the movement of the body."-"He does much better."-"She does."-"He does."-"Very much better."-"Yes."-"I think he does."-"Yes."-"Stands a good deal firmer with body erect, and walks very much better."-"In both cases he has made great improvement."-"I believe there is a little improvement."—"I think she walks much better than formerly, and stands more firmly."-" She does."-"Yes."-"Yes."-"She does."-"Yes."-" He does."-"She walks better."-"He stands more firmly, but continues to walk on his toes or with the heel raised." Q-"Has he or she more control of his or her arms and hands than formerly?" A—“Yes.”—“I think she has from all appearances."-"He is more quiet and less care than formerly, talks better, having at command a greater variety of words."-"Yes."-"She has."-"I think she has."-"I think she has."—"Yes."—"About the same."-"He has."-"Yes, he has." "She has; she can make good use of them."-"Yes, he has."-"Yes." —“Yes.”—“Yes.”—"Yes, very well."—"Yes."—"She has more control of her arms and hands, and there is decidedly great improvement."—"I think she has a little."-"She has."-"A great deal."-"She has a great deal more than before, also can lift more."-"She has."-"He has."“Yes.”—“He always was strong in the arms and hands, and now has complete control of them." Q-"Is he or she less nervous?” A-"Yes."-"Very much less."-"He is."-"Judging from her actions she is.”—“Yes.”—"Much less so."—"About the same; I never thought her nervous."—"She is."-"Yes.-"Yes."—"He is."—"Her nerves seem stronger." "Yes."—"Yes."—"Yes."—"Yes."-"Yes."-"Yes."-"Less nervous.”—“Yes."-"I think she is less nervous than formerly."-“Yes, there is quite a marked improvement in this respect."-"She is."-"I think he is."-"Yes."-"Yes."-"She is much less nervous.” Q-"Is he or she less awkward?" A-"Yes." "I think so."-"He is."-"Yes, sir." "Yes."-"I think he is.”—“I think, perhaps, he is."—"Yes."—"I think that she is; she is especially at the table.”—“A decided improvement in her actions.”—“I think she is.”—“I think she is."-"Yes."-"She has improved much in |