Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1911 — TALLSOF GOTHAM AND OTHER CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TALLSOF GOTHAM AND OTHER CITIES

Organize a Ball Team for Weak Minded

HB!W YORK.—The urgent need of an appropriation of $600,000 from the legislature for Letchworth Village, the hew state institution for the feebleminded at West Haverstraw, was discussed at a meeting of the board of managers at the office of Prank A. Vanderlip, the president, at the National City Bank. The board went ewr final plans for the erection of buildings on the 2,000 acres of land owned there by the states which will eventually house 2,600 adults and children of both sexes. Dr. C. S. Little, the superintendent, told of the arrival at the institution of the first quota of inmates, thirtytwo boys from Randall's Island. Dr. Little said that the boys took to farm life quickly. *1 have to take back with me a baseball outfit for two

teams and a suit of armor for the umpire,*' explained Dr. Little to the managers. “We expect to organize a league within the institution. A state league, taking in teams from the institution for the feeble-minded al Rome and Sonyea. is not an impossible idea." Dr. Little said he didn’t want it understood that play was to be the only thing in Letchworth Village, becauss much of the work of building up ths institution and running it after it is built is to be done by the Inmates. "Only those who are able to work will be required to do so,” said Dr. Little. "The boys the first day worked in the garden until 10 o’clock, then went swimming in the creek that flows through the village and in the afternoon went back to the garden.” “Do you think the feeble-minded boys can be made to understand the intricacies of baseball?" some one asked. "I do not hope to develop any Hal Chase or Ty Cobbs," replied Dr. Little, “but I think we could turn out a good grade of umpires if all I read in the sporting papers is true.”