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Life in Number Two way most instructive for the Superintendents, who were studying phases of evolution in unconscious cerebration as they strove to lead their uncanny pupils in the well beaten paths of ordinary school life. Here was received the first girl pupil described in the Record as most unprepossessing in appearance, but well developed in form, and head well proportioned. Eyes dull, face wearing an unmeaning grin, skin tanned by exposure to the sun, lips and chin sore from constant drooling. Articulation imperfect and words scanty, barely enough to express simple wants, all movements awkward and gait halting. Exceedingly willful and disobedient, never hesitating to use force to obtain her desires when refused. Fond of running away, and cunning in eluding vigilance of caretakers. Had been subject to frequent epileptic attacks from birth.

Forty years later a handsome boy of fourteen years, straight and active in body, winsome and intelligent in expression, came to us from St. Leonard's school, in England. He had been a pupil and choir boy there for three years, but spasms in early life, aggravated by a sunstroke, had developed a severe type of epilepsy. Later on we learned this attractive student was nephew of the girl pupil described above.

In this first building there was little room for growth in numbers, and practically no land. During the first year, a private residence on a quiet street was secured, with fifteen acres of land. To this building were added school and bedrooms sufficient to accommodate twenty pupils before taking possession in January, 1853. One large high room was reserved for gymnastic exercises, and the schoolrooms became sitting-rooms when classes were dismissed. But there was room in the grounds and health in the open air, which pupils and teachers enjoyed. In 1859, increasing numbers necessitated a separate building for physical exercises and games, so one was erected north of the playground with bowling alley and apparatus appropriate, and rooms for workshops in the basement. In 1872 larger playgrounds around the Central building were needed, so this gymnasium was removed quite a distance from the dwelling houses to a site that promises to be permanent. Since that date many improvements, changes, and additions have been made in this department. Several of the older pupils aided efficiently in the carpenter work and grading of the lawns. The roof has been raised, furnishing ladder room, storerooms and rendezvous for quiet games, or reading-room. The drill hall, with platform and piano for tableaux or stereopticon views, bowling alley in separate department, with floor room for roller skating, wide piazzas on three sides for outdoor promenades in wet weather, and rink for wheeling.

When our class of epileptics numbered eight, we found them too numerous for the highest mutual good, and felt obliged, morally speaking, to form another division in 1883 by erecting a fourth cottage planned especially for such patients, with a sunny schoolroom opening upon a wide piazza. A second building in the rear was fitted with shops for wood working, and games, when the weather prevented lawn pastimes and long tramps through the country, occupations found to be most conducive to their health and happiness. The number of this class has never been large at any one period, but the many years of experience, and the great variety of types presented have led us to heartily agree with Dr. West that "epileptic children cannot be educated with such as are healthy, partly for the sake of the latter, but at least equally so for their own; since the different regulations to winch they must be subjected, the difference in their education, their amusements, and often in their diet, would be to them a source of ceaseless distress." Reduction as to frequency of attacks, and some permanent cures have crowned our efforts. In one of the latter cases, the convulsions always occurred in the night, and the headache, accompanying the return of consciousness excused the careful diet, and rest as required. This patient never learned his trouble, neither did his associates. The scholastic knowledge gained was average with his years, and manual training educed a genuine love of work really profitable.

In the early years of our experience came up the question, would we receive into our family permanent residents? to which we acceded, and have found it a pleasant feature of our home life. As a corollary to this arrangement, when our older pupils have reached the highest point of mental development probable, in individual cases, we permitted some to give up the daily school drill, for freer home life, and occupation, as graduates. Observation since has convinced us that it is wiser to retain school discipline, as we now do for one session daily. This method keeps the mental powers in their best estate, and adds greatly to the happiness of each pupil in this class, shown by their regret when the teacher is absent for a vacation.