• Seminary Institute for the Blind: organizing institution

Advance information about this event was published by Tagesbote aus Böhmen 21/11/1857. The source reported: ‘On 2nd December organizes the Private Institute for the Blind in Bohemia its 50th Anniversary Festival. The Thanksgiving service will take place under the auspices of the Protector of this Institute the Cardinal Archbishop Prince Schwarzenberg. The Festival will commence at the locality of the Institute on Hradčany at 10am.’

An account of the occasion, signed ‘=’, appeared in Tagesbote aus Böhmen 3/12/1857. The correspondent related: ‘The Private Institute for the Education and Well-being of the Blind yesterday celebrated its 50th Anniversary. On 2nd December 1807, the Institution was founded by the Governor and Councillor Prokop Platzer, Ritter von Wunfiedl. The festival was glorified by the presence of the High Protector of the Institute, His Eminence the High Cardinal-Prince Archbishop Schwarzenberg. In the Institute, which was festively decorated throughout its rooms, His Eminence the Institute Director Mr Otto von Ottenkron greeted everyone with a speech about the origins and effectiveness of the Institute. His Eminence replied with words of praise. After changing into church vestements, His Eminence gave a Mass in the Institute’s chapel, at which assisted the reverend Canons Rach, Sorger and Plaucar. To conclude an Ambrosian hymn was intoned. During the holy acts a strong choir sang hymns under the direction of the Kapellmeister Joh. Nep. Skraup [Škroup]. Afterwards all processed to the festively decorated examination hall where the portrait of His Apostolic Majesty was decked with a red canopy festooned with flowers. One of the pupils gave a speech of thanks to His Eminence, and presented him with a bouquet of flowers. Mr von Ottenkron raised three cheers to His Majesty, after which the national anthem was sung. With heartfelt words His Eminence spoke of the effectiveness of the Institute and highlighted the merits of the teaching staff. Amongst the attending guests was His Reverence the Reverend Strahov Abbé Dr. Hieronimus Ziedler. A detachment of the Civil Royal Grenadiers Corps formed the Guard of Honour. For the pupils was proferred a particularly rich and tasty lunch. To commemorate the Anniversary a new scholarship of 2000 Gulden for the Institution was founded by Canon Rauch.’