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Beaton, Alexander H., Medical Superintendent of the Asylum for Idiots, Orillia. The province of Ontario makes generous provision for the part of its population that are unable to provide for themselves. The provincial asylums for idiots, for the insane, the deaf, the dumb, and the blind, are a credit to this young country. The proper management of these institutions entails heavy responsibilities, not only upon the government but upon the public servants who have them in charge. The subject of this sketch, Dr. Alexander H. Beaton, has for ten years occupied the position of superintendent of the Asylum for Idiots, at Orillia, and deserves a full share of the credit due to our asylum officials for the manner in which they discharge duties that are always responsible and often trying and difficult. He was born on the 20th of April, 1838, in the township of Pickering, county of Ontario, on the farm on which the village of Whitevale now stands. His father, Colin Beaton, emigrated from the Island of Mull, Scotland, in 1832, and was one of the pioneer settlers of what is now the splendid county of Ontario. His mother, Christina McKinnon, came from the same part of Scotland in 1820. In those early days Canadian boys usually worked on the farm during summer, and attended school in winter. Alexander H. Beaton was no exception to this rule. His parents, like many of the early settlers, could not afford to give their family a better education than that which could be obtained in their own school section. Fortunately for the Beaton family, the teacher in their section was generally one of the best in the township. Alexander and his younger brother, Donald, were among the best scholars in the school, and were usually found in a prominent place when the teacher wished to “put his best foot forward” on examination days. Both boys had resolved that farming was not to be their life work. At the age of eighteen Alexander obtained a second-class certificate and proceeded to take a place on that “stepping stone” about which so much used to be said by those who complained that many who are now among the most useful and prominent men in the province, merely taught school as a way into some other vocation. His first school was in the township of Vaughan, near Thornhill. In 1857 he taught at Duffin’s Creek, and in the following year entered the office of Ross, Crawford & Crombie, barristers, Toronto, with the intention of studying law. The way to the legal profession was, however, soon blocked. He had not sufficient means to maintain himself in Toronto for five years, and his father had suffered severely in the financial storm which swept over the country at that time. It became necessary to leave Toronto, mount the “stepping stone” again and earn more money. In 1860 and 1861 he taught in Claremont, in the township of Pickering, and in the following year in Ashburn, township of Whitby. During these years the intention of entering the legal profession was abandoned, and he prepared himself for the study of medicine. In the session of 1862 and 1863 he entered the Toronto School of Medicine, and attended the Rolph School in the summer of 1863, there being no summer session in the Toronto School. Continuing his studies in the Rolph School, he was graduated by that institution in April, 1864. Soon after graduation he began the practice of his profession, and continued in practice for twelve years. Nine years of the twelve were spent in Stayner, county of Simcoe, where he enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, when appointed by the Ontario government to his present position. By birth and choice Dr. Beaton is a Presbyterian. Though in favour of wise progress in all proper directions, he is at the same time wisely conservative in ecclesiastical matters, and would readily be classed among the many “solid men” of the Presbyterian family communion. He has for many years been an office-bearer of his church, and takes a deep interest in all matters affecting the welfare of Canadian Presbyterianism. He is liberal in his support of the educational and other institutions of his church, his contributions always ranking with the highest given in his locality. In all his church relations Dr. Beaton is vigorously assisted by Mrs. Beaton, who, along with the family to which she belongs, is devotedly attached to Presbyterianism. Previous to his appointment to his present position, Dr. Beaton took an active part in politics. By birth, training and conviction he is a Liberal. Having a natural aptitude for public speaking and no special dislike to the “roar around the hustings,” as the late D’Arcy McGee once happily put it, his services were always in demand at election times, and were freely given. He took an active part in the exciting contests of 1872 and 1874, and whilst in political life was always ready to do his full share of work and take his full share of responsibility. In January, 1877, he was appointed to his present position, the duties of which have been quietly but faithfully and efficiently discharged. For the proper discharge of these duties Dr. Beaton has many excellent qualifications. He is firm yet kind-hearted, and has the faculty of seeing and appreciating honest worth and real ability in his assistants. The success of an asylum superintendent often depends as much on his tact in dealing with his assistants as on his ability to care for the unfortunates placed under his charge. He readily recognizes real worth, however humble the position of the employee who manifests it, and nothing affords him more pleasure than to see faithfulness and efficiency in his subordinates. In his dealings with the patients under his care he is uniformly kind, his intercourse with them savouring more of the paternal than of the official. He holds the theory that almost any idiot can be educated, at least, to a certain extent, and that it is the duty of the government, which in Ontario simply means the people, to give the idiot population all the education they are capable of receiving. It is assumed, Dr. Beaton argues, that the province should provide a free education for the children that have the proper use of their faculties of mind and body. How much more urgent and binding is the duty of educating those who have impaired bodily powers and the mere germ of an intellect? It is expected that in the new asylum buildings now in course of erection at Orillia, ample provision will be made not only for the care, but also for the training of the patients. The superintendent will then have ample facilities for carrying out his theory, and the unfortunates under his care will, in addition to the comforts of a well-managed home, receive such an education as their faculties permit. In 1870 Dr. Beaton was united in marriage with Margaret Ann McNiven, daughter of Donald McNiven, then a resident of Bradford, county of Simcoe, but at present residing in Harriston, county of Wellington.