The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-16 00:00:00

THE DEAF AND DUMB.

The annual entertainment of the Royal Associa-
tion in aid of the Deaf and Dumb was held in London
on Monday night at the Freemason's Hall. The society
was established in 1841 as an institution for teaching
trades to the deaf and dumb, and it was reorganised
as a Missionary Association in 1854, its principal
object being now to secure for adult mutes religious
instruction imparted in the language which it is thought
they can best understand. But it also provides educa-
tion for those who have passed.% certain age without
otherwise obtaining it. and by apprenticshipi and train-
iug seeks to make the deaf and dumb self suporting.
A reading-room, supplied with the illusbrated papers
the blications, and with chess and draughts,

has been established by the associa-tion.
d orteheeenrtplyn,
The proceedings began with a tea-party, to which 400
deaf and dumb, in two rooms, sat down. This was
followed by a public meeting, with Sir George E.
Hoclgkinson in the chair. About 700 people were
prtsent in the hall of the Freemasons' Tavern, and
they listened attentively to the addresses. When the
chairman spoke the secretary 9f the institution,
who is only one of its chaplains, the Rev. Samuel
Smith (" Deaf-and-Dumb Smith" as he is affec-
tionately called on account of his uuwearying services
to these poor people), stood by his side and interpreted
by graphic gestures and by alphabetic finger-signs the
spoken words. Half-way down•the hall stood a mis-
sionary among the deaf and dumb, Mr. J. Sturdee,
and he took up the tale and interpreted it for the hack
seats and for the gallery. In this way most of those
assembled had a chance of hearing what was said, and
they showed by their hpplause that they did under-
stand a good deal. The sentence greeted with .most
enthusiasm was one repeated by two speakers, "I
wish you a happy New Year."
Sir G. Hodgkinson, in the course of his address,
asked for subscriptions to enable them to add a par-
sonage to the new church of St. Saviour's. He said
there were 1,-800 deaf mutes attending the services of
ithe organization in London; it held.l4 services every
week in eight different places. In giving mutes the
chance of earning their own living, they might bring
out enviable talents. Ile himself, being struck by an
advertisement in The Times asking for employment for
a deaf and dumb sculptor, had put himself in com-
munication with the association, had employed the
sculptor to execute -a bust of his wife, with
which he was very much pleased, and which he
should-be delighted to show to. any one who chose to
come to his house. The artist was at the time when

Sir: George first employed him supported by a lady
whom he knew, and an eminent artist whom they all
knew, Mr. George Cruikshank-. He was afterwards
employed by the celebrated sculptor Mr. Foley, and
on Mr. Foley's death was again out of employment.
He had BiX. ehildxoy.,la conclusion, the chairman
said *that; lookine at 'these- before him, he saw that
many. of them viere qualified by other advantages than
the valuable one Of muteness to make good wives.
The Rev. Samuel Smith !poke in the ordinary way,
and was.intorpreted by the Rev, W. Stainer. He said
that the principal object of i, he society was religious
instiuction, 'but it had durin di last few years secured
,
ordinary instruction for 52 .Atii; who would other-
wise have been without it. illest4 theincome of the
society was £169. After 20 years' exertions they had
built their new church, at a cost of £2,000, the site
being granted by the kindness of the Duke ofWest-
minster. They had progressed in public favour and
obtained the patronage of the Queen. He proposed a
vote of thanks to the chairman for coming forward
that night and for all that he had done and promised
to do for the society.
Mr. Phipps Eyre seconded the resolution; and, in
supporting it, the Rev. W. Stainer informed the deaf
and dumb parents of deaf and dumb children present
that the School Board for London had started classes
in its schools for children from the age of four or five
years. Three months since one had been established
inn Board School at Bethnal-green (in Wilmot-street),
and he had that day opened a new one in the neigh-
bourhood of King's-cross.
Mr. Stainer, while he spoke in the ordinary way,
spelt at the same time every word to his audience upon
his fingers. He was followed by Mr. Charles Rhuid,
missionary in South London.
After the speeches came amusements. There was
"the wonderful performance of Tamnaker's Great
Dragon Japanese troupe, in their national costume,"
and some dissolving views by Professor Hunt, with a
•description by Mr. Charles Beamey, interpreted by
Mr. Sturdee, the subject of the new and original
slides being "Livingstone and Stanley." In the
meantime, and between the acts, a bazaar went on in
the room for the sale, by purchase and lottery, of
Berlin woolwork, photographs, and other articles, con-
tributed by friends of the institution. The January num-
ber of the Magazine for the Deaf and Dumb was also sold,
which contains an account of a deaf and dumb Scotch-
man, Alexander Ferguson, who is said to have saved as
many lives from drowning as the blind Lambert.
Henry Tyler, a deaf and dumb winner of swimming
prizes, decorated with many medals and holding his prize
cups in his hands, was also introduced to the meeting
and received with applause. The approbation was,
of course, always expressed by the hands, but merri-
.2nent was shown by laughter. Daring the perfor-
mances the expressiveness which the countenances of
'mutes acquire to compensate for want of speech was
strikingly shown as they leant eagerly forward to
catch all that was to be seen.
1
Illi,,