Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-06-07
THE DEAF, THE DUMB, AND THE BLIND.
Conuersing IoScther.

ing account OF public conference
tween the Deaf, the Dumb, and the Bind
held in New York on Thursday evening,
18th of May.
There has been no celebration during
the week so numerously attended, or 1T
which such deep and universal feeling was
manifested, as that of the exhibition OF the
Deafa Dumb, at the Cha."an street
chapel on Thursday evening. The inter,
est of the occasion was doubtless Increased
and the qualification derived from the ex;
ercises, by the presence Of DR.. Howe aud
his pupils from the Blind School at Boston.
The exercises were commenced by the
Deaf and Dumb, under the direction OF
Mr.. Peet, the Principal. Standing by their
states, they exhibited, in various ways, by
answers TO questions, andby the construc-
ton of sentences for the illustration OF the
meaning Of words given them by the au'
dience, powers Of mind, Discrimination
humor, and kecuncss of perception, which
elected the warmest evidences OF appro-
baton.
The Blind were next introduced, Il much
interest excited BY the sight of two beau
tiful little girls and a boy, cropping their
way to the front of the stage, and feeling
for their books which lay in the desk
Their performances were prefaccd by
few remarks from DR.. Howe, explanatory
of the system of teaching the blind. lie
showed summarily, but forcibly, that there
were no insurmountable obstacles to the
instruction of the blind, and that every de-
partment of knowledge and science, ex-
cep, painting was open TO them. The
girls then opened their books, turned to
any page or verse, and running their fin
gers over the raised surface of the letters,
read audibly and huently. Questions
were then put III geography, and the blind,
turning to the globe which stood near,
whirled it arornd, felt for the countries
named, and pointing them out to the de-
lighted audience. She bounded the states,
traced the course Of rivers, indicated situa-
,ions with an case and accuracy which
showed her to be familiar with geography.
The blind boy then took a copy of the
New Testament, printed in French, and
read and translated entire passages with
correctness and ease; all three Of the chill
tlren read and understood the French; two
ofthem speak it, and the boy is somewhat
versed in Latin. Arithmetic followed, and
tough questions, put by the audience, were
answered bv the blind, sooner than could
have been done by most Of the spectators.
The little girl is well versed in Algebra.
Then came music, and the sweet voices Of
the girls Joined with the clear notes Of the
boy, who accompanied himselfon the piano,
filled the house and drew tears from many
an eye. They were, however, tears Of de-
light, for the songs ofthe blind were cheer
fal,-their elastic movements, their clear
bright checks, and their sprightly voices,
showed how happy they really were
But the most interesting part fthe ex-
hibition was to come; the dumb had been
taught to speak by signs and the blind to
read by the .ouch-how were they to con-
verse together! The blind girl keld up
her hand, the dumb watched every finger,
every Joint, every movement, and tnrning
to their states, wrote rapidly the words she
had been spelling! Glerions triumph OF
humanity-the blind talking to the deaf!
A greater followcd-a deaf girl approach
ed the blind one-she held out her hand,
and the other feeling of it, examined every
letter as it was formel, spelled the words,
and read on the fingers of the dumb, as it
were in book, with movable type, and
repeated alond what she read. This double
victory over apparently insurmountabie
obstacles was truly beautiful; we believe
it has never before been attempted at any
public exhibition, and the breathless silence
which pervaded the churcb, the intense
interest depicted OIL every face of the vast
audience, showed how great was their in
1erest and their delight.
The proceedings Of the evening were
closed by thu recitation ofthe Lords pray
er, in signs, with 'eepest solemity, by one
Of the female pupils of the deaf and dumb.
The blind children then sung the prayer,
with the like solennity, and appropriate
emphasis, accompanying the anthem on the
piano. The audience was then dismissed,
but it was long before the people would
depart They hung about the children,
as though their gerry souls were knit to them.
The whole performances excited great
wonder and mingled delight.
Tho following is part of the account Of the
same exhibition by the New York Commercial
Aduertiser:l
Inrcply TO the question-"Whatis sound!"
one ofthe mutes wrote:-
at is the effect upon the sense Of hearing
by vibration of the air.
Another gaxe the following replY:-