Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-01-20
From The Ne,Uarh Daily .qdveriiser.
CHRISTIANS AMONG THE BEAF AND DUMB

Uf0iSi MAD lhJ4tu lilH DEir BaD Dumb
For the following graphic sketch of the cell !
ebration of Christmas, on Saturday last. at the I
New Y orli Institution for the Deaf aud Dumb,
we are indebted to the practised pen of Il well
educated mute, a native OF this county, and an
old and valued correspondent of this paper,
who with his wife, also mute, is spending tie
holidays with theirhonored Alma-Mater. The
good fruits of this admirable institution are in
the highest degree crediiable TO lis benevolent
founders, and to the worthy principal (bir. III.
p. Pcet,) and his corps ofintelligent assistants,
TO whose care it has been committed.
Fir. Editorials you have published an
account Of the Thanksgiving among the Deaf
and Dumb, have thought that your readers
would be pleased with brief sketch of the
Christmas festivities, of the same Interesting
community.
! had the good fortune to be present on
brief visit to the institution, and mcrrier and
happier Christmas never spent since my own
chdlIood's days, when the freshness ofnovel-
ty gave p;quancy to my Christmas sports,
which only such novel occasions as the present
can partially revive.
The morning and afternoon of the day were
not markedly any special observances. The
usual tasks of the school room and shopwere
RENTED, and each pupil was left at liberty to
plan and follow out any proper scheme oil a.
musement. Some whose parents or guardians
live in the city, made little parties, TO which
they invited their chosen friends among their
schoolmatcs. Such Of the country born lads
as could with proprety be trusted alone III the
labyrinth of streets, and chaos of carts, cabs
omnibuses, merchandise and pedestrians, were
permitted to visit the neghboring city-ihat
great museum of curiosities where every shop
rf off
something novel or interesting from every par
of the world-and many of them no doubt re-
turned with very considerable increase tc
their previous stock of ideas. Others sought
the neighboring ponds TO enjoy the healthy
bracing exercise of skating. Others kept the
gymnasium i'll full play and occasionally {
party of young misses would run down to en-
joy the exciting swing, launched forth witt
, gallant and respectful grace, by stout manly
, lad on either hand and after a few minutes
| ran back again with that peculiar glow ands
of the blood which such exercise gives In
cold day.
e The young ladies' saloon is lofty apart
: ment, with an area of about twenty PAGES b.
k ten,and all the previous evening and morning
= busy minds, well schoolcd tastes, and fair fin
il gers by scores, had been employed on It's dc
G corations, in which the teachers and some az
r. complished young ladies on visit to the fan
S lily of the principal, lent their welcome an
l. efficient aid with right good will Festoor
d of cheerful evergreens from old Fort Wasl
t. ington hung gracefully along the cornce, con
lie pletely encircling the spacious apartment
l. similar wreatls, all studded with numberle
er extemporary flowers, hung in an inner circl
lie linking lamp to lamp, & various pretty < tast
b. full devices in evergreens stars, coronets al
e. circles, enclosing portraits and historical seen
I'd ornameuted each vacant field of the spacio
RS wall. Turn where you would, green leav
lie and flowers ofall bright hues met the eye,
ed minding the beholder that as these lam
I'll shone on the happy faces of so many late
SO redeemed from intellectual and moral mig
to and as these leavesand flowers bloomed an
he the surrounding desolaiion of winter-so
lst gospel brought life and Immortality to lig
of amidst the darkness and desolation of the IN
Cd al world. Over one mantel, in large capt.
nd formed Of the leaves of the hcmlock pine, v
,e- displayed the motto ON the seal of the inst
tai tion-VICARJA LINGUB MANUS. Am
cir to well exemplifed by nearly two hund
de pair Of hands, every one talking at times fas