Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-08-15

MrssRs. EpIroRs iSptAS. STATE SrNrrNrL:
Some months aso my aite niion was called io nm article
which was gong the rounds ot some of the newspapers
on To-. subject of teaching Dogf .Nuies 10 orticufatc, aud
r,ad fro.t Nh lips Of ottsr persons whtie they erere speak-
ing. That article had every reason Ia believe from my
own experienc, IS well rs Information, was much cAas-
sary contradiction. an,! now lcIsnrcly submit the follow
Ing extracts from n lcite, ~ Tue Rev lhos. u 'ni'au-
Diet to myself, dated Hartford, Conn. ION July, lo'i
MI. Gallaudcts opinions are e'ull'" 10 sr'"' "'l.n'
lie visited some of Ihe schools TO-. tcai mn'os ~ 'r'h'
Britain and Europe more than - years 10, ana Tor some
months studied the sign language IN the k'N" '"S'',"'
ton for deaf mutes M Paris. then under the elm oi the
benevolent and venerable Able Sicard. On Mr.. G,'i'h-
diets return To America oUr first permanent schoo! ~
deaf mules was opened under his charge assisted by n
mute teacher whom h- brought from the French Insiiiu.
ton About ISL Mf tiallaudct resigned his come xIon as
Principal of the American Asylum, but he still remains a
life director of The same, and - the present chaplain OF
the Retreat for The Insane al Hartford. Conn.
as To the subject of teaching deaf muies to articu-
late and understand what l. said To them, | think that
Mr.. Mann : statement l. greatly overdrawn,-not rntcn-
tionaliy. but he had not time aud opportunity il'"rou-hl,
10 sill The matter. and. undoubtedly those institutions,
which hc Visited. m winch articulation " : taught, made
the most oi II. do not vel see reason 10 change The
ground which have always taken ON tins subject Yet
mean to keep my mud open 10 conviction, whenever
truth, facts. and practical utliy may lead the way. The
proportion OF deaf mui">. especially of those born 50,
who can be taught ro arricularc well, aud perfectly To nn-
dcr>taud " hat l. said to them by all porsOpS. apprchcud
10 be comparatively small. The process of teaching them
= IN exceedingly tedious and iaborIouS one, very Irksone
To themselves, and consumes an immense deal OF time
which had better. IN most eases. hc devoted To- their I'M
provcmrnt IN writing and reading the English language
correctly. ~ other nrauchcS of useful know ledge, m the
acquisition Of Religions truths, aud Of The means OF OBJ
tanning Il livelihood
But we shall soon have a fair. enlarged and candid
view OF TIN, whole >ul lect. The Directors of the ASy-
luni. is Won Will see iIatn our late annual Report which ]
send you by tins day mui, have sent Mr. Weld I" Eu-
rope To visit the Institutions for Deaf Mutss, and 10 cx-
anime tioroasil, In subject oi teaching them To- articu-
late. The result, Of llS inquiries VIII be published, and
you shall have "A copy OF The Pamphlet.
"Natnral Signs. improved and rendered copIous and
precise ~ art, and mrtaudical signs To n proper extent.
cannot, ia my opiuion. ever he gwen up IN the lnStrue-
ton of deaf mnics without immense loss. The former
Reports of the .A~,lnm. and the American Encyclopedia
article deaf and danb-con'ain my views III length on
ih> subject
Thus YOU sec the WAY y open Tor the public TO short
~. gam full aud correct information on this subject, and
the public may also depend that the Honorable Board Of
Trustees Of the indtrpa Nsy lam will avail themselves of
all the Improvements M the ant OF teaching deaf mutcs
that the, may deem desirable IN common with the other
schools for riutes winch make u q monopoly of their s,s-
TEN. Yours trniV.
WA WILLARD.
I~Br.NsPorrs. trc. -. 1874