New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-03-10
The Deaf and Dumb.

We attended, on Saturday, an exhibition OF the
Pupils Of the New-York institute Tor tAe instruction
OF the Deaf and Dumb situated at me intersection
OF the Harlem Railroad By Fitreth-street The
Mayor, majority OF the Common Council. and
number OF other citizens, were present ny in'lla-
ton The exercises Were. with Slsht variations,
such as are usual IN the Educational department OF
The Institute the several classes being called out IN
,her order. beginning with the least Proficient or
last admitted That those who had oeen some
time under constant and able tuition couic !eaa'
write and cypher, Is no longer wonder Inc point
of interest for Us was the evidence afolaed OF con-
slant progress in the reception as wei as Inc eA-
preston OF ideas On TINS point the fes9it Vas sa,
isfac.orv The answers OF the older classes eVlnced
more mind. more development. than those OF Inc
more recen; corners. The answers 20 the various
questions pyopouuded a. exercises eSinced as great
an acreage development OF intellect as would
the answers of scholars OF ike ages IN the common
schools and academies throughout ihe country
Successive questions established the iac' 'ha' ''e
pupils understood what they we've saying "HeH
thew answered such questions as w nat is gram
MARI We fancied there was greater uniformity
Of attainment among the pupils IN class than
would have appeared IN common scnoo', me
aptness OF many OF the replies OF the Deal ana Dnno
10 the questions asked them, has already oeeh
sufficiently noted. The partial or total clearing
away in the higher classes in most instances, OF
the cloud CT darkness and animalIty so common on
the faces of the uninstructed mutes, was most
gratifying feature OF the exhibition.
This noble public charity has now been twenty
five years in existence. II received, IN ISL, from
the State. SIS, 400: from the Ci!y. $50; from
New Jersey (or pupils) $50; IRON foreign pupils
81 457: from the proceeds OF work done by pupils,
over 1900. a Legacy, $50. &c. &c.-in all, lis
actual income was nearly $4,000, while us ex-
penses were about $50 600, but OF tins over S2.W0
vas for permanent additions TO lis buildings. The
number of pupils, an. lst, was One Hundred and
Ejehtv-five against One Hundred and Seventy-sIx
wear before OF these, the State supports lbs, the
CITY Is. New-Jersey 3: II are supported by their
friends, and the remaining II by Tie funds OF the
Institution itself. Seventeen. WHO have completed
their education, are employed in the workshops
and other service OF the Institution. The number
of Deaf Mutes ia the State, according 10 the Cen
sus Of 1910, was llO7. Applications are constantly
made on beh alt Of Mutes whose relatives desire TO
send them 10 the Institution, but are unable 10 pro-
vide Tor them; and the Board OF Directors urgently
appeal 10 the State and the City for the pecuniary
means 10 Justify it in undertaking to rradiste all
those benightcd minds. Werust that whatever -rim
may be necessary will be promptly forthcoming.
The best distinctive feature of this Institution Is
It's undertaking 10 teach lis pupils not merely Let
lers but Industry Shoe-making, Book-blndlns
Cabine-making and Tailoring are extensively car
red on By il, under the direction of competent tore
men and assistants, and every pupil is taught some
honest mode of gaining avelhood whea the days
of his pnpilase are over. Rude and limited as this
Industrial organization is, it Is great advance on
the blindness or negligence OF the past. True :
such ar Institution ought TO have spacious Farm.
and twice az many branches OF Manufactures, and
so this tciN have if the means are provided. As
things are, very many of our young men come out
Of College less prepared TO a livelihood than
one of these poor Mutes when discharged from The
Institution
There is consolation in the thought that while
the vices OF orr age are fragrant and manifold, lis
charities are also widespread and wel-drected.-
A thorough and practical education given gratis to
the deaf and dumb children of destitute parents,-
this would have been marvel two centuries ago.
1t is no novelty now, but it is noble trophy OF
age, and az wise as il Is noble These intellec tu
ally and ndusrially educated mutes are no longer
burhens upon society-they are skilful, effective
workers. earning their livelihood and more. Does
not wise economy dictate that all such unfortu-
mates shall be educated, and rrM educated We
say it does. Then let the means so fur Us shall bc
necessary to an economical but vigorous malnte-
nance of this noble charity, be found aud approPrl-
atrd.