New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-06
INSTRUCTION of THE DEAF AND DUMB

founder of the system OF public INSTRUCTION lor
the Deaf and Dumb in this country, is to be
erected to-day on the grounds OF the American
Asylum in the City of Hartford. A convention
of delegates from the various Deaf aud Dumb
Asylums in the United States will assemble on
the occasion. which will doubtless also call to-
gether a large concourse Of citizens, who cherish
the memory and revere the character CT the en-
lightened philanthrOpst, in whose honor the
monument has been prepared. 1t is an apPro-
Pirate time to present brief sketch OF the his
tory of the efforts that have been male for the
education and improvement OF the Deaf and
Dumb.
We have no account Of any attempts in behalf
ef this class Of sufferers prior to the middle OF
the sixteenth rtury. The sncients generally
thought it impossible to instruct them; and Pliny
has mentioned as remarkable fact of his time,
that one of the Casar family, who was mute from
his birth, became an eminent painter in Rome.
Pedro Ponce de Leon, spanish monk of noble
family, born in l,52 at Naladolid, was the first
to successfully instruct deaf mutes; and he was
succeeded by Juan p. Bonet, who in 1920 pub
li.hed at Madrid the earliest tire ltise on the art
But il was reserved for the Able de L'Epee to
found at Paris, less than century ago, the first
Institution for them; and by devoting to it his
lite and fortune to acquire the title of Father
of the Deaf and Dumb" lie was succeeded 10y
the Able Sicard, who systematized the nstruc.
tion, and became its most distinguished teacher
The great renOwn of the Paris Institution led to
l.. -.
rope during the last century; and their number
has since rapidly increased, now amounting, in
cluding America, t. about 20D, having nearly 500
teachers and over : ,OoO pupils.
Thr introduciionCf Deaf Mute Education in the
United States was brought about in l-l7 by the
memorable man in whose honor the celebration at
Hartford takes place to-day, and by DR.. NJ. F.
Cogswell, also of Hartford. The fstter had 4
daughter who a. the age OF two years, or in loO7,
became deaf from spotted fever; and, in 1899,
also lost her power Of articulation. Mr.. Gallau-
det had in early life become interested in the
Deaf and Dumb, and he endeavored to impart
some knowledge to the child, and with such par
tial success that Dr. Cogswell aud several others
commissioned him to visit Europe for the purpose
Of becoming teacher of the Deaf AMI Dumb in
this country He departed May % lis, studied
under Able Scard and returned Aug. TO- lSl6,
accompanied by Mr. Laurent Clerc, deaf mute
Professor and graduate at the Paris Institution.
During his absence the friends of the project had
been preparing for the establishment of the
Asylum and had obtained its incorpor alton in
May, 1916, with grant of So, O0O for i.s support
10 few months afterward, It was opened for
pupils, April Is, l,l7, and seven were received
during the first week. In December following il
had 81 pupils and three instructors; and at the
close of its fret year 81 pupils, requiring two ad
ditOnsl teachers At It's commencement Mr..
Gslaudet became its Principal and held the office
until April, le3O, when he resigned in order to &C;
as Chaplain of the Retreat OF the Insane. Mr.
Clerc has Continued as fret assistant teacher to
the present time, fourishng in a vigorous old
age having four children all in the full possession
OF their senses, although his wife is also deaf
mute. b act of March 3, 1919, Congress grant
ed to the Asylum township of land, from the
sale OF which go 100 has been realized, and its
permanent fund now amounts 10 S3U7, 900. This
u III AIt cOIpOTdlt
name of the Asylum from Connecticut to Ameri
can and for many years it received pupils from
oil parts Of the Union; but II is now pa,ronized
only by the New England States. II has lately
made additional provisions for the instruction of
an advanced clsss Ofpupls, and now has build
ing in preparation for chi drel under ten We irs Of
age. Many of is graduates and teae hers have
gone TO act as instructors in other institutions.
Its present number of pupils is l93; whole num-
Der since opening over LOO. The present Prin-
eipal, Mr.. ". ". Turner, has been connected
with the Asylum as an instructor Tor thiriy-three
years.
The New-lork Institution, now the largest in
the Union. Wa, founded in April, l.I7. through
tie e1ertious OF Controller Flagg aud others,
and was opened in May, lclS, with four pupils
IN a hired room. The next year the State gave il
SlO,Cto and in ls22 it provided for the sup
port OF thirv-twO pupils each for three years.
On Oct. 10, le27, the cornerstone of its ediice
IN Fiftieth-st. was laid, which was opened in
le29. Dr.. Peet, previously of the Asylum a.
Hartford, became its President in the year Is3l.
and still fills that Office. In ls52 the Ciry Cor.
poration opened street through the grounds.
which caused the Trustees to sell them. &c.
A new site Of 81 acres having been purchased
on Washington Hights on the banks Of the Had.
sen, nine miles from the City Hall, the corner
stone Of the new edifee was laid with due eere-
monies on 22d Nov, 1853. The proceeds of the
'sle will net 200, and the new site having
cost Sis, coo, fund of Sl69, 600 was left for
the buildings, which will cost, when finished.
~, 600. The main edihce i. Of nrnsmsntaI