New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-04
CRESCENT
THE NEW ORLEANS DAILY CRESCENT,
THE DEAF MUTE.
Sransatrn from ts 5rsne5 Of saronsss ueasratrs5s.

granslatrn from 5r Ersntb of earontss oehsrsrcts.
June 25 1786)-I paid most interesting
visit to the magnificent establishment Of the
Able de rEppee. This benefactor of humanity |
was born in 17I2 | remained in this house |
more than three hours I saw many Of those
unfortunate little deaf of the most inter
esting appearance. Their intelligent and sad t
eyes we're fixed upon US with Grtdity that |
seemed to wish to divine our thoughts. |
They showed us young man about eighteen |
years old, of ea-tiful share and distin- |
guished physiognosly; his history is complete |
romance He was carried off when eight years
old by troop of gpsies: He was walking with |
his governor upon the highway, this Troop had
stopped some distance off, and the governor com.
mitted the unheard-of imprudenca Of entering
their camp alone with his pupil. These wretches
tied the pedagogue to tree, gagged him tightly,
and mounting their carts, carried off the child,
whose pretty figure had struck them, and whose
inirnity was unknown to them They concealed
him so we'll, and passed go quickly into Spain,
that the reclamations of the police and those of
his family were useless. This took place in the
South This child, an onlysson, had lost his
father by a frightful accident before he was
born While his mother bore him in her bo-
som, her husband, whom she loved to alteration,
was killed before her eyes by fall from his
horse; she was so affected by it that she was
delivered in the night OF deaf and dumb child
This child stood alone between some maternal
relations and an immense fortune. 1t was
alleged in the country that they were not
strangers to carrying off of the heir, but proofs
of it could never be procured. The poor mother
died of chagrin.
Two years afterwards the cousins produced
mortuary certificate in regular form, signed by
the curate, the notary, and some notahles of a
provincial borough, attesting the death of the
poor little one, exactly giving his description
and his age, leaving no doubt as to his iden-
thy. To this mortuary certificate was added
the declaration of the gipsies who carried him
off Two of them had just been hung, while
| attesting the truth before going to give an ac-
| count to the Judge Of all things. The papers,
respecting which the necessary inquiries were
had, were pronounced authentic; the family
| took possession of the estate.
| One single being was not convinced by these
proofs-the good preceptor Driven to despair
| by the fault which he had committed. he devoted
his life to repair it, and with pilgrims staff in
hand, he ran over the south of France, Spain
| and Italy, stopping with all the nomadic bands
| that he met, questioning the old men, exam
| ming every thing, and yet discovering nothing,
| One day in the environs of Rome he met a chin
ney-sweep conducting two little boys. one Of
whom was weeping bitterly, and was receiving
many kicks and blows without uttering either
4
| at every stroke: ''Cursed deaf one! Cursed
! dumb one! | will leave thee on the high road.
and thou wilt die of hunger there"
| At the words deaf and dumb the preceptor
was affected. He advanced very quickly towards
the man and commenced questioning him in .
trembling voice. He replied that he was a
| Piedmontese who was going about the country
to exercise his calling, with his two pupils
who were foundlings One had been found
| tba nf church yhnrn hn had
been abandoned, and the other bought from
some gipsies, who knew not what use to make
of him, and to whom, on the contrary, he was 8
burden it was the afflicted one, The governor
trembled with joy; he asked to take this little
unfortunate and offered to reimburse the mar
with what he had cost him, and to give him {
present besides.
sweep, 80 he is of no use to me, and costs me tt
keep him; this will be the first gain shall ge
of him.
The faithful friend of the orphan then ap
preached, took the vagabond by the arm ant
tried to discover beneath the coat of SCOT viii
which they were covered, the interesting tea
lures of his young pupil, formerly SO white, S.
rosy and so fresh. Alas Excepting his large
melancholy and soft eyes, there was nothing 0
his happy days left. Hollow cheeks discolore,
lips and frighttul leanness, were all that pre-
sented themselves to his view. 1t was impos
sible to make himself heard to obtain en-,
information. In vain the good man repeated /:
ssMy dear child, my dear pupil, Count, d
you recognize me J"
The child looked earnestly; he raised hi
beautiful eyelids full of tears, but gave no sig
of intelligent recollection Then the preeepto
tried one of the familiar signs with which h
formerly made himself understood The littl
boy uttered an inartieulate cry. struck his fore
head and answered in his own way, yet after
/, little hesitation.
"Ah = cried the brave man, g it is he! Go
be praised."
And without thinking of any thing else, weeF
ing " ith joy and gratitude, he took the child !
his arms and covered him with kisses; and tea'
| ing the chimney-sweep stupltied, he commence
mining towards the nearest town, where
washed his pupil, had him dressed and bega
TO recognize him completely, in spite Of u
change which bad usage and sickness had OF
casioned in him
His declaration was soon made before IL
MAGISTRATES and our ambassador. He the
took a public conveyance and brought back Il
orphan to France, whom he undertook to rest0l
to his fortune and his name, This was not
trifing enterprise; the lanlily was fi9n II al al
4 powerful and the preceptor was alone. He vi
l not discouraged Possessing little fortune lie
him. by n brother and some savings, he cons
Grated the whole to the good work. No pains
,5orts were spared, but all was useless. III
G, 9ild, not being able to explain himself eon
no Il be heard or give any informatlon-~beslde
thu re was the mortuary certificate
While on the point of losing courage, an i'd
strn elk his defender. He thought of the Alb
de Eppee and his system. He led his pupil
and ,iaced him as a full boarder at, the esta
lishm ent, depriving himself of the sight of hill
that i, migsat not be supposed that he lntiuene
his rec objections. The masters, assisted by
higher Intelligence, in short time taught hlm
that he could learn; he exceeded all their e
recitation s. and soon became capable OF being
tacher hi mself When the governor saw tn
he had re aclred til desired point, he asked I'll
he should be accompanied by professor "
J could comprehend him snd translate what
understood All three set out for the SOUTH
the chateau where the child was born, and th'
they left the deaf mute to himself. The pr
was decisive; he recognized every thing o
, explained ever thing. He went to open all
doors, went straight into ms mothef roo 90
got into her b ed, sought his own room ana IL
Of his prece,oto r; pointed out many old dom
tics, paintings furniture. even secret passag
the village, the church, and the eurates sefV'
i maid, who spoilt him greatly. There was
longer a doubt of his identity. An uproar
= raised and lawsuit commenced Wnen
r saw this Young man the suit was in htigatl
Ii.o "a 81 s,rw artIs that the family, conylC