Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-11-12
NJ | s c Il L l. A N Y.
From the Knickcrbocker Magazine.
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE
FROM TWO DEAF AND DUMB
GIRLS.

We have not unfrequently, in times past ,
found occasion, in noticing the annual re-
ports of the New York Institution for the
Deafand Dumb, under the capable supervi-
sion of the Messrs Peet. and erewhile our
old friend Mr.. Bartlett, to quote from
the amusing letters of many of the inmates,
usually EN- bodied therein. The following is
series of letters-the authors Of them being
two deaf and dumb children, now at the
New York Institution, founded for like un
fortunate (perhaps Fortunately creatures, and
which is, and has been many years, under
the charge of Harvey P. Peet. LID, and
his son [. L. Peet. They are the children of
Judge Stansbury of Onondagl, and nieces
of Mrs. c. NJ. Kirkland, the authoress
They have been at the Institution only since
November last; and my object in sending
you these letters is partly to show you the
wonderful progress they have made there, in
ideas and style, and partly to touch and a
muse you by the various odd, striking and
affecting expressions in which they give vent
to novel emotions
/" 1t is proper to remark that the girls have
long been familiar with the signs by means
of which the deaf and dumb communicate
with each other and this will account for
the correctness Of their orthography at the
very beginning as Of course you know they
are obliged to spell every word, letter by let
ter. Their father has been very kind and as
siduous in his instructions, and is SO very
fond of them, that | am convinced, had it
been possible, and he had done ten times as
much for them, it would all have been la
Dor oflove. Upon my remarking, in his
presence, upon the probable difficulty in es-
tlblishing in their minds, as preliminary,
an adequate connection of words and ideas.
he said was correct but that after the uery
first significant link had been formed, the rest
was easy Thus he was little time in show
ing that { A 7 really meant the little animal
they were accustomed to play with but af
ter that, they overwhelmed him with ques-
tions, until they knew the name of every
object with which they were at all familiar.
Soon after the accomplishing of that first diff
fcult step, he came upon Mary, the younger
stretched on the floor, her left arm holding
tightly the unwilling cat, and with her
right hand repeatedly spelling c A 7 with
ludicrous pains after each enunciation sig
nifying to the animal, by motions, that ha,
was its name
"The effusons append are mostly Marys
She writes a round bold, somewhat masculine
hand, every letter being carefully formed
and the com mpleted epistle staring you in the
face with singular air of honesty and frank
ness. The lady mentioned by her given
name, in the first, is their cousin, who wa'
visiting them. For the elucidation of thi.
comparatively crude production, may re
mark, that almost every word contains ar
idea, and that liberal sprinkling of full
stops must be mentally resorted to by tn,
reader. Mrs. Stansbury remarks (and tht
letters afford her an amusing Illustration
that they have an affecting way of limiting
around when they want anything, as the,
are too delicate-minded and modest to ask fo
it boldly
NOVEMBER 25th, 1857.
"MY DEAR FATHER Adele come golnj
Daguerreotype one father and mother. Anna
James, Joseph, Alice, and mother and fathe
writing letter come happy. Tomorrow
Mary is eat hen. Careless Caroline is brok
one comb Careful Mary is broke no comb
Adele come going soon soon soap. Mary tow
eel not soap. Mr. l.. Peet teaching fsom
lady writing states. Add School love Mary
Miss Merwin teaching, Caroline, and Mary
MARY E. STANSBURY..'
I'm the next the familiar employment
school-apothegms has comic effect. I'll
sgnsof advancement in mind ana spirit a.
already apparent -
INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB,
NEw YORK, Dec. Sd, 1857,
"MY DEAR MOTHER II am very well al
happy. This build is very large. Miss Me
win is my teacher, God give food and cloth
toIus, We should thank Him. She has n
teacher twenty-five girls. Peacock has |
soul. There are three hundred Deaf al
Dumb pupils. Baby has pretty blue ey
and brown hair. Mrs. /. L. Peet is lit
son. We study often. We look throu,
window vessels sail. The peacock is Val
There are sixteen teachers. There has pr,
ty little baby, Yesterday was the first d
winter
"a am your ahectonate daughter
"MARY E. STANSBURY.
'In the following, written after a gre
interval, the most satisfactory adyanceme
will be preceived Though child-hke, it
coherent, if we except the truisms whi
(having Isuppose, struck her childish fame
she has thrown in, with less than