The Portland daily press., 1865-06-30
aisn T,.,snage-Tbe Deaf and Dumb.

Many a RS ago pioiis French Able was
At tbe n.; 10 collect the various signs then
used by fmutes each according to his par
ticular fancy. These signs he Afterwards with
great labor and assiduity formed into one COM
pleteand harmorius system ofhuman language.
Educated deaf mutes throughout the world,
use the same sign language. II an American,
German and Hindoo mule were brought
together into the same room, they would con-
verse together, not precisely in the same
tongue, but with the same signs, though the
printed books to which each was accustomed
would be wholly unintelligible to the others.
Should they write their thoughts it, would be
impossible for one to comprehend another,
but as soon as they resort to this beautiful
and universal sign language they can con-
verse with ease and fuency. This language
of which we have spoken is not however to
be Q nlounded with that which smutes use
when they convey ideas through the medium
of letters and words, though the latter are
| formed by various manual combinations
When mutes are to be taught to read and
write they use set of signs representing the
letters of the alphabet, and the facility and
rapidity with which they, convey their ideas
are something surprising. Any one who has
ever seen-not heard--a deaf mute read
aloud must have been both astonished and
delighted at the marvellous facility with which
the human mind adapts itself to the most IN
! favorable circumstances. -
i q This subject has jnst now been particularly
brought to mind by looking over the Report
of the Directors of the American Deaf and
Dumb Asylum at Hartford, Conn. This ad.
mjrable institution now in the fiftieth year o.
its existence, has done much to mitigate the
privations and enlighten the darkness of an
unfortunate and deeply interesting class. The
| report before US gives statement of the in
terral administration of the asylum during
the past year, of its workshops and schools o
instruction, and of the financial condition O.
the institution. 1t appears that the great in
crease in the cost of living has of late caused
the current expenses to encroach upon the
productive fund of the corporation. To aVoiC
touching the corporate fund, in which all the
New England States are interested, the direc
tors have this year advanced the annua
charge for each pupil from $125 to $175. Thu
asylum has also been deprived its usual in
come from stock in the late Phoenix Bank
J which in changing to the National system de
j clined to admit the corporation into the or
ganization, and the matter is under litigation
Notwithstanding these difficulties however
the directors speak conf Gently of the future
and hope soon to reduce the annual Charge
The whole number Of pupils in the institution
4 the past year is 275, of whom As are from thi
State. The general health Of teachers ana
scholars has been good, Only one pupil having
died in the asylum.
The principal, Rev. Collins Stone, treats a
some length upon the benefits conferred b,
4 the Institution upon the minds Of deaf mute
who seek its advantages, and of the gratiica
ton afforded to teachers and others to wit
& mess the progress of the pupils in theirstudies
The great point of the system of instruction
is to give the using signs as the medium 0
Communication. After passing through tn
regular course, occupying six or eight years
the pupil viii generally secure good com
mon education, and be fitted to enter the higl
class, in which the scholar is taught the high
er English studies, and the ancient and mod
ern languages.
In illustration of what Is done for the intel
tlectual Advancement of these unfortunates
We have 10 the appendix to the report, Sc
lection of letters and compositions by pupil
of different ages, some Of which are Of mucl
interest.
The following is the statement of the fun.
OF the asylum:
Invested in bank stocks in Connecticut 1914, 100 O.
s " on bond and mortgage Of real estate III $50 o.
y +" in rairoa 4 bonds &c. = Is $50 O
" In real estate in Hartford S252z 81
in furniture 800 O
in Uni ed States debt certificates 5000 0
Cash on hand, lst April, 1866 2,148 4