Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-08
MISCELLANEOUS.

MISCELLANEOUS.
The DEAF ANp DUNN TAUGHT TO SPEAK
% Every Saturday for January 4 contains very
interesting account of an institution in Belgium,
in which the deaf aud dumb are taught TO speak,
and carry on conversation readily with their teach
ers, and with considerable facility even with stran-
gers, or those not skilled in the mode adapted TO
the dumb. How shall the deaf, who can hear no
sound, be taught to produce a good imitation Of
any sound desired? They cannot be taught 10y
the ear, but they can be and are taught successfully
through the eye and tAe sense OF feeling The
theacher begins with the simplest sounds Of con-
sonant and vowel, as ab be, 81, &c, pronouucng
them very distinctly, and causing the pupil to
mark the position Of the lips and movements OF the
muscles OF the lip nose and throat, and then to
make the same In this way with immense pa
thence OF course. the work has been successfully
done Il follows necessarily from this system that
the dumb can speak IN every language, one as
well as another, except so far as one may he more
easy of pronunciation that another. Thus q lad
who had been taught in German and French was
handed over to an EugIi,hman, and readily re-
pcated plain English words put 20 him There is
nothing wonderful in it but the patience required
The child il he has the organs of speech, can be
taught to use them by initiating the visible move
mcnt Of those organs, quite as well as the deaf
dumb and blind can be taught letters by the sense
of touch. OF course il follows that deaf and dumb
children, having acquired the power Of speech
thereafter fully prepared to get the mastery OF
all languages, and therefore of all sorts Of know
edge. 1t is a great stride for the relief Of toe un
fortunate.
DO Smith the first Mormon prophet, was born
in Windsor county, Vt, and Brigham loung, the
last prophet in Windham county but in their
case its has proved that they were not much hon
ored ia the region OF their nativity. Mr.. Morrill,
OF Vermont was the author Of the first act Of Con.
gress against polygamy, and Senator Cragiu Of ~
H., native Of Windsor county VT has just I'M
troduced more stringent bill 10 punish that
crime.
The N. Y H1oid has terrible ,tor, of dcsti
tuition thefts by negroes, and threatened ciW
war in Virginia between blacks and whites
Doubtless an exaggeraiou
A girl in New York dying said '' / am glad
am going TO die because uow my brothers and
sisters will have enough 20 cat,7
Horace Greeley remarks TO put good eaI-
cieut Journal into the hands of every voter who
viii read it, j., the true mode Of prosecuting po-
litich canvass. Meetings and speeches are well
enough, but this is Indispensable"
The lst National Bank Of Bay City, Michigan
has failed
A MONDAY lrhL-Arthm's Home Magazine
says that little alum, dissolved in hot water and
thrown into a tub OF soap suds, will precipate the
soap and dirt 10 the bottom, and leave the water
clear and soft enough TO be used again, and so on
again and again. Or the alum may be put into
boiling suds, permitting the scum to boil over and
leave the water clear, soft, and as useful for
washing clothes as it originally had BEEN
On new years day passenger car Of a train on
the Harlem railroad was blown from the track by
gale OF wind, and prscipated down a fifteen foot
bank The stove was capsized and the ear fred,
but fortunately the fire was extinguished One
man only was badly burned, and one other bruised
Twelve clergymen of the Episcopal Church, in
New York city and vicinity, have published an
address deprecating the tendencies of what is call
ed ritualism, to subyert the protestant and evan
gelical character of the Episcopal church, trans
form the ministry Of the gospel into a priesthood,
baptism into a magical rite, the Lords Supper into
the sacrifice Of the mass, and evangelical liberty
into bondage to manifold obseryances and eere-
monies.
Eleven years ago Dr. John Marsh Of Mass. was
murdered in California His murderers have now
been discoveries one turned states witness and
the other has been convicted and imprisoned for
life.
At the examination Of a class in Oxford uni
yersity (England) prize was awarded to ne
gro, aud when he approached to receive it, 1.-THE
entire body of spectators obeyng noble instinct
cheered lustly," Congressman Brooks will be
disguised
1t is said the word IIousatouic is not Indian but
Dutch meaning "tbe winding river Of the West =
That sounds like Indian, whereas Dutch would be
''round the town in every house for toncsn
The soldiers Asylum, near Augusta Maine
was burnt on Sunday night Loss $50, 600. Tn,
inmates numbered two hundred and City Amont
the stuff removed was a barrel of whiskey. out o
which most of the soldiers got drunk, and one 0
them was frozen to death while drunk.
Earthquakes still continue in Northern Ne,
York.
The Convention has been carried in Florida b,
} 7l3 majority, and Gen Pope has notified the con
venton to meet on the 20th of January. In Lou
isiana the course of Gen. Hancock has so strength
ened the rebels that the convention is embarras,
ed
! The Fitchburg Revele states that four youn
t men in destitute condition recently applied t
/ Mr.. A. T. KimbaIl, keeper of the Fitchburg Jail
for admission into that popular institution. The
were duly examined by Justice Ware and commit
ted to the jail where they will be required to ear
, an honest living during their stayl
The message of mayor Shurtleff OF Boston is q
long as that of President Johnson. Probably
has not shirt left.