Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-11-05
The State Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb
and the blind

4
Gently I had the pleasure of inspecting tho
Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and the
Blind, now, as it has been for many years
past, under the efficient superintendent
of that estimable and accomplished gen.
tleman, Mr.. Willie J. Palmer. Before
attempt description of the Institution
will give list Of the teachers at present
employed. AS I have stated, Mr. ". j.
Palmer is the Superintendent. DR.. Rich
ard B. Ellis is the Steward. The teachers
are:
Deaf Mute Department-Mr. D. r.
Coleman, Mr.. D. r. TillingLast (deaf
mute), Miss Ellen johnson deaf mute),
Mrs. E. A. Nichols deaf mute), Miss NJ.
A. Ashley.
Blind Department--Mr. ". j. Young,
Mr.. John A. Simpson (biind), Miss n. J.
Dupree (blind).
The Asylum building is large aud spa
cious, but not sufficiently SO for the pres
ent demands There are now in the In.
stitution 112 white pupils and it is con-
siderably crowded Their sleeping apart
ments are conveniently arranged, afford
ing many facilities. School rooms, hail,
dining room, etc, are prepared with q
view to convenience and comfort. The
chapel is large and spacious and in addi-
ton to purposes of worship affords most
excellent exhibition room. In the yard
are the workshops, where cabinet making,
shoe making and printing for The deaf
mutes and broom making for the blind are
taught. The Superintendent residence
adjoins the main building and is conven-
lent and comfortable in it's arrangement.
neatly and handsomely laid off, affording
ample room for exercise and enjoyment.
Under the conduct of Mr.. Coleman, who
kindly caused the pupils to exhibit 10 us
their proficiency, We gained some insight
into the manner and system OF instruction
and the progress of the pupils in the edu-
cational department. Proceeding to the first
school room the primary course was here
explained The scholars are first taught
the deaf and dumb manual, conceive and
acquire 1t by some means but how they
manage it is the stumbling block to our
understanding OF the system OF cOmprehen-
sion by the mutes. How the deaf and dumb
can be made to understand that the man
ual means something, is the great mystery
to us. But they 10 acquire it, and very
often with great ease ana facility. Having
mastered the manual tho book teaches
them c0lors, for which they have the APP
propriato signs in their language. Then
they arc taught knowledge Of the names
OF animals aud their uses. the il
Inc frof oil II 1iVIp n
objects and placed directly within
tho scope Of their comprehensiOn.-
They arc then taught by the pictures in
the books the singular and plural, by sin
gle and multiplied objects with the proper
words and their changed furms given be-
meath. And so on TO @Iiectives, which
they portray by very expressive signs A
class of little boys and girls were called up
in this first room aid were made to give
US u description Of the eigns used for ami
mails, colors and emotions (which cannot be
represented By sight, at which they dis
played a remarkable aptitude. One little
fellow, we recOllect, caused us much amuse-
ment and hearty laugh at the very genu-
inc wry face he made 10 describing sour.
Aud we found these pupils progressing
with amazing rapidity, equal and in some
respects even superior to those of the same
age who have tho advantage of hearing
and speech. Answers to questions and
original sentences were written, and trans
positions Of sentences made upon the black
board with a degree Of facility and gram
NAUTICAL correctness that surprised us and
reflected great credit upon pupils and
teachers. Their names, ages and places
of residence were also given with full
and apparent appreciation Of their true
position and exact identity. In this de-
partment noticed q son Of MIR. G. w.
Priggee, of Wilmington, who appears to be
making gratifying progress.
10 the more advanced department there
was, of course, greater cultivation and
a more thorough comprehension ap-
presided, and in addition to the exercise of
his pupils he gave US some superb illustra
tons by signs of the various emotions.
His magnificent description of Christ still
ling the tempest was gone over with an
effect which was greatly heightened by his
intelligent glances. The pupils were also
made to portray emotions by signs, and
for signs given exhibited much aptitude
in writing adjectives.
In the Blind Department the exercises
were less singular. In reading, by means
| of raised letters, aud thus displaying their
extreme and peculiar sensitiveness of
| touch, the blinn afforded us much interest.
One of the pupils and the teacher, Mr..
Simpson, heard read with thick hand
kerchief spread over the letters. In music
and singing, which is regularly taught
them, the young lady pupils seem greatly
to delight. They pass their fingers over
the keys of the piano with singular rapidity
and sing with plaintive harmony of tone,
| which goes right to the heart. Their
acute susceptibility to sound is we'll illus
trated by the facility with which they
catch an air and acquire tunes and a
knowledge of music.
[ had the opportunity afforded me of
seeing the pupils at dinner. The dining
room is divided into two departments oc-
cupied respectively by the two distinct
classes of inmates. Entering with the Su-
perintendent, we proceeded first to the
table where the deaf mates were seated
Immediately all attention was conferred
upon him. They had been waiting some
what restlessly, but hands and bodies dis
continued their motion, and heads were
inclined in reverence as he approached the
table and said grace by means of the signs
&Io,, orl1 ,nTorotooI ITO