Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-03-11
For the oxford Democrat.
The National Dedf df-mute College.


This is the only College for the Deal
and Dumb in the world. II is situated IN
Washington, ID. c., about one mile from
the Capitol will give brief history
of it.
In the year 1859, gentleman came to
Washington from the city of New York
with five little deaf.mute children, which
he had gathered from the poor-houses
and streets Of that city.
A school was soon established for tho
instruction of the Deaf and Dumb which
was supported by some of the most intlu.
entail gentlemen OF the District Of Colum.
bia. Among the most prominent of these
was the late Hon. Amos Kendall, 10
whom belongs the honor of being named
the father and founder of this Institution.
On the 10th OF February, 1889, it was
incorporated by an act Of Congress, en-
powering it to educate, at the expense OF
the United States, INDECENT Deai.mutes,
belonging to the District Of Columbia.
The school was opened in the temporary
building provided by tho liberality Of Mr..
Kendall. Mr.. Edward NJ. Gallaudet. tho
youngest son Of the late DR.. Thomas Gal
audet who is well known rs the pioneer
of the education OF the Deaf and Dumb.
was chosen to mead this enterprise. II
soon took rank among the other insttu
tions of the kind in this country under the
name of the Columbia Institution Tor tho
instruction OF the Deaf and Dumb Bu.
young Gallaudct, not satisfied with this.
conceived the design of establishing u
collegiate department This was Of
course 10 take 4 step in advance OF any
other Institution. In The year 1864, Con.
gress passed q bill authorizing the boarrl
OF directors to confer degrees. This Col
legc was publicly inaugurated on the 2-ih
OF June, and tho work was commenced
with seven students. Several free scholar.
ships were obtained from Amos Kendall
William w. Corcoran, George w. Riggs.
Henry d. Cook, Charles KNAPP, Benjamin
Il. French, and others whose names will
be held in grateful remembrance 10y those
who have received them.
Thirty six students arc gathered hero
from twenty-onc different States of tho
Union. Perhaps you would like to know
that Maine is represented here by young
gentleman from Oxford County, who is Ia
graduate next Summer.
Naturally many will ask what avenues
of usefulness are open 10 the Dcat'muic
graduate. will answer it by stating
that the members OF the graduating class
of last year, three in number, are all &c.
cupying fields Of usefulness. One OF them
has been appointed teacher in the Hi
nos Institution for the Deaf and Dumb I;
at the same time he was offered a commits.
sion from the l.. ). Coast survey, but dc.
clined il. Another Of the class j. now EN-.
ployed rs tutor in this College, and an
offer rs Il teacher in the California In,ti.
tuition was rendered To him but refused
The third has been promoted to the post
of assistant examiner in the Patent Office,
his unusually marked success in a cumpe +.
tive examination.
The object of this novel establishment,
is partly to prove what had been doubted
by many, that the Deaf and Dumb can
successfully 60 through the course of
studies pursued in Colleges for the hear
ing. and particularly to afford 10 this class
of persons IN opportunity to secure n
thorough education, and to send them out
into the wide world better men and better
citizens. ). L. q.