The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-07-25

says 81 am walking" The teacher then
writes / am walking on the blackboard
and walks back and forth before IL. The child
initiates both the writing and the action. In
that way the connection between the action of
the organs Of specch-which produces tho
spoken words-and the act of walking, and be-
tween the written phrase on the blackboard
and the act Of walking, lie clearly perceived by
the deaf child, who /; IS to be kept in mind,
mover hears the words he speaks or that his
teacher speaks, but is only conscious of the
motions which he makes with his organs of
speech, in imitation of those which nc s.st6
made by his instructor.
The teacher proceeds in the same manner
through a great variety Of actions lie sits
down, aud says and writes. e am sitting I"
he bursts into n fit Of laughter, aud writes
and saws, 81 nm laughing y he sncezcs
cries, smiles, frowns, praises. scolds, jumps,
runs, stOggers. falls, limps, hops, whistles,
strikes, pulls, pushes, lifts eats drinks. and
docs all manner Of things, In every case
speaking aud writing what he is doing and
the pupil initiates him, going through the
seton aud naming it in speech and writing,
until he connection between the action and
the spoken .'Id written phrase is perfectly
understood. This system, with necessary
notifications, is made to embrace the Whole
range Of instruction. Numb.., iorn1' sHe'
color quality, quantity, the attri 'utes oil
matter, and the phenomena of motion, {. NC
aud space are taught to deaf children by n
patient, accurate, untiring application of
philosophical objcct.teaching and the logi-
cal extension thereof into the regions of
abstract knowledge.
To be successful teacher in such n school,
one must of course be an enthusiast, aud
have his whole heart in the work The dc.
gree of patience which is required In this
vocation would lie intolerable TO person
who looked only to hire and salary for his
reward. The teacher Of deaf mutcs must
feel that in such service he is the
Lords missionary and stands as provi
dcncc to the poor little creatures whose
mcntal development has been intrusted 70
his care. Animated by such views and with
such spirit, his labor becomes joy, and
all the pcrplcxities of the situation. turned
to instruments of triumph, IRE made to fer
tlizc the teachers inyenton, aud nourish
the vital forces o. mis- devotion.
inc r.s-nls which have been attained in the
',is.ruc.ion of deaf mutes arc marvellous.
The pupils read write, and cipher and rccite
lessons in all the elementary branches, and
in astronomy, history, political economy, and
divers other studies, with such facility and
such excellence Of clocution rs render
it impossible for the spectator to believe
they are deaf It seems as though they
must be able 10 hear jus; "a well rs any
loiy. But if the spectator looks close
enough, he win perceive that it is ex.
clus.vely the eye, and not at all the ear, which
is the ORGAN of sensation with them in all
their exercises. So il, on meeting one of the
pupils in the hall, he accos:s the child while
he is looking at him, he VIII at olce get IN
intelligent answer but let him speak to one
| ofthc Gcaflittlc creatures when lie is not look.
ing at him, and he might as well address 4
lam? post.
1t is n strange and affecting thing to listen
to the prattlc of n company OF deaf children,
talking without knowing that they talk,
and uttcring words which they never hear.
| Even az a matter Of social beneicencc il
takes deep hold on the heart; but to the
Christian philosopher it has an additional
and far deeper interest, ms being another
manifestation Of the activity Of that divine
Intelligence which. under the impulsion Of
divine love, is yet to search out and recon-
pense every iniirmity of the Lords children
| on earth