Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-04-18

wear ago. The teacher then told them
who ii was, and they Immediately wrote
il out on the blackboard. A little girl
wrote, "my book is in my desk" "Bad"
saws one. The teacher now tests their
knowledge by telling child to bring
small book. This she did at once. Thus
they converse readily with the teacher.
A rap with awand on the floor calls their
attention. Occasionally they repeat
words beyond their comprehension. They
write rapidly on the board, slate and
paper'all they know vocally. Sometimes
very curious results follow. They have
trouble with the posSessive case. Miss
Barton's book, signifies to their minds
Two Miss Bartons. \ boy seven years
old repeated distinctly the days Of the
week.
Much of the labor of the teacher con-
sists of lip exercises. The children are
constantly employed in carrying messages
given in this way. But the question nat
urallv arises, how the teacher proceeds in
/ her work. OF course the first thing is
articulation. The teacher places the pu-
pill in front of her and then places her
hand on his throat and makes the pupil
place his hand on her throat The teach
er now utters Il sound The child feels
the vibration of the throat and endelyors
to produce the same in his own. Some
times it takes several weeks for the child
to catch the correct sound Not only is
the hand applied to the throat, hut for
certain letters it is placed on chest, lungs,
lips, nose and hand By placing the child's
hand on the teachers throat, il can distin-
guish DO from To. They recite a good deal
in concert 4 boy ten years old said,
MY name Is Daniel O'Connell." 10
test their ability, the teacher called out
two boys and placed them back to back
and said to one, May have your knife"
The boy repeated il and then turning to
the other boy, spoke it again, which the
second boy repeated without hesitation.
This was regarded by the teacher MS
severe test.
Some idea may be had of the labor
necessary in some eases, when in one m
stance it required six weeks Of incessant
practice Cor child to pronounce the let
ter Ii in Home One boy 10 years old
has been in the school only six weeks, yet
he pronounccs nearly every letter in the
alphabet, as we'll As their combinations,
and reads sentences. He had previously
been to Hartford. The teacher wrote on
the board, Alice is 4 good boy Alice
is very indignant, and at once corrects 1t.
The letters b, 9, i, and c, are the most
difficult Of u,terancc. The letter is
obtained by placing the finger under the
jaw where the vibration is very marked.
We saw a hoy catch the sound ef that LETT
ter for the first time His pleasure was
very great. One little fellow cried heart
ilv because he could not catch the
sound which the rest had secured.
Much merriment was occasoued by boy
who WAS copying sentences on his slate
from the board when he spoke 10 the
teacher, "Will YOU move out Of the light
One Of the most interesting exhibitions
was that OF girl rs years Of are who
lost her hearing when one year old She
read pieces of prose and poetry with
Idistinctness of utterance aud modulatiQn
that would put To shame many country
school. She has had the advantage of
an excellent mother who has paid much
attention to her articulation. To US her
reading was truly wonderful.
We were previously under the impress
sion that only certain number who were
supposed to be suitable subjects for this
kind Of instruction were admitted, but no
one has been refused IN application.
Some pupils board at home, twenty or
thirty miles from tho city.
II any one supposes no good can arise
from such training. let them imagine 4
bright little girl Of eight years, who had
never spoken word in her life, going
home from school some night and pro-
nouncing the word mother. ltthat viii not
send thrill of pleasure through mothers
soul, We know not what will effect her,
I Vet SuCi occurrences are itt uiituihiiipii.
What was first regarded as experiment,
may now be regarded as success. That
there may be eases when the sign-lan-
guage may be best, we do not doubt, bu.
a very large majority Of children can bt
taught in that way and We believe our
own State should take measures for edur
c,tiug her deaf children, 50 they may
converse with others.
Among those who have taken a deep
interest in the school, is Dexter :. King,
Esq, who visits the school every day,
and watches their progress with interest.
We took our leave OF it with the feeling
that among the wonderful discoveries Of
the 10Th century, is that of making the
dumb to speak. I.