, 1874-02-02
LOCAL. MISCELLANY.

THE DEAF MUTE ASSOCIATION.
A meeting Of the Chicago Deaf Muto Asso-
ciatiou was held yesterday aft ernoon in the base-
mont of No. 60 Walnut street, md was attended,
by about twonty~yo mombors. The Association
las only boon in existence Bi1co thu 18th
III lust month, on which day the deaf mutos OF
Chicago met at the place aboyo mentioned to or
.ganize society and franc u constitution. On
the occason the clair was taken by A1r. Will
lam Sullivan, and, after M animated discussion,
u constitution was adopted.
In tl!is it was decided TINT tho nnmo Of the
society should bo tile Chicago Deaf A1uto Asso-
cntion, and its object tho collection Of Il library
and tho promotion Of the mental and moral is,
provomont Of tho members, By holding, stated
meetings, and in other ways. The membership
roll Of the Association was signed by fourteen
gcntlomon and eight laties. Tho election Of Of
ilccru, which was BY ballot, resulted as follows
Yice~prcaitlont. Thomas N. Ilafington; Second
Vicc-prcxidort. John II. Cotton: Sccretary-
Troasurar J. Z. Townue1,d Donrd Of Direct
ors, n. D. Barnum, William Sullivan, Airs Mary
A. Emery; General Manager, j. =. Townsend.
At yesterdays Meeting, the cnair was taken
by Mrs. Jominla Ratlingtol, tho President, and
tlIo unfinished lnsincss Of previous meetings
being atonded to, three nov mom1ors wore az,
1nittetl to tho Association. Dir. J. Z. Townsend
then arranged the meeting 40 thnt oach OF the
tcaf-mutes present could geo his spooch,
that it, tic signs with which ho
ox:prcsaed his thoughts, md proceeded to
ton. Ho etatcd tlut in curly tmos n1utes were
very larshly treatet. With some nations it was
the custom to cast them into the riyorh AZ soon
~ their affliction became apparent; with others
they were made to sllaro tho taakH Of oxen and
other boasts Of burden. Many years xaSo u
Freuch priest, De L'Epee by name, Baw two deaf
Eirls sitting together sowing: l1o spoke to them
hut thoy did not anawer, aud tho mothor Of the
girls explained The cause Of thoir falling to make
RESPONSE. Tue idea entorod tho good prest's
lead that it might DO possible for him
to instruct tho girls 30 that they
might learn something Of Nature ana OF God.
Having obtuincd tho mothers pernission, he
began to instruct tho gi.la by means Of algnB,
which they gradually undoratood and by nloanB
Of which, iii time, they wero onnhled to converse.
Yhoro wero ut TINT time lcaf-1nuto Instructors in
France, bnt .hey,woull no.impast tho secret saYe
for very ligh price, Dc T. 'Epcc was, on tho other
ls.t, always ready to nlsart what llo lad loarl-
cd in tho art Of deaf.nnlte instruction Gratnt-
tonsly, and sums Of money. which wero occasio1l-
a'y sc,tto him by persons intorcstsd in lis work,
heinyariably gave to ha achoara, ct Whom su time
ho had quits number. Tho sroahor tracod tile
progross Of the art to tho present day, WHEN In
America eyoly State had Mt least ono institution
for tho instruction Of deaf mutos: 1Io stated
tint thoro wore three methods Of expression
,,sed tho first Of theso was tho nlotAodlcal,
tho most tedious Of tho three in which each lot.
ter OF eacl word was Expressed by a distinct I;
sign; the second WAS tho colloquinl, in which
tho more substance Of tlle Speakers thought was
oxpropHed; tho third tho panton.imic, tho hgh'
est grado of cxprcsaion i'll which impromptr
pantOnimo WIS the mealiE.
Aftpr tho lecture, tho meeting INDUCED in {
general conversation, and y vote to adjourn
unanimously carried, closed tue procooa,uga:
Mr. j. Z. Townsend, rho is tho agent OF th'
Sooiosy, will, III fow days, canvass tho city fol
assistance III tho work tile Association intoud tt
curry on. They 1nakc Tho following appeal:
Tho edusaod dcaf nutss Of ohcago aud ID ysin
pursuits Of tupInesa sat co,Ae by eArng nQ speccl
especially in aocia ifo-a'Ml to WHOM lectnri'g ant
prcachinu is 81 though 1t was nat nnsl huyiug Qik
the rcst Il murAu> aoealsty. Aeek to fill thu suela
Of tl'er owu, for their mental 1uor and mutual vel
faro.
Not being blessed with wealth, they mod 1neal1a 4
much nher organizc2 sUctctios, to carry foswar
tug Objects of Their Aocluty, o. money to pay rent
hall tor spiritual USE huy looks for library etc.
70 meet ttHe reqilirenenta they find 1t necessary
appeai to the public.
Any ono WHO H. abe to give pecuntary aid, raonat
hooka of Eny kind Inn Immoral books deslrc'D, Will, j
Hiyiug c1nfer bcneit upon casa who mood klcf
i,t 70 much NJ earttablo necessity, but more
soc1n and moral ono, Urcauso VIZ labor under mis
fortune t4at u not tho result VI our Individual oyc