Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1874-08-13
The Eighth Deaf: Mute COnven-
ton.

tario, on the 18th of July, 1874, with
Dr. W. ". Turner IN the chair, and
Prof. E. A. Fay as secretary
Wednesday was occupied mainly 10
the opening of the Convention, in a
formal reception by DR.. Palmer, of the
Ontario Institution, and in remarks by
various gentlemen, regarding the best
methods of furnishing school rooms.
Thursday. after the committee on
business had been appointed, the gen
eral business began. Prof. Porter, of
the National Deaf Mute College at
Washington, D. c., read an essay re-
lating to the education of Mutes. 1t
was decidedly the best paper read at
the Convention and was ably inter-
preted in the sign language by Prof
E. M. Gallaudet, of the same college,
and who followed in a most eloquent
speech in behalf of collegiate edu-
cation for mutes, and in support of
"Visible Language."g He was inter.
preted by his brother, Dr. Gallaudet,
of N. Y. Others followed, and much
discussion ensued, all the proceedings
being interpreted by DIR. Gallaudet.-
In the afternoon, formal address of
welcome was delivered by the Deputy
Warden of Prince Edward County, in
the absence of His. excellency, the
Earl of Duffcrein; and in the evening
we were rendered the hospitalities of
the city of Belleville by the munici
pal authorities thereof A public re-
ception was given, speeches were
made, toasts proposed and cheered-as
1 supposed only Yankees could cheer
The National anthem of "God save
the Queen" was sung by a choir of
young ladies, supported by instrumen-
tai music, and responded to by DR..
Turner, after which came e'Star Span
gled Banner and Yankee Doodle" !"
which were unanimously applauded,
and responded to by E. NJ. Gallaudet,
I. L. Peet, Warning Wilkinson, of
Cal, and DR.. Turner, followed by
many of the Canadian Parliment. At
midnight banquet was served, after
which dancing began, and was kept up
until the "wee sma' hours ayont the
trwal." ~ -
Friday was occupied in reading pa
pers by E. G. Valentine, of Ind in
terpreted by Mr.. Hammond. E. P.
Oaruthers, of Arkansas, had an inter
estihg essay on Development of
Strength of Character in Deaf Mutes,
and was interpreted by G. o. Fay, of
Ohio; also, thoughtful and we'll pre-
pared paper by Mr.. Wid3. of Montreal,
hearing upon the moral training of
\ Deaf Mates, and q short essay by Mr.
Bangs, of Michigan. After which fol.
lowed many discussions, and some
sharp things were said regarding the
different opinions and theories set
forth. After dinner, Prof. Greenber-
ger, of the N 7. Improved School,
proceeded to explain his method of
education, experimenting with three
little pupils of the Ontario Institute,
whom he had never before seen. The
method CONSISTS in teaching articula
ton and lip reading to the mutes, dis
. pensing with both signs and manual
alphabet He was followed by Prof.
A. 6. Ball, of Boston, in lecture on
Visible Speech, illustrated by symbols
| by q combination of which, he
claimed, any articulate sounds could
be initiated and also thiumphantIy
demonstrating the truth of his asser-
tiOns, by actual experiment, to the sat
isfaetiQp Of every one present, except
ing, perhaps, Pror. GreenbergeF, who
was furious in his attack upon the sys-
:, TEN, and hot discussion ensued be
tween the various members of the Con,
vention, which was only interrupted
by adjournment. "
In the morning, an exhibition Of
Philosophical and optical experiments
were given by DR.. May, Of Toronto
accom- panied by a brief lecture. Fl
Saturday was devoted to the read
ing of more papers. One by War
ring Wilkinson, of Cal, one by P. G
Gillett, of ILL.,, one by Mr.. Wing, o
Wis, and several others, and mucl
discussion ensued The discussions
l were spirited and lively on the sUbjec
of amendment Of one Of the article
! of the last Convention 'tWhereby i
was resolved that the Principals of tn
. various Deaf Mute Institutions be re
quested to form a new class, wherein
- there be dispensed with, as far as prac
ticable, all, except natural signs; an
h their progress be reported at the mex
Convention" The struggle over thi
was long and vigorous, includin
( sharp, terse speeches by Miss Rodgers
- of the Boston Day School, Miss Ful
ler, Prof. Gallaudet, Mr., Turner
Messrs. GiIlett, Mcintyre. schilline
y Hurtton, Westervelt, Brown, Syle; i
fact, every one nearly had somethin
> to say on this amendment, which wi
- form a most important test in the re1
y olution of Deaf Mute education Th
e' debate continued until late Saturda
night.
On Sabbath morning Isaac Lew
Peet conducted model service fC
on Deaf Mutos, the services consisted {
s. the Doxology of the Episcopal serV
ces-being given in the sign languag
by the whole congregation standing
M then followed an eloquent prayer, an
q sermon on the providence of Co.
and His protection of His creatures.
to- After which came two hours of Co
vention work, but adjourned, unab
to agree upon the time or place
next meeting, the majority being in +
for vor of BelleviIle. In the afternoon
res three O'Clock, DR.. GallaUdet held sc
vices at Relleville, and administer
the rite of babtism to children, and
u9i 1f the evening we held our last service
you under direction of E. NJ Gallaudet.
Prayer in the sign language; singh
of hymn, also in sign language; a
he'd other long and most eloquent pray
pay pay and then the sermon from the tez