New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-25
INSTRUCTION or MUTES.
CONVENTION OF TEACHERS OF THE DEAF
AND DUMB

BELLFYILLE, ONTARIO july 2U-AJ the Io"ith
DAYS session Mr. j. swer OF Illinois read paper on
" school Economy" Mr.. Job Williams OF Hartford fol-
lowed with the inquiry How shall induce deaf and
dumb pupils to readi" Every depended great
deal on books for knowledge, but with deaf ntes inc
need WAS greatest. They were too often III cHcum
stances OF little comfort and surrounded by p3rnciOuS
influences Their happiness thus depending 80 largely
ON reading the acquisition Of love for 1t should he
prominent object with the teacher scr'o' OF graz
uated reading lessons was Advocated
DR. Gillett Principal of the Illinois Institutions read
n paper on "The Location. site, Buildings. and Material
Appliances of an Institution" The paper a0ounded in
practical remarks, the result OF DE- Getts experience
with the successive engagements OF his institution ana
was received with close attention and evident interest
The discussion OF the tops treated was then renewed
First came tilt between the representatives, Of the two
systems OF teaching articulation Mr. GreenDerger oil
New-York DECLARING that the use Of MI Bells Vi7ole
speeeh symbols" was IS waste OF time aud Mr. Bell re-
fcrring him II reply to this and other objections winch
was forthcoming in the professional quarterly me An
NUS Several gentlemen explained now ther various
institutions were arranged and managed ana the as
cusson passed to the length and division vi tue Scnooi
hours.
Mr. O. d. Cooke OF New-YOrk called up the resolution
he had offered over which there such an animated
battle the day before. Tie resolution being 10 auso
the formation Of experimental classes wherein except
natural signs should be avoided an amendment had oeeh
offered by Dr. Glett o. Illinois 10 insert Us lar 10
practicable" After much discussion the vote on the
amendment taken and it was carried DY mDorIV
of c. the vote standing 81 to IS. DE- Gett immediately
offered another amendment to strike out the words eH
cent natural" making 1t read av0d as lar as pracIcd
BILE all signs" Tais lost several OF the supporters
of the original resolution considering 1t in It's present
form as ockery, and desiring to Kill IT, and the ques
ton recurring the resolution, it was lost by majority
of TO- the vote being "a to 81 During the voting the
raj sei Xyhe
chair promptly and emphacay ruled that they had In
every respect rights and privileges as gentle
men. The session then closed.
the afternoon a paper was read by d. H. Carroll OF
uin,.soi; "Hgme Education" The writer believed
that parents could laY the foundation OF 49, ouu0
ton IN their deaf children WIN very ste o iona
Education" and by DIR. H. NJ Gallaudet OF Washing
ton on "Mutism," were next on the programme Tue
reading was dispensed WITH but both papers VIII appear
in the proceedings when published. ,,
The Roy b. Talbot Principal of the Iowa Institution
80 ,iows ~, III. Limit of rho Number to be
Taught in One Class" Wise economy demanded "a
large classes as practicable, but the proper limit was
quite enough to do and better progress was undenlioy
made by smaller classes The mixture VI TWO OF more
grades was not to be tolerated.
Mr. II. c. Hammond OF Indiana urged the Importance
OF geographical teaching; the subject excited the curl
osity and interest Of the pupil ana fostered me na5 Oh
should be used though lt was dlicut 10 ma such as
were suited without change TO the deaf ~
Mr. 4. l.. Brown OF Michigan, deaf mute from blrth
spoke OF the need OF more textbooks prepared win
especial reference To the wants Of the deal ana par
a dictionary,
but also illustrative examples under each word showing
The President the Rev DR.. Turner, took the floor and
spoke of the wonderful proficiency exhibited by some
deaf mutes and urged the Convention not nightly 10 DIS
card the method Of conventional signs under winch
results had been obtained but hold to 1t until they
had satisfactory evidence of better
Dr. Gllett, Mr. Cooke, and DR.. Peet made brief re-
marks IN reply, the two former agreeing that they did
deny the wonderful results OF the old system or cast
Turner OF the most h0norel, but simply to make
a step advance and the last declaring that while he
scriptura maxim {" Hold fast that which is good"
Mr. f. q. Valentine Of Indiana moved the appointment
might be presented TO them and report such as re-
ceiyed their sanction at the next eonyenton Carried
and Messrs. Valentine Of Indiana, Swller OF Illinois, and
Williams OF Hartford were appointed such committee.
Mr. wilkinson Of California m9ysd that Dr. P9st ana
but comprehensive signs for such words ia
now nave no suitable gestures, ana that
principals aud teachers requested TO forward from
time to time TO the committee lLst OF such words as
they meet with III experience
MODEL SERVICES AND RELIGIOUS TOPICS.
The fifth day of the Sunday. The contin-
uance OF the Convention Sunday is an innovation,
but IL has been universally approved The time on
other days has been fully taken up by secular subjects,
and is appropriateness in reserving for Sunday
discussions religious topics, while an opportunity is
also afforded for model services exhibiting the usage OF
different institutions. This arrangement also enables
the delegates set out their return home at the be-
ginning instead OF the end OF the week which Il great
convenience to the majority VINO 1--we at considerable
distances.
MI Bartlett, who led in the morning services, is one
OF the oldest teachers the profession having abOred
nearly 80 From 1852 10 1850 he htd small private
family schoolmost Of the time located 10 Poughkeepse
in which the novel experiment was tried OF educating
dear children III the same establishment with their
he airing brothers aud sisters Of about the same age the
two classes being generally under separate teachers
but In all other respects mingng freely Toe school
limited ia numbers to which may be ascriDed part
Of the very pleasing results oDalned ana Is TO De re-
GREETED no one has revived the WORK. Mr. Bartlett has
during the last few years held religious services regu
larry among the deaf mutes OF Boston.
The service conducted as were the others. in
signs words being occasionally spelled out by the man
ual alphabet. Mr. Bartlett began with brief inyOca-
ton. after which all rose and joined IN spelling dox3
oy % iSSTe ana sR IA S ON ae
OF the deaf ana dunno, the text being Exodus,
w., II: The Lord said unto him. VINO hast made mans
mouth or who maketh the dumb or deaf or the seeing
or the bindi Have not the LordP
The lecturer described yvldy the unhappy state OF
years before De Epee arose about the middle OF the
any instruction. and they confined such families
generally noble or even rOyal-as could pay for the
services Of the few men who made mystery and mo.
nopoy OF the Striving chiefly and by empirical and
imperfect processes cultivate articulation little true
Benevolent eccestastic, the Able d. TEpee whose lib.
eral opinions caused hun to be refused license TO otcl
ate. Thus he was by what seemed mysterious provi
dence smut out from M chosen held or labor But God
had for him hitherto uuthough or He happened TO
meet two deaf mutesnOt uncouth, disagreeaOy repul
sive little boys but modest attractive young women 1t
was then the universal dctIm OF the learned that ideas
speech; Dc PEpec, however, 0ethousht himself OF at
tempting reach the intellect through the eye, avail
ing himself OF nat gestures foundation for sys
OF signs. He also devoted himself, not 20 the rich
but to the poor and theucefoth knowledge began TO be
dused among the masses OF the dear, without money
aud without price. Thus series Of proyldenua circum
stances led to great blessing.
Again half century later country the Rev
T. H. Gaaudet became Interested IN the little deaf mute
girl Of friend, DE- COggswell OF Hartford. Inquiry
vealed the existence many more deaf mutes had
been imagined; 1t determined establish school
for them aud Mr. Gaauiet was sent TO Europe 70 learn
the methods there used In Great Britain he met with
refusas 10 dyuige them save on the payment OF large
several Years apprenticeship and promise not TO
Soard the SUCCESSOR OF De PEp6e, cordially welcomed
him 10 Paris. admitted him 10 an ms ght into eYerY