National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-16
THE LANGUAGE OF SIGNS.
PRESERVATION AT THE DEAF MITE
COLLEGE YESTERDAY,

yesterday Afternoon at three o'clock. The hall
was filled, and the audience was composed prin-
cpslly Of ladies, representing the elite Of Wash
ington. In 'front.' Of the platform were seated those
on whom degrees were TO be conferred, and were
designated by rosettes in their coats. Bouquets
and flowers were arranged in rows upon the plat
form, which were presented to the candidates at
the appointed hour
Rev. Byron Sunderland invoked Divine bless
ing after which tho following programme was
observed: dissertation--Noney, John Wilkinson,
Lowell, Mass; observation-disclosures, Frank Q.
Davis Cambridge, Mass; dissertation-The Pur1
suit of knowledge for Its Own Sake, Edward Ii
Chaplin, Washingtea, D. O.; oration-The Educa-
tional Importance OF Reading, ]. Burton Hotch-
kiss B. A. Washington, d. c.; oration-Cheap
Currency, Joseph G. Parkinson, B. A., Washing
ington, D. O. I- ....
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT eALLAUDKr.
President Gallaudet then delivered his address,
as follows: .......
On the sth Of April, 1854, Abraham Lincoln,
then President OF the United States, signed the
following act OF Congress:
Be 1t enacted By the Senate end House Of Repre-
,entatires Of the United States Of Azacried in Con
greSS assembled That the board Of directors Of the
Deaf aud Dumb and the Blind be, al9they are
conSTn such degrees in tie liberal arts and
sciences to such pupils Of the institution, or
others, who, by their proficiency In learning, or
other meritorious distinction, they shall think
entitled to them, as are usually granted and con-
ferred In colleges. and to grant to such aduates
diplomas or certificates sealed and slgnei in such
manner as said board of directors may determine,
to authenticate and perpetuate the memory OF
such graduation.
When this act was before the Senate for consId-
Grafton its passage was objected to on the ground
that the measure proposed was without precedent.
distinguished Senator opposed the bill because
az instftutinn the aducQ-
ton Of deaf mutes to confer degrees in the arts
and sciences the same as in Harvard university or
Yale college,"
Another prominent Senator said: "I think II
will rather make the institution ridiculous to give
it the power to confer literary or scientific degrees,
whereas think 1t would be very proper to give
It the power TO confer some degree that may be
framed or invented for the deaf and dumb"
But there were Senators who we'll understood
the purpose of this institution to establish de-
partment Of so high q grade that its graduates
might properly receive degrees in the arts and
sciences.
These gentlemen explained TO the satisfaction
Of the Senate what was intended to be done under
the operation Of the pending BILL and II was passed
without dissenting vote.
The House concurred in the action Of the Senate
without objection, and with the signature Of the
President the first chapter in the history Of this
college was completed.
Two months later public exercises were held,
in which the purposes and objects Of the Deaf
Mute college were fully set forth, and within four
days thereafter Congress made an appropriation
of s26 900, for the enlargement Of the grounds of
the institution.
In September Of the same year the college be-
gan its educational operations, with seven STU
dents Private benevolencs supplemented the
liberal action OF Congress, and there was no lack
of means for the prosecution Of the novel un-
dertaking. Doubts were, however, expressed
as to the practicabilty OF afordng collegiate ed
ucatiOn to the deaf and dumb, and many who did
not question the feasibility Of the enterprise were
quick to ask, Cut bono7 FL
As the work of the college advanced and its
numbers increased, the appeals made to Congress
in Its behalf called forth serious and sometimes
violent opposition, this amounting, in 1858, to
prolonged effort on the part Of the then leader OF
the House Of Representatives to destroy the en-
tire institution. But the sympathy and Judgment
OF Congress was not with the enemies Of the col
lege In every struggle the enlightened and lib
eral counsels Of our friends prevailed, and each
session Of Congress that has passed since the
foundation Of the college has set its seal OF IN
qualified approval on our work.
We have invited you to Join to-day in celebrat-
ing our tenth anniversary, and It is appropriate
that brief recital should be made of the results
which have crowned the labors Of our first decade
The material prosperity Of the Institution speaks
for itself to the eyes Of all beholders. Our little
lot Of two acres has expanded to o noble domain
OF one hundred. The frail rustic cottage, through
whose slender walls the winter winds whistled
and the summer sun scorched, has given way to
enduring and beautiful structures.
- .ss.i tho IGbosality - the government has not
stopped here. Adequate provision has been made
for the employment Of competent professors and
instructors, thus enabling the college to extend
its benefits to many whose limited means would
not have sufficed to meet all tho expenses OF an
advanced course Of study.
The seven youths who sought admission ten
years ago have been followed by one hundred and
ten others, these representing twenty-five States
tBenty-six, the Middle States twenty-four, tie
South twenty-six, and the West forty-one, so that
It is almost in exact proportion to the population
Of the several sections Of the country that the
benefits Of this single college for deafmutes have
been distributed.
And It Is asked, What are these benehtsf It
may be replied, They are such advantages for
mental and moral culture as are offered to hear
ing and speaking youth in their higher seminae
ries and colleges.
Onr curriculum Of study comprises the higher
mathematics, the Latin, French and German
languages; the elements Of nstdral science, in
Guiding chemistry, botany, astronomy, geology,
mineralogy, physiology and zoology; full course
Of English philology, and related studies, with
ancient and modern history, not emitting proper
attention to mental, moral and politicsl science.
1t IL too early for Us to estimate the full adYan-
tages that may be credited to the labors and out
lays Of our FIRST decade. But even the partial |
results that are before may be taken as afford
ing rich and encouraging return. Twenty who |
have gone out from the college have been engaged
IN teaching. Two have become editors and pub |
fishers Of newspapers, three others have taken |
positions connected with journalism. Three have |
entered the civil service Of the Government one |
Of them having risen rapidly to o high and re- |
sponsible position. One, while filling o position
as Instructor in Western institution, has rem |
dered important service to the Coast Survey as q |
Two have taken places in the |
faculty Of their alma mater, and are rendering |
valuable returns as instructors when they were |
students but short time since. Some have gone |
into mercantile and other Offices; some have |
undertaken business on their own account, while |
not a few have chosen agricultural and mechani-
nj pursuits, in which the advantages Of thorough
mental training will give them superiority over
hose less educated.
Six have been called to pass from the Life that
how is to that which is to come, and all these left
behind them bright evidence that they rightly
estimated the true issue OF life.
One Of these sainted alumni, who was in our
midst two short months ago, and who would have
borne away the highest honors Of this day had
lis life been spared wrote to his sister fortnight
before his death, rs follows:
sit will take away half the bitterness OF death
% have been allowed TO learn something: to have |
obtained one glimpse across the hills and valleys
lway of into that promised land Of perfect krowl-
'dge, perfect love, perfect purity where men no
onger sec through glass darby For such
AXE to be the true result of study: the more one
earns, the clearer does he see Gods wondrous
GOODNESS, the closer is he drawn to all things L
ioly."
Our first decade is passed. We can write its
history, detailing the events Of each leeting
month and year; but tho full measure Of its re-
ults can only be rightly estimated by Him whose
Intelligence can comprehend eternity and inhnity.
The probable influence in the world for good OF
he six score youth who have been taught here, is
ar beyond the power ofmortal computation. For
here is an Immortality Of influence as well as
hat Of Individuality, and the impressions we
make on others do not die as do the vavelets oF