South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-07-16

4 ''"' SN' ANO lIstft vi tue eNerCtS-
es was more creditable or more produc-
tive OF genuine qualification than the ex.
hibition, OF neatness and skill, evinced
In some OF the drawing.books. No one
of the pupils had been under instruction
more than year-and yet. in not few
instances, the faithful rendering of CON-
plicated and difficult originals was wor-
thy of very high commentator.
In the departments of Geography, His
tory and Grammar, there was n notice
able sameness in the answers-th
these were written simultaneously by the
Whole class. The answers seemed to be
reproduced literally, by memory from
the text books, and did not furnish in.
stances of individuality in the way OF
variety OF expression such as might ma
turally be looked for from ordinary
scholars.
During the examination of the high.
est class in History, Major Hoover wrote
on the blackboard. 'What do you know
about George Washington?'' One an.
swer alluded to his height. and to his
being Nirginan-one merely mention.
cd i'm connection with him-the name Of
Braddock--and one or two mentioned
his truthfulness. In no case, however.
was there such full and complete state
ment of who and what George Washing
ton was, as might have been obtained
from young men and women of three or
four years standing in the ordinary high
schools.
| In my intercourse with the Deaf
Mutes l have been struck with the want
of full, complete, and symmetrical de.
velopment. This is, believe. the natu-
raj consequence of the peculiar dcpriva-
ton under which they labor-and which
constitutes cery great obstacle i'm the
way of intellectual sympathy between
teacher and pupil. The Deaf Mutes are
much further removed than the Blind
from the rest of their kind. 1t is more
difficult to reach them and bring out
their mental resources--conseque it
will be rare, think, to find among them
cases of high intellectual developments
and particularly in such abstruse studies
as Metaphysics and the higher Mathe-
matics. 1t seems, then, that there are
| special difficulties in the way of those
teachers who labor with this class Of pu-
pills. BY persistcncy, by patience, by
careful attention to minute details, these
difficulties have been met and overcome.
1t is work we'll deserving the best en-
ergies of the mind and the warmest and
most loving sympathies Of the heart
| In the instruction Of the Blind, the
methods pursued and the results obtain
cd seemed to be of a different kind
The faculties which here are left i'm tact
! those of speech and of hearing-are the
great avenues decentralization between
| soul and soul. There is between teach.
er and pupil ready interchange OF
thought and feeling. II is comparative
| ~ easy for ono to lead and for the other
to follow. The blind are thus enabled
to attain and move securely upon n level
beyond the reach OF the deaf-mutes.-
They are more thoroughly in accord with
the great brotherhood OF man. They
have n more accurate and far-rcaching
! apprehension OF all the great subjects Of
human thought and more lively SYM
pathy, and deeper interest in all the
| issues of human life.
The foremost man in the foremost
class among the DeafMutes could not
be secure of his footing in the Division
of Decimal Fractions. The highest class
among the Blind, who had been under
instruction for about the same length of
time, furnished several members-SxAo,
without the aid of artificial helps, went
through a right complicated Algebraic
problem with readiness and accuracy
that were surprising. SO far rs the
blind are concerned. there is no limit i'm
the whole realm of human thought and
feeling to which they may not 90. The
development of their tactile sense~to
such degree of delicacy ne to enable
them to read raised print is indeed won.
derful. 1t is n most important adjuvant
in their education and is the secret of
the success with which they prosecute
some branches of handicraft They
have thus means Of livelihood, and nj.
so Of solace and Improvement for many
nm hour that would otherwise he weari.
some. These faculties Of speech and Of
hearing. however. are the KEYS which
unlock TO them the great treasures Of
knowledge, the links that bind them
closely in appreciative fellowship with
their kind.
Upon one point l Intercepted the
principal. and obtained reply that was
full Of comfort and interest. lie said
that the great Spiritual truths Of the BIZ
| bic seemed to he fully within the com
prchcnsion Of both classes Of pupils
and that so far rs related TO The infu.
enee Of these truths upon their lives and
conduct, they would compare with their
speaking brothers and sisters. 10 seem.
ed obvious that in respect 10 Biblical in
struction. no pains had been spared
and in no department we're the results
more gratifying.
In conclusion. Mr. Editor, ] take plea
sure in commenting this noble charity
20 tho people Of West Virginia. IL
should be nurtured with vigilance, pru.
dehce and tenderness. Its pecupiary
/ support should not be stinted but libe-
eral ne becometh n great apd growing
State. II should he kept rs an interest
almost holy-separate and apart from