The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-06-17
y. D. & B. Institution.

Blind Department OF Liie ~ ~ ~ ~ iuoIlCo
ton came off Tuesday evening last. At an
early hour, the capaoious chapel OF the lnstitu-
ton was filled with an intelligent audience OF
ladies and gentleman. The room was taste
fully and modestly ornamcnted with evergreens
and flowers, and all the arrangements gave ev-
idence of great care and judgment, in harmo-
nv with the circumstances attending the exhl-
bition, and enhancing the attraction OF the IN
teresting exercises. The concert was under
the especial management Of Miss Lula Berke-
lev. one of the teachers in the Blind Depart
ment, and was conducted in perfect order and
regularity, showing how well she comprehen-
ded the minutest details of the occasion.
The programme, neatly printed at the
Institution, was as follows:
PART FIRST. Alpha Quickstep, Band !;
Song Of the Captive Greek Girl, Solo, Miss l..
Franklin; Clarchen Polka, Orchestra When
the Summer Rain is over, OPP. Chorus; Palmet-
to Waltz, Band What must Fairy's Dream
be, Solo, Miss NJ. Taylor; Laughing Schottiscne,
Orchestra; Morning, Duet, Miss M. Taylor and
Master R. Furbush; Fountain Quickstep, Band;
Those Evening Bells, Quartette.
PART SEcoND.-Sea-view Polka, Orchestra !;
Schubert's Sercnade, Solo, Miss L. Franklin !;
F. H. Il. D. Quickstep, Band; Softly Treading,
Op. Chorus; Heller Shelter Gallop, Orchestra;
How is that for High, Solo, 'sIhe Governor 5"
Anvil Chorus, Band Gently signs the Breeze,
Duet, Misses L. Franklin and N, Taylor !;
Whisperings of Love, Orchestra Worship the
Lord, Sacred Chorus.
Throughout the entire performance there
was diplayed high proficiency in instrumental
and vocal music, developing wonderful tai
ent, in this respect, on the part of these afflc-
and the Orchestra were superbly finished, and
the vocal contributions Wee of that high order
that could only have been displayed by careful
cultivation of extraordinary native gifts.
The ssCaptive Greek Girl,'' Solo, by Miss
Franklin, was sweetly sung, and ''When the
Summer Rain is over,'' was rendered with
delightful effect by the Opera Chorus. ''What
must Fairy's Dream be, by Miss M. Taylor,
floated over the vast audience in soft and char
ming cadences, the remembrance that the life of
the fair songstress is shut dream,'' with her
slack lustre eyes, closed to this beautiful
earth, adding melancholy interest to the
piece.
morning. duet, by Miss NJ. Taylor and
Master R. Furbush, was sp!endidly performed,
as was attested By the voc!ferous applause that
greeted it, and the persistent efforts for its rep
etiton, but which only received the recogni-
ton of a graceful bow from Miss Taylor
''Those Evening Bells" quartette, was well
performed, and ''Softly Treading," by Opera
Chorus, rendexed in a manner of rare excel
lence. ''How is that for High,' by the
sGovernor," who is general favorite,
drought down the house, and the incessant
chatter Of feet and clapping of hands could only
be allayed by the temperance Of the comieal
genius in the song of Popping the Question: y
sporting large boquet which had been sent
him by an appreciative nearer at the conclusion
of s'How is that for High
ssGently signs the Breeze" by Misses L.
franklin and NJ. Taylor, was the sweetest song
of the evening, and met with hearty response
from the audience. Indeed, throughout, the
concert was a complete success, and reflected
great credit upon the management of the In
stitution and those who participated in it.
| The annual examination came off on We'd
nesday morning. AS on the night previous,
the chapel was crowded After prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. Simpson and music, four representa-
tive pupils from the fourth deaf mute class,
were rlgidly examined in geography and cate
chism. The rapidity with which they wrote
the questions and answers on tina black board,
was surprising, and though no time was given
| for study, every question was promptly and
accurately answered, The fifth class was then
examined ON arithmetic and grammar, and i'm
this department, also was exhibited an aston
ishing readiness and quick comprehension.
| There is connected with the Institution
what is called an Articulation Glass, in which
the pupils who are entirely deaf, but can make
some little sound, are taught articulation. One
! little girl who had never heard word uttered
in her life, read verse from ''Little drops of
Water.'' and did it SO well that many of the
words could be distinguished. When it is re-
membered that she had never heard a sound,
this seems almost marvellous, and can only
be the result of the most patient labor on the
part of the instructor-Mr Chas. w. S. Tur-
ner.
| The examination Of the Blind upon reading,
geography, algebra, and French-CapS. Thos.
Doyle's classes-elicited the warmest encomi-
ums. In geography, large raised map was
brought out and the pupil asked to give the
boundaries of foreign countries different rivers,
mountain chains, &C., which she did almost as
quickly as if blessed with sight. The pronun-
citation of French was said by competent judg-
es to be unusually pure, and had one listened,
without looking at the pupils, could never have
discovered that their eyes were closed to the
light of day.
The algebraic equations worked out in the
brain alone, were achievements which more
pretentious students. with the aid of chalk and
black board might have been proud of. How
a person can extract square and cube roots,
multiply and divide, add, substract, in short,
work out an algebraic equation in the head, is
almost incomprehensible to one who has
studied for hours over a similar proposition,
and with the advantages of slate and pencil
1t must not be forgotten that these questions
and examples were not selected beforehand and
| given to the pupil to commit to memory but
were taken from any portion Of the book at
which the teacher Glanced to open, and the
| Principal requested any one in the audience to