The Portland daily press., 1876-05-03
lfrom Our Regular Correspondent
Uur Washington Letter.
a visit to the National Institution fer
Deaf Muics.--Graduaiipg Exercises,
etc. etc.
WASHINGTON. Anril 90

etc. etc.
WASHINGTON, April o.
Ihe Old supersttions regarding those whom
Nature had created with imperfect minds, or
without the power of communicating their
mental experiences in vocal language, are Curl
Gus. We find ih the time of the Black Prince
that deaf mutes were recognized ss a lower
order OF humanity than their more fortunate
brethren, but since their intelligence was ap-
parent they were allowed certain liberties in
all households, coming even to the court, and
entering the banquet halls, but never by any
chance sitting with the guests or allowed to
serve them. They might watch the feast with
their bright, eager eyes till all the guests were
served, then the broken fragments in the
tienchers, or c5anca morsels thrown to them
as to the dogs were their only portion. In our
| own land, since the beginning Of this century
deaf mptes were ranked with idiots in the eve
of the law. Only a few years ago ip the face
OF all their wonderful progress, Gen. Butler
declared deaf mute was but half a man. 1
hardly think the General would say that now
especially If it were his good fortune to be pres
ent at the graduating exercises of the National
Deaf Mute College as was on Wednesday
afternoon. The regular college year termi-
mated with the last week of June, but the
weather is then so warm that President GAL
laudet wisely arranged for the public cere-
monies at this pleasanter season. This
National Deaf Mute college was founded
through the benevolent interest Of Hon.
Amos Kendall, whose personal sympathies
had made him enthusiastic concerning these
| children of silence, and in young Edward GAL
laudes the son of mute mother and a father
whose name will always be revered, Mr.. Ken
dali found willing helper. In more incom.
plete establishments, it had already been
proved that this unfortunate class was not de-
tcient in intellect; they only lacked the ordn-
ary power of expression; their education had
been carried through ordinary branches, they
eagerly wished for something still beyond, and
Gallaudet desired to see an institution that
would fit them for any place in life, especially
for that of instructors in their own ranks The
battle against the prejudice and ignorance Of
generations was hard, but Congress at length
| made an appropriation and the college wa,
founded.
There is preparatory department, but In
the collegiate course all branches comprised in
the ordinary classical list have been included.
One can comprehend how physical and mathe-
matical scienses may be grasped by the deaf
mutes, but we are amazed when we find that
mental philosophy and logic are quite as readi-
| ly understood and acquired
The college is located little out of the city
| upon the beautiful grounds formerly attached
| to Mr.. KendalPs private residence and still
| called Kendall green. The professors houses
| form pretty cluster a! little distance from
the chapel, and carriages sweep up a drive bor-
dered with trees and shrubs. We were little
early on Wednesday, group of students were
standing upon the lawn intent upon something
which one of their number was telling, they
would interrupt his rapid signs with question
| ing gestures, and we watched them with iutei-
est but once in the chapel we forgot the little
| group in the presence Of the large one. The
| pupils were seated as happily excited and as
| ioyously expectant as any students could be on
commencement day. There is no distinction
| of "race, color or previous condition." SO sew
| eral dusky faces appeared among the fairer
| ones, and all were dressed in gala costume.
One rarely meets a gentleman of courtlier
manners than President Gallaudet, he never
fails in the least or greatest requirement, and
the students will be very likely to follow their
| teacher The portrait of Thomas Gallaudet
| ithe first apostle who preached in America the
Gospel of possible education of mutes) being at
the back of the platform, while 10 front seat
| dressed in a simple richness best becoming her
| silver hair sat his widow, now more than seven
| ty-seven years DID, and a charming woman in
every relation of life: nine children have call ID
her mother, not in the tones that you and I
| would use, for Mrs. Gallaudet has never heard
a sound of any kind but in a voiceess Ian
| guage whose eloquen tteDde rness is most ex
| pressive. Not one of her children has inheri-
| ted her misfortune, and there are few scenes
more beautiful than that of President Gallau-
| det escortiDg his mother to parties and recep-
tions, proudly introducing her and swiftly
translating all that is said.
AT these commencement exercises, we missed
the music usual on such occasions; it seemed az
if we had in some way invaded the kingdom Of
silence. and that its leaden scepre was over US.
| DR.. Mitchell offered the opening prayer. Be.
| side him stood Professor Gordon with closed
| eyes reverenty following and translating the
| spoken petition by singns. Then came an ora
tion by Mr.. Teegarden from Iowa, who is only
partial mute. he hears nothing now, but he
has dim memory of the sounds once familiar
so while delivering his oration you could see by
the motion of his lips that to him words were
realities aud signs an acquired accomplishment.
| The event of the afternoon was the grafton of
| VIM. Geo. Jones of New York, on the "Pic-
lures of Creation" This young man il the son
of an actress at the BoweIy Theatre; in person
he is very short and very broad but you would
never guess the ca pabiities of expression hid
under that smooth good humored face, he gave
| us pictures of creation indeed. Prof Foy read
his theme but Mr.. Jones gestures were so viz
| idly graphic that we scarcely needed to listen,
| it was amazing, there seemed TO be nerves of
| motion everywhere, even his cheeks seemed to
| possess special muscles which made them quiyer
| IN funniest movement. and all the audience
| were in convulsions of laughter while he who
| made the sport only showed his CONSCIOUSNESS
| OF its absurdity by queer twinkle in his blue
/ eyes. OF course he Was rapt uOusly applaujed,
he could see the motion of the cspping hands,
| and his arms were filled with bouquets.
There are twenty-five thousand deaf mutes
in our country; other asylums aud schools give
| them the common branches, but here their
teachers must be fitted. and Congress has made
1t possible for almost any one 10 secure the
advantages offered, One bundred aud fifty
dollars year cover all expenses of board and
tuition for those able to pay, while some kind
| provision has been made for the children of
| poverty who hanger for kno Wedge
| When L went through the class rooms a wear
| ago noticed little boy with head like q
cOcoanut, covered with closely curling WOOL
for the face was black as charcoal. but the eyes
were blue as violets; some boysh freak at
tracted my attention, and the teacher made
him write on his slate answers to various
questions, and told me Instances of his Topsey
like mischief. He seemed to know what she
was saying, aud was delighted that he bad
been noticed. Wednesday when the crowd OF
pupils was passing out, black boy left the
ranks and extended his hand to me with a
smile of recognition. know locked puzzled
for had quite forgotten the dusky face. He
laughed, touched a bit of blue ribbon on my
dress, and pointed to bis eyes, sure | would
understand, and having received my salutation,
walked away exultaLt 1t was a very little
thing, but when contrasted his prospects for
| life with those which were his before be came
| here I felt like sinoinp a snpcial dnxola0v for