National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-04-27
KINpAIL GREER.
Presentation Day at the National Deaf Mute

IN
The presentation day Of the National Deal
Mute College, at Kendall Green yesterday, the
j twelfth anniversary of the Institution was the
| occasion Of very large gathering in the college
| hall. The main portion Of the hall was given mp
to the guests Of theinstituton, while the students
were seated in the rear. A great many promi-
| nent citizens and friends of education were
present in the audience, among them Commits
| s.oner Eaton, Of the Bureau of Education; Hon.
Horatio King, Judge Drake, Judge Advocate
| Dunn, DR.. Toner and Rev. DR.. Little. Prof Z. NJ.
Gallaudet, president Of the college, presided, and
with him; on the platform, were seated the faculty.
tary Of the Interior; Senators Dawes and Ham,
lin, Prof Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute;
Ierssy Bslon q s bepfs ur
| Rev. S. s. MiicheI, D. d., President Welii5g, Of
the Columbia University; Prof. j. Z. HIlgard.
representatives,; Messrs. King, johnson and
Thomas, trustees Of the Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity. ~
| THE ExERusEs. -
The exercises began at O'Clock To those who
have never associated with educated deaf r1utes,
or who have never attended any of the exercises
of the colleges one Of the most interesting features
was the manner OF communication between the
mutes, and many wondering eyes were turned
upon the silent orators as by expressive gestures
grafton had been deifSeredNread BY one r Of the
faculty fer the benefit of those blessed with the
perfect sense Of hearing; and rendered into sign
as rapidly as in audible words by the reader
there were many expressions Of surprise. One
70 ahs front Sw
Of stump speech in Iowa, would it," The faces
Of the silent speakers were constantly changing
pressed, and one thing noted by those unused to
that method of communication was the grace
which long habit has lent to the motions Of the
mutes. .-a1
The opening exercise was prayer, and Rev s.
S, Mitchell, y. D., invoked the blessing Of God.
dock Teegarden, of Iowa, the subject being 'Our
Educational Progress" 1t was an admirably
constructed review of the advance of education.
The second exercise was o dissertation by Dudley
Webster George, Of Kentucky on "The Study Of
History" Professor Gallaudet announced that
Mr.. George the latter was unable to be present,
but wishing to perform his part in the exercises,
he had prepared his essay, which would be read.
Gallaudet translated IL into sign language. The
dissertation was listened to attentively.
,,T mr. William dao. George Jones q New York de-
tion." The orator described in vivid manner
the condition Of nature in the earliest periods
and conveyed in an effective way, IN idea of the
mammoth forms and strange shapes of animal
life in the earths infancy. He also sketched the
various and beautiful forms of vegetable life and
to its present form, and the appearance of man
with an immortal soul upon the scene. The ora
ton was interesting to the audience not only for
its vivid picturing but because an opportunity
was afforded to watch the process by which the
mutes convey to one another ideas of forms, mag
nitude and natural characteristics. Mr.. Jones
delivered his yoiceless grafton in o most vivid
manner, and his accurate representations OF the
peculiarities Of extinct animals by means Of signs
conveyed his thoughts as accurately as they could
have been translated in words.
Mr.. Jones was loudly applauded, and during an
intermission which followed he told o humorous
story, by pantomime, to the gathering, which pro-
voked considerable amusement.
Mr.. Amos Galusha Draper, b. A., of Washing
ton, candidate for the degree of master of arts,
delivered an Grafton on "The Influence OF Mathe-
NAUTICAL Studies on Personal Character" The
grafton indicated great deal Of thought and
careful preparation.
Brief addresses were made by Prof. Henry, of
the Smithsonian Institute; President Gilman, of
the Johns Hopkins University, and Secretary
Chandler.
PRESENTATION OF DEGREES.
President Gallaudet then conferred the degree
of master of arts upon Mr.. Amos Galusha Draper
b. A, of Washington, q graduate of the class Of
1872 and the degree of bachelor of arts upon Geo.
MOredock Teegarden, Of Iowa, and VIM. George
Jones, of New York. The other candidate for
the degrees, Dudley Webster George, as has been
hafo soft rrac