Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-05-03
Washington Letter.
" ASIIINGTON. Apr. .

The old supcrStitionS regarding those
whom Nature had created with imperfect
minds or without the power of commune
eating their mental experiences in vocal
language, are curious We find in the
time of the Black Prince that deaf mutcs
were recognized rs Il lower order of hu
m;tnitv than their more fortunate broth
rem, but since their intelligence was APP
parent, they were allowed certain libcr-
lies in all households. coming even to tie
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 We're servcd :;
then, the broken fragments in the TRENCH
ers. or chance mor>cl> thrown to them, IL
to the dogs, We're their only portion In
our own land since the beginning of this
century. deaf mutcs We're ranked with
ido's in the eve Of the law. Only Il few
wears AGO. in the face Of All their wonder
tul progress, Gen Butler declared Il deaf
mute WAS but half Il man. hardly think
the General would say that now, especial
V if it We're his good fortune to be pres
rnt ut the graduating exercises of the Ma
lional Deal Mute College, as | was on
Wednesday afternoon. The regular col
lcye wear terminates with the last week of
June. but the weather is then SO warm
t ut President Gtilaud,t wisely arranged
for the public ceremonies ut thi, plc;t~antcr
season
THIS National Deaf Mute College was
founded through the benevolent interest
Of Hon. Amos Kendall. whose personal
~ymlr,thc> h,d mpd. him enthusiastic
concerning thrs" children of silence, and
IN Young Edward Gallaudrt, the son OF 4
mute mother, and a father whose nam"
VIII alwaN- be reVtr'd MI kenIaIl found
wiling helper. IN more lnronlprte Is
tabll>hmcntS It had already been proved
tlat this unfortunate class Wa not def
Gent Ill intellect; they only lacked The or
binary power Of expression; their rdUct-
ION had been carried through ordinary
branches; they eagerly wished for SOME
thing still hcyont'. amt Nr. '1;.!audcl de-
sired to see IN institution th.,t would tit
them Thoroughly for ANY place in liz. e.
pcrialiy for tlMt of instructors il thriroWn
ranks. The hattie ~. ans tae prejudice
and Ignorance Of generations WITS hrrd,
but Congress II length mtdc al approprl-
alton. and the College WAS founded.
There is a preparatory dep trtmrnt. bat
in the collegiate course all bI,.nchc, com
pri-,.d in the ordinary classical list have
been included One can comprehend how
physical and mathematical sciences may
be- rra>prd bv the deaf lnutc~, but we are
amazed when we find that mental phi.o~o-
ply and Lori are quite II readily UNDER
stood and acquired.
Thc College i located 4 little ont Of the
city. upon the beautiful grounds formerly
attached 10 MIR. krndalIs private resi-
deuce, and still called Kendall Green. The
| Professor houses form 4 pretty cluster ut
4 little distance from the Chtptl, and car
rlITrs sweep up 4 drive burdrrrI win
;rrr~ and shrubs We were 4 I!ltie carly
on w cduc>,tV: a group Of students We're
standing upon the Lawn, intent upon ~ome-
thing which one OF their number WAS tell
ne Ihcy would interrupt rs rapid
signs with questioning gestures, AMI We
watched them with interest; bUt once in
he chapel. We forgot the INtr group IN
The presence Il the larger one In" stu
dents were seated a> happily excited and
rs lovou>lI rNprttant rs any students
could he on COMMENCEMENT day There
Is no distinction here OF " race. color "l
previous condltlon. 50 several du>kN faces
appeared am NJ thc ftllCr ones. ana All
We're dressed IN gaia costume
ohc rattiN meets / gentleman 81 court
iicr manners than l't'>ldcht 'rtIAuict.
ne never iAlI> IN 'i' least or greatest re
4ulfrm'hl' H"i TIE Ni'd'nt> VIII hr very
!ih'iN |" l"II"" lhrI 't''Il ne p'f-
tf'ut 81 lil"m;t> ''iul''I"rt (lIIr INST apps
tie VINO lft|chtd III America the gospel
"t possible education OF nutt>)' being ut
thr back OF the platform, Wiltc IN i 'front.'
sat, dress Ct IN Il simple fItlln peHt BE-
coming hcr silver h;tlf' SIT us widow, now
more titan >cvcntN--cvcn years o.d. and :,
ch rmlnE woman n eVriy relation OF ltc:
mn" children have called her mother, hot
IN tiic tones You I'm" 1 would use Tor MIS-
''Ali'tidet has never h';rt a sound OF amy
Kind hut III Il V"ltcieS' language Wh">t
'ioq"rn' tenderness i>Most expressive. Not
one of nfr cHlIdfcn has lniittl1'd he: ms
fortune ana liei' are lew scenes more
pctdt!lui IVAN lhit Oh lcsi"tHl ''tiEluItl
t>coftihT MS mother 20 parties anu lcrtlp-
tons, proudly introducing nor ami swiftly
T''h> i"l'11 an 'llt' Is st'"' AZ ihtSe 'om-
iiichtt'''''l tN'I'I>r9 We li.l>>eu me music
">u,'i on S'''h oet'NIon9' IL st'int' Is II
we mao III some way HN''' " me Alh@"om
OF silence ana 'ii' IL I'tl'A >cepIc was
~ -i!'''i'l' o,i'I '' ti'' "Pt,iIh3 pray
i''9i''' h''i S'oo'' l i''r>>"' o'"'ll Win
C'o9'" rS 'ie''.N ioi'1" i'l- ana ' .I
it'Ii'9 'he sPoNti lt''tloil ny Signs men
came IN or''lioh rom Mr- Il tgird'n from
lo"'' VINO : Only Pt't''i mute. ne
'ie''I9 noln'h1 now 'u' ne IA, Il "ilh mem l.
"lH III me So'iltS once !'''ilii!Ii' 80 While
"cLVcriiiS nI> oiA'!oh YOU touIo see 10y inc
'"oIi',h Oh ms ups 'l'' |" MN "or"> were
| iCaii'ic9' ''" >'9hS IN ',IiIlci 'ccoill-
PAi>h'n'h'- ne even, Oh tiIe AFTERNOON
was ,l0 "I"''o,' "l j." M ''ro. Jones OF
Ne" oih' OH t''c 'c''le' OF 're'll"h-
ms young man a., IS ''e SON oil IN actress
at the Bo"cry theatre. in person he Is
very short and very hrna J. bat You w"uld
never cues tllc c'p'p'iIticS OF expression
ma "i!,ef tht0 SMOOTH Goo"-h'linorcd
lace lie gave u pictures OF creation.
'hd'ei' Ifol. ray rc'd MS theme, but Mr.
zones gestures were SO NlNldIy graphic
nat we scarcely htc"rd to listen. II was
amazing mere seemed 10 BE- nerves OF
motion everywhere; even his checks