The New York herald., 1877-07-12
A SILENT PICNIC.

GATHERING OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO EN-
JOYEp THEMSELVES YES rERDAY NOT BoIs-
TEnoUsLY.
Could Joe Jefferson or Dion Boucicault have dropped
IN ut Washington Park near Tarrytown, yesterday,
they would have thought that OF the from
GRIP Van winke" was being enacted in its native
hills Tor their especial benefit The occasion a
picnic given by the Manhattan Deaf Mute Literary AS
socia,on OF this city. Tho party composed OF
800 mutes anu about hundred oi their
friends. Tho picnic yesterday experiment, bc-
ing tho rst one, Tor which tho association chartered
steamer On other they havo gone part
oil general excursions This society is composed
mostly OF members OF Rev DR.. Gaaqdot's church.
who have formed themselves into association for
mutual Improvement amt literary intercourse.
The excursionists, accompanied by Dr. Gailaudet
ard deaf mute lay reader In tho
church, with other friends, LETT the city
at eight O'Clock In the morning on the steamer
Fort Lcc There was. OF course, no band OF music
aboard, and sign conversation beguiIod tho hours dc
the Journey Most of The cxcurslonisis were
aduts--marrIcd men and women Of the working
classes--ior deaf uutcs engaged many trades
such us shoe making binaug tailoring ana &c neral
sowing They al friends, ard had. ap-
pnrcnly great deal 10 say in their peculiar fashion.
Tho beauty OF the scenery. the grateful brcezes
were all remarked upon 10 the language o! silence.
Shouts oi laughter went up from the boat, for many
good stores were told and not few puns were made
was varionsly discussed, some taxing sides win
Russia aud some wi,u Turkey. Tue finger language
became very animated at times, aud oven those not
acquainted with II could SEQ that tho cx
ciiement was running nigh. The speakers
were not confined to the deaf mutcs' alpha
bet. but make constant use 0t signs that arc
very expressive. For instance II Unc uf tho mutes
wanted to say IL an rlau to SEQ you" he did not spoil
the sentence out, but pointed to his eyes, iud his
hand ou his breast and then pointed AT the person
whom he Is addressing He who thinks that deal
mues are necessarily dull makes u great mistake.
baV IN I'm hriu thai. fhrrf ,rs
ties are continually on the alert On tho picnic yes
terday, were several children Of deaf mutcs who in
herted their pIrcLts' inlrmity, but wcro otherwise
bright anu healthy.
DANCING TO THE SOUND or rHE DRUM
Whom the eycursionists landed at Tarryiown they
walked TO the park In sience betting funeral pro-
ccssou. ana the Inhabitants Of the village locked with
awc upon their singular visitors rhe careful observer
could not have iaicd 10 notice unusual brightness
oil tho eye and a commotion among the Hpgcrs that
meant something more than ordinary gcstcnation
One young girl IN tho party was a lion Tor iioness y
oil The day, ior although called deai mute, she
spoke almost as wei! Us though she heard She was
very bright, and mato herself agreeable 10 tho out
sdcrs, Tor she could READ tho lips AS we'll US spcak
Arrived at the grounds tables were spread, and us
every one had come PROVIDED with Il luncheon gcu-
erous repast was enjoyed Tao clattcr OF knives und
forks and cs!oEal rpplcs OF anghter alone broke
the silence Of tho scene Alter luncheon band Of
formed Tor dancing. Singular as 1t may seem tho
deaf mutcs appeared 10 catch tho rhythmic mo-
zion OF dancing from tho other couples. and
kept remarkably good t:me without hearing
sound save that OF tho drum II is strange pro-
vision Of nature that deaf mutes always hcar tho
sound Of drum Drum taps arc used In all their
schools TO call them to order and they understand tho
sound READILY other children understand that oil
bell. When asked II they hear sound they say
they feel IL IN tho pit OF tho stomach. There was no
singing at the picnlc; tha, is ono OF the accomplish
mcns the inules have not mastered. Some have beou
taught 10 play the piano by noo but their perform
ance 10 mechanical aud unpleasant.
GAME or BAsEBALI.
There was very good baseball nine In uniform
played game with an impromptu nuo Tho nutes
Are very good Players aud made Hue scores.
Tnose who did not dance or play ball employed
their time looking at the others In enjoying quiet
nrtations In shady hooks. Talk about tho language
OF the eyes, tho language OF inc fingers yesterday
seemed 10 speak hu ndred per cont moro plainly
The iay's festivities were pronounced great succcss
and was not until late IN the evening that the boat
lunded II, the foot OF West Twenty y-tourth street
poor Rip Van Winkic md ouly been proving about
his fav0rto baunts he would have rubbed his eyes al
the sight OF many people afflicted ike the old
he mat In the mountains Do you remember where
be those awiuily silent gDomos, 'Are uarc any
dumb grls!" aud when they shake their heads ht
suys, "No2 TOO bad; was Just thinking what good
wives they would make" Alas, poor RIP! a dumt
wife would have been q luxury to him. They mus
he IN demand, julging IRON tho number oil married
women ut the picnic
The excursion o yesterday will prove to many wha
they never knew before that deaf mutcs are tntcll
gent and rational anu have much taste Tor enjoy
ins themselves as have Their hosicr brethren.