The New York herald., 1877-11-20
TIE ST. JOSEPH DEAF MUTES

The visitors to St Josephs Institute, Fordham, yes
terday deeply Interested in the exercises OF the
dcai mutes who exhibited degree or proficiency
looked for IL is understood that requires about
five times as long to communicate knowledge TO these
children that required for the instruction oil children
whose faculties in normal condition. AS the
guests entered the class the Older girls wore
artculatng from Professor Bells signs, or "visiblo
Speech which written the blackboard To
the uuintiated these signs incomprehen-
sble but the facility with which the pupils read them
left no doubt OF their fully unaerstan ding them.
Among the sentences first taught Tho words ather,"
"moher," s'sisier' or brother" most frequently
cur and "I wish to see mother articnlated with
distlnctness and melody truly surprising by some oi
the mere advanced pupils.
.Lp reading afforded iull scope for the exercise OF
the pupils knowledge not only in reading the lips,
but in giving correct answers 10 questions asked by
both teachers and guests They were examined in
history and gave distinct, correct answers. Two Of
the girls who nave been studying grammar parsed
short audibiy and unalyzcd them correctly
Exercises In notation were performed In tho easiest
manner millions being expressed by the Intelligent
pupils as readily as tens or hundreds
The little recited dialogue by means Of signf
expressed their N 'aning as strongly as audible
speech could have done, one in particular explaining
how mother Kissed and soothed shc baby when it
handling. Katie Burke, VINO had spent her
vacation in taxing "trip 10 ireland, danced
an Irish jig admirable time, and When the
guests thanked her gave them curtsey that might do
to cultured lady The most interesting
child In The institute Is little gri aged eleven years.
who is blind well deal and speechlessat least she
was spcecnlcss until instructed by her patient teach
ers; her "rhank your IS as swcetly spoken as
that of any child, while she a,so articulates number
OF sentences speaks distinctly and pleasantly the
name OF s.Mr Hayes'' when she rs asked who Is Pres
lent oi the United states This chd's memory 10
most remarkable. The HERALD representative saw
her last june and she told the name OF her VS.
itor When yesterday ana asked "Who 70
this" She repeated tue name IN SO distinct
O voice as astOnish every one pros
cnt; and as the teacher held her hands
ana signs the Guilds TACO expressed the
varied emotions of 10Y dspleasare. Many OF the
children deaf mutes from birth, but number are
thus afflicted through having had scarlet lever, mea.
sles OF type or otner diseases incident "a
childhood. When a clergyman who can converse IN
sign iaug uage visits them their joy is unoounded
bu, those most advanced enjoy visit from any
stranger who tries speak very slowly and dis.
tnctiy and they will road the lips with most intense
interest Besides their special studies in books they
are taught and make all sorts OF fancy work,
but from the hours devoted 10 their various los
sons they are required to engage IN any employ
ment, most OF tholn from the very nature OF their
afclion of delicate physical organization. A
small proportion OF the children IN this institute
paid for by parents guardians, few are paid Tor by
the county, and quite number of the sxty-nve arc
taught, and clothed grntuousy by the Ladies OF
the Immaculate Heart OF Mary, who devote all their
time and talents to this class OF Children