The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-04-11
MISCELLANY.

THE DUMB TAuoHT TO SPEAK, visited
Whippie's Home School for Deaf Mutes,
located here, at Mystic River Conn.,, which is
known as the first school in this country at
which deaf mutes have been taught to speak
orally. Conversing with those scholars who
have enjoyed Mr.. whippie's mode Of instruc-
tion for some time, one would not suspect
that they ever labored under any defect OF
hearing. The pleasure which the scholars
take in being thus able to talk with others, Is
very great. It seems TO them like breaking
out into new life. The late Jonathan Whip
nile. grandfather of the present principal,
Taught his own deaf son to speak orally, and
to converse this was the first successful ex-
periment of the kind known in this country,
and out of it has sprung the present institu-
t;on. The wonderful art OF teaching the
dumb to speak consists in training the pupil
to observe aud initiate the motions OF the
Inns and other organs of speech Of the person
speaking to him. Mr.. Whipple has also In
vented hieroglyphic alphabet, showing the
position of the mouth, in articulating each OF
the elementary sounds. A reproduction OF
the position by the pupil with his own mouth
accompanied with voice, produces the word.
The advancement of the scholar, by means OF
this training, is more rapid, and his articula-
ton more perfect, than one would think pos
sible. doubt not that deaf mute may thus
be taught to address an audience in such
manner as scarcely to awaken the suspicion
that he was ever a mute, though still entirely
destitute of hearing. J. r. B.
There are several such instances now in ex-
istence in this country. From some examin-
alton of the subject, made several years ago,
we are satisfied that there is no reason why
person should remain dumb If the vocal train
ing Is early taken up Indeed, we have known
cases where the deaf person was able, with
very little special training, to catch the con-
versation from the motions of the lips--the
peroeptive powers Of the deaf being general
~ remarkably quick, as though to compensate
for the loss Of hearing, or perhaps as a result
Of the special demand made upon the eye,
and its consequent special training. The
Christian Weekly.
WONDERFUL. PROFICIENCY OF DEAF
MuTE IN THE usE OF LANsUAsE.--The fol-
lowing paragraph is copied from letter
written by one of the former pupils of Whip
pies home school for deaf mutes at Mystic
River, Conn. The writer of the letter from
which the extract is taken, is the same Miss
p, who was taught to repeat the Lords Pray
or, as related in the Bulletin several months
ago -
81 shall never give my speech up, for any
thing In the world. 1t is a great enjoyment
TO me, assure you. My friends consider it a
perfect wonder, and don't find it at all hard
to understand me. ! am so glad and so are
you suppose, who taught me to speak. The
Natural Alphabet is considered to be wond-
erful by all. Many smart and intelligent peo-
pie think that have been restored to health
Is that not funny tell them no, that can
not hear any better, but can talk and read
the lips. Still they think hear little bet
ter, it surprises them 30 much.
---NorwicA Conn., Bulletin.