The New York herald., 1878-11-14
SYMPATHETIC SILENCE.

RECEPTION OF AGED AND INFIRM DEAF MUTEs-
A SCENE OF NoIsILEss GlYETY.
Scan there be sympathy without the gabble Of
words?" asks Charles Lamb. He who believes there
cannot should attend gathering OF deaf mutes such
as o HERALD reporter witnessed yesterday afternoon
at the Home No. 200 East Thirteenth street. Every year
the inmates of this modest mansion hold reception
and fair and an interesting occasion it is The re-
porter made his call between five and six o'clock in
the afternoon and found the house brilliantly lighted
and ut the door he met u bevy OF young men and
women going in. They laughing among them
selves, as is the custom of young men and wonen the
world the reporter addressed them. lis this the
Home for Aged and Mtrm Deaf Afutes?" he inquired.
His answer peal of merry laughter. "Am l
the subject Of their airth he wondered. .or have
intruded upon private gathering that my quek
ton is received in SO strange manner?" At th8
moment the door Of the house opened and food of
hight revealed half dozen hands passing wildly
through the air. The mystery explained. Tho
party going in kissed their fingers to the lady at the
door, salutaion she returned by q similar gestures
then they all placed their hands upon their hearts
and bowed. The reporter was somewhat ut loss as
to how he should make his wants known
having but the mercst acquaintance with
the sign language picked up many years
ago At school for s,s purpose Of talking behind the
silence WAS Us profound as in wilderness. Hearing
the catcr Of knives and forks in the distl he pen
Rev. Dr. Galaudet drinking cup of tea with party
Of Ladies' and gentlemen. Here tie silence was broken
with words.
THE MuTRs AT HOME.
The Reverend Doctors benevolent face overspread
with smiles at an account Of thcreporters difficulty in
making himself understood, and he Immediately took
him i'll charge "This honie said he, ..is under the
care Of the Church Mission for DEAF Mutcs, and is
supported entirely by voluntary contributions. As
you may imagine, there are few people more
helpless than aged and niirm deaf mntes.
They do nothing for their own support
Of W.. hnva
eleven inmates now, six of whom are old men,
The ages range from sixty to seventy-two and three
There class of unfortunates in the world who
get so discouraged rs these. They to lose all
hope unless they are taken Of and give them
selves up to despair. But when provided with home
they remarkably cheerful set OF people, Two of
the wonen We have here are nearly blind well as
incurred the reporter Yes indeed ay Sorn than va
can possibly accommodate. We very anxious to OBJ
tain funds sufficient to get . farm house with
garden, where We can have shops that the inmates
will have something to employ themselves with. We
have already got $500 to that end and hope before
long to have more. Come up stairs and I'll
show You how they live" The reporter followed
DIR. Galautct and soon found himself the second
floor whore miniature fair was in progress Tables
were placed across the room, on which were strewn
mats tides and other fancy work done by deaf mutes
The room full OF women, young and old but
silence. No cries of .Cash!' distracted the ears Of
the purchaser and if the buyer had anything to say
words. Up another flight OF stairs and the reporter
came upon the old mems quarters. Some read
ing, some were talking and one old man coloring
pictures that he had copied from the illustrated
papers. His art was not high art. but it pleased
him well though it done with
the dexterity of Ger0me The color was ut
least brilliant, though the drawing was crude. II
hard to distinguish the Earl of Beaconsfeld
from Prince Bismarck. But then this artist wns
not politician, and If he did give the British
Premier mustachc and the German diplomat
curl the middle of his forehead it was with no
Interior motive.
In tho front room the old women were grouped
around one OF their number who was telling of an
interesting tale from the ends of her fingers. They
were 80 absorbed that they scarcely tho Doctor
and the reporter they entered. They ut last
glanced up with start and kissed their hands. They
seemed very happy and looked very comfortable.
The walls Of their rooms were hung with bright
pictures and their beds covered with snowy
| again through the silent halls, where young
! girls and boys frisking around in noseless
glee. he asked the Doctor who those children were.
and learned that they inmates of the institute at
Fort Washington. who had come down attend the
/ reception. With singular sensations the reporter
glanced around him upon the gay silence that per-
vaded the place and the opening paragraph in
the essays of Ella came to his mind nd:"Woudst thou
| hnd refuge from the noises and clanors Of the
multitude? Wouldst thou enjoy at solitude and
society? Wouldst thou possess the depth of thy
spirit in stiffness, without being shut out from the
consolatory forces OF thy specesg Wculdst thou be
alone. and yet ccompanied-singular. yet not with
out some to keep thee in counenancc: Go then to
reception Of deaf mutes.