The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-11-09
A BOON FOR THE DEAF.

The audiphone is a newly invented
instrument for tho purpose Of making
deaf persons hear as well as those who
are endowed with the most acute serse
Of hearing. 1t is made on the princi-
pie of the telephone. of which It is a
modification. but inst=ad OF being ad
dressed TO the ear il j, placed in contsc.
with the teeth through which sound Is
conveyed directly to the nerves Of hear
ing. In the case Of deaf mutes who
have never known what sound is. and
whose nerves Of hearing have never
been excited at all. regular education
ha. TO DO gone through before speech
can be understood or practiced Aper>
son who has only just acquired the
sense of hearing might as well be ad-
dressed in Chinese as in English, but
when the means of addressing the
nerves Of hearing are once attained
learning to speak is merely u matter Of
time aud practice. II this invention
effects all that is claimed for it, and
the account we have received Of 1t is
accompanied bya Testimonials Of 1t.
utility of unquestionable authenticity
and unreserved commentator. an in
calculable boon has been conferred on
a number of persons hitherto believed
to be incursbly afflicted. The audi-
phone closely resembles q square
japanese fan with rounded corners for
which it may be readily mistaken.
When required for use it has to be
drawn into the shape Of a bow by
means Of cords with which it is furn-
ished. 1t is then placed in contact
with tho upper front teeth and per-
feet sense OF hearing is at once estab-
Iished. 1t enables deaf persons to hear
the services in church or the perform
ance OF an opera or theatre with perfect
facility and distinctness, aud even those
who are born deaf TO hear the sound
Of their own voice. Unlike the old
fashioned ear trumpet oy which sound
is distorted. the audiphone conveys
every tone with absolute distinctness
exactly in the same way rs the tele-
phone. The latter instrument does
not convey the actual sound itself but
merely the vibration produced by sound
and it was by clos observation of
this principle that the successful con-
struction Of the audiphonc was effected.
DISORDER IN ALAsKA.--At a recent
Cabinet mesting. Secretary Thompson
submitted . report from Capt. Boards
lev, who was sent to investigate the
condition Of affairs in Sitka ON the
complaint Of ths Collector of the port,
who feared that troublesome Indians
might massacre all the whites at the
port. Captain Bcardsley confirms all
tho reports that have been made Of the
lawlessness and disorder that reigns in
Alsaka. There is no way of restrain
ing the bad elements, as there is no
form of government to command re-
spect. The authority Of this Govern
ment is only respected when tho local
officers are backed up by naval YES
sci. Since the withdrawal of soldiers
from the Alaska station the natives
have done as they pleased. Captain
Besrdsley recommends that this tract
Of country DO given regular govern
ment assigned To other Territories Of
the Union. This suggestion. as out
lined in the letter. was approved by the
unanimous vote of the Cabinet. In
accordance with this approval. Mr..
Hayes will incorporate n recommenda-
ton Of this character in his coming
annual message to Congress If tho
latter approves, fresh opportunities
will DO opened for the great American
Office seeker.