The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
''UNCLE SANS" SILENT COLLEcr



4 From Deaf Mute Well and Fav.
: orabIy Known in jackson.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., JUNE 10, 1880.
: A recent writer has brought forth an
I earnest "plea for silence" He tells of a
1 school which an old French writer pro-
0 posed to establish called 81 Acadanie 81
, tene''Se," wherein much writing, much
, thinking and no speaking was to be the
rule. Probably he was, like most of your
readers, not aware that the ideal academy
OF the fantastic Frenchman was already
az .faa accompH at the Capital of this Cos
slipping nation of ours, where a silent col
lege is yearly sending forth its alumni,
pledged to lifelong observance of Car
lyle's pointed Imagination. have little
revenge upon the person who never heard
OF the National Deaf Mute College-our
pride and glory, and more still for those
editors III particular, who style our deaf
mute schools asylums, simply because MI
pills have the misfortune () to be deaf.
such idiotic and pitiful essays as editors
and Others are wont to write when speak
ing OF such schools, gives the reader the
impression that the pupils lost their brains
with their hearing and were placed in
''those asylums' to keep them. from de-
vouring their fellow-brethren. Such mex
cusable, exuberant imaginary essays have
been one of the causes of depriving thou
sands of intellectual minds the benefits of
cultivation. would have it distinctly UNI
derstood, if it was possible to hammer it in
the heads of that Opaque class of our popula-
ton, the editors, that deafmute schools are
no more charitable institutions than are any
other free schools. But I digress. The
first prominent object to catch the eye of |
the traveller as he enters Washington, by |
rail from the north, is the finely proper
toned tower and spire of the College /,
Chapel, with its large United States flag
spreading to the breeze. The college is on
beautiful suburban site called Kendall
Green, rising on Il gentle eminence over
looking the city. The entrance to the
Green is effected by large iron gate, and
the first objects of beauty are the French
patterned residences of the professors. To
the right of these lie the College and pri-
mary buildings, with the Chapel in the CEN
ter. The Chapel is medieval Gothic in
style, and the appearance is in pleasing
contrast to the severe Grecian and Doric
fronts common to the public buildings of
the city,
The new west wing of the college build
ing is composition of Ornamentation,
Gothic, Corinthian, Ionic and Doric archi-
lecture seldom seen in this country, and is
me Of if not the prettiest building in .
Washington. Space will not permit a
minute description. The buildings, togeth-
r with the grounds, containing one hun
lred acres, cost something less than one :
Million dollars.
Students to the college department are /.
Omitted through the recommendation of
lember of Congress-that is, if he can
tand the required ordeal of surgical
peraton on the head. The primary de- Ii
which is in no way connected
nth the college, is for the sons and
aughters of the army and navy, and the
district of Columbia. AT present there -
re 80 students in the college, representing
States. The course of studies is about
he same as those pursued in the eastern
Dlleges. :"
One can hardly leave the bable and clamor
f the city, and enter the precincts of the NJ
'llege without strange sensations, for it is
curious place-curiOus in its personnel, he
$ processes and its incidents. The most
oppressive thing is the atmosphere of per- su
lding silence in which he finds himself. -;
c will see gathering around him at chapel
me Il thrOng of youth very like those of
5 own college days, but they come with Go
1t summons of bell, and no hilarious tones IL
ho along the passages, no comic songs "
e heard around the door way, nor no !
nging choruses enliven the evening; for VT
e deaf mute is u stranger, if not to the
dden soul of harmony, at least to the
ter forms whatever ideas of poetic or 4
Isical expression exist among the stu Th
nts, are.those only as they linger in the Ma
nds of those whose ears many long net
ar ago became closed to all the cOncords ~
sweet sounds. The place though silent, cot
far from gloomy and eXpressionless. FRI
me will think so after once seeing the Nj,
ldents converse, debate and decaim
long themselves. They of course use
} voiceless language of pantomme, me
itch is in itself perfect language, and eoo
itch is far more graphic in its delinea- '''"
II of the emotions, than spoken language "n
coat,,ro :, a. sv.. o,,d ,ost ,,o+,,,.,I wit
ans by which any passion seeks express
IL and if factions speak louder than Wv, Wv
rds," our arguments are more forcible ~,
IN those delivered orally. A.,
Witness this group of students convers- ,or.,
on the campus. Two are discussing an ,
tnlru term question: Inc thiru ami
mer' is excited beyond bounds, his NJ
lbs are in energetic action, and on his mari
lntenance is portrayed the similitude of life
OtiOns that move earnest contestants. NJ
is warm and cool, perturbed and calm, mar
pellant and winning by turns. Every to r
a advanced by the hands is visibly NJ
tched upon the countenance and when swe
evidence is presented his set face chal- the
ges disprOof. The gesture of decision and
by the smile of ridicule. H.
zen he has exhausted his "bag of wind" amt
his opponents opinion, and referred the and
chings Of COnkling as proof, he folds to VI
arms and leans back against tree, a out
lie of serene Immortality symbolizing tell
confidence in what he has said. His larg,
'ardist opponent, who has stoodlike the the c
tone wall of the Sunny South" with in \
v gesture and calm, battles every argu- close
1t advanced by his opponent, and in tute,
cusion refers to the example set by the
iortal Washington mud jefferson. 1t is
lily necessary to add that the "Grant
" sticks TO the tree.
onder student is picturing to grOupe
looks of fellow-student who has
he'd the seat of his black trousers with
iece of his old shirt, and put coat of 20
king over il to make il correspond. ucS