The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-01
our Deaf Muges.
BY A sEMI-MUTR

by sEMI-MUTB.
To the Editor OF the Herald;
While on my way from the moth to tn 8
ohool, the Texss Deaf Mute Institute,
CHANGED to see copy of your paper dated
September lst and was greatly interested in
your tabular estimate of square mileage in
the different states and countries. was also
pleased with the mention of this school, and
can assure your readers that the pleasant
description you gave them was not too highly
colored, Tho management is indeed good,
and the average of scholarship among the
pupils is good, especially if the detrimental
effects sccruing from frequent change of
principals and teachers be considered. SO
good indeed that it. ia matter of surprise
the number of pupils in attendance is not
greater. In honest truth the number now
here is shsmeiully small If the proportion of
mutes in the state 10 any degree spproxi-
mates TO that of more northern states, Ills
nois for instance, which according to your
tabular showing is but a fourth ae large
as Texas, last year had in the state school
at Jacksonville over five hundred pupils;
besides there was small private
school in one Of the essterly cities taught by
semsmute lady, and large day school in
Chicago under the control of II. 2. Principal
and five teachers. This year the prospect is
good fer considerably larger at enhance.
That any deaf mute child Of proper age tor
school should DO kept from any of these
class oS schools, Which are among tho great
est gories of our land, is iiso matter of
astonishment and deep regret to any person
at all conversant with the peculiariIies Of the
deaf mute mind; one of which is An inability,
more or less noticeable, to learn reading after
acertain age. While persons not much
oOservant of the habits and peculisrities of
the class, may think it will make but trilling
difference if they are kept from school till
we'll along in years, or ii after getting fairly
started at school individual members are de.
tanned at home year,or are, tardy few days
or weeks, or months Others better acquainted
with them know 1t makes vast difference;
that il puts each one so detained
hopelessly back, checks lis mental develop
meut beyond all likelihood of such advance
ment as can be reasonably expected where
The attendance is timely prompt and regular.
If all VINO hear and speak could once fully
realize the worth of education to the deaf il
would be we'll for city as a whole. Any
one who has meG an uneducated adult deaf
mute, or even one who understands the
sign language has not learned 10 read OF
write, must admit that the difference be-
tween such an one, sqd one fairly educated
is.immense, TO such auplrlative degree
that the sum required to produce the dis
parity, even though 1t amounted TO thousands
of dollars, seems but tritie
While too many do not spprehend the
great value of education to the deaf, many
more do not in the slightest degree cOmpre'
bend wsat it is to be dea.. Probably no
better summary of what 1t really is to be
deaf has ever appeared than that
giv,n by Mr.. George Melnotte
Grummond, who is totally deaf and has been
so for six years. Being asked the question,
how does it seem to be deaf? he wrote the
following: The difficulties that beset to-
tally deaf person in the race OF life are
countless, 1t is inconceivsble how hard is
persons lot in this condition. Nobody can
know, without being deaf himself, how utter
ly shut ont from the world totally deaf
person is. 1t is strange the feeling and
stranger still the emotion experienced ut
times. No music, no sweet sounds, no song
of birds, mono of the refining sense Of
melody ever fails to the lot of man whose
ears are forever closed. His life is made up
of ono great and silent solitude. Did you
ever stand in deserted street at mideight
and note the total absence of soundY All is
reposc, sfsr oil the faint murmer OF night
traffic falls on the ear. Thi5 is how it is 20
be deaf; only tire murmer OF the great
sound of toll and din is felt 1t
is never heard. The music that
brightens the eye and bushes the
cheek of those who hesr. falls dead on him
whose ears are closed. The sound Of falling
water, tho rain on tho roof, the rustic of the
forest leaves, and oil sweet sounds arc dead
to him. And yet it has been demonstrated
that deaf mute people can comprehend these
unknown sounds ard understand the
pleasure they bringt others.
The sense of isolsti,n which deafness al
ways causes, Ia greatly intensified to those
who have retained tho power Of hearing
until familiar with sounds; such know for
better than those who become deaf ia Zen
der years the value Of the power they have
lost, This being tho case, any and every
thing which will soften or reduce the tense
of loss, and strangeness is q blessing which
only tho selfish or misery will grudge to
provide. Knowing from total silenca of
twenty-five years what u heavy cross deaf
ness is, my heart yearns over the young
deaf mules OF our land. And as brothers
and si,tors in alll clion, long to Gather them
into tue educational folds which nCbls phil"
anthropisls have opened In
50 many Of our stats; long
TO give each one every advantage, spiritual,
mental or mechanical which money can pur-
chase and to ontrest them to make swI6a
use ofovery advantage granted uERp.
all the sad sights that have 6xed ioe 40
in my mind, two of the most ss'''' II
First, that of an smiable deRf.e Us tne
twenty-eight years old general OUT IN. N
becaule she could-noScently ordered, nrims
s sSnea bs aor in,ds or tho inauguratithM she
school ~ feda,ions aid murftl her mind
i've or Phey hnd a tle.otentive Nsse'
was n @ LAST night 'Dotoo old TO learn :,
$3.50 very much fly years old Oh
Street Ol OF the vi ali. The look OF mi
0pnd poin Visible 10 his face an
bn 10 tho b. manners were 10 me
M pS ! road 70 favor of education
~ H., and