The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-08-10
A Silent MerrYmaking.

There were about forty couples dane
ing on the upper deck of an excursion
barge as it moved slowly up the Hudson
recently, in tow of the steam tug Van
derbilt. The feet of the dancers kept
perfect time TO the merry music of the
orchestra, and they moved easily and
gracefully through the figures of the
lancers, Had a chance observer been
told that not one of these eighty young
ladies and gentlemen could hear single
note of the music he probably would have
received the statement with incredulity
as he took another look at the smooth
gliding motions of the revelers. Yet such
was the fact. The dancers were not
only deaf but dumb. for it was picnic
party, made up of these poor, doubly
afflicted ones. But there was nothing
to suggest affiiction in the manner of the
excursionists. On the contrary, they
were enjoying themselves hugely and
seemed to feel all that indescribable ex-
hilaratious which thrills true lovers of
the dance when the soft strains of a
Strauss waltz come floating downward
from the gallery of the Academy of
Music on the night of the "charity.''
1t was the sixth annual excursion of
the Manhattan Literary Association, an
organization of deaf mutes formed prin-
cipally of lady and gentlemen gradu-
ates from the institution for instructing
the deaf and dumb. Accompanied by
heir friends the party, about 500 in all,
started from Eighth Street, East River,
at half past eight in the morning,
steamed around the Battery to the North
River, and after calling at Eleventh
Street to take few more on board, pro-
ceeded up the Hudson to Mount Pleas
ant Grove at Hastings.
The excursion was striking illustra-
ton of how much science has done to
alleviate the condition of the deaf and
dumb. 1t was strange, indeed, to see
them dance with such precision merely
from watching with quick, trained eyes
the time beats of the orchestra leader
and the steps of those who could hear.
But still more marvellous was it to hear
the deaf speak. There were at least
score of those present who had been
educated in the new act of lip reading,
and who could carry on conversation
in the usual way, having learned to read
and speak from watching the lips of their
teachers. A mustache on the part of
the person they spoke with was puzzle
to them sometimes, as it partly con-
ceals the movements of the mouth, and
the Heratd reporter, who has a heavy
mustache' found TIA severe test Tor some
OF the pupils. one charming young
lady, however, conyersed with great
ease and fiuency. She admltted-and
here she blushed very deeply y-that she
was accustomed to mustache, young
! gentleman, very Intimate friend, pos
sesslng very soft and silky one.
Two things were noticeable about the
| excursion party. When the music ceased
there was almost , dead silence, NOW
ana again peal OF nearly laughter would
be heard, showing that In that sense the
pIcnlckers were not dumo' out there was
none oitne puznaha cnaGeer Oh conversa-
ton winch one usually nears on IestiVe
occasions OF the sort Inc lew VINO con
Versed were, OF course, very sIilah mi, ,
,t' w, MI, ,ae.,.e -,
ses.,cul'a'ioe s, n VIII 1ne n's,las: "LIH sne
dv,lresS;,ro o,,es tbs ,n,,toS "on,osSaS
I'll oooh ofhor i, tba s;orr lano.,,ao,a
ond ioIos .nJ ren.rteo ya1t rnund Ts,.,,
n,rob as thay al,Tars do Anotbar th;no
noticeabie was when - rroun of ladies
and gentlemen was com1osed of mntes
and 6earino nersons-for there were sew
eral such on board When this CHANGED
and a conversation sprhno nm an amusino