The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-08-12
A Silent Merrymaking.

Il
ing on the upper deck of an excursion
barge as it moved slowly up the Hudson
recently, in tow of the steam tue 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 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 incredulitv
as he took another look at the smooth
gliding motions of the jewellers. 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-
hilaratiOns which thrills true lovers of
the dance when the soft strains of
Strauss waltz come floating downward
from the gallery of the Academy of
Music on the night of the charity"
It was the sixth annual excursion of
organization of deaf mutes formed prn-
cipally of lady and gentlemen gradu-
ates from the institution for instructing
the deaf and dumb. Accompanied by
their 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 a 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 a
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 Herald reporter, who has heavy
mustache, found it a severe test for some
of the pupils. One charming young
lady, however, conversed with great
ease and fluency. She admitted and
here she blushed very deeply-that she
was accustomed to mustache, young
gentleman, a very intimate friend, pos.
seSSinga very soft and silky one.
Two things were noticeable about the
excursion party. When the music ceased
there was almost dead silence. Now
and again a peal of hearty laughter would
be heard, showing that in that sense the
picnickerS were not dumb but there was
none of the buzz and chatter of converse
ton which one usually hears on festive
occasions of the sort The few who con-
versed were, of course, very small mi
nority. But such confusing and rapid
gesticulatiOn with the hands! With the
quickness of lightning, and with bright,
expressive eyes, the mutes conversed
with each other in the sign language,
and jokes and repartee went round very
much as they always do Another thing
noticeable was when group of ladies
and gentlemen was composed of muteS
and hearing persOnS-forthe were sew
eral such on board. When this CHANGED
and n conversation sprung up an amusing
sight followed. The hearing persons not
understanding the sign language, an
other means of communication was ne
cessary. Quick as flash out would
come note books and pencils, and the
whole party would take to dashing off
hasty notes to each other. When the
talk became animated all hands would
be seen writing furiously in their note
books.
When the barge reached Mount Pleas
ant and lunch-baskets had been emptied,
little parties strolled off under the trees,
and it was very soon evident to one who
watched the pretty girls and their escorts
that Irritation and expressions of endear-
ment are about the same in the sign Ian
guage as in our spoken tongue. Whether
any of the students pursued their studies
in lip-reading was not ascertained.
The eXcursionists amused themselves
very much as others do-with boating,
fishing, swimming. and so on-and at
half-past four started to return, reaching
the city again at nine O clock.
There are about one thousand deaf
mutes in this city, and about half that
number were at yesterdays excursion.
N. Y. Herald
.