The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-08-31
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4 Silent Merrymaking.

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II There were about forty couples dane
| ing on the upper deck of an excursion
barge as itlmoYed slowly up the Hudson
4 recently, in tow of the steam tue Van
derbilt. The feet of the dancers kept
perfect time to the merry music of tho
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
1 gliding motions of the revelers. Yetssuch
| was the fact. The dancers were not
only deaf but dumb. for it was a picnic
party. made up of these poor, doubly
afflicted ones. But. there was nothing
/ to suggest affection in the manner of the
/ excursionists. On Fthe contrary. they
i We're enjoying themselves hugely and
seemed to feel all that indescribable exSl.
/ hilarations which thrills true levers 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, san
organization of deaf mutes formed prin-
cipally of lady andss gentlemen grad,i-
/ ates from the institution for instructinp
the deaf and dumb. Accompanied by
their friends the party, about 500 in ali, !,
started from Eighth Street, East River,
at half past eight. in the morning.
steamed around the Battery to the North
+ Riser, and after calling at Eleventh
Street to take few more on board, pro-
ceeded up the Hadsento Mount Pleas
ant Grove at, Hastings. e,..a..l. a.s.,..
The excursion was a striking illustra-
ton OF how much science liasldone to
alleviate the Ecenditien of the deaf and
dumb. Ii 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 4
score OBJ those present who had been
seduoated II. the new act Of lip reading.
and who could carry on. a 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 a puzzle
to them Sometimes, as it partly col, 2
eeals the maEemnnts of the mouth, and.
the Herald, reporter, who has a heavy
mtistaehe, found il 4 severe test for some
ct the pupils. One charming: yas,ne.
ease ana Aueifcy. she admitted s7sId
here she baished lVery; ;deeplySr- that she.
was accustomed to a mustache, a Young
gentleman, "a very intimate friend, posi-
:scssing very soft and silky .ena,ds 'ss.,s
Two things were noticeable about the
excursion party. When the music ceased
there was almost dead silence. Now
aid again peal of hearty laughter would
be heard. showing that in that sense the,
lplenickers were not dumb, but there was
none ofthe buzz and chatter of CONVERSE
ton which one usually hears, ON festive
occasions OF the sort The few who con-
versed were, of course. avery yssmall mis-
nosity. But such a confusing and rapid
gesticulation with the hands! With the
quickness of lightning, and with bright
expressive. eyes, the mutes conyersed
with each other in the sign language.
and Jokes and repartee went round very!|
much as they always do. Another thing
noticeable was when a group Of ladies
and gentlemen was composed of mutes
and hearing persons-forthere were sew
eral such on boardsts,N When this schanced
anda conversation sprung up an amusing
sight followed. The hearing persons not |
understanding the sign language, an
other means of communication was me-
cessary. Quick as Hash out would
come note books and pencils, and the
whole party would take to dashine off-I
hasty notes to each other. When the
talk became animated all hands would,I
be seen writing furiously in their note
When the barge reached Mount Please
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.at
ment are about the same in the sign Ian
guage asin our spoken tongue Whether |
any ofthe students pursued their studies |
in lip-reading was not ascertained.
a9s Ihe excursionists amused themselves
very much as others do with boatine,l Il
fishing, swimming, and so aon--and at |
half-past four started to return, reaching
the city again at nine O'Clock. a8fs atsa'5s
8 There are about cone thousand deaf
mutes in this city, and about half that |
number Were at yesterdays excursion
~ 7. Herald.
3. Too Sensitiue. ssIa i j