Morris tribune., 1882-08-31
SILENT PICNICIxERS,
Festivities Where Not a Word is
Spoken-Dancing to Unhcard Mu-

fcStlVltlcS !" mere NOG II "Ofu is
Spoken-Dancing to Unheard Mu-
sic.
From the New York Herald.
There were about forty couples dane
ing on the upper deck of an excursion
barge as it moved slowly up the Hudson
river, yesterday morning. 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 OBJ
server been told that not one of these
eighty young ladies and gentlemen could
hear single note of the music he would
probably have received the statement
with incredibly, as he took another look
at the smooth, gliding motion ofthe rev.
elers. Yet such was the fact. The
dancers were not only deaf but dumb,
for it was picnic party, made up of the
doublv afflicted ones. But there was
nothing to suggest atlliction in the man
ner OF the eXcursionists. On the con-
trary they were enjoying themselves
hugely, and seemed to fee all that indie
scribable exhilaration which thrills true
lovers of the dance when the soft strains
of Strauss came 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 ladies and gentlemen gradu-
ates from the institutions for instructing
the deaf and dumb. Accompanied by
their friends, the party, about five hun
dred in all, started from 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, proceeded up
the Hudson to Mount Pleasant grove at
Hastings.
The excursion was a striking illustra-
ton of how much science has done to al
leviate the condition of the deaf and
dumb. 1t was stran .e, indeed, to see
them dance with such precision merely
from watching with quick, tt aimed eyes
the time be It's 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 ed
ucated in the new art of lip reading, and
the usual way having learned to read
and speak from watching the lips of
their teachers. A mustache on the part
of a person was puzzle for them some
times, 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 charm
ing young lady, however, conyersed with
great tiuency She admitted-and here
she blushed deeply-that she was accus-
toned to a mustache, a young gentle
man, a very intimate friend, possessing
a 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 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 conversation which
one usually hears on festive occasions OF
that sort. The few who conversed We're,
Of course, very small minority. But
with the hands. With the ouickness OF
lightning, and with bright, expressive
eyes, the mutes conversed in the sign
language, and jokes and repartee went
around very much as they always do.
Another thing noticeable was when
q group of ladies and gentle
men was COMPOSED of mutes
and hearing persons-for there
were several such on board. When this
chanced and a conversation sprang up
an amusing sight followed. The hearing
persons not understanding the sign Ian
guage, another means of communication
was necessary. Quick as a flash out
would come notebooks and pencils,
and the whole party would take to dash
ing off notes to each other. When the
talk became aniamted. all hands would
be seen writing furiously in their note
books.
When the barge reached Mount Pleas
ant, and lunch baskets had been emp
tied, little parties strolled off under the
trees, and it was very soon evident to
one who watched the pretty girls and
their escorts that flirtations and express
siOns of endernment are about the same
in the sign language as in our spoken
tongue. Whether any of the students
pursued their studies in lip reading was
not nscertained.
The eXcursionists amused themselves
very much as others do-with boating.
fishing, swimming, and so on-and at
half-past started to return, reaching
the city again at O'Clock.