Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-12
DR.. Ga,Iauaes,s Romance.

DR.. Ga,Iauaes,s Romance.
From the New York Sun.
No truer and nobler philanthropist or more
honest and jealous worker for the cause of sui.
fering humanity has ever lived than the late Dr.
Gallaudet. He was the pioneer in this country
in the establishment Of a systematic language
for the deaf and dumb, and to him should be
awarded the grateful praises due.
The proposed tribute to his memory of a
bronze statue of himself to be erected in Wash
ington. and to be exhibited on the centennial
anniversary OF his birth in December 1887, must
give great happiness and satisfaction to the
numberless unfOrtunateS who have BEEN either
directly or indirectly, assisted by his far-seeinr
and far-reaching benevOlence. 1t is we'll
known fact among the comparatively few inter-
ested that his wife was the first educated deaf
mute in the United States. A touching romance
is connected with their early life.
Many years ago the young phlanthropist
CHANGED to meet a lovely girl just budding into
womanhOOd. as good and true and unselfish in
all her nature as she was beautiful and attractive
in person An atmosphere of sadness and re-
serve surrounded her, for, alas! she could neither
speak nor hear. Only her dark eyes were elO-
quent with unuttered language, and her hands
with gestures, original ingenious, and unmis-
taxable. The sad, pathetic look on her sweet
young face, and her modest shrinking mien,
which seemed to tell the story of hcrmisfOrtune
appealed in the most powerful way to the gener-
Gus nature ana the tendereSt SenSibilitieS of the
young man, and he fell deeply in love with her
Spoken words surely were not needed to tell
this mute young girl the nature of her lovers
feelings toward her, for love has language
and symbols of its own. But, in return she
loved him too well to sacrifice him. and still
considered the objection of ner infrmity to be
an insuperable one. So, without hope of any
change in herself she shook her head mourn
fully, but decidedly. when he repeatedly urged
the gift of her hand in marriage.
Thus baffled in the most ardent longings of
his heart. DR.. Gallaudet. with high resolve. soon
set sail for Europe, and while there had himself
thoroughly educated in all the mysteries of the
sign language. On his return home he quickly
sought out the now happy and ambitious girl
and began systematically to teach her the
alphabet, how to spell and read and write
and the established signs as we'll She was an
apt scholar, and rapidly mastered tho novel per-
plexities OF this new system OF education. Her
heart was filed with love, devotion, and graft
tude toward the persistent lover who notwith-
standing her infrmitv, had chosen her before all
the world and would no longer be denied. She
finally consented to be his wife, and before long
they were married.
stitutlon for the education Of deaf mutes In this
country. Mrs. Galaudet long sur, ived her hus-
band. and until her death, a few years ago. was
most genial, interesting. and lovable old lady.
always ready to converse in herpeculiarly grace
fui and winning manner, and making herself
well understood to even the most Obtuse
Their mantle has fallen upon their son the
present Rev. DIR. Gaaudet. who, with his noble
Inheritance of love for his fellows has never fall
tered in the difficult path SO long trod by his
INDUSTRIOUS parents. SBL