Omaha daily bee., 1884-02-19
the SILENT WORLD.
Interesting GlGaningS From a Visit to
The Institution For the Deaf
and Dumb,
The Power of the Sign Language and
the Modes OF Teaching.

this city to visit is that Of the institution
for the education of the deaf and dumb.
THE BEE man affirms that which he
knows, for, with a little group of friends,
he found a half day slipping away from
him before he had seen but q fraction of
the many interesting features Of the work
done there. One of the happiest remem-
ORANGES of such q visit is the courtesy
and kindness shown the visitors, in afford
ing them every possible Opportunity for
seeing and understanding just what is
going on. 1t is q mysterious world to
the uninitiated, and one needs q guide
surely. Professor Hammond was away
from home, and Mrs. Hammond was con-
fined to her room by illness, but dele.
gated one of the teachers, Miss Cora
VanD orin, whose kindness and patience
in answering questions and explaining
various matters Of interest will not soon
be forgotten. In visiting the several
class rooms, the other teachers and pu.
pills alike seemed anxious to do
everything possible to make the visitors
feel at home, and to enlighten their UNI.
~derstanding, which sorely needed enlight-
ening.
In tho arithmetic classes there was
much to interest. One observed under
the desk of one of the teachers what
ought to be in every school = a set Of
measures, 30 that the pupils, instead of
being required, as is too often the case,
to learn by rote long and to them mean
ingless tables of weights and measures,
they can be taught by actual handling
the difference between agill and a gallon,
an ounce and a pound. a peck and q
bushel. The aritmetical charts which
hung in one corner of the room were also
illustrated 30 as to make the meaning
plain, there being, for instance, the pic
ture Of a cord of wood, with the measure
ments, and the lines drawn dividing into
quarters and halves. In one arithmet-
metical class it was incidentally learned
by the problem with which the pupils
were wrestling that while they readily
added or substracted, yet the phrase
more or less" in such n problem closing
with the query, 'Did A have more or
less than B, and how much more or
less2" proved very puzzling. The visit
ors were informed that this was one of
the peculiar stumbling blocks among the
mutes.
The pupils in arithmetic are very rapid
in their work-more 80, it seems, than
speaking children. 1t was astonishing
how quickly they would read a result
after the problem had been placed on the
blackboard, and their written analyses
could hardly be excelled for clearness and
conciseness.
The language classes are, however, the
most interesting feature of the school
room work. The sign language, in it's
use and power, is wonderful, but one not
conversant in it can hardly realize its
beauties, except as it is interpreted. The
visitors had q chance to realize somewhat
OF it's force. In one roon the pupils gave
In concert the Lords prayer, in the sign
language, and it was a peculiarly impress
sive sight. One little black-eyed girl,
with q bewitching face, also granted the
request Of the visitors to give in the sign
language, 'She's Pooling Thee" and
nothing could be more expressive than
her warning, with uplifted finger and
mapping eyes, to beware of the false
hearted maiden. No words were needed,
and noowords could have added anything
to the power and clearness of expression.
Mrs. McDermott, who with her hus-
band, teaches in the institution, kindly
consented to give Rock of Ages" in the
sign language. No elocutionist, no
singer, could render that grand hymn
more touchingly, or play upon the feel
ings of an audience more ef~fectually. 1t
alone repays the taking Of a trip to the
institution.
To see a mute teacher instructinp
mute pupils is an interesting sight and
1t is wonderful how clearly these teach.
ers present ideas, and how quickly the
pupils catch them.
One marked result of this dependency
upon sign is that the pupils are closely
attentive, and the quickness with which
they note every movement is remarka-
BILE. A tap Of the foot on the floor inn
mediately causes all eyes to turn to the
teacher, and this seems at first strange, as
they surely cannot hear the tap. but they
can readily feel even this slight jar on
the floor.
The excellence in the use Of written
language 10 no less astonishing. The
names Of objects they readily learn
and are easily taught. Articles from
about the building, a book, or ink
stand, q fiatiron, etc., etc., are
brought into the class room, shown to
the pupils, and then the names written
on the board. In this way they gather Q
large vocabulary Of names. Then sen.
fences are formed, bringing in simple
verbs of action or condition. 1t is OK,
tremely difficult, as may easily be i'm,
agined, to give the pupils a clear concep,
ton of the meaning of words conveying
an abstract idea as ''meroy," for in
stance, and such words al sthe," Ca
! '.sn," etc., they having to learn to use
! them arbitrarily and mechanically. 1t |,
, extremely hard to get them to understand
why is used in one case and san" il
another. They have to be urged to use
! written language, sign language beins
! the more natural and easy, and it is diff,
ficult for them to realize the necessity al