New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-10-01
What Science Does Tor tie Dumb,

What Science Does tor tie Dumb 3
j. At . New York institution for deaf
mntes there was lately given "A exhibi4
ton Of the skill IN lip-reading acquired
BIZ the children whose sense 81 hearing
Ind whose power Of speech are zone.
girl was 50 placed that she could not
10 the Instructors face, but could
watch the shadow Of his lips on the wall
Very severe tests Of this girls aptness'
were made. but in every case she de-
mOnstrated the thoroughnesss Of her at.
taipments to the complete satisfaction.
Of the teachers from other asylums who.
were present It does not appear from
the reports Of the affair whether the
reading Of the shadows demands great
er or less skill on the part Of the student.
in ip-reading than direct obserYa-
ton Of the lips. However it may be,
the advantages Of the new system of
teaching the deaf and dumb how to con-
verse with their fellow men commands
oar constant admiration. When only BY
the manual alphabet or by writing was.
It possible for them to overcome their
quasi-banishment from the world, very
much Of the enjoyment of life was de-
MED them. Lip-reading lifts the cur
tain which has SO long concealed an en-
tire world from them, and, with their
eyes for ears. and, rs has been accom-.
plished, being given the power to speak.
their isolation from humanity has hard
II q terror. Knowing this, how can
any one declare that blindness is pref
cradle to deafness? Science, guided by
Humanity, has done much to alleviate
the awful gloom of the perpetual dark
ness in which the sightless move.
But it has not vet removed, prob
ably never will take away, from
the blind the feeling Of depend.
ence which must always be with them,
GounOd, one of the profession which
is the outcome of the cultivation of the
ear, has lately declared that between
the two calamities, blindness and deaf
ness, he should not hesitate an instant,
if he had to make the choice, to name
the loss of hearing as the easiest to be
endured. Rubinstein, it is said, has
lately expressed similar views, and in
his case the opinion is strengthened by
the fact that his sight is failing. One
is moved at reading of the deaf Beet
hoven standing amid an orchestra
which had just performed his Ninth
Symphony. Hardly sound had been
heard by him, nor, his back being.
turned, was he aware that the audience
was calling to him to acknowledge the
expression of its homage. 1t was nee
essary for Nine. Sontag to turn him
about by the shoulder that he hight see
something of the enthusiasm of the
Viennese. But Beethoven deaf was still
Beethoven the master. He could still
hear music through his eyes, and. sight
remaining to him, the inspiration which,
the contemplation of Nature might fur
nish him was as active as ever. To
day Robert Franz would yet find in
music all the charm it ever had for him,
despite his deafness, were he not other
wise sorely afflicted The great Mr..
Handel lost not all greatness when ad-
vancing years took away his sight.
Blind, he was led to the organ that he
might play the accompaniment 10 his
own setting of the blind Millions lines.
Total Eclipse . assigned to the blind
Samson Of the drama. But Handle,
blind was no longer Handel the master.
There but remained to him his memory.
and though he might invent, opportnni-
ty to give his inventions to the wor d
was greatly narrowed.
Rev. Mr.. Haweis discusses the ques-
ton: .'Would you rather be blind or
deaf?' in his latest work. ..My musical
Memories, with his customary bright
ness and effusiveness. The conclusion
at which he arrives, with hardly an al
lowance for the opposite side Of the
case, is that blindness is by far the les
ser evil. His argument is ingenious,
thought not particularly logicai, and
will not convince mary. To him whose
ears are forever closed, and whose
tongue may be forever tied. but whose
eyes retain their sight, the Whole world
is open. Music alone, unless he be a
musician whose deafness has come in
later years. he can not enjoy. But
nearly all else that there is in Nature,
literature or art awaits his study and
admiration. In what narrow world
must he move whose sight is gone.
The books are few that he can REID by
feeling, and only at second hand may he
enjoy the written thoughts of others. or
even be made aware of what the world
is doing. Conversation with any one
has been the advantage which
has been conceded as his. when COM
PARSONS of his condition with that Of
his deaf and dumb brother have been
made. But now that the deaf may
know the speech Of others by lip-read-
ing, and the dumb nav art cuiate INTEL
lightly, the advantage is all on the 81 lie
of him who yet may see although bis
hearing is gone forever. Boslen Tran
ScraDt.