Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-10


If Prof A Graham Bell will consult the CEN
sus records from 1870 to 1880 he will undou5t-
edly learn that unlike England, ireland and
Scotland. America or more correctly the
United States. has been increasing its popula-
ton. and furthermore, during the year just
passed the population of this country has in
creased nearly h-h million people By immigration
alone
With the growth OF the country the number
Oh deal persons must naturally increase. The
total number of deaf persons now in the United
states is not greater than it should be consider
Ing population Of fifty-five million OF people
The professor is alarmed at the increased num-
Der OF deaf persons. He fears q distinct race or
class ofpeople, and asks Congress to pass laws
against the deaf marrying where the heart lead
eth.
If the deaf were like the bl2d and insane up-
aoie 10 support themselves. there would b. some
excuse for any person asking legislation to Or e.
vent the country from being burdened with
class OF people who are subjects of charity IN
the present state of things no uch conditions
exists. The deaf are self-supporting. They are
thrifty. sober and Industrious perfectly able to
take care OF themselves in the future as they
have in the past. without any sentimental aid
from the learned inventor of the telephone. The
deaf themselves have never found fault with the
method Of teaching the deaf from its introduce
ton in 1877 70 the present time, and moreover
whatever methods have been discovered that
poSsrS> merit nave Utt0 adopted. Articulation
has been tried for the past IA years and un-
hesitatingiy say that a method to he used for
the instruction Of the deaf. II Is not complete
success. tor the reason that it cannot be applied
TO all classes Of deaf persons. Articulation as
one OF the means of teaching the deaf is good:
ana In connection with the sign language seems
70 De the correct method and is as he well
KNOWS, used in every Institution in the country
Articulation To the deaf should be taught as
music and the lang uages TO those who can hear
and Tor the same purpose lie. a. an accomplish
nent- There are many able deaf persons widely
distributed over the United States who have
been educated under the sign system alone
and who believe they write English. Such deaf
persons. as the senior editor of the Athol Mass
1roascript, AmOosa (iOwa) Eureka. and ". II
Chamberlain formerly editor of the Marblehead
lMass.) Messenger. and Hodgson of the Lenf
Autes Journal n Y. and Read OF the .Adranoe
who were educated in various institutions in the
country before Bells appearance in Boston. are
the peers OF any graduate of the Northampton
Mass institution or the Boston Day School
for the Deaf
Does intermarTying among the deaf bring an
increased number into the population OF deaf
persons. The professor cannot produce fig nres
TO justify such statement. He may ind
case now and then; but where he will lind one
family OF deaf persons having dea: children the
writer will produce nine who have hearing
Children; and further. the professor knows from
personal observation that the majority of con-
genital mutes come from parents who have all
Their faculties intact, and that the greatest
number OF deaf persons owe their deafness to
disease. and that the present number of deaf
persons In this country is no greater to-day
than It ever was In proportion to the popnls-
ton. Nd. NJ G. ~