The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-09
INTERESTING pEAF.MuTEs.
a Deaf and Dumb Policeman and Other
similarly AFFLICTED Omlcials.

INTERESTING DEAF.MUTES.
A Deaf and Dumb Policeman and Other
similarly Afflicted Onlcials.
In the custom house in New YOik
and the New York post-office there are
deaf-mutes who have held their pos :
tons for many years, being well edit
Gated and qualified to discharge the
duties assigned to them.
1t may be thought rarity for a deaf
mute to run for an elective office, but
many instances can be given where the
deaf and dumb mar has succeeded in
defeating his hearing opponent. In
Nashville; Tenn, some years ago, Il. w.
Brouch, a deaf mute, ran for the Office
of register of deeds and was elect, d
thrice in succession. In New Bedford.
Mass, Mr.. John T. Tillinghast, mute.
who is in the fire insurance busine, s
with his brother, ran and was elected
justice OF the peace, notwithstand ng
the fact that he was deaf, but was abe
to articulate and read the lips of stran
gers with proficiency and ease. In
Allentown. Penn, deaf-mute named
Joseph Saenger was elected to tie
office of register of wills about doz, n
years ago. One of the most expert dis
tributors of outgoing mails at the Syra-
clse post-office is James L. Doran, a
deaf-mute.
At Cleveland. o., there is deaf ard
dumb policeman. 1t is thought to be
the only city in the United States that
can boast of such an officer. The deaf
and dumb policeman is the most watch
full on the force. Being deaf and dumb
he is obliged to keep his eyes open for
intruders and maraudcrs. His name is
Thomas Dwyer. and the authorities
have. so far, made no complaint of his
infficiency. One curious fact about
this person is that he has inscribed on
his badge: 'Dcaf and Dumb Police
man"
In Ohio there is Mr.. G. Parkinson. a
patent lawyer. who has his Office with
his brother. He was for many years
head of the clerks in the patent office at
Washington. N one of his '.skirmishes"
with Ben Butler. who appeared rs
counsel for patentee, the mute out
witted Ben and defeated his arguments
before the Commissioner of Patents.
In Civil Service examination for chief
clerk of the patent office, Mr.. Parkin-
son succe eded and passed the per cent.
of all competitors, but he was not pro-
NOTED on account of his deafness, he
being able to articulate. This caused
him to resign a lucrative position. and
he became a partner with his brother.
In the various departments at Wash
ington there are deaf mUtes who have
held their places for years. owing TO
their efficiency. In Utica, n. Y. Mr..
j. j. S:cgmann has held the position Of
assistant court clerk for fully six terms.
At the outbreak of the civil war seY-
eral mutes who could articulate and
read the lips of strangers called at the
office of the recruiting General. and
having answered the necessary ques-
tons put TO them We're enlisted and
given uniforms. Several succeeded in
keeping their deafness to themselves,
and were marched to the front with the
resi- of the companies before they were
detected as being deaf mutes. The
Others who were not fortunate enough
to pass the guartemaster were soon
detected by accidents on their own part
and sent home. Those who were de-
teeted as being deaf mutes while in
preparatory to going to
the battlefield, We're taken before Presi-
dent Lincoln. and, through the influence
and interference of DIR. Harvey P. Peet.
they were honorably excused and sent
home, and rule was made that all
persons should be subjected to rigid
personal examination as to their in
trinity before being enlisted. This pre-
vented hundreds of deaf mutes from en-
tering the army.
Some time ago wrote to the Court
of Appeals asking if there was law
deaf mutes taking their seats
in the State Legislature, should they be
elected. In reply the Acknowledgement
said there was no such law, and it will
not surprise the public if deaf mute
should ever be elected to the State Leg
stature. Being deaf he would have to
study the bills with his eyes and not his
ears, and detect all means of bad legis-
lation. and notify his colleagues before
such bills become laws. Then the hear
ing legislators could not ask an excuse
Of their constituents, because they did
hot read the bill. but were assured verb
ally of its usefulness and honest pur-
poses.
The last census gives the mutes a.
thousand in this country.
An attempt to plant deaf mute COM
munity in the West, so as to have the
rulers and legislators elected from
among its number, was started several
years ago.-Brooktyn Eagle.