Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-09
A TOUCHING APPEAL.
The Deaf and Dumb Institution at Cabra,
Ireland.


As the John ]. Roe and one of the deaf
mutes mentioned in the following article,
clipped from the New York Star, are now
in Sacramento, the institution referred to,
| and its work for mutes, will be OF interest
to our readers
Few public charities appeal more forcibly
| to human sentiment and sympathy than
those intended for the education of deaf
| mutes. Boys and girls, otherwise phvsi-
cally strong would, but for the aid which
these institutions give, be shut out from
fellowship with their kind, and deprived
| of the means OF procuring livelihood, save
| to the extent of mere animal imitativeness.
Thanks, however, to the persevering efforts
OF good men and systematic style of
| teaching, there is not any branch in me-
| chanics, literature or art that is not open to
the afflicted ones, and from the living evil
dences we have seen, they are able to hold
| their own in competition with those ia
| vored with the gift of tongues. Nor is
there apparently any repining at their par
tieular deprivation. When instructed, as
| they are, in the institutions referred to, the
pupils seem to possess a joy Of their own
AN inner consciousness, as it were, which
| makes the absence of the powers they never
possessed all the less to be regretted
Among the institutions of this class
which challenge public commentator is
| that at Cabra, near Dublin, under charge of
the Christian Brothers and Dominican
nuns. In this country we take pride in the
philanthropic efforts for the easement of
an afflicted class, but the testimony of
home inspectors and tourists from abroad
is uniform and unqualified in favor of the
Home OF St. Joseph and st. Mary's at
Cabra. American visitors have been unre-
served in praise, and now that praise will
be afforded opportunity of assuming prac-
teal shape in the way of pecuniary support.
Ireland, though rich in charitable intent,
is poor in the worldly means necessary to
give effect TO the benevolent desires, and
hence, with the approval and recommend
alton of the Arcbbishops, Bishops and
clergy of Ireland, and some of the
best known and most jealous mem
bers of the Roman Catholic laity, John
J. Roe comes to the United States commits
stoned by the Christian Brothers to make
appeal for the charity. Knowing Mr.. Roe
well and long, we could well vouch for his
zeal and single-heartedness in the good
cause to which he has devoted good life
but when he comes with such written tes-
timony as we have stated, and with a spe-
cial Endorsement of Most Rev. DR.. Croke,
Archbishop of Cashel, words of ours would
be surplusage. Mr.. Roe is accompanied
by two pupils of the Institute These are
trained respectively in the handicrafts of
tailoring and shoemaking, but they will, at
an almost imperceptible order by sign from
their conductor, give evidence that in pen
manship and drawing and other accom-
plishments the most ornamental studies
are not overlooked. The appearance of the
BOYS in physical condition is an attestation
of the care taken of the inmates in material
regards. We cordially commend Mr.. Roe
and his pupils to the generous attention of
the American people. The Irish element
in our midst will doubtless pay willing
obedience to the recommendation Of the
Church authorities at home.
TheCabra Institution was founded in the
year 1916 for the maintenance and educa-
ton OF the deaf and dumb poor of Ireland.
The male branch of the institution is
under immediate care of the Christian
Brothers, and the female branch is in
charge of Sisters of st. Dominic Both
communities devote their lives without fee
or reward 10 the teaching of the children.
The number of pupils at present under in
struction is 430 boys and girls. The aver
age period spent in the institution is six
years. After school hours the children are
taught various trades, to enable them to
DeCOne SeH-SuppOrtnB. Inc trades taught
are carpentry, tailoring, shoemaking, bak-
ing, harnessmaking, gardening, dressmak-
ing, embroidery and knitting; also draw
ing and painting.
Although there have been received into
the institution since its opening more than
1000 deaf mutes, yet it is to be regretted
that there still remain nearly 1902 unedu-
Gated, waiting, for want of funds, to be re-
lieved from their sad and helpless state of
ignorance and misery. The institution re-
ceiyes no endowment or help from the
Government toward the expenses of the
430 inmates. In some cases the Poor Law
Guardians pay Il proportion of the ex-
penses which the committee have to sup
plement by IS los per annum in each case.
To meet the outlay the committee have to
depend on the voluntary contributions of
the public. The cost of the establishment
is over fl0,000 per annum, and we earnestly
hope that this new appeal from Ireland to
America for so holy an undertaking will
be as generously responded 10 as all that
have preceded, and that the results will en-
able Mr.. Roe TO take to himself the salts
faction that his pious mission was not in
vain.
No WELL regulated household should be