Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-03
TIE DEAF AND DUMB.
VARIOUS METHODS BY WHICH DEAF
MuTES ARE EDUCATED.

the Ne" hofk InbtltutiOu
Neutrality-suspicious. of Manual Train
ing-work Turned Out.
In order TO prepare the mute for inter-
course with the speaking and hearing world
II is necessary to acquaint him with the Ian.
guage OF words in their forms of script and
speech. The system employed for this pur-
pose at the New York institution is the one
perfected by the present principal, Isaac
Lewis Poet, LII D., who has been an in
structor within its walls during the past
forty years, The teacher provides himself
with twelve Objects the names Of which,
embracing all the letters OF the alphabet, are
written upon a blackboard He points to
one of the objects and then TO its name upon
the board, repeating this process until the
pupil catches the idea that the written word
represents the article, and can himself point
70 the word when the teacher touches the OBJ
Ject This is repeated in connection with
each of the other articles until the pupil is
able to associate the name with the object at
sight Then the pupil is taught 10 spell the
words by the manual alphabet, after which
the teacher repeats the letters in alphabetic
order, requiring the pupil to point out each
letter as it occurs in the list of words on the
board Next the pupil is taught TO write
the words by copying them from his books,
ever the corresponding words are shown
them.
When this has been accomplished the mute
Is taught the use Of the personal pronouns in
connection with verb A simple sentence,
such as "Touch the key,n is written upon the
board, and the pupils are required to pass in
single file and perform the task designated.
Then the teacher writes the question, "What
did you dor and each pupil is required to
write, 81 touched the key" When this lesson
is thoroughly learned the use Of the other
personal pronouns is taught in similar man
ner. Then by degrees the elective, the rel
alive and demonstrative pronouns, the moods
and lenses of the verb, the varied forms Of
the predicate Of the English sentence, the use
OF abstract terms and what may be called
English idom are successfully developed on
substantially the same principle.
TAUGHT LIP READING.
When the pupil has made sufficient pro-
gress he is prepared for conversation with
speaking people by articulation and lip read
ing. This is impaired by a system recently
devised by DIR. Peet The department de-
voted to it is under the direction of Professor
e. Henry Currier. 1t is based upon the fact
that all sound has its fixed, definite position
upon the lips, and the mute is taught to
watch the speakers lips and other organs of
uttered, not by context or guess work, but
by absolute recognition of their phonic ele-
ments. Under this system it becomes pos
slble for mute and speaking person to carry
on an extended conversation uIOn almost
any subject. The articulation of the mute
is, of course, crude, and, in some cases. UNI
pleasant TO n sensitive ear, but it rarely hap
pens that it is so indistnct as to be unintelli-
gible.
In connection with this system there are
two departments in the institution for deaf
children One is composed of children hav-
ing sufficient degree of hearing to enable
them TO repeat sounds after the teacher, and
yet not sufficient quickness of hearing to en-
able them to attach Significance thereto, and
thus learn language i'll the usual way. The
other class, which is larger, is composed Of
those to whom the tones of the human voice,
their own as well as that of others, have
been revealed for the first time through
flexible ear tube
Not very long ago it was considered i'm
possible to educate the hearing and develop
the speech of these people so as to place them
absolutely upon the same level with speak
ing and hearing persons. But the seeming
impossibility has been overcome by simple
contrivance invented by Professor Currier.
This consists of an ear piece and two tubes
with mouth piece attached to each. The
pupil places the ear tube in his ear, and the
teacher first speaks through one tube. Then
the pupil, through the other tube, repeats the
words or sounds that have been uttered to
him through the first tube, thus enabling
him to compare his own enunciation with
that of his instructor, and by repeated trials
to obtain such control over his voice as to.se.
cure the reproduction with clearness and pre-
cision. The success obtained with this in
strument is simply remarkable
THE MAIN OBJECT.
AS the main object of the institution is to
provide the mute with means of obtaining
"a livelihood, a system of manual training is
carried on hand in hand with mental devel-
opment When each male or female pupil ar
rives at the age of ID years unless physically
incapacitated) he or she is assigned to some
form of employment, at which three hours
are spent each day.
A practical printing office under the direct
ion of u mute foreman is in full operation
there and turns out work equal to that of the
general run of job offices. 1t does all the
printing for the institution, including the an
nual report, and last year it took i'll 81 ,4lS for
custom work. A newspaper is also printed
there which is edited by mute who possesses
all the instincts of modern journalist.
In the carpenter shop the boys are taught
that trade in all its branches. They do all
the repairs to the buildings, and it is estima-
ted that their work last year saved 50, .16
to the institution. They also turn out some
fine specimens in cabinet work. All the
shoes distributed to the inmates by the in
stitution are made by the boys in the shoe
shop, where they are taught all the details Of
practical shOemaking
Those whose inclinations run in that direc- |
ton are afforded every facility in the tailor
shop for acquiring the trade. There, too,
number of girls are taught to sew upon
mems garments and the shop last year
turned out 81 ,013 II worth of clothing. A |
large farm is also connected with the institu- |
ton. There those boys agriculturally in |
clined can put their inclinations to practical |
use For the employment of the girls there |
Is a seamstress' room, where almost every |
article of female apparel is made, and large |
amount of mending is done, and alterations |
In garments are made.
Every effort is made to inculcate good |
manners, refinement and good taste. In |
furtherance of this an art department is con-
nected with the institution. In it each pupil |
receives every week a lesson in drawing from |
nature, while those who develop a special |
talent therefor are given special Instruction.
in wood carving, in clay modelling, in plaster
casting, in the ornamentation of porcelain |
and in painting in oils and colors There Is |
a room in this department devoted to speci-
mems of the pupils work.
The special training in the institution is
carried on without sectarianism. New York
Press
The issue of rum is to be discontinued In
the British army in India, and the canteen
for spirits will soon be thing of the past
When laid away for any length of time,
linen should be washed, rough dried without
blueing and laid in loose folds without much