The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-16
DUMB TAUGHT TO TALK.
VARIOUS METHODS BY WHICH
DEAF MUTBs ARE EDUCATED.

ing of the New York Institution for
the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb
"A Newspaper Mute Outwits His
Rival.
From the Neio York Press.
1t is no longer an unusual sight to see two ,
or more individuals frantically working
their fingers and INDUCING in what appear
to be the most extravagant gestures, for so
philosophical and successful has the present
system for educating and training deaf
mutes become that those silent people are
now met with in almost every walk of life
II is not generally known, perhaps, that
one of the most potent factors in that
spstem is located in this city 1t is the New
York Institution for the Education of the
Deaf and Dumb. and it is pleasantly located
on high bank overlooking the Hudson, at
a point where 164th street and Twelfth ave
nue. would meet if they were opened
Its spacious grounds, embracing a tract
of Is acres, are beautifully laid out and
adorned with flower beds and large trees,
while broad avenue shaded by stately elms
leads from the entrance at 1921 street and
Eleventh avenue to the buildings.
The institution is under the management
TO the Legislature for its administration.
Provision has been made for the free edu
dation in this institution of every deaf mute
in the State between the ages of and %
years. without regard to the circumstances
of the parents. Pupils from other States
are charged $500 per annumn.
The silent people are divided into three
classeS-semi-deaf, or those who have some
considerable degree of hearing; semi mute,
hn could fal
coming deaf through sickness or other
causes, are now dumb, and congenital mutes,
or those who were born deaf. In instructlng
these classes various methods are employed,
of which the sign language, based upon
pantomime but perfected by systematic
effort, is considered the only method which
inlpresses the congenital deaf muteS and
imparts vitality to their motions and vivid
impressions to their minds. 1t IS also con
sidered the best agency for attaining Their
mental development and stimulating the
perceptive powers of their senses. IL Is
wonderfully comprehensive to the mute,
and in it he can convey to his fellows as
correct an idea of what he feels as can those
who talk.
An adaptation of "Erminien was recently
given at the institution in this language,
and was a remarkable success. The comedy
part was PLAYED by William G. Jones, a
son of Mrs. Jones, the actress, and was
replete with new stage business, which even
Francis Wilson might have viewed with
pleasure.
This sign language, which might be said
to be more of an accompaniment to the
other methods of instruction than an
independent system i'll itself, is acquired by
the pupil through the instruction he receives
in connection with his studies and through
the daily intercourse with a large number
of those afflicted like himself.
In order to prepare the mute for inter
course with the speaking and hearing world
it is necessary to acquaint him with the
language of words in their forms of script
and speech. The system employed for this
purpose at the New York institution is the
one perfected by the present principal, Isaac
Lewis Peet, LII D., who has been an in
structor within its walls during the past 40
years. The teacher provides himself with
II 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 rep
resents the article, and can himself point
to the word when the teacher touches the
object. 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 to 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, and then to write them
without copy whenever the corresponding
words are shown him.
When this has been accomplished the
mute is taught the use of the personal
pronouns in connection with IA verb A
simple sentence, such as "touch the key" is
written upon the board, and the pupils are
required TO pass in single file and perform
the act designated. Then the teacher writes
the question, What did you do" and each
pupil is required to write, II touched the
kew When this lesson is thoroughly
learned the use of the other personal pro-
nouns is taught in similar manner.
Then by degrees the adjective, the relative
and demonstrative pronouns, the mood 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 idiom are successfully developed on
substantially the same principle.
When the pupil has made sufficient prog
ress he is prepared for conversation with
speaking people by articulation and lip read
ing This is impaired by a system recently de-
vised by DR. Peet. The department devoted
to it is under the direction of Prof. Z. 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 a
speakers lips and other organs of speech so
accurately as to discover the words uttered,
not by context nor by gueSswork, but by
absolute recognition of their phonic
elements.
Under this system it becomes possible for
mute and speaking person to carry on an
extended conversation upon almost any
subject The articulation of the mute is of
course, crude and in some cases unpleasant
to a sensitive ear but it rarely happens that
il is so indistinct as to be unntelligible.
In connection with this system there are
two departments i'll the institution for deaf
children. One is composed of children hav-
ing a sufficient degree of hearing to enable
them TO repeat sounds after the teacher
and yet not sufficient quickness of hearing
to enable them to attach Significance thereto
and thus learn language in 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
q flexible ear tube.
Not very long ago it was considered inn
possible to educate the hearing and develop
the speech of these people so as TO place
them absolutely upon the same level with
hearing and speaking persons. But the
seeming impOssibility has been overcome by
a simple contTivance invented by Prof
Culrier This consists of an earpiece and
two tubes with a mOuthDece attached tC