Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-06-22
THE DEAF AND DUMB.


and i, the closing exercises OF the terri
torial school for deaf mutes took place
Good work has been done in this insti u
ton, in very modest and unpretentious
manner, but thoroughly and effectively
nevertheless, as those can testify who
were present on this occasion. The at
tendance was enough to take up all the
available space in the small room at the
disposal of Mr.. and Mrs. Larsen for this
purpose, about sixty persons being pres
ent, among whom were the Right Rev.
~. Mills Hendricks, D. d., Bishop OF New
Mexico and Arizona, the Rev. E. w.
Meany, 3. A, (Oxon.), pastor OF the
church OF the Holy Faith, Don II. L..
Ortiz, late superintendent of schools, and
others. Gov Prince sent the following
letter:
Lars NJ Larsen, Esq.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, June 20, 1880
Both Mrs. Prince and myself appreciated
your invitation to be present at the clos
ing exercises of the school for the deaf
and dumb, and hoped that we should
have been able to be present, but press
ing business makes it impossible, to our
great regret. With best wishes to your
self and the school. Yours truly,
l.. BRADFORD PRINCE.
Bishop Kendrick opened the exercises
with short service, after which an illus
tration was given of chow deaf mutes
learn" by a bright little orphan girl,
Maud Bogue, who furnished induhitable
proofs Of their ability to learn by her
proficiency in spelling, reading, writing
and elementary arithmetic, in which she
appeared not whit behind children of
like age possessed OF all their senses and
favored with the usual school privileges.
Two bright looking lads from Belen,
neatly dressed and OF modest demeanor,
Manuel and Juan Armijo, then came for
ward, and, under the supervision OF Mr.,
Larsen, who, of course, conducted all the
exercises, bore irrefragable testimony to
the excellence of the system pursued in
the school and the principals skill as an
educator These boys had been in the
institution only ten months, and knew
absolutely nothing at the time of their en-
trance. Their writing was clear and
legible, they exhibited commendable
proficiency in the subj cts before men
toned, and, in addition thereto, prac-
teal knowledge of elementary compost
ton, writing with facility original sentenc-
es on the blackboard illustrative of the
different shades of meaning of a predicate
word which was supplied them as
subject.
Pedro Sandoval, of Santa Fe, and Harry
of Las Vegas, then astonished
the audience with an exhibition of their
knowledge OF language, arithmetic, geog-
raphy, history and original composition.
Questions in these subjects, comprehen-
siye IN their character, were written on
the blackboard, and correct answers were
promptly made in every case. These
boys wrote capital hands, their orthog-
raphy was almost faultless, and the
rapidity with which they communicated
heir thoughts in clear, concise sentences
vas positively marvellous. To give the
readers of the New MEXICAN some idea of
he quality OF their work, there are in
here examples of their skill In
which also manifest know-
edge of history. One of the audience was
'equested to select subject for each boy
and chose The Indians" and "Ihe
Northmen." The following were the
clearly and rapidly written:
"TuE INDIANS"
''There was only one people called In
1ians at one time in America. They were
very strong and brave, but cruel and war
ike. They lived by hunting and fishing
md picking wild fruits. They were divided |
nto many tribes. Each tribe had chief |
They often fought with each other in
vars. They had bows and arrows, clubs
md knives. They roamed through the |
orests, and built and lived in their rude |
luts called wigwams. They were ignorant
'avages and did not know good and USE
ul things as we do now. There are still |
some Indians living in different parts of
America. They are somewhat better
han they were many years ago. There
ire now several schools to teach their
who may become good people.
"PEDRo SANDovAL."
The last clause OF the last sentence con-
aims vein of sarcasm, whether inten-
ional or not, that western people know
low 10 appreciate.
THE NoRTnMEN.
"The Mortimer were people who lived
q Norway. Many of them became brave
nd skillfull sailors. Many years ago
ONE Mortimer crossed the north At
lntic ocean and reached Iceland, which
elongs 10 North America. They settled
here and also in Greenland. Some time
ater some Mortimer sailed on a ship
and saw part OF New Eng
and, but they returned home. In 1000
!. D. the Mortimer went to New Eng
and and settled there, but they all died.
he other Mortimer made voyages to
america, but lived there a short time.
HARRY A. GOLDSMITH"
Mr.. Larsen's plan Of commencement
as certainly many admirable features
nd might be profitaby initiated by those
4 charge Of schools generally, for it
rought before the audience a conspectus
I the system of instruction and the ad-
anCement OF the pupils, surely most
desirable result.
The exhibition completed, Rev. E. w.
Ieany made brief address setting forth
he nature OF the work and its claims
Ipon the people of New Mexico. This
as interpreted to the Spanish speaking
itizens present by Don H. l.. Ortiz, to
HON, as well as to all others who were
resent, the thanks OF Mr.. and Mrs.
larsen and the school are extended for
he interest evinced by them in the insti-
ution.
The history of this laudable effort,
which, by the measure of success already |
ttained, is an earnest of its growth in
he future, is full OF interest. The faith
nd energy of the chief workers has been
,ut to the severest test, and triumphed
Inder difficulties which would have dis
,eartened and appalled, any but the bravest
ouls. At it's inception, with little aid or