Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-13
"a SILENCE THAT SPEAKS"
Graduating Exercises at the Deaf
Mute Institute.

Graduating Exercises at the Deaf
Mute Institute.
The first graduating exercises ever held at
the Nebraska institute for the deaf and
dumb took place yesterday afternoon in the
chapel of the institute under the immediate
supervision of Superintendent Gillespie. The
novelty of the exercises was sufficient 20 at
tract very large number Of people from the
city, and by the time for the opening of the
programme there was not vacant seat in
the hail. The commod dous apartments in
which the exercises took place we're attrac-
lively decorated with flowers and evergreen,
and over the stage, wrought from smilax and
white blossoms were the words IA Silence
that Speaks
The afternoons programme opened with
prayer by Rev. Millen, after which a quar-
tette rendered the "Indiau Summer Time"
in good style.
Miss Eta Stewart, of South Omaha, one
of the graduates, followed with an essay on
"Evolution," which she spoke, while her
teacher, Miss Taylor simultaneously deliv-
ored it in the sign language, Miss Stewart
was attired in the regulation Sweet girl
graduate" costume, snowy NULL with
cluster of roses at her throat and in her
hair. She is very attractive girl, and
spoke her piece with a considerable display
of oratorical ability, although her articula-
tion and enuncation were indistinct and
imperfect.
Miss Stewart held that mans physical
development and mental power clearly prove
that he is not development, but creation.
We must, therefore, accept the ac
count count svn,h which says the Divine fla fat
and by its development the world was COW
cred with living things, ana prepared for
mans habltation. Then again went forth
the Divine fiat, and man was made in the
image of his Creator and In him the Creator
breathed a part of his life. In all life some
part of God exists This breath tnat God
breathed into man is the soul, which alone
stamps man as special creation, and by
which man is able TO know. reverence and
love his Creator.
The dialogue, "Souvenirs of Institute
Home,n by one of the sign classes consis-
ting of five boys and two girls, was an inter-
esting exhibition of the thoroughness of the
system of instruction used at this institution.
Mr.. Mosley, the teacher, would ask each
member OF the class certain questions, which
they would promptly answer by means Of
| manual signs and articles, and in a way al
most as efficacious as they could have done
| If blessed with the power of speech.
Nine young ladies, radiant in white robes
| and a flowers, sang the dear old "Swanee
| RIVER by sign, while Miss Reed presided at
| the piano and carried the air in very sweet
| soprano voice. This singing by sign is one
of the most curious of all the mutes' accom-
| plishments; the denotlng of the rise and fall
| of the human voice, all its infections and de-
| Elections, its pealing sounds and dying ca
| dences, by graceful waves OF the HANDS and
| facial expression, is something that must be
| seen to be comprehended or appreciated
Miss Lucy Buttrick, another of the gradu-
ates, from Mound City, read her essay,
| when My Ship Comes In,' IN the sign
| language, being mute At the same time
Prof. Taylor read the composition, timing
| his words to the graceful gesticulatons and
motions of the fair girl upon the platform.
| The closing paragraph of the essay was in
substance something as follows:
mot at home could / sit waiting for my
| Sbip n in bnt with M hand the
| helm of the staunch little craft l would sail
the sea of life and over storms, dead calms
| and discouragements. bring my ship through
| successfully into port. And all the bells of
| heaven shall ring when my ship comes
| bravely in"
The art work by class of four girls and
| three boys was another interesting and
amusing feature. The work was entitled
From Paint Pot to an Artist" The first
| sketched with chalk paint pot, and the
next improved on this trife, and so on
| until the end of the class was reached, when
| a full-blown artist stood embazoned on the
board as large as life and just as natural.
| There were several classes in this work, and
| in many instances much skill was displayed,
! rejecting exceeding credit upon the thor
| oughness of DR.. Gillespie's curriculum.
The aural and oral exercises were also OF
| great interest The pupils who participated
| in these exercises are all pupils in whom the
! faculty of hearing and speech has been de-
| veloped in the institution, and the progress
made by them is truly remarkable In fact,
| so much has been accomplished that there
| are hopes thet many of them will become
| possessed with the faculties in their fullest
| force in time. While the struggles
| of these unfortunates TO artcuate is grating
| and disagreeable, it shows indsputably what
| can be done by a iudicious course of instruc
| tion. Many of them who are gradually learn
| learning to speak, can not hear. They con-
| ceive all questions put to them by the teacher
| from the motion of his lips alone, and their
| readiness, alacrity and unerring accuracy in
| returning correct answers is something that
| is almost startling.
| Myrtle Kstler, cunning little mimic,
| made hit with her sign solo, ITO See Our
| selves as Others See U.s."
| l.. A. Divine, manly young fellow from
| Ord, and the third of the graduates, deliv
| cred an address upon the Annexation of
| Mexicon that was well received. His vale
! dictory too, was well worded effort, and
and merited the vigorous applause it re-
| ceived.
In neat and appropriate little speech to
| each, Superintendent Gillespie made the pre-
sentation of the diplomas, after which there
| was more music and minor exercises, the
! days programme closing with the Lords
| prayer by the entire school.
| From the indications one would Judge that
| the institute Is IN "A healthy and tiourshing
coudition, and that much good is being COM
passed by its able corps of teachers and
| officers.