Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-02
THE DEAF AND DUMB.
How They Performed a Pantomime
Last Night to a Like Audience
At THE EDGEWOOD INSTITUTION.
A Variety Show of Stirring Scenes from
Indian Life Enacted.
AN AUDIENCE THAT APPRECIATED ALL

There was grand pantomime exhibition
given at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in
Edgewood last night. Such rollicking
gleesome performances, such amusing gam
bols and such laughable incidents were
enacted as to arouse the risibilities af almost
any person, but never sound was heard
among those forming the larger part Of the
audience.
1t has been a custom at the institution to
give the pupils some entertainment during
the holidays, because thev stay at the insti-
tuition and are not allowed to go home for
more than day. Various kinds Of pas
times have been introduced, but none found
as much favor among the deaf and dumb as
the pantomine. because they can under
stand the meaning of such an exhibition
better than they would understand any
other play.
A PERFECT THEATER.
The performance Of last night was in the
style Of a variety show. The stage, curtain,
and the scenery, had been arranged in a
suitable manner, footlights were merrily
fiickering in the front, and when the signal
for the commencement Of the exhibition was
given, all eyes were expectantly directed to-
ward the stage. The rest of the chapel was
dark. SO as to throw the performing actors
out into broader light.
Suddenly the curtain was drawn, and a
couple of young men dressed in tights like
the ordinary circus acrobat, bowed to the
silent audience. Everything was initiated.
with the utmost accuracy. Even the ire
pressible clown, arrayed in the most
grotesque garb, was there, and when the
two gymnasts performed their feats, the
clown was not lacking in burlesquing their
efforts.
The next feature of the show was negro
woman, who went marketing. While buy
ing some pies, however, several boys got at
her basket and stole the pies. The stolen
goods gave the thieves the stomach ache,
and physician called, who used the pump
with the effect Of bringing rabbit from the
patients stomach.
An act of wonderful doctor, New
Tell and the inexperienced waiter were the
next numbers on the programme. Then
came several scenes and incidents among
the Indians, which were remarkably we'll
represented.
WHAT DELIGHTED THEM.
The scene showed wild part OF the
country with wigwam, in the front of
which an Indian woman was roasting
potatoes on q gridiron. She was accom-
panied by her daughter. Presently four
Indians appeared who had slain q bear.
They were clad in the true style of the red
man. They danced a war-dance around the
bear, than they sat down and had few
whitfs from the calumet. after which they
enjoyed the roast potatoes. Three of the
Indians lett and one remained behind to
guard the bear, the woman, the child and
the wigwam, but he was attacked by four
white men, who bound him and the female
to tree to kill them. Just then the other
Indians returned, and battle was fought
in which seven men were killed, one white
man surviving.
The actions of these deaf and dumb per-
formers were remarkably we'll worked out.
The spectator could see, that they had not
only been we'll trained, but they were throw
ing their hearts and souls into their work.
The evenings performance closed with
three tableux from the Indian battle. There
were about 80 members of the institution,
who had taken an active part in the per-
formance, and while they did not know
whether they had satisfied their audience,
they looked as if they were themselves salts
fed with their efforts.
Mr.. B. R. Allabough, the supervisor of
the boys, had trained the performers and
he certainly deserves great credit.