Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-12
AGREATSILENT ARMY
The Habits, Aims and Future Of Deaf
Mutes Told by Their Leaders.
RESULTS OF THEIR EDUCATION.
They Are Eminently Fitted for Nearly
Every Profession.
QUICK TEMPERED BUT AFFKCTIOSATs
WRITTEN FOR THE D1sRArcz.l

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.1
In order to fully realize and apprecists
the progress and prospects ofdeafmutes,it 10
necessary to take aglance backward. Inan
ages and in all countries there have existed
certain proportion OF deaf and dumb per-
sons; vet, only century and a quarter has
elapsed since any effort was made TO educate
them. 1t is true there were few spasmodio
attempts and isolated instances Of partial
success, but not until the close of the
eighteenth century did the work assume
character that demonstrated, not the possi-
biIity or the probability, but the unqualified
certainty Of success, and widespread recog-
milton of its importance.
Prior to the time when Christ spoke the
word 'Ephphatha," we have but two au-
thentie instances in which deaf mutes were
treated with any degree of toleration, viz.:a
son of Cresus, King OF Lydia, and Quintus
Pedius. relative Of the Emperor Augustus.
The thousands who lived and died before
and after the advent of the Christian era
were subjects of oppression and cruelty,
were denied civil and religious privileges,
and, at a certain period, were popularly re-
garded as objects of divine wrath, and as
such, fitted for slavery or death. Scholars
and philosophers alike agreed that it was
impossible to educate the deaf and dumb.
In this country the education of deaf mutes
was begun II years ago, with a class of four
pupils, in Hartford, Conn. At present
there are SO schools and institutions for their
education in the United States, with an ag-
gregate attendance of over 900. There are,
besides, fully 10000 deaf mutes scattered
throughout the Union, who are either grad
yates of the different institutions or are too
young to attend.
TEACHING TRADES.
The graduates of deaf mute institutions,
as general rule engage in the trades which
they have been taught while pupils; Tor the
institutions not only aim to give both
mental and manual education, the male
pupils being instructed in such trades as
cabinetmaking, woodcarYing, carpentry,
shoemaking, tailoring and printing, as also
the occupations of gardening and farmingS
while the females are taught plain sewing,
Gressmaking and the correct methods Of
performing the various domestic duties.
Both males and females are instructed in
the rudiments Of drawing, and those who
manifest any talent are educated in the
higher branches of art. Those who demon
strate an ability and a desire for higher edu-
cation become students of the National Deaf
Mute College at Washington, which is sup
ported by the Government and is empowered
by Congress to confer degrees.
It would be well to explain that there are
two distinct conditions implied by the term
"deaf mutes." Ten per cent Of so-ealled
deaf mutes can speak, but cannot hear, hav-
ing become deaf by sickness or accident
after learning to talk. In some caseEc6n4
genital deaf nldtes have been taught to
speak. The vast majority are deaf and
dumb.
Deaf mutes generally intermarry, and il
is only in very rare instances that deaf
mute marries hearing person. They live
happy and industrious lives, and are, with
few exceptions, good, law-abiding, intelli-
gent and independent people, who claim
the rights and privileges and accept the
duties and responsibilities of citizenship.
Their children are invariably bright, and
very rarely inherit the affection of the pa
rents. During the past 20 years much adj
vancement has been made. Through the
medium of newspapers which publish intel
ligence concerning them, rapid strides in
social and business progress has character
lied them as class, and at the same time
once more demonstrated the power OF the
press.
EVERY PROFESSION REPRESENTED.
They have literary societies in most of the
cities OF the United States, where the deaf
mutes mount the rostrum and hold forth in
silent oratory and debate. Solutions of vital
questions of the day are usually essayed,
and the more intelligent, through the me-
dium of their powerful and effective Ian.
guage of signs, keep the less advanced
posted on the topics Of the day, develop and
improve their argumentatiYe abilities, and
generate ideas that otherwise were destined
TO lie dormant in the brain. Beside these
literary societies, there are annual or bien-
nial State conventions, which take up and
discuss matters affecting the welfare of deaf
mutes That the effect of these conventions
is salutary and far-reaching Is acknowl-
edged by those conversant with matters re-
lating to the education and we'll being Of
the deaf and dumb. There are to be found
deaf mutes in nearly every profession and
trade. Strange as it may seem, there are
deat-mute ministers, lawyers, analytical
chemists, apothecaries, artists, sculptors,
teachers, editors, bankers, clerks, book
keepers, etc. Many have risen to positions
of high emolument and honor, and did not
want of space prevent, we would like 70
give few special instances.
It would be advantageous to deaf mutes
if the public possessed a more correct con-
ception OF the disabilities which deafness
imposes. There is tendency TO exaggerats
the extent of the misfortune. A little reason
ing will show that there are few avocations
which deaf mute cannot pursue with az
much comparative success as one who can
hear. E. A. HoDGSoN,
Editor Deaf Mute Journal