Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-26
THE G ALLAUDET MEMORIAL

| -9DIiaaINHlIfPPR'BR'H llA
THE GALLAUD
always be so, that his descendants, as hereto
FORE shall always be seen in the foremost rank
| of our friends, animated by the noble impulses,
the generous feelings and the philanthropic
| spirit Of their illustrious sire, is our prayer.
| But, whatever the future may unfold, the past
| is secure. The name of Gallaudet is forever
| fixed in our armament as the brightest star in
| the noble galaxy that adOrns it.
| my Friends, the Gallaudet memorial is
! finished. Commanding the highest art of
the sculptor, his children Of silence have placed
his statue here in commemoration Of his grand
work in their behalf. It springs from their
hearts; it is worthy of them; it is worthy of the
| gifted sculptor who created it; it is worthy of
him whose life and character it commentaries,
and it is also grand. nay, it is sublime in the
nationality, the universally Of the sentiment
which it symbolizes.
| I'm renewing here our expressions Of graft
tude and generation to our friend and bene-
factor, and conscious of having discharged a
sacred duty, let us here consecrate ourselves
anew to the unfinished duties of life. Let us
remember that we have duties and obligations
to perform corresponding with the blessings
which We have enjoyed Let us strive to DEM
onstrate that we are worthy Of him, worthy Of
| the benefits received.
| HE knew that our path is shrugged beyond the
common lot of man, and he stroye assiduously
to smooth that path. He knew that We carry
| weight, are handicapped in the race, and he
exerted himself beyond his strength to lessen
although he could not entirely remove that
weight The rest remains with us. Shall we
falter; shall we halt2 No. thousand times
| no.
"a crown to the who winsl and the worst is only
And somewhere, somewhere still, reward awaits the
hroken shiaId ritbo,, b,,, . b.ro.s hs.r, ,;tb,,,
And held with hand of STEEL the broken sword may
Apoem by Mrs. L. R. Soaring. of California.
well-known to the literary world as Howard
Glyndon." was read orally by Prof. JOS. c. Cor
don, of the college, and translated into vivid
signs by Miss Georgiana Elliott, Of Illinois, a
member of the Introductory class of the college.
| An intermission of fifteen minutes followed,
during which the audience adjourned to the
site of the statue, which Immediately faces
/ the broad terrace steps leading to the chapel.
| President Hodgson then formally presented
the statue to the National deaf mute college.
The Presentation Address.
Mr.. Hodgson said In the year 1888, at it's
second convention, held in New York city, the
National Association of Deaf Mutes unanimous
ly resolved to erect a memorial to Thomas
| Hopkins Gallaudet on the centenary of his
birth. The cooperation of the deaf of the
United States was asked for, and need say was
promptly and enthusiastically given. There
| were few who did not heartily embrace the op-
portunity to demonstrate their gratitude to the
first friend and greatest benefactor of the deaf
| of this country.
This statue does not pay a debt it simply
acknowledges an obligation SO great that it can
| never be cancelled. 1t forms but the outward
| expression of widespread reverence and love-
Before the advent of Gallaudet, how many
thousands of deaf mutes must have lived and
| died in ignorance even of the promise of a
blessed Redeemer. In a land of liberty and
enlightenment, the innocent offspring of
Christian parents were more hopelessly shack
| led, with chains more firm and enduring. than
| ever yet restrained the lives Of serfs or slaves.
But Gallaudet came and their bondage
ended. He
"qPei ed the gate Of knowledee. showed the road
| Words are too feeble to express how much we
| owe to him who made US free.
Love of glory and the hope of gain are the
two foremost incentives to effort with ordinary
human kind. But the work of Thomas Hop
kins Gallaudet was Influenced by different
motives. 1t was one Of self-sacrifice, generated
solely by the great sympathies of noble nature
and carried forward in the face of discourage
ments by the wisdom of talented mind The
history OF humanity records no greater triumph
springing from SO trivial a circumstance. How
true the words of Holy Writ-"and little
child shall lead them" Had Thomas Hopkins
Gallaudet not met little Alice Cogswell. the
mind shudders to contemplate what might
have been the condition of the thousands OF
educated and enlightened deaf-mutes ofto-day
The massive gates Of circumstance
Are turned upon the smallest hinge;
And @ thus THIS seeming I,1 petties, chance
There are many reasons why the Galaudet
memorial is placed in this city and on the
grounds Of this college. Gallaudet was ma.
tional benefactor, and that alone is sufficient
reason why his statue rests in the capital of the
| patinn Also the nm ord
from every state and territory OF the Union
This college represents the highest effect O,
Galiaudet's humble beginning-it is the only
college for the deaf in all the world-and by it,
statue an importance and glory that no othe,
site could give. 1t will constantly suggest the
vast difference between then and now.
1t is with feelings of the deepest gratitude
mingled with the pride Of successful effort
that the National Association Of Deaf-Mutes i,
enabled to present to the National deaf-mute
college this beautiful bronze statue, SYMBOLIC
J ing the incident which decided the life-work Of
great and noble man. and rescued from
fate far worse than death myriads of human
beings. May it tell TO ali story Of the triumph
Of a life Of earnest labor and Of steadfast faith
aud may it keep bright and imperishable thu
iuster which belongs to Gallaudet, the enamel
pator Of the deaf and dumb.
, The nag thrown over the statue was ther
draw aside by little Herbert and Marion Gal
iaudet, children Of the president of the colleg,
} and grandchildren Of the good man whom t6,
statue commentaries, and the magnificent me
mortal stood revealed. burst Of applaus,
followed the dsaf-mutes manifesting their en-
thusiasm by the waving Of handkerchief
! until the crowd seemed one vast sea of tossine
white; DIR. Gallaudet. the president Of the col
iege.then arose and formally accepted the statue
President Gaiiaudet's Response.
DIR. Z. N. Gallaudet, president Of the Na
} tional Deaf Mute college, responded to Mr.
; Hodgsons address 90 follows:
Mr.. President-The National college offer
most sincere thanks to the national associatio,
/ for the beautiful and valuable gift now re-
ceived at your hands.
In all ages, and among all peoples mot sbso
iutely sunk in barbarian, monuments an.
, statues have played an important part in pub
|. Telling, az they do, more or less fully o
lofty lives and noble achievements, they stimu
late the mind Of the beholdsr and inspire hin
With desire, and often with . purpose /,
} make his life sublime"
~ How much The community h the gamer To-