The National tribune., 1890-04-24
ITO be continuedl
THE SILENT ARMY.



THE SILENT ARMY.
Plea for Increased Pensions for the Totally Deaf.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Your Health
Hints" of recent issue treats deafness as n
light affection. ] feel sure, from your adj
hcrence to Justice due soldiers, you did not in
tcndto antagonize the bill pending in Congress
TO increase the pension for total deafness.
Total deafness is one of the most desperate
calamities. You can hear; but speech tells us
nothing, for we hear not. You are admired by
your associates for your quick perception, your
quick catching on !" we are regarded as Rip
Van Wrinkles ""a back number" fossils of the
eozoic period. as fit for leading out. The art of
conversation aud power TO talk, " face 10 face
with our fellow men, to acquire which tho best
years Of life are soduously devoted, the most
arduous study endured. aud millions Of treasure
annually expended throughout the world, is
in us. entirely lost by this woiul calamity
Don't say they can write TO us, aud we can
speak write to them; writing as substitute
for conversation is dead letter, aud entirely
neglected, except few words now aud then
under tho most urgent circumstances; and
when deaf men talk all turn their heads away
In the labor of chasing pensions, the degree
OF disability produced by total deafness has not
been recognized. The loss of both feet or legs
is not so great, and this will be experienced by
men seeking employment in the usual voca-
tons in nine cases out OF 10. Under the pres
sure OF competition tho deaf find few places
where they can obtain work. Y on will not SEQ
them behind the counter, on the bench at the
bar, in the pulpit in the halls Of legislation, rs
sailors, steamboat men. railroad men, express
agents. pnsfmasters, or County or Town officers
nor IN any place worth naming; while almost
all places, and all the best places. open 10 the
other class OF pensioners rs-even To the amputa.
tiou cases.
Il. ~. q At
limbess comradc. He is certainly entitled to
the small need he receives for the great loss he
met in saving the Government, but the deaf
have met an irrcparable loss second only to the
blind and insane. aud in nll social and religions
enjoyment second To none, while IL S excessively
moftiiying aud dclraGtnE. The conservatism
OF ideas has, unconsciousiy cinug to the old
common-law theory that mans limbs being
useful in fight to protect his body fronPcx ternal
danger in a state OF nature are the most inlpor-
iant and, therefore, injuries to them must be
diSinCu shed ffom all others. This has, ia
our advanced progress and muItitafipus cm-
pl0ymcnts. worked injustice 10 the Totally deaf,
whose disability Is at least equal TO. and whose
pension should be the same as that oi, the lcet-
less soldier, yet the bill wanrge is for ouly $50
aud il limited to eases nearly total / would,
with full KNOWLEDGE, aud without hesitation,
exchange my total deafness for the loss of both
feet o. legs. and, n iuduccWeut, release all
claim TO any pension. The business of the
world Ia directed and controlled by tho voice
aud no deaf man need apply.
While there is a vast difference between total
aud partial deafness, your sfatment e" that tho
inability of hearing distinct sounds Is indeed
no very serious bereavement" will not be
ccptcd by any so afflicted The difference be-
tween q normal hearing and Que not hearing
distinct sounds" Is marked by prompt aud IN
teiileeut responses In word or deed on the one
hand aud tardy, clumsy. bali correct responses
forced from tho partially deaf IN business aiInirs
on the other. Tho commercial value OF this
difference Is gagged in salaries, which are in
sympathy with the intelligence and convent
euce Of the services rendered. aud vary from
about 800 10 5000 per annum. 1t reaches
further. Most men have shifting yorations.
The partially deaf are hiudered by this dis
ability IN obtaining employment n proportion
80 It's degree aud If IN business for Themselves
suffer accordingly IN their income. ! know "a
deaf eUmrade, IL lawyer of this city, who con
troilca Hu eE Etensive practice ia all tue courts,
aud was engaged IN rcni estate aud other
wise identified with business interests here.
whose business gradually shfunk as his deaf
ness resulting from casualty iu battle ell
eroachcd up0u his bearing; hut his business
remained sufficient for ghe support of bis family
a. iGng he could hear anything. His deaf
ness became total some three years ago, and his
obtain no work. although an energetic man.
You qnoiB the sentence. " blessed are tho
deaf who enjoy tho privilege of listening to tho
voice Of their own reflections That is mock.
! cry. There are no such people among the deaf.
/ II had better read, 4" Blessed are the dead who
| die IN the Lord" Total deafness is total soli-
| tGdc, aud not much 10 be preferred over death.
/ Bacon says Whoever is delighted with soil.
/ tGde Is either wild beast or Il god" As God
enjoys the society Of the angels and the blessed,
/ IL seems but fair 10 apply the other term b. the
4 quotation. The once celebrated " King Philip
/ chief Of the Potenotets. exclaimed on nearing
| Of ihc massacre Of his wife aud cnalavcmeHt OF
| his only son, biy heart breaks, nov AN ready
| 10 lie" The same feelings pnryaac the ranks
/ OF our totally deaf soldiers when they contrast
| their former active buFiHcss aud social lives
with their present consignment u the EpItudes
| of deafness. Their reflections are not enjoy
able the deaf arc not blessed here,
There is. an eYefpresent distressing disease
| Of the head that accompanies all army deafness
and whch Is not penapnable because of thu
specific pension given for deafness that | vii
not now discuss.-AsA JEEKIHsDE, Lock Boz
/ 30, Vcyay, Ini