Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-10
"MECHANIsM OF THE VOICE."
Prof. A. Graham Bell Lectures Before
Teachers of the Deaf

Prof. A. Graham Bell Lectures Before
Teachers of the Deaf.
The convention of the American Association
to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf
has been in session for the past few days at
Lake George and ends today. Prof. Alexander
Graham Bell on Wednesday lectured before the
association on 1.-THE Mechanism of the Voice A"
Prof. Bell gave methods by which to correct
faulty speech. By the use Of mechanical con-
triyance made of bone he manipulates the
tongue OF deaf child in q way to modify a
sound produced until finally the desired sound
is given forth The child with looking glass
observes the position Of the tongue and learns
thus to reproduce the sound at will. With the
manipulation DR.. Bell changed the sound "n,''
coming from the mouth of a deaf boy, to the
sound "ng." This he did by pushing the tongue
back. In like manner, by manipulation, sound
''th' was changed to IS, and So to Ssh" &c
Dr. Bell maintains that ineligible speech
should be aimed at rather than ideally perfect
speech. He further claims that Ineligible
speech is not dependent upon perfect vowel
position. He illustrated by speaking several
sentences, using but single vowel sound. in
telligibiity being produced by the consonants
L. E. Crouter read an essay. in which he
gave an account Of the DEVELOPMENT of oral
teaching under three different conditions
first, as articulation work as it is now prac-
ticed in our combined schools; second as pure
oral work in sign schools, and third, in rela-
ton to oral work in separate schools. His ex-
perience was decidedly in favor of the last
mentioned form.
Miss Barton, principal Of the Portland, Me-.
school, presented pupil named Joseph King
His case is, in some respects, as wonderful as
that of HELEN kellar. He was brought to the
notice of Miss Barton three years ago at which
time he was entirely without instruction and was
ignorant of all means Of communication, ex-
cept by means of natural signs. He was then
about seventeen years of age. OF his former
history nothing is known beyond the fact that
he had for some years been thrown upon his
own resources. Living by his wits his percep-
tons had become quickened, and demonstra-
ton proved his ability to comprehend oral
speech with ordinary rapidity.
In the evening the Hon. Gardiner G. Hub
bard delivered a lecture on 1.-The Geography
of America"
Tho association was formed September I6,
1880. The first gift was made to the associ-
alton by DR.. A. Graham Bell to the amount Of
$25, 600. A small income is also derived from
membership fees. To accomplish the work
which the association has undertaken every one
interested in tile promotion Of the teaching Of
speech to the deaf should lend his aid to in
crease the funds of the association by augment
ing the membership and bringing the matter
before those who are benevolently inclined,
and by soliciting gifts and requests. The an
nual fee of membership is %. The member
ship of the association now numbers 295. Fifty
per cent of the number are in the middle states,
that is. east of Buffalo and Pittsburg and north
of the Potomac; 20 per cent are in New Eng
land, Is per cent are west Of a line drawn from
Chicago to St. Louis, per cent are in the ter
ritory between Buffalo and Chicago, north of
the Ohio, and per cent are south Of the Ohio
and Potomac.