The morning call., 1893-06-14
THE MUTES SPEAK
Spoken Words Read by
Deaf Graduates.
EXPERT BLIND TYPEWRITERS
The commencement Exercises at the
Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb and the Blind.

Six deaf mutes and one bright young
lady who is blind graduated from the lnst-
tuition for the Deaf and Dumb and the
Blind at Berkeley yesterday.
During tile very interesting graduating
exercises at the school yesterday afternoon
they received diplomas from President
Warning Wilkinson and then they left the
care of the State aad went for tn to enjoy
life and earn their living with gratitude
for the in stitution that enabled them to
learn both so well.
The class consisted of two young men
and five young women. One of the latter,
Miss Augusta Mast, is blind. All the rest
are deaf mutes. They have been inmates
of the institution for periods varying from
seven to eleven years.
When they entered the school they knew
almost nothing. Their world comprised
only what they could see, touch or smell.
Books were sealed 10 them. They could
but be dependent upon others, for they
were without resources.
Now they are prepared to earn living
! in almost any walk in life Though they
never heard sound, yet they talk.
! Though deaf, they read speech from lips
! that To them are silent. The blind write
and read. Through the Intervention of
science they, too, are now able To earn
! living.
! 1t was hardly o'clock yesterday morn
! ing when the guests began 10 arrive at the
| sylum, though the exercises did not begin
! TIL afternoon. BY . O'Clock even the
| alsles of the spacious assembly hall were
crowded and hundreds were standing.
! Even then the people continued to arrive
! by every Car.
Shortly after o'clock sixteen girls
| whose ages ranged from 6 to 16 years
walked upon tie stage. Their step was
| slow and studied. This was because lney
were all blind. Many were very pretty
and all looked charming IN their lovely
white dresses They sang My Flaxen-
haired LassIe' and deserved the hearty
| applause that rewarded them.
Miss Frances Aukener, one of the
graduating class. then stepped forward
| and IN signs gave the Lords Prayer,
! her face expressing every thought, ana
| her gestures would nave told the specta-
tors the substance OF her prayer even had
! they not known it.
linen followed an essay, Have we fu-
| ture ?" by Augusta Mast.
| Nj IS Mast graduates from the asylum
! this year after having been pupil for
| eleven years. She is blind, yet her face is
! bright and the hope expressed in her grad
/ uatlDg essay was reflected in The happy,
| confident smile that made her pretty fea-
! lures really beautiful.
! The essay was written on heavy paper
with symbols made by piercing the paper
| with some pointed instrument. She read
! from this manuscript She spoke OF the
! sad neglect of the blind in early days.
| Then turned to what the blind children
were doing al Berkeley.
1t had been found mat the blind could
! use the typewriter as well as those with
| sight. The phonograph had made the
knowledge OF stenography unnecessary.
Thus BY the assistance Of science the
business man could entrust his CORE
Spondence to blind amauuenSiS.
The position OF governeos, she thought,
was one for which blind youn. ladies were
especially ADAPTED. Their own experience
would render them especially valuable in
training blind children. Through their ex-
tensive Libraries the blind students were
well versed in the English classics. Copies
OF most OF the best educational works are
also printed in raised letters. This would
enable the blind teacher to lmpart tie
exact sciences TO the pupil.
Miss Mast also stated that n number of
! her cbo0lmates were at the State Univer-
! sIty. There they were making their mark,
! At the end OF their college course they
! would devote themselves to the coaching
| OF those preparing TO enter the university.
| journalism was another field she thought
The blind would enter. Music also was
| promising to the blind. There are many
| noted musicians who are sghtless. Pfaun-
organists, is totally blind.
Nor were household duties to be neg
| lecied. The girls do neat ana substantial
| sewing, while cooking was not only an
| enjoyable work but one crowned usually
| with success. In conclusion the speaker
| said:
Perpetual persiatence with no thought
OF failure must at last be victorious Ii is
not right that we should be separated
from the rest Of the world because we lack
! sight. We can be intellectual. refined and
! accomplished. We need and long for
social life with its enjoyments and prvi-
leges. Mutual interchange of thoughts
and imaginatIens makes each one essen
| tIal to the other We are each one de-
pendent on the other and must mingle and
blend together"
Two blind boys, Masters Morrison and
Barkhausen, then played a duet on the
piano. The piece was played In perfect
time and evoked much applause.
Rev. George II. Hatch then delivered an
address to the graduating class. They
were ranged along the stage. Mr.. Hatch
stood at the. left of the line and Mr..
Wilkinson at the right.
AS Mr.. Hatch spoke his words were
translated to the class by Mr.. Wilkinson.
Every eye was fixed on the latter's flying
fingers, and the faces of the boys and
girls showed that they c0mprehended the
discourse. The speaker urged them to
seek that real success that lay in helping
others and III advancing right. he spoke
at length ON the success that is worse than
failure. and urged them to avoid
it. He wished them godspeed upon their
voyage of life which they had just COM
menced. and rendered them his heartest
wishes for their success.
Miss Katie Foley, one Of the blind pu-
pills, sang Sweet Adieu." She has Il fine
soprano voice, and 1t was remarkably we'll
controlled for one sc very young
Then President Wilkinson presented the
graduates with their diplomas after short
speech which he repeated on his fingers.
The last mum Der CT the first part If the
programme was Mende.ssoh WED
ding March," which was magnifcently
rendered on the great Ihirty-stop organ by
Miss Gussie Mast
After a short interval Mr.. Wilkinson
announced the first NUN Der Of the second
part of the programme. This was to
exhibit some of the work accom- plished by
tue pupils. Miss Christine Labarraoue
first sang soprano solo, 1.-The Evening
Bells"
Mr.. Whipple. the teacher of articula-
ton and ipreading, was then introduced.
by patence and hard work he teaches
children who have never heard sound TO
so ADJUST their organs of speech that GER
tain sounds are produced; not only that,
but ne mas peculiar symbols for each
sound. For "ah" large circle is used.
II represents the mouth wide open.
After travelling thro Ugh the best lnsti