Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-12
THE DUMB MAY SPEAK.


Marvellous Results Accomplished by the
Institutions for the Instruction OF Deaf
Mutes.
Professor Theodore A. Keisel of this
city, who is an instructor at the Column
bia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb,
Washington, d. c., is now az home
spending the summer vacation. Prof
Keisel called at The GAZETTE office
last Friday, accompanied by Paul O.
Swarts Of No. 9l8 Pine street, and the
latter's son, Arthur Leroy Swarts, aged
nine years, who is pupil in the pri-
mary department of the Columbia Insti-
tuition.
The boy has been deaf mute since
he was six months of age, the affection
being the result of an attack of ccrebro
spinal meningitis. The little fellow has
been at the institution for only nine
months, but the wonderful progress he
has made shows how effective is the
system of instruction now in force at
these Institutions where the dumb are
made to speak, and the deaf, although
they cannot be made to hear, are taught
to comprehend, clearly and intelligently,
what is said by others, merely by watch
ing the motions ofNthe speakers lips.
Little Arthur gave u very cOmnenda-
Bile illustration OF his proficiency, de-
spite his natural modesty at being called
upon to go through an examination be.
fore strangers and amid unusual sur
roundings. Short words he speaks with
surprising distinctness, and he can also
handle sentences very creditably. When
the strange effect of the unnatural,
though not unmusical tones that mark
a deaf mute's efforts at articulation
wears away, the spoken words are
readily understood. The lad can also
write with ease. He takes quickly to
object-lessons, aud this manner of in
struction is largely awaited of by
teachers Of the deaf and dumb. From
the proficiency he has thus far dis.
played, there is no doubt that in few
years the boy will be able to talk flu
emily, and to understand what is said to
him by reading the movements of the
speakers lips.
The Columbia Institution is one of
the best schools for deaf Nlutes in the
country, and it is n fact not generally
known that the State Of Delaware pro-
vldes for the tuition Of all deaf mute
children resident Of the State who may
desire to attend. The mode Of securing
adnssion is to present petition to the
judgcN of the superior court, who en-
dorse it and forward it to the governor,
whereupon the latter draws Il warrant
upon tile State treasurer for the amount
Of the tuition fee. The following pupils
from Delaware are now at the Columbia
Institution:
College-Bertha NJ. Whitelock.
Primary Observation-Disclosures Dough-
erty, Sarah Fleming, Laura Mayer,
Nettie Whiteluck, John D. Clarke,
Herbert Jump, Arthur Leroy Swarts
and Joseph NJ Werizbomski of Will
mington; Matte Hura, Nellie Lynch,
Mabel Iagee, Gertrue Parker, Mary
Spurry, Howard Breeding, Herbert
Hurd.
Anyone desiring to send deaf mute
child to the institution should call upon
or write to Prof. Theodore keisel, at
No. III Yves: Seventh street. Prof.
keisel is II graduate Of the Columbia
Institution, and is now one OF its leading
instructors. lie is devoted 10 the work
in which he is engaged, and will be
pleased to give information to all inter-
estcd in this special feature OF public
education.