The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1894-12-28
DEAF LIP-READERs.

,o, staff of the Omaha Republican q few
wears ago, he was detailed one evening
70 interview several rather distinguish
ed people who were stopping at the
hotels. Among them was DIR. Alexander
Graham Bell, the famous inventor of
the telephone and organizer of the Bell
Telephone Company. The subject Of
tina interview was not the telephone
nor the affairs of the company, but re.
lated to the instruction of the deaf and
and dumb-a branch OF work in which
Prof. BELL had distinguished himself
before the telephone was invented.
About four years prior to this he hau
been Instrumental in inaugurating the
oral system, as method OF training the
deaf and dumb. He had pointed out
The fact that the manual method, con
sistlng OF hand-sign alphabet and pan
tommic signs, was making those un-
fortunate people a class, by themselves
and that by intermarriage there was
being created deaf and dumb species
of human beings. His new method of
oral instruction had been introduced
into the Geaf mute school OF Nebraska
and he was there TO make an inspection
of its progress. AT that time he ex-
planned to me. what did not know be-
fore. that by his method the deaf and
dumb were taught 10 converse orally
with those who possessed all their fac
ulties.
We often speak OF a child being born
deaf and dumb, )" though more properly
it should be said it was born deaf. Be-
ing born without the sense of hearing
it is unable to learn articulate language.
because of its never hearing the sound
of the human voice. BY the oral meth
cd now in vogue, which we understand
was introduced by Prof. Bell, the deaf
and dumb child is taught to make vocal
sounds by initiating the lips. tongue and
throat movements OF its teacher in ut
tering certain words. When sounds
representing the names of objects ars
made readily by the child, those objects
are pointed out to- him. Thus a start is
made and the child is taught to articu-
late names OF objects and all vowel
sounds. This much only can be accom-
plished in year. The second year
gives the little learner still more of a
revelation, not only in speaking so that
the public can hear and understand
him, but in understanding the language
of his teacher and playmates by watch
ing the movements of their lips. In
many cases this wonderful training is
carried through a course OF twelve
years and the child comes out educated,
refined. accomplished, though be is
still minus his sense OF hearing. BY
intense training and keen perception he
becomes so skilled in interpreting the
lip movements Of speakers that ne can
follow the rapid talker through the
most intricate sentences. Thus, he
successfully makes his keen sense OF
sight perform for him the duties OF the
sense Of hearing as we'll.
Last summer / was reminded OF my
interview with Prof. Bell, while en-
route through the state OF Kansas.
Getting aboard the train at the town OF
Lawrence, and passing into the chair
car, looked for vacant seat. but saw
none. A lady then lifted vaiise from
the chair beside her and indicated thai
could take the seat. | did SO, thank
ing her for the favor, and wentto read
ing newspaper. a short time after
ward some scene or incident came uI
which led to conversation. She seem
ed bright and intelligent and we soor
branched off on various topics OF the
day. But observed that she kept hel
eye upon my face with the closest scru
tiny. When | talked and slightly
turned my face the other way, she
would shift her position SO as not tomlss
the slightest facial expression. For
while I thought she was watching
my chin. or my teeth or possibly
my nose. With it all she kep
up her part OF the conversation IN
most interesting manner. showing by l
that she was cultured and refined
though her ceasless watching my
mouth excited not little concern. She
was good interrogation and drew IRON
me my politics, occupation and resi-
dence and did not find her inclined tt
conceal similar information in refer
ence to herself. soon learned, but no
till.we had travelled hundred miie
together. that she was teacher in TN
Deaf Mute School of Kansas, ant
though she had understood every wore
had said, she had not heard sound
| then understood her: she was watch
ing the movements of my lips to inter
pret my language. She was what the.
call an expert lip-reader.
w. A. SCOTT.
--.----..---------
H. D. Booge, formerly OF Sioux CITY
has been s,lspended from the Chlcag