The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06

phone. which Professor Bell says he dis
covered in his effort to invent some device
bv which he could communicate with his
deaf wife.
Professor Bell is tireless benefactor of
deaf people, and when the French Govern
ment rewarded his discovery of the tele-
phone with a large sum OF money be used
it to found the Volta Bureau for doing
good among deaf people.
Mrs. Bell herself is wonderful example
of what education can do for person born
without hearing.
Mrs. George KEENAN,, who is Mrs. Bell s
neighbor at her home in Nova Scotia, is
reported as speaking with enthusiasm OF
that lady's intuition and quiet apprecia-
ton of q situation. ''ln fact, says Mrs.
KEENAN,, Il have never met with Mrs.
Bells equal in these respects. Her brain
works with the rapidity OF lightning and
those who assist her are often put TO their
wits end to keep pace"
Furthermore, most of the letters for the
institution are written by the older blind
girls, who grow into expert typewriters.
Unfortunately, the deaf children, who
could do the typewriting still better, since
the blind cannot correct mistakes, cannot
take dictation.
The deaf boys work in the carpenters
shop, and enjoy making things more than
boxes, such cunning cupboards and handy
shelves do they make that the matrons
and teachers can never get enough OF
them. 1t only seems shame the girls are
not allowed to work in the shop, too, Tor
surely this planning of odorous boards, this
fitting of corners perfectly into box, is
pretty enough work for girls, isn't it?
To make up for being barred out here
the girls have their cooking
With sleeves rolled up, hair covered with
white caps, and gowns with snowy aprons,
the beat, and knead, and taste to their
hearts content. OF course blind girls can
cook, and don't believe they burn their
fingers any oftener than you or would.
They can sew, too, and up yonder in the
sewing-room they are taught to make and
mend things IN the most approved fashion,
The artroom is in charge of a deaf-mute
artist, who was the first pupil to enter this
institution when it was opened thirty-five
years ago.
Many of the children draw and some
model in clay, hoping, perhaps, to follow
in the footsteps of Sculptor Douglas Til
den, a pupil of this school whose certifi-
cate Of honorable mention" at Paris
hangs upon the wall.
Theo d'Estrella, the teacher of art and of
a regular class in the school, is a great
favorite with the little folks on account of
nlS gilt OF SCOry-IelllilS WITH tnOSe
wonderfully expressive fingers.
He has wonderful sense of humor and
his presence is veritable streak of sun
shine in the lives of the young people it is
his dearest pleasure to amuse.
There is one place where the blind and
the deaf children take equal pleasure,
though they do not take 1t together.
This is the gymnasium, where bright
| young woman from Oakland gives lessons
| three times week.
| This teacher has taken great pains to
find the best method of teaching the blind
children, and every lady who sees the re-
suit is enthusiastic over her success.
| The freedom of motion, the violent ex-
| ercise without fear or danger is perfect
revelation to the people VINO have had to
''be careful" every step of their lives, and
the work in this gymnasium is pure Joy to
| them.
And SO the years are left behind when
| life was all silence for the deaf, all dark
ness for the blind. There is hope in the
future, and one can't help remembering
Olive Schriener's dream that she went to
heaven and met some people who were car
rying one who had lost hands and feet and
! eyes.
/ The people came down the pathway
| laughing and making merry. Their faces
shone for joy, and the blind mans face
/ shone most of all.
| The dreamer wondered much and asked
| why being manned, which on earth was