The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-19
Miss Emma Branson.


In giving an account of the twenty
eighth annual commencement of the
Arkansas Deaf Mute Institute, the
Little Rock Democrat has among other
things the following:
The valedictory was signed by Miss
Emma Branson, of Crawford county, a
bright and remarkably intelligent young
lady, the address being read by
Superintendent Yates as follows:
ITO the Governor, Board of Trustees,
Superintendent, Teachers and Friends
of Our School:
This is my last term at school, and
| am proud to made short address to
you. When l was little girl did not
know how to write and read. / did not
know nay name nor of the existence of
my God My dear parents heard that
the good people of our state had estab.
lished a nice school for the deaf, so they
decided to send me here. | had not
been in school long before l began to
learn rapidly soon learned my name
and the relationship of my mother and
father and of God and His beloved Son,
Jesus Christ, who in mercy to the deaf
uttered that blessed word, 'Ephphatha,
that is be opened, and the deaf did
hear and the dumb did speak.
"Oh, how wonderfully that word has
taken effect The condition of an un-
educated deaf person is only understood
by those whose work it is to teach the
deaf. 1t is almost an impossibility for
you to comprehend the difference
between an uneducated deaf person and
an uneducated speaking person. can
not explain it to you in this brief
address of mine, but you can easily
understand that an uneducated speak
ing person can get along in this world,
and that he, without being able either
to read or write or even spell, can by
conversation with his neighbor learn of
all that is going on in the world. He
can learn of God and salvation. He
can learn right from wrong, and make
himself understood and a useful citizen.
, This, with an uneducated deaf person,
whose mind is blank, who is in utter
darkness and ignorance, with no way
for his neighbor to converse with him,
is an impossibility. He knows not his
name, not the dear name of mother,
father or God. His mind is simply a
blank.
but Jesus said 'Ephphatha, and
we now have schools in all parts of the
world for the deaf, and their mind s
ear is and has been being opened ever
since. Bring deaf child to our school
and the Christ order, 'Ephphatha,
will Immediately begin its work.
Within a week after an uneducated
deaf person is in school he begins to
hear through vision ear. His face
brightens up. He learns his name.
He knows mother He knows father.
| He learns the name of God and to honor
| HIN. Ills uOTIldHb ullIlu anu us bOul
are opened, and what light comes inl
In few years he is just as bright as
any other person. 1t has been thus
with me- 1t has been thus with us all.
We do not claim to be wise. We only
claim that we can understand, and that
just as the time arrives for us to leave
school for good we begin to learn.
''Our teachers have done miracles
for us. They have labored with the
greatest patience, and we have nothing
but thanks TO offer them and the good
people who have assisted in maintaining
our school
And now. in the name Of my
fellow graduates, thank you all for
the education we have. We pray that
God. in His infinite mercy, will bless
and protect you one and all forever and
ever. FAREWELL