The Portland daily press., 1898-08-30

deaf children she has committed one faulu
which can never be effaoed from our
memories. For, when the time was ripe
for her to start a school at home for this
class Of children, she began by expert
menting with a method, suited only to
small fraction Of their number, While the
other portion underwent serious draw
back. In the light of present events, now
ever, we can forgive nor for this, for nap
PLY, after few years trial OF 6nls
method, she saw her mistake. Like bne
prodigal, she came to herself, returned 10
the parental school at Hartford anu there
confessed all. Here, as was natural, sne
was received with open arms. her sins
were wiped out, and from that time on
the Hartford school has watched the
progress of her reformed daughter With
feeling of pride and qualification
But / should not omit to mention here
the terrible temptation to which the
psopIe of Portland flor this was before
the school became state property were at
this time subjected. A man of wealth and
prominence ever "going to and fro in the
earth and from walking up and down it"
appeared on the spot. and as usual began
business by presenting an enormous mass
of statistics and Misrepresentation calcu
lated to mislead the public, but the good
people of Portland were not to be misled.
They had studied the matter thoroughly
and could not be swerved. All honor to
them for that.
Thus new chapter in the history of
the Portland School for the deaf was
opened. 1t was no longer TO be welded to
that one rigid system, in which speech
alone is used, but other ways of teaching
more suited to the different and unequal
capacities of its pupils were to he added.
The most gratifying results brought
about by this change, need not dwell
upon here as the papers of the state have
kept you well posted with them. Ihese
pagers have been unit in praise OF the
school, and of the excellent progress OF its
pupils. This speaks volumes for It's
capable and energetic principal, MISS
Taylor, and it shows that no mistake was
made in selecting her to fill its arduous
and responsible position. Her kindness,
forbearances and devotion to her WORK
have won for her the love and respect OF
the children of the school, the confidence
of their parents and the esteem and praise
Of the entire deaf of the state. We shall
all expect to meet Miss Taylor on this
suspicious occasion, for sur,ly our
mission TO this city would be but half &c
complished without seeing her kindly
face, and offering her cur congra ulations.
Truly the Maine School for the Deaf has
bright future before it. New and
spacious accommodations have been re-
Gently put up and it is now home In
itself. where the children live pleasantly
together and are directed in the way they
should go. BESIDES the school is now state
property, and, if it keeps up it's present
progressive spirit, there is every reason to
bellve that 1t will before many years out
rival some of the older schools of its kind
in the country. That the state will re-
main faithful and true to the school for
all time to come is our earnest prayer. 1t
is sometimes said that these conventions
are a mistake THAT we should seek the So
ciety of hearing people, and not herd to-
gether like cattle. Now, my friends. do
not agree with this sentiment. These con-
ventions are to us what teachers conven-
lions are to teachers; what iremen's con-
ventions are to firemen what wheelmen's
conventions are to wheelmen; what the
meetings of the grand army are to the
soldiers; what the meetings of the
national grange are to farmers and the
like. The people comprising these or
CARNATIONS do not live in colonies by
themselves. No, after their respective
conventions are over, they return to their
homes, and settle down with the rest of
mankind, just as If nothing had hap
pened. but they go home with broader
minds, higher aspirations, loftier pur-
poses, better resolutions and more ardor
for activity in their respective lines OF
business as result of having attended
these conventions. ~
So it is with the deaf. They - not
huddle so much together as Prof. Bell
would have the public believe. The men,
bers comprising this assem- lage here TO-
day represent II wide territory. They are
| from towns and hamlets scattered over
all New England At their homes their
places of business are with the hearing.
They attended the receptions, balls, fairs,
funerals, marriages, theatrical plays,
political meetings and other such gather
| inas in their own towns with their hear-
ing friends, and many of them attend
divine services with them Oh Sunday. In
| word they are with the hearing all the
year round, EXCEPT on such occasions as
this, where between the sessions it is a
pleasure to them to meet old friends, and
make new ones and where they talk over
the happenings of their old school days,
and enjoy themselves in an Intelligent
and hearty way. How cruel it would be
to deprive them of such happy gatherings
as this. They derive as much pleasure
and profit from their conventions as the
hearing do from theirs
On motion of Mr.. Frank w. Bigelow
Of Chelsea, the presidents address was
accepted.
The seore tary, Mr. II. e. Babbitt of
Taunton, reported the proceedings of the
last convention.
The treasurer, Mr.. Fl. N. Fairman of
I
Hartford, repor ted that the treasury is in
good condition.
Other matters of business occupied the
remainder of the forenoon meeting.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The association reassembled in 4 the
afternoon, when Mr.. Henry G. White de-
livered an able address on Evolution of
Men and Methods" in substance as fol-
lows:
The early history of our education is in
volved inobscurity and we know little or
nothing OF the methods attempted before
the invention of the manual alphabet,
but of one thing we may be certain and
that is that an effort to teach speech
and lip reading was the first thing done.
The art of talking with the hand or
arms is by no means a modern invention;
several methods of communication, aside
from that of tho tongue, were known to
the ancients, and it is remarkable that.
so far as we know, none ever thought of
using them for the instruction of the
deaf. until the time of Ponce and Benot,
the Spanish teachers, previous to the year
1900. as