The Portland daily press., 1898-08-30
DEAF MUTES.
The Annual Convention Of The Gal
laudet Association.
A VERY INTERESTING AND PER.
FECTLY NOISELESS MEETING.

Mavor Randall Makes Address of We'll
comc-President Cranes Annual Ad-
dress-Interesting Paper on Evolution
of Men and Methods.
The convention of the New England
Gallaudet association for the Deaf began
at Thatcher Post hall yesterday morning
with an attendance of over hundred
people, Prominent members of the society
were present. Mr.. A. s. Clark CT tne
Hartford school, acted as interpreter.
The convention was called to order at
103o by President John Z. Crane OF Hart
ford.
Prayer was offered by Deacon stephen
son OF the Second Parish church.
A felici6ious address of welcome was
extended by Mayor Randall. lie salo thae
he had received an invitation from tne
secretary of the association out oecnneo
it, owing to pressure of duties. MIR. ".
II. Brownsou then whom the deaf have
no warmer friend, telephoned to him in
the morning, urging him to leave his
work for time and come along to give
aid and encouragement to good object.
He felt that he could not resist such a
good pleading. He made favorable refer
enoes to the success of the Portland
School for the Deaf under the new man.
agement. His honor said that in watch
ing the members rapid method OF com
munication that he was reminded OF the
ship signals of our fleets at Manila and
Santiago, by means of which intelligence
could be flashed from one point to an
other.
Mr.. w. H. Brownson was invited to
say few words to the deaf, after Mayor
Randall eat down, and President Crane
of the society, referred to his valuable
services in the change Of methods OF in
struction at the Portland schools After
complimenting the members on their gen
eral Intelligence as apparent In their
looks and animated conversations. Mr..
Brownson said that what impressed him
the most during his official tour of the
New England schools for the deaf was the
look of content and, happiness on the
faces of the children taught under the
combined system at Hartford, Conn.,. a2d
so strong was the impression that he re-
solved to advocate that system in the
Portland school, and the result justified
his observations. He paid glowing
tribute to the devoted efforts of the
principal, Miss Taylor, in the building
up of the school. Both gentlemen ad-
dresses were received with frequent clap
ping of hands by the silent people.
Prof. Abel S. Clark of Hartford, in
preted the oral remarks of Mayor RAN
dali and Mr.. Brownson into the sign
Language of the deaf, and, later on, when
the deaf mutes were the speakers. he
translated their signs orally for the bene-
fit of tine hearing people in attendance,
reversible method. ~
Misses Sweet and Kellogg, teachers in
the Hartford school, now summering on
Cape Elizabeth, were present. President
Crane, himself Maine boy from East
port, but teacher for twenty years in
the Hartford school, delivered the follow.
ing address.
PRESIDENT CRANES ADDRESS.
Ladies' and Gentlemen:-It gives me
great pleasure to welcome you to this, the
twenty first biennial convention of the
New England Gallaudet Association of
the Deaf.
For three consecutive times during the
past six years, you have chosen me to
preside over your deliberations over which
l have had the honor to preside, none has
given me greater interest than | feel in
II. - B@ofv. rcH hor fOH
The reason for this will be apparent when
I say that am proud of Maine, my
native state, and still prouder that the
deaf of the state should be honored with
this convention.
Maine in line with many other states
of our country has earned reputation
for being liberal to her deaf children, snd
for thus she has won their lasting gratl
tude tShe was among the first to extend
to them the benefits of a free education
which is the common birthright OF every
American child no matter what his race,
CASTE or condition may be. Having &C
auainted herself with their lamentable
condition, she could not do otherwise, for,
indeed the mental state of an uneduc ated
deaf child Is pitiable to contemplate. he
Is in utter darkness. Having no means of
verbal expression, he knows not 30 much
as the names of the paren is, brothers and
sisters, nor of the myriads of interesting
objects and living creatures around him.
He does not even know of his Creator, and
has no distinction between right and
wrong.
This sad condition of her uneducated
deaf aroused the sympathy of Maine in
the days of the elder Gallaudet, and she
was not slow In providing way for their
education. Had she not done this, but left
them to run their own course, many of
them very likely would have launched
forth into lives of vice, pauperism and
criminality, thus becoming burden up
on her, and lasting disgrace to them
selves and their friends. They We're not
Ut subjects for the public schools. and she
was not then in 3 condition financially
to provide a special school for them with
in her borders, so she did the very best
thing open to her, she sent them to the
American School for-the Deaf at Hart
ford. Conn.
1t is true she began to do this in
small way, but we should bear IN mind
that all great enterprises had their
humble beginning. At first she could
allow her deaf subjects to attend school
for only limited number of years, and
that really was the custom in the other
states in those days, for at that time 1t
was never dreamed that the deaf would
ever attain to anything like their present
fnta1laofr1o1 OF Her 0GnRrOS1tY