Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-10-25
srnmrrxa IN sen LANGUAGE.
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Campaign oratory by u Dcaf-mute UP u
New Jersey.

Campaign 0ratory by Dcaf-mute UP ]"
+. New Jersey.
Just over the border line between
the States of New York and Now Jer-
sey, in tho little village u Pearl kiyer,
there lives man who has aged rather
an important part in political cam
pagns of the past. says the New YORK
Evening Post, His share in the STIR
and noise that precede election gay is
not uniecog by the political
leaders, notwithstanding the fact that
he is a deaf mute. In the, quiet OF ms
small farm on the outskirts OF the
town, it is difficult for the vieitor to
associate this man with the old pre-
conceived notions OF what goes to make
up political campaign. But after
short chat in the sign language, the
usefulness to the political managers OF
the mans peculiar activities becomes
apparent. The doaf-mute voters
throughout tho country in Presi-
Dental year need tho same care and
call forth the same anxiety, proper
tionately, as any other representative
part of American citizenship. They
| must have their campaign literature,
their explanations, and their orators.
| And this man is engaged to furnish the
oratory, Each Presidential campaign
4 he devotes Il Considerable share of his
time to speech makiDg. He finds the
work. he declares, both pleasant and
profitable.
1t is an interesting scene, when tho
"stump" speaker, who does not speak,
arrives in tho small hall that has been
set apart for him and his audience.
Before the meeting is opened or the
sneaker il Introduced, the audience is
animatedly discussing tho various
, issues OF the year, or excitcdly criticis-
ing the speakers expected attitude
toward them--all without sound. AT
J last, when tho chairman on the plat
form rises and with flourish of his
hands announces the speaker and his
, tonic, the nervous fingers are instantly
+ stiled, For the better part of an hour,
it may be. there is not sound, except
! for occasional applause when GOOD
| point has been made o. thing forciblj
. nut. 1t is most attentive audience
: always at thess mute meetings, thu
| men keenly watching the incessan
movements of the orators fingers! ant
. his ever changing EXPRESSION of face
+ A most responsive audience it is, too
Tor the spenker'a shades of meaning a
y shown in his features seem to b" We
y f1ected IN those of his listeners. AS tn
a sneaker warns 10 his subject hi
J. fingers take on more rapid movements
% his gestures grow more frequent, an
1t his audience. slightly bending forwar
If from their seats, in their eagerness
r suddenly break the silence in the ROOF
j. with a burst OF applause. To thos
d present, gifted with all their senses,
d comes as a fine climax.
70 But sometimes, when the audience
st cold, 1T ia doubly hard for the mute
q. arouse those in front of the platform
ID without the moving modulations
at voice or the emotion and feeling thu
I'd can change opinions at his commant
ia the apathy presents many mora dill
10 culties than the ordinary campail
or orator has to overcome. 1t becom
ne easier for some Of the more uninterest'
IN to fall ASLEEP, aud in the meetin
where most Of the audience are
r. Opposite opinion to tho speaker, it
lie not unusual to SEQ many closed eye
,ir But when The orator is moro fortunat
all the meeting always breaks up in mu
N, excited exchange vt comment and Crit
ed cism. There is much working Of han
ad and wriggling of fingers. All over t
Of hall the men begin to move to and fl
NJ some signing to the speaker, and conf
:" up to shake him by the hand.