The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-13
ORRlS BENSON'S PROGRESS.
THE DEdF. DrnB AVID BIIND BOi's
GROWING AVON m DGE.


lh" most Interesting pup OF tho New York
Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and
DUNN and lh" IN" who gives th" least trouble
10 Va" teachers i u boy to whom the outside
world T. An absolute blank Dent dumb and
hlind orris Benson lives IN u world Of silence
and darkness. I nder ordinary conditions. l,fs
~ h'm~eli h" would have gone through lifc a
d"~olhl" soul wrapped IN ZIMMERMAN darkness.
knowing nothing thinking nothing hopirs
nothing Fortunately. scientific methods and
patient "nd"avor mr.. ,aI,hlr of helping even
80 afflicted an individual a. ON" deaf. dumb
and blind indeed 80 MANY advantages ana ~
sources havebcen brought INTO his hfe tha, II ia
not much eNaggcratiuu of III" facts 10 say that
h" - lt'l" lnc"mmoded hv his affection.
VI NJ" institution Orri- seemed 10 no
on" ot III" most cheerful boys Of all tha
silent crowd u" vas holding an animated
conversation With on" of The teachers, making
H." oi III" ~iEn language hv the sen.s
of touch alone. the pressure Of TN. finger
on IN" boy collar Or the back of the hand. or a
lev rapid ton, hes on IA" palm. hclug sufficient -
convey 10 INN an entire sentence. tattoo on
IN" niger tips Informed him Of u visitors mis-.
>ini VI o''r IN" lad faced about with an IN.
CURING TOOK on MS features The principal of
the Institution, tnoch VI. turrier. asked linn a
question with tho RAPIDLY moving finger tipa
b"ailng on III" hand To III" surprise of thu
visitor, the answer ,am" ~ q queer sound from
Nh" boy's lips, II was not hard 10 make ont
,ha, ne va, ,iy'nl or irving 10 say. In my
porket. I'M" >an" time "A hand went INTO the
pocket and, with IA laugh, orrls brought ort a
pocket knife. The principal explained that he
had asked the hoy What no had done with a knife
that had been given HIM
Orri- Benson los, hoth sigh, and hearing
when a child of 3, tn" direct cause Of has ~afilction
being pima, meningitis In N. fall Of lNsa he
placed IN the nal" kindcrEarten al the Mansion
House " ne nm" ot admission h" had no
r'memhranc" of the general apr oarance Of per-
sons or things, but had u somewhat iudistinCt
idea of black and white
IN" first word he learned 10 spell by means
Of m" manual alphabet was key" tho object
having been previously exhibited To- HIM. Then
little 10y little. step by step. he learned the names
of other common objects, IN the SAM. SLOW,
tedious way h" wa- later taught tho elements ~
speech. The strain upon hls brain was 80 great
that AZ first no was not required 10 do much at
a time. but tho task Of learning gradually be-
came l"~~ ariloI>. and IN tim" h" could UNDER
stand easy conversation. and compose n few
simple Sentences, After being transferred to
IA" MAIN building b." was taught T." converse by
speech. u" now generally makes use of this
accomplishment when with hearing pcr,rns
Tith whom he IL acquainted
ti' shows great tondnes> for history. AC-
counts Of the exploits of the makers Of the nB-
several times expressed regrn' that he cannot
he a soldier lie also enjoys studying gengra-
ply With the help ct raised mau>. After got
ting a clear idea Of numbers he hegau The study
81 arithmetic, hut n Yet hc l. not far advanced
IN tins branch
" HON" he sometimes assists hi- father, WHO
ia 'arreut"r Last summer he helv cd y friend
during tho having season IN tho trade school
of the institution he lear ned 10 Uauo chairs, and
IN 'hl~ and various other way hn manages to
earn his spending money during tho long sum
mrr vacation When alone no thinks and plans
and trio 10 invent something useful HIS 'hier
ann III life L. to fin himself ia earn a comfortable
living when hi school day. are over Orris has
become an adept IN the use Of tho TYPEWRITER,
rarely making a mistake in NJ. work he docs.
II l. possible for tn" teachers to dictate letters
Ia him by means Of the sign language used in
the way explained above
He l. especially fond or wood carving, and
he has made several Crcditalla pieces entirely
without help lie also models in clay. and
ha> made q recognizable copy Of Grants Tomb
on Rlversid" Drive. The form Of the building
was explained Ia HIM and ls modelled il with
surprising 'aith'Ulnrs- Al chair rarirr
Orris j. particularly skillul. aud work. quickly
and carefully When not working ~ >c,re-
thing he sits patiently for hour, goirg over
and over in his mind The lessons he has learned.
Nothing plna-e- him better than 10 be q,es-
toned on some matter Of interest that he has
studied duriug the school session. He has
thoughts of his own concerning current uIYs-
tiouS and IN" feacherS are vlnd To talk VITA
him and watch w" steady growth Of hi Intellect.
According 10 ~" testimony of hs teachers,
he j. the happlest boy in III" institution.