The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-08-03
BY r. n. sTEvENSON.


In the sign language is an old science,
Ohio has taken front rank in instruct.
ing deafmutes, and today the big in.
stltution for the Deaf in Columbus has
the largest enrolment Of scholars Of
any similar institution In the world.
This is not an indication that there
are more deaf-r1utes in Ohio than
elsewhere. There are not. But Ohio's
people have been taught the need Of
educating these unfortunate people.
and the character Of the school which
has been developed and maintained
10 such that It appeals to the relatives
and friends Of the deaf-mute.
Nowhere has the science Of teach.
ing the deaf-mute to, hear with his
eyes and talk with his fingers been
more successfully applied. Nowhere
has there been displayed q more de-
termined purpose to help q people,
who, eager to help themselves, are
nevertheless absolutely dependent
without the schooling which such in
stitutions bestow.
Touch the Human Heart
Can you conceive anything more
helpless than the child which, though
bright Of intellect, is wholly deaf and
unable to communicate by word or
sign its slightest wish? Have you
visited . deaf.mute school and seen
there the hundreds of children, bright
Of eye and clear Of intellect, and seen
them at frolic, at task and at study?
Yes? Then was not your heart
touched with sorrow. to know that the
birds sing not for them; that the tune.
full melodies Of harmony are shut out
of their young lives forever. and that
TO them the voice carries no word Of
love? '"s~--. .-.---.-. .--
The cooling Of the mother, the sweet
lullabys Of babyhood, the songs that
alleviate pain and sooth the tired and
fretful one into blessed sleep; these
are lost to the life cut of from that
cheerfulness which comes from hear.
ing.
Small wonder, then, that the child
which reaches the deaf-mute school
is peevish. It has picked up, per.
haps, few crude signs by which 1t
makes its most common wants known.
1t can tell that it is thirsty or hungry
or in pain. But these signs are not
uniform throughout the universe, and
none but the family can understand.
Moreover, no conversation can be had
with the family, since the afflicted
one knows no words, no language, no
alphabet. The realms Of its young
intellect are unexplored and undevel-
oped, because of its sfliction; and its
warped little nature knows no pleas
ures save those Of seeing pretty
things.
New World Unfolds.
Thus the student reaches the State
'Deaf.Mute School. A new world here
unfolds and, when inconsistencies has
been dispelled ambition takes hold Of
the young mind
Years Of study and Of labor go
swiftly by. and with each succeeding
year the mental development. the self.
reliance, the sturdy independence that
has been impaired by the course Of
instruction show on the young face.
And when. fully equipped by educa-
tion to meet successfully the ordinary
requirements; when enriched with q
finished trade and capacity for self
development. the student leaves the
institution at the end Of the course,
1t is for life Of self.reliance, of use
fulness and, often, distinction.
1t Is not my purpose to speak Of the
ofhcials or the teachers Of this, the
largest institution of its kind. But,
since history will write Of those to
whose energy and capacity is largely
due the great success of the school,
feel that should not hesitate t.
speak of Superb tendsnt ]. w. Jones
and his assistants. Never has there
been state institution more capably
managed than Is the Ohio Deaf.Mute
School. Never has there been a more
strict attention to business, and less
attention to politics and politicians.
Superintendent Jones has served un-
der three governors without word
having been said to him concerning
politics by those to whom he owes his
place. For Mr. Jones Is not a poHN-
clan. He is nothing but the best
superintendent of the greatest deaf
mute school in the world. And Gov
ernor Herrick, interested beyond
measure in the work of Mr.. Jones.
has turned a deaf ear to politicians
who would make changes In the in.
stitution. The Governor knows that
he is held responsible for the conduct
Of all the state institutions. He feels
that responsibility and iustly ahares