Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-10
TRIBUTE TO FOUNDER
DEAF MUTES CELEBRATE
BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY.

The 10000 or more students and gradu-
ates Of deaf mute institutions through
out the country which were founded by
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet are today
celebrating the anniversary of the birth
Of the founder. This is an annual Gus
tom at these institutions, and this morn
ing the students of GaIlaudet College, at
Kendall Green, assembled in the chapel,
where fitting ceremonies were held.
The large altar had been previously
decorated with American flags and with
potted plants and flowers. Shortly after
the students had assembled in the chapel
DR.. Edward Miner Gallaudet, president of
the college and son Of the founder, made
a brief address to the students in the
sign language, in the course of which he
acknowledged the demonstration WHICH
the students had made in paying tribute
to the memory Of his father: After the
prayers the students went to their classes.
Similar ceremonies are being observed
in the one hundred or more institutions
In the United States. The Gallaudet Col
lege Alumni Association of New York city
will give a banquet in that city tonight
In celebrating the event. .
Personal Sketch.
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, the founder
of the system, was born in Philadelphia
December TO- 1887. He was graduated
from Yale in 1905, after which he took up
the study of law and English literature,
but ill-health disarrahged his plans, and,
In order to lead an outdoor life, he be-
came travelling agent for a New York
business house. He decided to study for
the ministry, and In 1872 entered Andover
Theological Seminary. He was licensed to
preach in 1914, and received calls to prom
inent churches, but, his health being yet
impaired. he declined them. During one Of
his vacations, while a theological student,
Gallaudet became deeply interested in a
deaf and dumb child, daughter Of Dr. Ma
son F. Cogswell of Hartford, Conn, and
he was convinced that he could impart to
her a knowledge of simple words and SEN
fences. The result of his efforts was sc
encouraging that he devoted much time
to the task during the winter of 1S14-1o,
and DR.. Cogswell became eager to have a
school for deaf mutes established in the
United States, with Gallatdet in charge
| influential men were interested IN the
project, and Gallaudet went abroad to in.
| vestigate the methods of teaching the
deaf Of Great Britain and France In
| Paris the Able Sicard gave the American
| every facility for the study of his system
| of teaching, and when Gallaudet returned
| to this country. in 1916. he was accom-
panied by Laurent Clerc. a young deaf
mute who had been the abbe's most val
ued teacher. On April 10; 1917. the Hart
ford School for the Deaf was opened, with
seven pupils. and for fourteen years Gal
laudet remained at its head, putting the
institution into state Of prosperity,
largely through his personal efforts. In
addition to teaching classes. drilling new
instructors and conducting a large CORE
|spondence, he devoted much time to found
ing similar institutions, delivering public
addresses on deaf-mute education and in
making appeals to legislatures; His health
again failed, and he resigned In 1880. TAX
ing up the writing and compiling of books
for young. He died September 10, 1851, at
Hartford.
DIR. Edward Miner Gallaudet president
of Gallaudet College for Deaf Mutes, Is
the son of the founder. He taught in his
fathers institution, and in 1s51-ffty years
ago-organized the Columbia Institution
for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, which in
1884 developed into Gallaudet College.