Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-29
sents the American system OF instruction.
which is now recognized as the most prac-
teal and effective In 1867 DR.. Gallaudet

, sents the American system OF instruction.
which is now recognized as the most prac-
| teal and effective. In 1867 DR.. Gallaudet
| under the direction of the board of trustees.
| spent six months in Europe, where he ex-
| amiHed forty schools, and made, upon his
| return report advocating a revolution In
| the methods of teaching deaf mutes in this
country. Up to that time it had been con-
sidered impracticable to attempt to teach
them to speak, but he took advanced
grounds. and not only advocated it, but in
troduced it in the Columbian Institution
with remarkable success. His recommen-
dations have since been adopted In almost
every school for the deaf in the country.
and have formed the basis for the accepted
and almost universal method at present in
use. combination of the manual and oral,
known as the American method. This in
ciudes reading from the lips Of others and
the use OF the vocal organs in reply
In 1868 there was an important confer
ence in Washington of the principals Of
nearly all the institutions for the deaf
and dumb in this country. They discussed
| DR.. Gallaudet's recommendations at length
and in detail and finally approved them
That was the beginning of the use of the
oral method in the United States. and also
the beginning of organization Of the
principals and directors and teachers in
schools for the deaf who. by their inter
change of suggestions and opinions. and
by their cooperation in the improvement
OF methods. have been very effective In
promoting the noble work in which they
are engaged. DR.. Galiaudet was made
chairman OF the executive committee at
the first meeting in 1868. and has been re-
elected regularly for thirty-nine years
The Convention of Instructors of the
Deaf" was incorporated by Congress in
1895. and it's reports have been recog-
nized as of sufficient Importance to be
published by the government and circu-
lated by means of official agencies
the first president of the organization. and
has been reelected at every meeting since.
DR.. Gallaudet's Honors.
1t has been his good fortune to be
designated to represent the American
schools at several international gather
ings-at Milan in 1880, at Glasgow in
1891. at London in 1897, and at Paris in
1900-where he has made addresses and
submitted reports concerning what is be-
ing done in this country for the education
of deaf mutes. He has accepted an invita-
ton to a similar international convention
at Edinburgh during the coming summer.
which will be attended by instructors from
all nations. He has also accepted an in
vitation to deliver address before
international conference of deaf mutes,
which is also held at Edinburgh this sum-
mer.
In 1886 DR.. Gallaudet was invited by the
British government to give information
to Il royal commission appointed by act
OF parliament to investigate and report
upon the different methods of instruction.
the commission several times. and gave
account of the progress and methods of
institutions in this country, which had
much influence upon the report of the
commission and upon subsequent legiSla-
ton by the British parliament
In 1897 he carried a message from the
trustees of Gallaudet College to the va
rious governments of Europe. giving
account of the development of the education
of deaf mutes in the United States Being
introduced by the American ambassadors.
this message was presented to the chief
commissioner of education in England. the
minister of the interior in France and the
ministers OF education In Germany and
Italy. During this visit DR.. Gallaudet
came into contact with nearly all of the
prominent deaf mutes in Europe. and with
large number of educators. from whom
experts he obtained much valuable in
formation concerning their work. and the
relative value of the different methods Of
education. Their opinions were very
strongly in favor of the American system
IA combination OF manual and oral
methods
Prominent Deaf Mutes.
Many prominent men in Europe are deaf
muteS. Perhaps the most prominent or at
least the best known, is Sir Arthur Fair
BARN of London, traveller. writer. political
economist. sociologist and philanthropist. In
France Henri Gaillard is brilliant scholar
editor and publisher. who has visited the
United States several occasions, and is
well known here. Mr.. Henri GEMS. pres-
Diet OF the association OF deaf muteS in
France, was delegate with Mr. Gaiilard
to the world congress at the Chicago eX
position. The Journal des Sourds- Muets is
newspaper devoted to the deaf mutes of
France. Mr. Urbain BOrie has gained h gh
reputation as d poet and two deaf mutes,
Gustave Henneuuin and Fernand Hamars,
in art
In Germany Albin Watzulik of Altenburg
near Leipzig, is ii very successful printer
and publisher famous Tor his tine illuui-
ated work. He, too a delegate to the
International conference of the deaf at Chi
cago in 1898. Adam Brehler president OF
the Nerein at Frankfurt. and Mrs. Anna
SchenCk, editor OF the Taubstummen-
Freund of Berlin. are also prominent. and
through the latter's encouragement the deaf
mutes of that city have purchased a large
building in which apartments are rente
exclusively to deaf mutes who carry
their trades. such tailoring, shoemaking,
dresssna king and the ike.
Bernard Brill a veteran editor, is per-
haps the most prominent deaf mute in
Austria; Francesca Guerra is a highly edu-
Gated gentleman of leisure of Rome Fran
cesco Miche!Ont, another deaf mute, holds
an important position in the Italian bureau
of statistics. He formerly editor.
The most prominent deaf mute In Ireland
is Rev. Francis Maginn. formerly a stu
dent at Gallaudet College. where he was
known as the irrePressibe Irishman.' now
a missionary to the deaf mutes in North
Ireland. He is a nephew of the famous
DR.. Maginn, editor of Frasers Magazine.
In addition to his educational work dur
Ing the half century that closes this month,
DIR. Galaudet has written a manual of in
ternational law, a memoir of his father,
who was the pioneer of the instruction of
deaf mutes in this country, and innumer-
able articles in various magazines and
has delivered many public addresses. He
has been of the most public-Spirited
and progressive citizens of Washington, al
ways ready to bear his share of the re-
sponsibilities of citizenship. and his advice
and counsel have been sought in every
public movement of Importance.