New-York tribune., 1911-01-04
MUTES MERRY At DINNER
Big Company Of Handsome
Women and Prosperous Men.
SPEECHES" FULL OF WIT
Annual Affair Abounds in Little
Movements with Meanings
All Their Own.

There were several thousand little move
ments with meanings all their own at the
twenty-ffth annual dinner of the Deaf
Mutes' Union League, held in the college
room Of the Hotel Astor last night.
With dancing eyes and radiant faces ten
silent orators waited New Years greetings
10 the l20 deaf meR and women present
Their fingers told the pathetically joyful
audience the things that touched only upon
the bright and happy side OF lie. judging
by the ecstatic little handclaps and bird
Ike mods among the women and the more
hilarious jumping up and down under wav-
ing napkins OF the men.
MerTy have We met. merry have We been;
Merry may We part ard merry NEE; again.
That was the inscription which the menu
bore, and all needed the suggestion.
In age the audience ranged from seven
teen to seventy. The women were hand
some. the men prosperous. The spirits OF
al ran high. Utter silence was maintained,
except at several points In the addresses
when would be heard a rasping little cry
that only the happy look on the face OF its
producer moved was throttled laughter.
The guests represented cities all over tn,
tbNHLlNs FilIlphS lisHl were several HtSU
earning from S5oo0 10 $1,000 year In COM
mercial pursuits. Two were said to be
worth 100000 each.
Men in Business Speak.
The speakers were Felix A. Simonson,
hair merchant in Fifth avenue: Emanuel
Souweine. a boss engraver; Marcus L.
Kenner. stoves and ranges: Samuel Frank
enheim. a retired photographer; Charles c.
Bothner. pianos; Arthur c. Bachrach,
manufacturer OF corsets; Edwin A Hodg-
son, editor OF The Deaf Mute Journal
James 3. Gass, fire insurance; II. c. Dick
erson. with the Gorham Silver Company;
Marx Levy, and a photographer with Un-
derwood & Underwood.
Among the guests we're D. Ellis Lit. Of
Lit Brothers department store, Philadel-
phia; NJ Sonneborn, a leather manufact-
urer. Chicago; Charles ]. lie Clercq, pro-
ducer Of magazine covers, and F. ". Nu-
boer. manager OF the uaight estate in this
city
When Nr. Smonsnn, who was master OF
ceremonies, stood before his attentive
watchers It was upon the seat of his chair
that all might see exactly what ne had 10
kept perfectly sober face while his aero
batic wltticisms threw the audience into
a Wild attempt 70 show him by their cleo
trio fingers how true his shots had hit and
how much they all enjoyed them.
At one particularly saucy thing from Mr.
SimCnsons marvellously eloquent hands a
young woman directly at his right stood mp
and temporarily checked his discourse by
taking his right hand in both of hers and
pressing il kindly.
Address OF League President.
Mr.. souweine read" telegraph messages
and letters. Mr.. Kenner. president Of the
league. conveyed TO his friends the follow
ing:
anfzed on January 3, 1856, originally as the
alumni OF the Institution for the improved
instruction OF Deaf Mutes, on Lexington
avenue. Owing TO a change in the manage
meut and control Of said institution, our
League is now open 10 all the deaf OF what
ever school. II Is a cruel thing 10 oe ms
understood and dismiss a dear applicant
for a position with only wave OF the
hams simply on account Of being thus al
ficted and without even the due courtesy
OF investigating his or her capabiNtes
Need I say that the deaf man IS also
human marries raises family, SENDS
them 10 school reads the daily papers, Is
AFFILIATED with various lodges and societies,
votes at the political elections. gets excited
over baseball scores, and that he Is not
deaf by choice?
Simply give him Tree neld anL 10
favors. and YOU will discover that ne Is
iust as capable and efficient. allowing Tor
limitations. as the average hearing man
and. In fact. az times great deal more,
owing to his powers OF concentration ~LllC.
In a measure compensate for n.S loss OF
hearing. only a little more understanding
and appreciation Of our lot in LIE are es-
sentiai. not sympathy or anything else.
The headquarters Of the league are at No.
r3g West l25th street. The Hotel Astor was
chosen for the dinner because on its site
stood the old school from which many deaf
mutes have been graduated.