THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE AND THE DEAF AND DUMB.
r. Gladstone, on being presented with the freedom of the Worshipful Company of Turners, gave an address from which the following is an abstract:—
I went a few days ago to examine the collection of works prepared at Messrs. Doulton's Pottery to be sent to the Exhibition at Philadelphia. Those works were delightful for the eye to behold. They were also highly satisfactory on the distinct ground that the price of production appeared to be so moderate; but, most of all were they delightful to me, because they were true products of the soil. There was a high faculty of art as it seemed to me developed in the production of those works, and that faculty of art had grown up in Lambeth. It was the Lambeth School of Art from which Messrs. Doulton derived an abundant supply of workers to whom they could intrust the preparation of those admirable objects. Among the works I would mention one. It was a beautiful piece of work produced by a youth who from his birth was both deaf and dumb. Now, consider what it is to be deaf and dumb; what a cutting off of resources; what a stinting of the means of training and improvement; and then consider, notwithstanding this, how it was through an inborn resolution in the centre of his being it was in the power of this lad to make himself a producer of works that could command admiration on the score of beauty, again showing how the energies, if rightly directed, can be forthcoming when required.
A DEAF AND DUMB GIRL'S DREAM.
(WRITTEN BY HERSELF.)
had a dream on the 26th of January. I was going for rolls, and going back I met Gracie, a friend of mine, and she and I spoke quite well—we were not deaf and dumb. A poor boy, very ragged, carried a basket with some coloured glasses and stones, very bright, and some curious musical instruments that I had never seen before. He walked behind us, and he called to Gracie, and she turned to him, and he said to her that he wanted her to buy many of them; that they were a penny each. We took them up and looked at them, and they were very curious. She chose a bright red one for a brooch, and bought it for a penny. Then he said to me "Will you buy some?" But I did not want to be tempted to buy, and he told me a great deal about its very beautiful sounds; that it was more beautiful than all the others, and nothing could be more beautiful to hear in this world, and he showed me how to play on it, and we heard beautiful sounds. So I changed my mind, and wanted it very much, because I could hear it. Then I saw a policeman come up to us because he heard the beautiful music; and he laughed very much, and looked so very happy. I said to the poor boy, "Thank you very much for your showing me how to play on it." And he was very glad as he went away. Gracie went home, and I went home, carrying my glass organ with me.
The above appears to us specially interesting; it is a curious circumstance that a deaf and dumb girl should seem to hear sound in her sleep.
A DEAF AND DUMB COUNCILLOR.
apotrine Moller, a Russian Councillor of State,
son of General Moller, and nephew of the tutor to
the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Michael, has just
died at the age of eighty-three. He himself, his
brother, and sister were all born deaf and dumb.
He was educated in the Deaf and Dumb Institution
in St. Petersburg, rapidly learnt to read, and showed such
ability that he was first admitted into the Imperial Chancery
and afterwards into the Council of State.
DEAF AND DUMB BOY AND HIS MOTHER.
achariah was a deaf and dumb boy, thirteen
years of age, who was being educated in an Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb, after an absence of
four years he went home to see his mother. When
he entered her house, in company with his benefactor,
she was sitting in a state of intoxication,
which greatly affected him. He took his pencil, and thus attempted
to show her the evil and danger of such conduct, and
gave her much good advice. After retiring with his friend, at
whose house he went to lodge, his countenance became very
sorrowful, and the tears trickled down his cheeks. His friend
asked him the occasion of all this, when he wrote "that he was
thinking if he got to heaven how sorry he should be not to find
his mother there."
SPEED OF MANUAL SPELLING.
n reply to a question
"What is the
number of words a good
hand speaker can make
or say in one minute?"
A deaf mute says, "Take
the average number of
letters per word of the
English language as five;
this is the number decided
upon by the Postal
Telegraph department.
The average of the Bible
is about 4-1/8."
A good hand speaker can go through the alphabet ten times in one minute. I have proved this by personally testing several deaf mutes.
The pauses between words occupy the space of one letter each, so we must deduct one sixth of the whole thus:—
| Letters in alphabet | 26 |
| Number of times spelt | 10 |
| —— | |
| Total letters per minute | 260 |
| Deduct about one sixth for pauses | 45 |
| —— | |
| Average letters per minute | 215 ÷ 5 |
| —— | |
| Result | 43 words per minute. |
PORTOBELLO SWIMMING CLUB.
n the mornings of Wednesday and Thursday the deep-diving medal of this club was competed for by five members. The depth of water varied from 13 to 18 feet. Mr. Robert Smith was very successful in recovering the plates from the bottom, bringing up six on the first and two on the second morning, with which number he secures first honours. The second place was taken by Mr. J. Wallace James. Mr. Smith, the medallist, is deaf and dumb.—Scotsman, Aug. 29th.
"DEAR TAMMAS."
poor old deaf man resided in Fife; he was visited by his minister shortly after coming to his pulpit. The minister said he would often call and see him; but time went on, and he did not visit him again until two years after, when, happening to go through the street where the deaf man was living, he saw his wife at the door, and could therefore do no other than inquire for her husband. "Weel, Margaret, how is Tammas?" "None the better o'you," was the curt reply. "How, how, Margaret," inquired the minister. "Oh, ye promised twa years syne tae ca' and pray once a fortnight wi' him, and hae ne'er darkened the door sin' syne." "Weel, weel, Margaret, don't be so short! I thought it was not so very necessary to call and pray with Tammas, for he is so deaf ye ken he canna hear me." "But, sir," said the woman, with a rising dignity of manner, "the Lord's no deaf!" And it is to be supposed the minister felt the power of her reproach.
ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY EXHIBITION FOR 1880.
ohn S. Rennie Reid, a young Aberdeen lad, now resident in Edinburgh, who, though labouring under the great disability of being deaf and dumb, has for some years back been an enthusiastic art student, has succeeded in procuring admission for three oil paintings, each of which gives good indication of his deftness and skill in the delineation of nature, and the ardour with which he has followed up his studies. "Hide and Seek" represents some children playing at that game in a hay field. "Largo, the Beach at Low Water" gives us a pretty coast scene, with figures on the beach. "Baiting the Line" is a very effective study of a common incident in fisher life.
IN DERBY POLICE COURT.
Pupil as Taken from the Police Court.
few years since the
Head Master of the
Deaf and Dumb Institution
at Derby was sent for, with a
request that he would hasten
to the police court to see what
could be done with a little
deaf and dumb boy. The
sketch is a faithful picture of
the little fellow as he stood in
the dock charged with stealing.
The police, in giving
their evidence, said that many
complaints had been made of
the boy's conduct. One lady
complained of his illusing her
dog, another a cat, and another
killing her bird; others that
he was always throwing stones or stealing, and that he had
actually tried to upset a railway train.
It appeared that twice
previously the boy had been taken up by the police, but owing
to his tender age nothing could be done with him.
The Same Pupil after one Year's Training.
The
Mayor, addressing the Head Master of the Institution, said
something must be done with the boy; unfortunately he was
getting worse and worse; the case was a very sad one, the boy
being deaf and dumb, but the public must be protected. The
other magistrates present concurred with the Mayor's remarks,
and after consulting with Mr. Bailey, J.P., Chairman of the
Committee of the Institution, who was on the bench at the
time, the boy was sent direct to the Institution, where food
was given to him, after which his photograph was taken. The
sketch given on the previous page is copied from it. The boy
settled down, but not without giving considerable trouble; it
was not to be expected
that a boy,
though so tender in
years yet hardened in
bad habits, should at
once conform to the
rules of the Institution.
The teachers
were not, therefore,
greatly surprised to
find him early one
morning prowling in
a quarter of the Institution
to which he
had no proper means
of access. From time
to time his teachers
had difficulties to
contend with not easy to describe. There has, however, been
a gradual improvement in the boy's life and character. The
sketch given above is from a photograph taken when the boy
had been in the Institution one year.
AN INTERVIEW WITH LAURA BRIDGMAN.
e presume most of our readers will
have read of Laura Bridgman, who
is without any perfect sense except
that of touch. A correspondent of
the "Christian Union" gives an interesting
account of an afternoon
spent with her, from which we make
the following abstract:—
If any one supposes that by reason of her deprivation she is queer or awkward in person or manners, he is altogether in error. There is nothing at all singular in her appearance. When I entered the parlour, a member of the family with whom she lives was playing on the piano, and close behind her, on a low seat, there was a very slight, very erect, quiet, self-possessed looking person, who seemed to be listening to the music, while her hands were busy over some crocheting or some similar work. She would have been taken for a guest who was fashioning some pretty article whilst being entertained with music. The expression of her face was bright and interested; and one watching her satisfied look would have been slow to believe that she did not hear. The green shade over her eyes indicated that she was one of the blind. She had on a brown dress, a blue ribbon at the neck, a gold ring and chain, and a watch or locket in her belt—a neatly attired, genteel, lady-like person, looking about thirty-five (though her age is not far from forty-four), with soft, brown hair, smooth and fine, a well shaped head, fair complexion, and handsome features. That was Laura. As soon as she learned that she had a visitor who knew people in the town where her nearest kindred live, she came swiftly across the room, leaving her work on the centre table as she passed it, and grasped my hand, laughing with the eagerness of a child. Then she sat down face to face with the lady who has charge of her, and commenced an animated conversation, by the manual alphabet, easily understood by one who has practised it; but the slight-of-hand by which the fingers of the friendly hostess, manipulating on Laura's slender wrists, communicated with that living consciousness shut in there without one perfect sense except of taste and touch, was something mysterious, inscrutable to my duller sense. Yet that the communication was definite, quick, missive, so to speak, manifest enough, for Laura's face beamed, and she was all alert. Partly by the letters and partly by signs she said a great deal to me. She "ought to be at home to be company for mother," she said; and, once or twice, she fashioned the word "Mamma" very distinctly with her lips. She asked if I knew a member of her family now dead, and said "that was a long year after Carl died." She seemed brimming over once with things to tell me, and wanted me to know about her teaching some of the blind girls to sew, which she takes great pride in, threading the needle, and making her pupils pick out their work if it is not done nicely. She is a good seamstress herself, does fancy work, and can run a sewing machine. Next, she caught hold of my hand and led me up two flights of stairs to her room to shew me her things; but the first movement was to take me to the window, where she patted on the glass and signified that I should see what a pleasant prospect there was from it. And there she, who had never seen or heard, waited by my side in great content while I looked and listened. Yet her face was radiant, and she stood there as if she both saw and heard. I wish I could bring before all those who are discontented with their lot, repining because God has withheld something from them or taken something away, the cheerful face of this lady, who has so little, but who accepts it as though she had all, who has never seen a human countenance or heard a human voice, who in the infinite glory and beauty of this outward world has no part, shut in by herself in that silent, dark, unchanging, awful loneliness. Next she showed me how springy her bed was. Then she took off my shawl, and showed me all the pretty things and conveniences she had in her room, opening every box and drawer, and displaying the contents. Her jet chain she laid against her neck, her bows and collars and embroidered hand-kerchiefs were taken up one by one, and deftly replaced in their proper receptacles. Her writing materials, sewing implements, little statuettes, trinkets, large Bible—I had to see them all. Lastly she took out a sheet of paper, pressed it down on a French writing-board, examined the point of the pencil, and wrote her autograph, "God is love and truth. S. N. Bridgman." And then from her needle-case and spool-box produced a cambric needle and fine cotton, and showed me how to thread a needle, which was done by holding the eye against the tip of her tongue, the exquisite nicety of touch in it guiding her to pass the thread through. It was done in an instant, though it seemed impossible to do it at all, and then she presented me the threaded needle triumphantly, having secured it by slipping a knot. Going down to the parlour again, she told me how kind it was in Dr. Howe to fit her up such a pretty room; and then I must go into the school room, whither she led me by the hand, and introduced me to several of her friends among the pupils, and when I took my departure she would have the teacher go with me to the door to tell me which car to take.
A DEAF AND DUMB BOY'S DEVOTION.
nder the trees standing by the left
bank of the Thames, and sheltered
from its waters by a mound of earth,
is an old but comfortable boathouse.
A few roughly-hewn steps lead from
the mound to the water's edge, where
some six or seven boats rock idly on the surface. Over the
door of this tottering mansion hangs a wooden board, with the
words "Timothy Gainsad" inscribed in large letters upon a
black ground. A gush of light and warmth issuing from the
door guides the weary traveller to a haven worthy of his
choicest desires. Well can I remember the dark outline of St.
Paul's Cathedral, lifting its rounded dome in massive grandeur
to the skies, and the faint outline of the opposite bank shining
dimly in the distance. I remember, when a lad of seven,
a rich and influential lady coming down from Yorkshire to
spend the winter months in London. She brought with her
a dumb boy attendant, whom she had adopted and treated
with the greatest kindness. One dark night she hired a
boat, and rowed out upon the river. Scarcely was she lost
in the river mist ere the flood gates of heaven were opened,
the rain came down in torrents, the waves dashed against
our rude pier and threatened to dislodge it, while now and
then an occasional streak of lightning, accompanied by a clap
of thunder, lit up the dark surface of the river. My friends had
gone off in a boat in search of the lady, and I was alone in
the room. Seated on a stool by the side of a blazing fire, I
was reading an interesting novel, when the door was violently
pushed, and the dumb attendant of the young lady rushed in,
seized a life belt from the wall, and made for the door. I ran
to intercept him; but guessing my purpose, he raised the stool
and brought it down with a crash upon my head. I staggered
back to the wall and fell, and he disappeared through the door.
With a reeling head I tottered to the door, and looked out
upon the river. "Great heavens!" I exclaimed, "he will be
dashed to pieces!" For there, revealed by a flash of lightning,
was the dumb boy, standing on the rail of the bridge, preparing
to plunge into the surging waters below. A short distance
from the bridge was the boat occupied by the terrified lady.
It was fast sinking, and as he plunged from the bridge it sank.
I saw him come to the surface, stunned and bleeding; I saw
him raise the life-belt in his hand, and throw it to his mistress.
She caught it, and his face lit up with joy; then—he sank!
His mistress was saved, and some time after the dumb boy's
lifeless body was washed to the shore, and laid in an honourable
grave. Over it stands a beautiful angel of white marble,
holding a scroll inscribed with these words:—"Here lies Gustavus
Arisild, who died in the surging waters of the Thames to
save his mistress."
THE DEAF MUTE'S FAITH.
ne day a minister's servant brought a subscription book and laid it on his study table, saying, "A dumb man brought it, sir." On looking at the book, a thought struck the minister that he should not let that dumb man out of his house without seeking his soul's good. He invited the man in, and after kneeling in prayer before the man, and putting a subscription into his hand, the following conversation took place in writing. The minister wrote: "My dear friend, have you found the Lord Jesus Christ to be precious to your soul? Are you born again?" The dumb man answered, "Yes, I understand what is meant by 'born of the Spirit,' it means a 'new creature' in Jesus." The minister was not quite satisfied with the answer, and therefore he asked, "When were you made a 'new creature,' and how?" He answered, "I was under the impression of sin six years ago, but I prayed to God for Christ's sake to give me a new heart, and I felt joy and peace in my mind. I prayed O Lord, have mercy on me a poor sinner. I also read the Psalms of David." In order to bring out distinctly whether he really arrived at scriptural peace, for he feared that, after all, the dumb man's faith might turn out to be only a vague and wavering confidence, the minister asked him again "If God were to call you away this night, would your sins be brought against you, and would you have to answer for them all?" He answered, "I trust in God for Christ's sake, because Jesus died for me. All those who trust in Jesus' precious blood are cleansed from all sin. He is mighty to save." The minister then asked, "Was it through the instruction you got at the Deaf and Dumb Institution that these good impressions were made upon your mind?" He answered, "My teacher used to teach the Bible to all deaf and dumb pupils, but I did not feel any grace from God till I was afraid to meet God for sins; then I looked to Christ by faith and got peace." The minister then asked, "Will you write a sentence for me to read to poor sinners, from a dumb man that cannot speak?" He then wrote as follows—words which he meant to be used by the reader:—
"O Lord, have mercy upon me a poor sinner!"
"O Jesus, save me from death and hell!"
"O Jesus, take me away to heaven and eternal bliss!"
"O Jesus, take care of me every day!"
"Will you sign your name to all this?" then asked the minister. He immediately complied with the request. We only give the initials J—— G——.
DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND.
n examination of students who were deaf, dumb, and blind took place on Washington Heights. The principal, Dr. Isaac L. Peet, gave various interesting exhibitions of their skill and accomplishments. A blind, deaf, and dumb boy, about fourteen years old, who had had less than a year's instruction, was given an order to count out twenty crayons and put them under a mat. The order was given by means of the sign language, transmitted by feeling the motion of the hands of the person who communicated with him. The order was correctly performed amid the applause of the audience. A blind deaf mute also wrote several sentences on a type-writer, and on another type-writer a deaf mute without hands wrote by means of a stick inserted in his coat sleeve.
ORDINATION OF DEAF MUTES IN PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A.
early all the deaf mutes connected with the Protestant Episcopal Church in this city assembled yesterday morning in the church of the Covenant, to witness the ordination into the priesthood of two deaf and dumb men. The ceremony had been long talked of among the deaf mutes, and as none of this class of persons had ever before been ordained to this order in the church in this country, there was a widespread desire among the Episcopal community to be present at the ceremony. The church was well filled when the exercises began. Owing to the length of the services, the regular morning prayer was omitted, and after hymn 153 had been sung, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Principal of the Deaf and Dumb Institution in New York, who was to preach the sermon, was introduced. Dr. Gallaudet prefaced his sermon by saying that when a deaf mute was addressed, the words were not spelled out, but that the ideas were represented by signs. Ideas about the intellect were conveyed by a sign about the head, those relating to the sensibility by a motion near the heart; in short, the sign language was as distinct and individual as the English language. Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, of Iowa, stood up in the chancel as Dr. Gallaudet began his sermon, and interpreted the sermon to the deaf mutes who sat in a body near the front of the chancel. Dr. Gallaudet sketched the progress of deaf mute education from the establishment of the first school in Hartford by his father in 1817. As illustrating the individuality of the sign language, he mentioned that while he was in Brussels in August last he preached to a congregation of about twenty deaf mutes, English, French, Belgian, and his sign language was comprehended perfectly by all. "Sounds," he said, "are only outward symbols of ideas, just as signs are." At the conclusion of the sermon, Rev. Henry W. Syle and Rev. Arthur M. Mann were presented for ordination, the former by Rev. Dr. Miller, and the latter by the Rev. Dr. Atwell, of Toledo. Sitting within the chancel, one at each end of the communion table, were Bishop Stevens and Bishop Bedwell, of Ohio, while nine other clergymen surrounded them. Among them the placid countenance and venerable form of Rev. W. H. Syle, father of one of the candidates, was especially noticeable. Bishop Stevens then read the exhortation, and it was interpreted by Dr. Gallaudet to the two candidates, who stood in their robes at the chancel rail. Eagerly did they watch the motions of the reverend gentleman as he conveyed to them the words the Bishop was speaking. The Bishop then asked Mr. Syle the questions laid down in the prayer book. As Dr. Gallaudet finished interpreting each question, Mr. Syle handed a slip of paper on which was written his answers, to Rev. Mr. Clere, of Phillipsburg, who read it aloud. Rev. Mr. Mann then arose, and Bishop Bedwell stated that the questions and answers would be interpreted. He asked the same questions asked by Bishop Stevens, and Mr. Mann slowly communicated his answers, using only his right hand in replying. The ceremony of laying on of hands was then performed, Bishop Stevens and several others laying their hands on Mr. Syle's head, and Bishop Bedwell performing that office for Mr. Mann. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was then administered to the newly ordained priests, and they were welcomed within the chancel rail. A special invitation was given to the deaf mutes to commune immediately after the clergy, and there were enough present to occupy the long chancel rail twice. The sacrament was then administered to the congregation, and the audience was dismissed with the benediction by Bishop Bedwell. On Saturday, the second biennial session of workers among the deaf mutes in the Episcopal Church was begun in St. Stephen's Church. Rev. Dr. F. J. Clere, of Phillipsburg, was elected President, and Rev. Mr. Syle secretary and treasurer of the conference. An address of Bishop Howe, and papers by Messrs. Clere and Syle were interpreted to the conference by Dr. Gallaudet.—Philadelphia Inquirer, 15th Oct., 1883.
PICTURES BY DEAF AND DUMB ARTISTS IN THE ROYAL ACADEMY, 1876.
No. 1301. "Despatches." T. Davidson.
" 30. "Elter Water, Langdale." C. E. Emerson.
" 1235. "The late W. A. Langdale, Esq.
" 1247. "Portrait of a Lady." Mrs. North, deaf from girlhood.
Whaite's Water Colour Exhibition, Manchester.
"The Staff of Life," by F. T. Tavarè, is a drawing worthy of Hunt for its literal truth.—Manchester Courier.
March 25th, 1876.
FAIRLY DONE.
good story is told of ex-governor Magottin, of Kentucky, who is a good talker and likes to do most of the talking himself. Recently, in making the journey from Cincinnati to Lexington, he shared his seat in the car with a bright-eyed, pleasant-faced gentleman. The Governor, after a few common-place remarks, to which his companion smiled and nodded assent, branched into a description of the scenes that he had witnessed in different parts of the country, grew eloquent over the war, described with glowing speech the numerous horse races he had witnessed, talked learnedly of breeding, and told thrilling stories of his battles with the Indians in the North-West. The hours slipped rapidly away, and when the train was nearing Lexington the two exchanged cards and parted with a cordial shake of hands. The Governor drove to an inn, and to a number of friends he remarked that the ride had never seemed so short before. "Then you must have had pleasant company aboard." "You are right. I met a gentleman of unusual intelligence. We conversed all the way over. I never was brought in contact with a more agreeable man." "Indeed! Who was he?" asked his friends. "Wait a minute; I have his card," and the Governor felt in his pockets and produced the bit of pasteboard. "His name is King." "Not Bob King?" shouted a dozen in one breath. "Yes, gentlemen; Robert King—that is the way the card reads," was the proud reply. A roar of laughter followed. "Why, Governor, Bob King is as deaf as a post; he was born deaf and dumb!"
A NOVEL SITUATION.
uring the past year a
gentleman had occasion
to visit a certain city in
New England. He arrived
at night, went directly
to his accustomed hotel,
and to bed, slept soundly
throughout the night, and
in the morning discovered
his watch had stopped.
When he opened the door of his room another gentleman was
taking in his boots on the other side of the corridor, and of
him our friend asked if he could tell him what time it was.
To his surprise, the gentleman took no notice whatever of the
question. He asked again, "Sir, will you be good enough to
tell me what time it is? My watch has stopped." No answer.
The gentleman, without looking up, shut his door and disappeared.
At that moment two other gentlemen came walking
down the corridor, and Mr. X. asked of them the same question.
The two gentlemen, without looking to the right or left,
continued their walk without an answer or sign. "Well,"
thought Mr. X, "this is very curious." However, he went
back to his room. Presently the bell rang for breakfast, and
immediately a waiter entered the room, seized him by the arm,
and began a series of gesticulations. Mr. X. lost his temper,
and burst forth with "What in the name of goodness is the
matter?" when the waiter cried "Oh," and vanished, laughing.
Mr. X. began to think something was very wrong, but went
down to breakfast. When he entered the salle a manger, which
commonly had a dozen or twenty people at the tables, he found
the hall filled with gentlemen in black coats, all feeding gravely,
and in silence. A waiter silently beckoned him to a place, and
when he was seated he said to his neighbour—"Sir, will you
be kind enough to tell what all this is about?" No answer.
The person, like Charlotte in Werter, went on eating bread
and butter. Our friend began to feel decidedly queer, and
getting out of his seat, went to the nearest waiter and piteously
besought him, for heaven's sake, to tell him what was the
matter with the house. "Oh," said the waiter, "don't you
know? Why this is the Deaf and Dumb Convention, which
meets to-day at Hartford."
THE DEAF AND DUMB BOTH HEARD AND SPOKE.
incent Ogden was recently charged with begging,
under the pretence of being deaf and dumb, at
Launceston. P. C. Barrett said that he saw the
prisoner in the butcher's market. He was making
signs, and pretending to be deaf and dumb. He
took him into custody, and after they arrived at
the police station asked him his name; he made no reply at
first, but subsequently said he was called William Ogden, that
he was a native of Manchester, and had just come out of
Bodmin Gaol. Committed for two months, with hard labour.
ENTERTAINMENT BY DEAF AND DUMB.
he inhabitants of Mansfield had some most enjoyable meetings on Monday last, when a number of the pupils from the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Derby gave some very interesting illustrations of blackboard sketching, including animals, birds, fishes, &c. In reply to the question asked by one of the audience, "What have you come to Mansfield for?" A little girl, amidst considerable laughter, wrote "To get money." The gentleman then asked her what work she would like to do on leaving school? The reply was "I would like to be a lady's servant."—Mansfield Paper, 1885.
LORD SEAFORTH.
ord Seaforth, who was born deaf and dumb, was
to dine one day with Lord Melville. Just before
the time of the company's arrival, Lady Melville
sent into the drawing-room a lady of her acquaintance
who could talk with her fingers, that she
might receive Lord Seaforth. Presently Lord
Guildford entered the room, and the lady, believing him to be
Lord Seaforth, began to spell on her fingers quickly. Lord
Guildford did the same, and they had been carrying on a conversation
in this manner for about ten minutes, when Lady
Melville joined them. Her female friend said, "Well, I have
been talking away to this dumb man." "Dumb!" exclaimed
Lord Guildford, "Bless me, I thought you were dumb."
A "SUPPOSED" LUNATIC IN DERBY.
t the Borough Police Court this
morning, a man, who said his name
was "Jim," but from whom no
further information could be obtained,
was charged with being a
wandering lunatic. Sergeant Parker
said that, at a quarter-past one
o'clock on Monday afternoon, his
attention was called to the prisoner,
who was on the Midland
Railway platform. He noticed
that the prisoner was wandering
about in a strange manner. After making enquiries, he had
telegrams sent to Bath, the replies to which were to the effect
that the prisoner had been found wandering about the line
there greatly excited, that they did not consider he was right
in his mind, and that they had given him written directions to
enable him to obtain a ticket for Derby, which he succeeded
in doing. He spoke to the man, and thought he wanted to go
to London; but when the London train came in he could not
prevail upon him to take a ticket. He had £1 8s. in his possession,
and also some tea, a razor, basket, and other articles;
but no letters or anything from which they could find out his
address. He took him to the police station, where the police
surgeon examined him on Monday night, and pronounced him
to be of unsound mind. The doctor promised to call again
this morning, but had not yet done so. The Bench remanded
the man until the following morning, so that the police surgeon
might attend and give evidence.—Derby Daily Telegraph.
The alleged lunatic,—the deaf and dumb man, whose only name was Jim, and who had been charged with being a wandering lunatic, was again brought up. Mr. W. R. Roe, head master of the Deaf and Dumb Institution, said that he had been sent for, and that he had been communicating with the prisoner by means of signs, and found that he was deaf and dumb, and totally uneducated, but certainly of sound mind. The police surgeon again appeared, and said he had examined the man, and had come to the conclusion that there was no indication of insanity about him. The prisoner was discharged and handed over to Mr. Roe, who promised to take care of him till something was heard from his friends.—Derby Daily Telegraph.
The man was kept at the Deaf and Dumb Institution for a few days, when it was found that his friends were residing on the other side of Bath. It transpired that the man had been on a visit to some friends at Bath and could not make the authorities understand where he wanted to go, hence the error in sending him to Derby.—W. R. R.
A CLEVER GYMNAST.
alter Stevens, a member of the British Mission to the Deaf and Dumb, last year won the first prize for "all round performances" at the Gymnasium of the Young Men's Christian Association. The prize consisted of a very handsome gold and silver medals with silver buckle and strap. He was successful in 1883 and 1884 in winning second prizes, but this year he carried off in grand style the much-coveted first prize. His performance on the horizontal bar was truly marvellous.
WILLIAM DE COURCY.
his boy was educated at a Deaf and Dumb School. He was fond of learning, and soon had many companions. One of the delights of his life was visiting the farmyard which was attached to the Institution. William had been taught to be kind to dumb animals. He watched the little birds with much interest, and liked to feed them. There was one bird which came daily to be fed which he used to call his own. He was eager for religious instruction, and soon knew God made him, and that Jesus was his best friend, and that sin was displeasing to God. He loved Jesus much, and often signed about Him to his school fellows. After William had been at school for some years he was taken seriously ill, and he was asked if he were afraid to die? His reply was, "No, I know that God sent His Son to save me." Shortly before he died his school mates signed to him that Jesus was kind. William smiled, and then signed in answer, "Yes, Jesus is kind," and shortly after fell asleep, his happy spirit took its flight to that world where there are no deaf and dumb.
A DEAF AND DUMB SCULPTOR.
here has just been placed outside St. Saviour's Church, for the Deaf and Dumb, Oxford Street, London, a statue of "The Good Shepherd," which has been entirely modelled and carved by Mr. Joseph Gawen, a deaf mute, who was a pupil of the late Mr. Behnes, and an assistant of the late Mr. Foley, R.A. The statue is pronounced by competent judges to be an admirable work of art. He also executed a marble bust of the wife of Sir G. E. Hodgkinson. Some years ago he produced a splendid model in competition for the Wellington Memorial.
BUXTON.
he Entertainments given on Tuesday in the Pavilion by Deaf and Dumb children from the Institution at Derby drew large audiences. The children looked bright and happy, and their personal appearance was a sufficient indication that they were taken good care of at the Institution. Mr. Roe gave some interesting illustrations of teaching the dumb to speak on the oral system by placing the youngest girl on a chair and explaining how sounds were produced. Mr. Roe asked various questions as to names and objects orally, to which answers were instantly given in the same way. The Institution at Derby is an excellent one, and the Committee of management deserve the warmest thanks for what has already been achieved, and we hope will be materially assisted in north Derbyshire by all christian people who have at heart the welfare of an afflicted class of society.—Buxton Advertiser, Sept., 1884.