Anecdotes & Incidents of the Deaf and Dumb

ne of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools recently visited the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Derby, and says the children wrote some texts which pertinently answered some questions on religion which were given to them. In answer to the question "Who made the world?" a little girl at once wrote on the blackboard "In the beginning God created the heaven and earth." The second question was "Who are sinners?" One of the boys wrote "All are sinners and have come short of the glory of God." A little Irish girl was then asked "How do you hope to be saved?" The child wrote "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ came into the world to save sinners." In answer to the question "What does the Bible say about the righteous?" a little girl wrote "The righteous are as bold as a lion." The last question proposed was "How can you show your love to Jesus?" when one of the pupils at once wrote "He says if ye love me keep my commandments."

HER LATEST AND BEST.

THE LITTLE DEAF AND DUMB PREACHER.

At length the boy was three years old. His eyes were full of intelligence, and he seemed to understand everything around him. The God-fearing habits of his parents had a great influence over him. At family prayer the mother held the little one on her lap, his hands clasped together, and when the father asked a blessing on their frugal meal, the little child would also stand behind his stool, and would never taste a morsel before it was asked.

It was advised that the boy be placed under the care of a famous physician in a neighbouring town. The father would leave untried nothing possible for the welfare of his boy, and so very soon set out on his journey. The sun was already set when they reached their destination.

Then the father took the boy's hand, and they went together to a relative's who lived in the town. But what a different home from that which the boy had left: the relative did not believe in the Word of God, but only thought of pleasure and doing according to his own wisdom. So long as the father was with him the child was content. He would not move from his side, and at night slept locked in his arms. But the father could not stay long; pressing business compelled his return home. His departure was very sorrowful for the child, and the father felt it no less.

At length the dinner time came. All was prepared, and the family gathered round the table, and with a good appetite began the meal. But the dumb child sat not; he stood behind his chair and waited. The others told him to sit and eat, but he understood not. His lips were speechless, but he made signs that they should pray. The people understood him, but would not show they did. Then the child ran to each, and, with a supplicating look, tried to clasp their hands together. A feeling of shame came over them. They wished to quiet him, but dared not try. Should they pray? They had never done it, but the child waited. At length the wife stood up, then the husband, and then all the others, for they did not know what else to do, and the wife prayed, with trembling voice, "Lord Jesus, come to our meal and bless it, and grant us Thy mercy."

Thus did the dumb child become a holy messenger, and, though he was speechless, witness for God where He was entirely forgotten.

But how was it with the child? Was his coming so far any use? Was he cured? No; the doctor could do nothing for him, and he remains speechless still. But later he attended a deaf and dumb institution, where he learnt reading, writing, and arithmetic, and many other useful things. Above all, he has learnt to know for himself the Lord Jesus, and to be resigned to the affliction God has laid upon him. He still lives, and is a God-fearing young man, and the joy of his old parents. He has learnt the trade of bookbinding, and can well support himself. Speaking with his sister of the old times, he said in the deaf and dumb language, smiling, "Ah, God has made me deaf and dumb that I should preach of the holy Jesus."

A NAVAL CHEF D'EUVRE.

ervase Murray, a deaf and dumb young man, the son of a poor widow living at Balbriggan, has just completed a miniature merchant ship, which in mechanical structure, symmetrical build, and neatness of finish, is not probably surpassed by anything of the kind to be seen in Ireland. It has been minutely inspected by competent judges, who assert that its tout ensemble a more perfect piece of ingenious workmanship they have never seen; nor could the most experienced ship carpenter do more justice to the various compartments, appendages, and riggings than has its mute architect, with but very indifferent apparatus—a penknife, a file, and a bradawl being the principal instruments employed in the work. It measures exactly six feet from the figure head to the helm, and is precisely the same extent in height from the top of the mainmast to the keel, the width being of proportional dimensions. The materials are all of the best description, are tastefully polished or painted where necessary, and are so exactly fitted in every part as to baffle the detection of any conspicuous fault whatever. It is fully manned with a crew of little wooden men, and officers in uniform, and completely equipped with boats, capstan, blocks, hawsers, cables, davits, cat-heads, bars, bolts, buckets, chocks, compasses, and even three brass cannons; in short with everything that may be seen in a large ship. She bears the significant name of "The Star of the Sea." Had he been able to exhibit it, as he intended, at the late Dublin Exhibition, there is no doubt that it would have attracted considerable attention, which perhaps might have led to a substantial recognition of merit having been awarded to a poor dumb youth, the chief support of his widowed mother, as a well-deserved recompense for the patience and native talent displayed in the construction of this tiny chef d'euvre of naval art, which must have given him an immense amount of trouble and anxiety during the two years he has been engaged in building it.—Irish Journal.

ALEXANDER FERGUSON, THE FAMOUS DEAF AND DUMB SWIMMER.

lexander Ferguson, a dock mason of Dundee, (though now in employment at Irvine), has rescued forty-seven persons from drowning—one paper says fifty-one—in the Tay, Forth, Clyde, Dee, Tyne, Mersey, Wear, Ayr, Irwell, Calder, Humber, and other rivers in England, Scotland, and Ireland. He is thirty-nine years of age, and made his first rescue when about ten years old. We have before us accounts cut from the newspapers and other publications, from which we give the following particulars of some of the rescues and swimming feats:—

At Troon Dock. One Sunday a boy, who was playing with his companions at the quay, missed his footing, and fell into the harbour. Alexander Ferguson, observing the occurrence, pulled him out in a very exhausted condition. A purse of £15 was presented to him.

At Ayr Harbour. A boy named William M'Lean, aged 12 years, fell into the water and was just disappearing when A. F. leaped into the water and rescued him.

At Androsan Harbour. A boy named Robert Bodman, aged 10 years. He was rewarded with the sum of £16 by merchants and gentlemen.

At Llanelly Harbour. A boy named Francis Cornwall, 10 years old.

At Towey Dock. Richard Pearce, 11 years of age.

In the Camperdown Dock, Dundee. Alexander Yule, 10 years of age.

At King William Dock, Dundee. James Anderson, a bricklayer.

At Devonport Dock. A girl named Victoria Napier, 10 years of age.

At Dundee Pier. A boy named Alexander Robertson, 10 years old, for which he received the rescue medal of the Forth Swimming Club and Humane Society (1864.)

At Falmouth Dock. Sarah Armstrong, 11 years of age.

At Lime Dock. Oliver Markham, 7 years old.

At Maldon Dock. A girl named Jessie Brown, 12 years of age.

At Camperdown Dock. Mr. Alexander Doig, merchant of Forfar.

At Swanage Dock. A girl named Catherine Bruce, aged 14 years.

At Portcawl Dock. A boy named Albert Jones.

At Exmouth Dock. A girl named Alexandrina Nelson, 14 years old.

At Victoria Dock. A boy named Charles Blair, 8 years of age.

At Alexandra Dock. Richard Harrison, 8 years old.

At Earl Grey's Dock, Dundee. Peter Band, 8 years of age.

At Teignmouth Dock. Edgar Thorpe, 8 years of age.

At Alnwick Dock. Cæsar Franklin, 10 years old.

A brave man. The last official act of the late Mayor of Great Yarmouth was to present the silver medal of the Humane Society to Alexander Ferguson, mason, of Dundee, for having saved the life of Charles Cullen, a private in the 55th Regiment, who fell overboard the steamer "Juno" on returning to Inverness. Ferguson dived and saved him, but ran great risk of being drowned, Cullen having fallen under the paddle wheel, which was in motion.

Gallant rescue from drowning in the River Mersey, off Garston, near Liverpool. On Thursday afternoon four young lads had an exceedingly narrow escape from drowning in the ferry harbour; they were amusing themselves with a boat, when they overbalanced and fell into the water; this was noticed by Alexander Ferguson, mason, who was standing on the jetty, and he, without divesting himself of any of his clothes, swam to their rescue. Having succeeded in getting hold of three lads, he landed them ashore, and then struck out for the other, who by this time had almost disappeared, his hands only being visible above the water. Ferguson landed him ashore also. After some time all the four were able to walk home to Liverpool. A large crowd was on the jetty at the time, and great excitement prevailed. Ferguson deserves great credit for the courage and presence of mind he displayed, and it is believed that but for his efforts the lads would have been drowned.—Liverpool Mercury, 1872.

Great Swimming Feats.

1. Fourteen miles down the river with the rapid ebb tide, from the middle buoys opposite the Tay ferries to far buoy at the mouth of the river Tay, in 5-1/2 hours (1859.)

2. Across the Frith of Clyde from Carrought, Ayrshire, to Ailsa Rock; 8 miles in 3 hours, through strong currents.

3. Across the Frith of Forth, from Buckhaven, in Fifeshire, to North Berwick; 18 miles in 7 hours (1862.)

4. Across the Bay of Leece, from the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse to Barrowhead; 10 miles in 4 hours.

5. Across the mouth of Loch Ryan, from Ronmach, in Ayrshire, to Kirkcolm Point in Gallowayshire; 4 miles in 2 hours.

6. From John O'Groat's House to Stoma; 8 miles in 2-1/2 hours, through dangerous currents (1873.)

7. Across the strong-currented river to Cardell Point, on the east of Cantyre, from Penrioch, on the coast of Arran; 11 miles in 3-1/2 hours (1874.)

8. Across the Frith of Clyde from West Kilbride, in Ayrshire, to Grombe, on the east coast of Arran, a distance of 12-1/2 miles in 4-1/2 hours (1874.)

9. Across the Frith of the Clyde from Port Glasgow to Cardross; 9 miles in 2-1/2 hours (1874.)

In all these instances he was followed by persons in boats.

We are informed that he has received presents for rescuing lives of the value of £300, besides twenty suits of clothes, and has also won many cups and other prizes in swimming and diving matches, and has also received several gold and silver medals.

Alexander Ferguson has on several occasions been present at the services for the adult deaf and dumb held at the Institution at Derby.

A DEAF MUTE'S GRATITUDE.

SIR WALTER SCOTT ON THE DEAF & DUMB.

UNEDUCATED.

The artist thought that he was about to encounter an escaped lunatic, and, although no coward, he confessed to a feeling somewhat akin to fear passing through him as he looked down at the depths below, and calculated how small a push might launch him into eternity. Then he remembered something about the advantage of being civil to madmen, and determined to try and ward off his impending fate by a show of civility. Beckoning the poor creature to him, he commenced to talk to him, to show him his drawings, and to offer him a share of his lunch. The man made no reply, but apparently assured by the artist's manner came up close, sat down beside him, and was soon deeply absorbed in devouring his portion of the lunch and in admiring the pictures. Still he never spoke, only uttered some unintelligible sounds.

The artist congratulated himself on the success of his experiments; but, nevertheless, he thought that on the whole "discretion was the better part of valour," and after a little he got up and returned to his lodging, the man following him at a distance.

On arriving at the cabin he related his adventure, when the people exclaimed, "Ah! it's only poor dummy!" and assured him the poor fellow was perfectly harmless, but he was wholly untaught, had received no training in a Deaf and Dumb Institution, and lived in this wild neglected manner. He was never asked to work, but roamed about at will, being fed by the neighbours, who would give bits to him as they would to a dog.

The artist was greatly touched by what he heard, and continued to be kind to the poor deaf and dumb man, who, on his part, attached himself to his patron in the most docile manner. Every morning he went to carry the artist's drawing materials, waited on him during the day, and only seemed too delighted if he could perform any little service for him. In return the artist could only reward him by kind looks and a share of his sandwiches. Once he offered him money, but it was received in such a manner that showed plainly he did not understand its value. And the neighbours said it was no use to give him money: food was the only thing he seemed to care for.

At last the time came for the artist to return home. When it dawned upon the poor deaf mute he was about to lose his friend, he set up the most piteous wailing, and refused to be comforted, not even by the choicest morsels of food.

The artist, when relating it afterwards, said "that he was never more moved in his life than to see this unfeigned sorrow, and to feel himself unable (owing to the man not having been trained in a Deaf and Dumb Institution) to convey one single idea of suggestive consolation."

TRADES OF THE DEAF & DUMB IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

Males:—

24 artists (painters), 24 artists (engravers), 5 sculptors, 18 indoor domestic servants, 37 gardeners, 28 commercial clerks, 28 messengers, 47 engaged in harbour and dock service, 37 farming on own account, 3 farm bailiffs, 463 agricultural labourers, 15 nurserymen, 13 grooms, 2 veterinary surgeons, 2 gamekeepers, 40 bookbinders, 55 printers, 26 lithographic printers, 26 engine fitters and machinists, 11 watch and clock makers, 41 bricklayers, 137 carpenters and joiners, 61 masons, 99 painters and paperhangers, 75 cabinet makers, 21 French polishers, 22 wood carvers, 12 carvers and gilders, 12 coach-makers, 15 wheelwrights, 43 saddlers, 42 shipwrights and carpenters ashore, 5 innkeepers, 1 maltster, 5 brewers, 17 butchers, 19 bakers, 4 confectioners, 44 worsted stuff and cloth makers, 344 tailors, 507 shoemakers, 23 pattern makers, 10 hair dressers, 10 brush makers, 29 basket makers, 18 wood turners, 23 coopers, 71 coal miners, 22 brickmakers, 22 workers of porcelain, 29 glass makers, 11 jewellers, 55 blacksmiths, 65 iron and steel manufacturers, 14 tin plate workers, 360 general labourers, 11 engine drivers, stokers, &c., &c.

There are in Great Britain and Ireland about 20,000 deaf mutes.

A WILL MADE BY PANTOMIME.

A BRAVE DEFENDER.

A DEAF AND DUMB LAWYER.

A DEAF AND DUMB MAN ON THE BIBLE.

UNEDUCATED DEAF MUTE'S IGNORANCE OF GOD.

DO THE DEAF & DUMB THINK THEMSELVES UNHAPPY?

wo deaf and dumb scholars of the late Abbé Siccard were asked—Do the deaf and dumb think themselves unhappy? The following is the answer of Massien:—"No; because we seldom lament that which we never possessed, or know we can never be in possession of; but should the deaf and dumb become blind, they would think themselves very unhappy, because sight is the finest, the most useful, and the most agreeable of all the senses. Besides, we are amply indemnified for our misfortune by the signal favour of expressing by gestures and by writing our ideas, our thoughts, and our feelings, and likewise by being able to read books and manuscripts."

The following is the answer of Clerc, the other pupil, to the same question:—"He who never had anything has never lost anything, and he who never lost anything has nothing to regret; consequently, the deaf and dumb who never heard or spoke, have never lost either hearing or speech, therefore cannot lament either the one or the other. And he who has nothing to lament cannot be unhappy; consequently the deaf and dumb are not unhappy. Besides, it is a great consolation for them to be able to replace hearing by writing, and speech by signs."

A DEAF MUTE'S IDEAS BEFORE INSTRUCTION.

"Before I came to school I thought that the stars were placed in the firmament like grates of fire, and that the moon at night was like a great furnace of fire; I did not know how the stars and moon and heavens were made; but I supposed that the people, like us above the firmament, kindled the moon and stars; and I did not know whether the heavens was made by art or not. I thought the world little and round like a table, and was always intending to go to the end of it."

OBSERVATIONS OF DEAF & DUMB CHILDREN.

A DEAF & DUMB BOY'S REMARKABLE DREAM.

I could hear more than all the people in the world. I was more obedient to God. There was not the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars. I saw Addington—(one of his friends who had died lately)—who was in heaven. He shook hands with me. He was more tall than you.

I saw Adam and Eve: God made him by His word. He made him of the dust of the earth. He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God said, "Thy name is Adam." He took a rib of the man whilst he slept; he made woman by taking the rib from a man. Her name was Eve. He made them in a happy state and holy. He made a garden of Eden. He sent them to live in the garden. God said, "Thou shalt not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge."

I saw God making the world and all things. First the world, firmament, sun, moon, stars, land and water. God made the water with His breath, He gave it into the world. He made the sun, moon, stars very quickly with his word. He made the sun of part of the earth, from the world, and the moon of a little part from the sun, and the stars of a very little part from the moon. He did not make anything with His hands, but by His word.

I saw the world before the sun was made—it was all earth. He made Europe, Africa—all! and with His breath He made the sea. (Here his action was remarkable. He drew on his slate the continent and islands, blew with his breath with scarce any motion of his lips, and showed that the waters instantaneously flowed through their channels, and the seas were formed.) God made the firmament by His word; it is like silk paper, it is all round the world: there is water over it and clouds under it, and the sun shines through it, and the moon, and the stars. (Here he described by gestures the motions of the earth, the sun, and moon, and that there were countless stars, larger much than the sun; that there was no axle on which the world moved, nor anything to keep it up like a cord, but that it was moved and upheld by the breath of the Almighty.)

There were many angels with him.

He had not a loud voice, and his eyes see the sun before him and behind him.

He spoke very kindly to me; I saw many spirits in heaven; they were worshipping God and obedient to God; they did not speak; they listened to God and were obedient to Him; and God was often speaking to them; and they loved Him. He was commanding them to look at evil and right things in the world, and they were very bright like clouds; thou couldst not see them, because they were invisible.

Angels are often in the world; they are always present with us, and in every place, separating the people's hearts, good from bad. God tells them to separate the good from the bad; and they are always soaring with their wings. Their wings have not feathers; they are like the clouds. The angels are soaring always, and standing on the air and the clouds; they never are flapping with their wings; they are never tired, nor sleepy, nor hungry, nor thirsty, nor eating, nor laughing, nor smiling; I saw some more crying a little, because the people have sin from them. They are very beautiful like the sun. God is more bright than an angel. They can walk on everything in heaven and in the world, and in hell they are not burned. God was sitting on the clouds, and on the air, and on the water. He is still, quiet; He never laughs. (His gestures here were striking in an astonishing degree, and his whole mind seemed overcome, with a sense of the Divine greatness and glory.) God was very kind to the angels, more than all the world.

THE SCRIPTURES AND THE STATE OF THE DEAF AND DUMB.

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
"Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."—Isaiah xxxv. 5, 6.

"But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see; and they that have not heard shall understand."—Romans xv. 21.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief."—I Timothy i. 15.

"As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
"And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake; and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel."—Matt. ix. 32, 33.

"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
"And said unto him, Art thou he that should come or look we for another?
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
"The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
"And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me."—Matt. xi. 2-6.

"Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb; and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw."—Matt. xii. 22, 23.

"And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus feet; and he healed them; insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see; and they glorified the God of Israel."—Matt. xv. 30, 31.

"And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit:
"And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not.
"He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
"And they brought him unto him; and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
"And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
"And often it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters to destroy him; but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
"When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou deaf and dumb spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
"And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him; and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
"But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose."—Mark ix. 17-27.

"And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
"And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
"And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, be opened.
"And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
"And he charged them that they should tell no man; but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
"And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."—Mark vii. 32-37.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.