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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



weave a more lovely world of colors. Their dormant energies 

 are awakened, the heightened color on the cheek, the lustrous 

 laughing eye, the merry mobile lip, the fair white hand, the whole 

 person speaks in eloquent language the pleasure which springs 

 from progress, or a work well done. 



Fig. 3. Free Slotd School Normal Class. 



But it may be that neither mature teachers nor tender youths 

 are at their benches, but playful, frolicsome children flitting about 

 their work like butterflies about a flower, and working with glee, 

 learning almost unconsciously. Here is a batch of boys, there a 

 group of girls, who at other times might be called a little unruly ; 

 they are now all attention, their minds concentrated on the curious 

 models before them ; and, while the exercise lasts, there is no indi- 

 cation of unrestrained spirits. 



But perhaps the school presents none of these sights, but a very 

 different one ; a sight half sad, yet not without a ray of gladness ; 

 a picture not composed of trained teachers, or boisterous youths, 

 or prattling children, eagerly listening, and as eagerly speaking, 

 but of a group of deaf and dumb. And now, if ever, you may see 

 what intense enthusiasm may be thrown into manual training. 

 The poor unfortunates deprived of hearing and of speech find 

 here a new field in which to exercise their minds and express their 

 ideas. By their very disabilities they are enabled to concentrate 



