218 MEMOIRS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



parts of tlie State, iittendeil by (leaf-inule.s of both sexes. At these meetings they amuse them- 

 selves in various ways. Sometimes they hold fairs — liave theatrical representations in <lumb 

 show, si)ectacnlar tiibleaiix, (lancing, &c. 



Not only do these State associations exist, bnt a National Association has been formed for 

 the jmrpose of promoting social intercourse between the scattered deaf-nuites of the country. The 

 Second National Convention of Deaf Alutes met only a short time ago in New York and was at- 

 tended by hundreds of deaf-iiuites from all parts of the United States. 



3. Another method calculated to foster class-feeling among the deaf and dumb would be to 

 provide them with newspapers and periodicals of their own, which should make a specialty of 

 "personals" relating to the deaf and dumb — newspapers that should give full accounts of the deaf- 

 mute conventions and reunions, and keep their readers informed of the movements of deaf mutes, 

 their marriages, deaths, &c. Quite a number of su(;h newspai)ers have come into existence.* The 

 majoritj' being supported by the educational institutions of the country, with the benevolent object 

 of teaching the deaf mutes the art of printing. These papers, I understand, are generally edited 

 and printed in the institutions, under the superintendence of the teachers. It was only natural 

 to include among the items "personals" concerning former pupils, and that former pupils of the 

 institution sliould take pleasure in reading them. In addition to tlie periodicals printed in the 

 institutions, others have appeared edited and managed by adult deaf-mutes not connected with 

 any institution. These latter jiapers became the organs of communication between the adult deaf- 

 mutes, and were affiliated with the conventions and associations above referred to. 



4. The methods specified above, while they serve to facilitate social intercourse between adult 

 deaf-mutes, do not necessarily prevent them from also associating with hearing persons. As there 

 are 1,500 hearing persons for every one deaf-mute, it seems difiticult to formulate any plan which 

 would restrict their choice of partners in life to deaf-mutes alone or to the hearing member;^ of 

 deaf-mute families. Let us consider how this could be accomplished. 



What more powerful or efficient means could be found than to teach the deaf-mutes to think 

 in a different language from that of the people at large? Tbis is wliat we do. In the majority 

 of our institutions for the deaf and dumb a special language is used as the vehicle of thought, 

 a language as different from English as French or German or Russian. The English language is 

 confined to the schoolroom and is simply taught as a school exercise, much as French and German 

 are taught in the public schools. 



The deaf-mutes thinli: in the gesture language, and English is apt to remain a foreign tongue. 

 They can communi(!ate with liearing persons by writing, but they often write in broken English as a 

 foreigner would speak. They think in gestures and often translate into written English with the 

 idioms of the sign language. The constant practice of the sign language interferes with the mas- 

 tery of the English language, and it is to be feared that comparatively few of the congenitally deaf 

 are able to read books understandingly unless couched iu simple language. They are thus in a 

 great measure cut off from our literatui'e. This is another element in forcing them into each other's 

 society. Tiiey are aljle to understand a good deal of what they see in our daily newspapers, 

 especially if it concerns what interests tlicni personally, but the political speeches of the day, the 

 leading editorials, &c., are often heyoud their knowledge of the English language. 



*These iiiuKt not be confouiKlod with tlie American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb, a Joninal of a very different 

 cliaracter, not intended to be read specially by deaf-mutes themselves. This journal is a (juarterly magazine devoted 

 to the discussion cf subjects connected with the education of the deaf and dumb, and forms the oflicial or^an of com 

 municatiou between teachers. It is one of the most admirably conducted special journals in existence, .and contains 

 within its pages almost the complete literature of the world relatinj; to the education of tlie deaf and dumb. 



