BOSTON TO WASHINGTON 131 



by putting the fingers to the lips ; " yes " or " no " by the 

 slightest motions of the head ; " come " or " go " by motions 

 of the hand ; " joy " or " sorrow " by the expression of the 

 face ; " a child " or " a man " by holding the hand at the 

 corresponding height; weakness of mind by tapping the fore- 

 head with the finger, we can see how a system of signs and 

 gestures may be gradually built up as surely as have been 

 the vocal sounds of all the various languages of the world. 

 And such a system has been built up, and is so complete that 

 a spoken lecture upon any subject whatever can be translated 

 into gestures so as to be perfectly understood and enjoyed by 

 an audience of deaf-mutes. Of course, proper names and the 

 less common technical terms are given by rapidly spelling out 

 the word by letter-signs. No doubt the power of speaking 

 and lip-reading is by far the more valuable for the deaf- 

 mute, since it enables him to communicate with the outside 

 world ; but as a means of familiar intercourse with each other, 

 the gesture language is the most certain and the most enjoy- 

 able. Both require light, but the latter, involving motions of 

 the limbs and body, can be understood at a greater distance 

 and with less strained attention. 



The students trained in this college have no difficulty in 

 finding employment. Some become teachers to the deaf, but 

 others are editors or journalists, clerks, surveyors, draughts- 

 men, mechanics, etc. I saw one of the younger pupils being 

 taught to speak, which requires immense patience and per- 

 severance in the teacher, and in some cases is almost impos- 

 sible, except to a very limited extent. Others, on the con- 

 trary, learn with comparative rapidity, just as some who can 

 hear acquire foreign languages with a rapidity which seems 

 almost incredible to those without the special faculty. Those 

 who are familiar with the gesture language, and can read 

 and write with facility, seem to enjoy their lives as well as 

 we hearers and speakers enjoy ourselves. They are seen 

 walking together, laughing, and gesture-talking with each 

 other, or engaged in the various sports and occupations of their 

 age without any indication of the loss of the means of com- 

 munication which seems to us so essential. As now taught, 



