SOME PROMINENT NAMES 277 



for two years he tutored iu Yale, and lor three more at- 

 tended the Aiidover Theological Seminary, graduating in 

 1814. During this educational period there were un- 

 folded in Gallaudet the characteristics which have always 

 marked the Huguenots — sociability, a wide range of in- 

 terests and sympathies, versatility, ingenuity, and a 

 desire to tui'u all faculties to account in unselfish human 

 service. 



Up to the beginning of the nineteenth century organ- instruction for 

 ized charity was a thing unknown in New England. Es- °^^^ "^"^^^ 

 pecially pitiable was the plight of the deaf mutes, of 

 whom, it was estimated, there were four hundred in New 

 England, all out of reach of instruction. One of these 

 deaf mutes was Alice Coggswell, daughter of a wealthy • 

 physician of Hartford. She had been afflicted from an 

 early age ; as she approached maturity her father was im- 

 pelled to find some means of relieving her tragic situa- 

 tion. Several philanthropists joined with him in the ef- 

 fort to establish regular instruction for deaf mutes in 

 America. The first step was to secure an American who 

 would undertake to learn the methods of instruction 

 abroad. Their plans reached the point of action at the 

 very time when Gallaudet was deciding on his career. 

 His name was at once brought forward, the more readily 

 because he had for some time shown an interest in Alice 

 Coggswell, and had even succeeded in teaching her a few 

 words. 



Gallaudet accepted the commission with a confidence 

 which was characteristic, crossed the ocean, and after en- organizes the 



' ' ^ Hartford 



countering many obstacles, induced the Abbe Sicard, in institution fof 



® *^ ' ' Deaf Mutes 



Paris, to teach him. Here he worked zealously for a 

 year, varying his labour by preaching. At the end of this 

 time he returned to America, fitted for introducing the 

 approved French methods of instruction. From 1817 to 

 1830 he controlled tlie policy and working of the Hart- 

 ford Institution for Deaf Mutes. So intense was his ap- 

 plication during these thirteen years, in the face of a 



