I860.] Van Asch on Oral Instruction of so-called Deaf and Dumb. 43 



All through the course of instruction, reading has since formed 

 the principal feature in the daily studies of this pupil. 



Much knowledge was stored up during the third and fourth year, 

 hy entering into the meaning of easy stories, descriptions of animals, 

 short and simply written essays on articles of food, manufactures, &c. 

 Later on, subject-matter was found in the study of topography, for 

 which we drew up a series of lessons, framed in a manner that would 

 draw the pupil's attention to space as defined by the house, by the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood, by the village, and finally by the town and 

 district. This brought her (and her companions) in a natural way to 

 the consideration of public buildings and their history ; which latter, 

 however, was entered upon only in so far as it would serve our design 

 to illustrate the meaning of the term, " history," as applied to Man- 

 chester, and the history of England. What other observations were 

 made in thus examining the chief parts of a large manufacturing town 

 one may readily guess. Ocular illustration aiding greatly to heighten 

 the interest in, and the proper understanding of these lessons, the 

 arrival of the horn' known to be set apart for their initiation in the 

 geography of the district (Lancashire) was met with a smiling coun- 

 tenance. 



The geography of the British Isles has always been a favourite 

 subject of this pupil, and since it is concluded she has shown no less 

 pleasure in reading and committing to memory several of the note- 

 worthy points presented by an outline-description of our interesting 

 part of the globe. 



With equal zeal has she been engaged during the last year in the 

 study of the history of England, up to the time of the annexation of 

 the principality of Wales. When she is now endeavouring to improve 

 herself in any branch of instruction, it cannot be said that that branch 

 exclusively engrosses her attention ; for so much similarity of gram- 

 matical form and construction presents itself in written language, and 

 so many kindred observations on various topics are contained in any 

 book of simple composition, that its perusal is to her quite as valuable 

 for the repetition of previously-obtained information, as for the acqui- 

 sition of any fresh knowledge. Of what the friend of the deaf has to 

 make a particular study, is the form of language in which knowledge 

 may be clothed. The least misconception of a word throws them off 

 their guard, and drawing conclusions from the context is a thing 

 altogether unknown to nearly every one thus afflicted. 



Constant practice in conversation, the reading of books whose style 

 is not above their comprehension, habituating them to the use of the 

 dictionary, and unceasing care in correcting their mistakes, are the 

 only means, therefore, that can operate successfully to initiate them 

 into the mysteries of a rich, refined, and complicated language. 



We might dilate now on the great advantages this young lady de- 

 rived from the assistance she received at home, but as this point will 

 not be overlooked in the account of the next example, the observations 

 there being also more or less applicable to this and the previous case, 

 we shall conclude this description with a few notes on the subject of 

 arithmetic. 



