Tea being announced in a few minutes, the whole party proceeded to the dining room, where they were seated at well spread tables, three Indians and one mute at each. Here the striking similarity between the signs used by the Indians of the West and our deaf mutes was plainly observable in the spirited conversation which ensued. The merry laughter which broke forth from these usually quiet stolid men was sufficient to mark their keen appreciation of what was said. One old chief, slightly confused, sought to excuse his awkwardness with the knife and fork to one of the young ladies, by stating that at home he never used them, but ate with his fingers. They exchanged signs for butter, coffee, milk, meat, bread, salt, sugar, knife, fork, &c., which were remarkably similar.
After tea the whole party assembled in the parlour, and then began a scene indescribable. The Indians, wild with delight, talked away to the mutes, who, equally happy, seemed to catch and understand everything they said. They described their homes, their hunting expeditions, their wives and children; how they lived and how they buried their dead. One of them gave a very graphic account of the great snowstorms which frequently occur among the mountains. One told about the wars he had engaged in, and the number of scalps he had taken, and then asked the teacher if he had ever killed a man, and on receiving a reply in the negative, seemed quite disgusted. Another, a great rider, said that with them the horses had plenty of grass to eat, and were fat, but here, in the city, they had none, and were consequently very poor. Another old chief, a very fine looking man, stated that he had a large family of children at home, and then asked the smallest of the girls if she wouldn't go home with him, promising to bring her back as soon as she had taught his little boys and girls how to make signs like the mutes.
These wild men seemed thoroughly at home in the presence of the children, their habitual restlessness and reserve disappeared; they had met for once white persons with whom they could converse without the tedious process of interpreting, and the conversation, as Mr. Welsh expressed it, went directly to their hearts. In parting with their young visitors, the Indians freely expressed the pleasure which their visit had afforded them, then sorrow at the separation, and promised to relate all that had occurred to their friends and kindred in the West.
When it is remembered that all this and much more took place between a delegation of wild Indians and six mute girls attending the Institution in our city, it certainly will be considered remarkable, and probably never before in the history of civilization has such a meeting occurred. As a means of communication with the wild tribes roaming over our western plains, the capacity of the sign-language of mutes can hardly be over estimated, and a few well-trained mute missionaries could, without doubt, be made the instruments for accomplishing much good among this down-trodden despised race.—New York Herald.
EXHIBITION, 1851.
At the great Exhibition in 1851 there was exhibited a set of oak tables and cabinet of Stanton oak, combined with glass and ormolu, etc., made and carved by three deaf and dumb persons; the castings by Marsh, of Dudley.