"I MUST HELP."
he following little incident will show how interested the deaf and dumb are in trying to help Institutions struggling to obtain monetary support in order to admit the numerous cases pressing for admission. A number of the pupils from the Institution at Derby were present at a meeting, when the head master was advocating its claims for support. At the close of the meeting a deaf and dumb young man came up and said, "I have been very pleased with what I saw the children do, they will soon be very clever. I hope the people will all help you; other people helped me to get a good education, now I must help others who are deaf and dumb to go to school. I will try and collect £5 for you." True to his promise he did collect £5, and sent it saying, "Next year I must try and collect £10." A little time since he called at the Institution with the handsome sum of £10, which he had collected in pence from 371 persons. Several other deaf mutes have shown their interest by collecting £1 to £3 from time to time.
CANON FARRAR WITH THE DEAF AND DUMB.
The Washington Post gives an account of Canon Farrar's visit to that city. He was interviewed by one of their reporters as to what he thought of the place, and he replied that he was greatly pleased, but what interested him most was the Deaf Mute College. He was of opinion there was nothing of its kind in the world. The Canon was conducted through the College by Dr. Gallaudet, the president, who explained to him the various arrangements, after which Mr. Olof Hanson, a Swede, who has mastered English since the loss of his hearing, delivered orally the following address:—Two and a half centuries ago the Pilgrim Fathers laid the foundation of the nation. America may in a sense be called the child of England—and a well-grown child, of which she need not be ashamed. In visiting this country, therefore, you do not, we trust, feel like a stranger, but, as it were, among relatives and friends. Archdeacon Farrar is no stranger to us; his beautiful "Life of Christ" is a well-known volume in many a public and private American library, and there are few who have not read his noble eulogy on our departed hero, General Grant. As a friend then, we bid him welcome. Permit me now to say a few words about the instruction of the deaf in this country. In 1817 the first deaf mute school in America was founded at Hartford, Connecticut; there are now upwards of sixty schools for the deaf and dumb in the United States, and to day more than 7000 pupils receiving instruction. The minds of the deaf are just like those of other people, and only need to be developed. Although the avenue of the ear is closed, through the other senses information is imparted, and sight, being the most convenient, is chiefly made use of in instructing the deaf; but to teach them persons of experience and intelligence are required, and to obtain such teachers money is necessary. Our Government has wisely recognised this, and it accordingly makes liberal provision for educating the deaf, as well as the hearing, all our institutions being supported mainly by the Government. It was long doubted that the deaf could master the higher branches of study, and it has been reserved for this college to see if they can. In this country we have the deaf as teachers, lawyers, chemists, artists, clergymen, editors, &c. Many take a most creditable rank among the hearing persons in their professions. Among the graduates of this college will be found some of the most intelligent and best educated deaf mutes in the world. The college is the only one of its kind in existence. Two young men from the old world have come all the way here to obtain an education which they could not get at home. They are cordially welcomed, and we hope many more will come until the time arrives when they have a college of their own, where they may acquire the advantages of a high and liberal education. Mr. Francis Maginn, son of the Rev. C. A. Maginn, county Cork, was then introduced to Canon Farrar, and his address read by Dr. Gallaudet. "As one of the two students from Europe just alluded to by my friend, I have the pleasure of welcoming my distinguished countryman, Archdeacon Farrar, to Washington. Having acquired the rudiments of my education in the metropolis of Great Britain, where you from Sunday to Sunday expound the unsearchable riches of Christ, and being a native of Ireland, where my father ministers in the Church of Ireland, it is but natural I should express my deep gratification that you should have come amongst my American brethren in affliction. I am sure, sir, that you have felt as I have done when coming to the great and prosperous United States, that the American people is one of which we may well be proud—a great and highly civilised people, with whom we are connected by every tie of blood, and every relation of business—they are a people who bear our civilisation, in many things improved, our language, literature, laws, and religion. In an educational point of view the nation is prominent, and her silent children have the advantages of spacious institutions, supported by her revenues. It is greatly to be regretted that our brethren in Great Britain enjoy none of these elaborate advantages of intellectual culture. Whilst Mr. Foster's Act benefits thousands, and while $15,000,000 are annually voted for the masses, one third of the mutes of right school age are being left uneducated. What that means, the English have no conception, or they would not be apathetic or unconcerned; no class when uneducated is more entirely cut off from all human intercourse than the deaf and dumb." The Canon, in reply, expressed his thanks for the cordial reception given him, and concluded with a short prayer, which was interpreted by Dr. Gallaudet, President of the Deaf and Dumb College.