Please allow me a brief suggestion: If I were required to give, in the fewest words possible, a precept for the guidance of a teacher of deaf-mutes, I think it would be this: Practice the medium that you wish your pupil to acquire. Here I must avow my conviction, after an experience of more than forty years in the instruction of deaf-mutes, that by the course pursued in most of our institutions, we are, daily and hourly, both in and out of our school rooms and chapels, leading and allowing our pupils to act quite too widely aside from the practice that they chiefly need in acquiring the habit of receiving and expressing thought by alphabetic language. Whatever benefit may result from plans and theories of instruction, from discussions at conventions, from diagrams to develop and illustrate principles of syntax, and from all the various ingeniously contrived modes of instruction, the great principle and power upon which we have chiefly to rely in education, is habit—“habit upon which," as a distinguished English thinker and writer* has said, "in all ages, the school-master, the law-giver, and the artisan has had chiefly to rely; habit, which makes all things easy and casts all difficulties upon deviation from the wonted way." In all cases of deaf-mute instruction, whether in articulation or written verbal language, (and those whose ears the Creator has closed, it seems the part of wisdom chiefly to instruct by means of the eye, and by the forms of language designed and prepared for the eye), in all this instruction, to me it seems that the chief obstacle to progress is deficiency on the part of the pupil, in the mental habit of receiving and expressing thoughts in verbal language. Hence the necessity of practice, early, persistent, unremitted practice in the medium of thought in which we seek to render our pupils proficients; therefore, practice the medium that you wish your pupil to acquire. Accustom your pupils to receive and express ideas in verbal language. May the blessing and instruction of the Great Spirit of Wisdom be upon you all. Respectfully, &c., D. E. BARTLETT. At the Seaside, Key Port, N. J., 19th August, 1870. *Lord Brougham. FROM MR. A. B. HUTTON. PHILADELPHIA, DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION, May 6, 1870. Mr. THOMAS MAC INTIRE-Dear Sir: Your letter of invitation has been duly received. I have delayed answering it, that I might make up my mind as to the prudence or practicability of my attending the Convention. I have been laboring under the pressure of disease for some time. It threatens to become chronic, and rest and freedom from excitement is especially necessary in the hot season. It will, therefore, be probably impossible for me to attend the Convention, however much I may desire to do so. Respectfully yours, &c., FROM MISS H. B. ROGERS. A. B. HUTTON. CLARKE INSTITUTE FOR DEAF-MUTES, Į NORTHAMPTON, May 12, 1870. Rev. THOMAS MAC INTIRE-Dear Sir: I received, a few days since, your cordial and hospitable invitation to be the guest of your Institution during the session of the Convention held in August. For this kindness please accept many thanks. I deeply regret the probability that I shall not be able to attend, for, since the convention of 1868, I have anticipated with much pleasure being present at the next convention, but present circumstances do not seem to favor my attendance. With thanks for past favors, I am yours respectfully, HARRIET B. ROGERS. FROM MR. W. O. CONNER. INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB, Dear Sir: Yours of the 2d instant has been received several days. I should have replied to your first communication, but was uncertain as to whether or not I could attend the convention until a few days ago, when I found that it would be impossible to do so. This I regret exceedingly, for one of the brightest spots in my teacher's life is the memory of the few days so pleasantly and profitably spent in Washington with the heads of the profession. To the pleasure of meeting, not only the pleasant acquaintances then formed, but others whose names are familiar, I have looked forward with fond anticipation, but am doomed to disappointment. Remember me kindly to the different members of the "Conference" who may be present, and express my sincere wishes that the deliberations may be carried on harmoniously, and that much good may result. With many wishes that everything may pass off pleasantly to yourself personally, I am, as ever, yours truly, Rev. THOS. MAC INTIRE, Supt. Inst. for D. and D. W. O. CONNER. The Secretary stated that brief letters had been received from the following named persons regretting their inability to attend the convention, and expressing deep interest in its proceedings: H. W. Syle, W. Jenkins, C. S. Newell, H. D. Reaves, R. B. Lloyd, F. D. Clarke, J. T. Meigs, M. L. Goodrich, C. Ransom, B. H. Ransom, B. Engelsmann, of New York; D. B. McKinley, T. Burnsides, J. D. Kirkhuff, A. L. E. Crouter, of Pennsylvania; J. A. Jacobs, Jr., C. H. Talbot, of Kentucky; Job Turner, of Virginia; J. H. Ijams, G. Sanford, of Tennessee; J. M. Hughston, of South Carolina; J. B. Cundiff, of Louisiana; J. C. Hummer, of Iowa; J. A. Van Nostrand, of Texas; M. Ballard, M. T. G. Gordon, of District of Columbia; Mother Stanislaus, A. Carey, of St. Louis, Missouri; M. E. Smith, A. Morse, of Minnesota; L. H. Jenkins, of Kansas; W. M. French, of Nebraska; G. G. Hubbard, H. L. Fiske, S. M. Jordan, of Massachusetts. Mr. MAC INTIRE submitted the following REPORT: The committee appointed to recommend permanent officers have the honor to report the following nominations: For President-Rev. COLLINS STONE. For Vice-Presidents-Messrs. E. M. GALLAUDET, H. W. MILLIGAN, W. J. PALMER, ISAAC L. PEET, and J. J. BARCLAY. For Secretaries-Messrs. JOSEPH C. GORDON and EDWARD A. FAY. The report was unanimously adopted. The President elect, on assuming the duties of the chair, addressed the convention as follows: Gentlemen: I will not detain you with extended remarks, but desire to return you my sincere and profound thanks for the high honor of presiding over the deliberations of this, the largest convention that has ever assembled since the work of deaf-mute instruction in this country was commenced. In performing the duties to which I am called, I shall need, and doubt not I shall experience, your kindest indulgence. It is eminently proper that we should at the outset ask the blessing of God upon our labors, and I will call upon the Rev. Dr. Gallaudet, of New York, to offer prayer. After the prayer, the Convention being declared open for the transaction of business, P. G. GILLETT offered the following: Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to invite persons present interested in the education of the deaf and dumb to participate in the deliberations of the Convention. Adopted. The Chair appointed P. G. Gillett, W. H. Latham, and Job Williams, committee. BENJAMIN TALBOT offered the following: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to have charge of the business to be submitted to this Convention, and to report rules for its government. Adopted. The Chair appointed Benjamin Talbot, E. M. Gallaudet, G. O. Fay, H. S. Gillet, and E. C. Stone, committee. Mr. EDDY offered the following: Resolved, That the sessions of the Convention be opened and closed by prayer, by some person to be designated by the Presi dent. Adopted. Mr. MAC INTIRE.-I take this occasion to say a single word of welcome to the Convention. I wish, most earnestly, in behalf of myself, in behalf of the State, in behalf of the officers of the State, and of the Board of Trustees of our Benevolent Institutions, to welcome you, one and all to the Indiana Institution, and to express the hope that your stay here may be in every way profitable and pleasant. I most cordially invited you here, and I am glad to see so many in attendance. I trust the Convention will be profitable to the cause in which we labor. Mr. MAC INTIRE.-I move that persons having prepared papers to present to the Convention be requested to report the titles of the same to the Business Committee. Adopted. Mr. BROWN, of Michigan, addressed the Chair in the sign language, interpreted by Dr. Thomas Gallaudet, as follows: I wish to make an inquiry of the President: Is it necessary that all the committees shall be composed exclusively of hearing and speaking members? I think no trouble could arise from putting on one or two deaf-mutes now and then. I do not speak for myself in this matter; I do not desire the position; I simply would like to know if it would be proper that deaf-mutes should be recognized in that way. H. P. PEET.-I beg leave further to say, that inasmuch as the circular of invitation embraced the members of the different institutions, both male and female, it might not be improper to put some ladies on the committees which may be appointed. I shall not make the motion, but simply call the attention of the Chair to that matter. THE PRESIDENT.-The Chair, in that matter, will be governed entirely by the wishes of the Convention. H. P. PEET.-Then, I move, sir, that ladies who are members of this Convention be appointed on some of the committees, at the discretion of the Chair. Mr. MAC INTIRE.-I do not think a resolution is necessary in regard to this matter. This resolution implies that some of us entertain a different opinion, which I think is not the case. I object to the resolution, on the ground that it is unnecessary. H. P. PEET.—It was not my intention at first to make such a motion, but simply to call the attention of the Chair to the matter; but inasmuch as the Chair said it would prefer to be directed by the views of the Convention, I made the motion to that end. I now withdraw it. P. G. GILLETT.-This Convention has organized precisely as others have heretofore. The custom has been not to appoint either lady members or deaf-mute members upon committees, and I, for one, would like to see the custom changed. I renew the motion of Dr. Peet. THOMAS GALLAUDET.-I would prefer not to see any resolution of this kind adopted, and yet, if it is pressed, I shall vote for it. |