Chapter 6

But how was it with the child? Was his coming so far any use? Was he cured? No; the doctor could do nothing for him, and he remains speechless still. But later he attended a deaf and dumb institution, where he learnt reading, writing, and arithmetic, and many other useful things. Above all, he has learnt to know for himself the Lord Jesus, and to be resigned to the affliction God has laid upon him. He still lives, and is a God-fearing young man, and the joy of his old parents. He has learnt the trade of bookbinding, and can well support himself. Speaking with his sister of the old times, he said in the deaf and dumb language, smiling, "Ah, God has made me deaf and dumb that I should preach of the holy Jesus."

A NAVAL CHEF D'EUVRE.

Gervase Murray, a deaf and dumb young man, the son of a poor widow living at Balbriggan, has just completed a miniature merchant ship, which in mechanical structure, symmetrical build, and neatness of finish, is not probably surpassed by anything of the kind to be seen in Ireland. It has been minutely inspected by competent judges, who assert that its _tout ensemble_ a more perfect piece of ingenious workmanship they have never seen; nor could the most experienced ship carpenter do more justice to the various compartments, appendages, and riggings than has its mute architect, with but very indifferent apparatus--a penknife, a file, and a bradawl being the principal instruments employed in the work. It measures exactly six feet from the figure head to the helm, and is precisely the same extent in height from the top of the mainmast to the keel, the width being of proportional dimensions. The materials are all of the best description, are tastefully polished or painted where necessary, and are so exactly fitted in every part as to baffle the detection of any conspicuous fault whatever. It is fully manned with a crew of little wooden men, and officers in uniform, and completely equipped with boats, capstan, blocks, hawsers, cables, davits, cat-heads, bars, bolts, buckets, chocks, compasses, and even three brass cannons; in short with everything that may be seen in a large ship. She bears the significant name of "The Star of the Sea." Had he been able to exhibit it, as he intended, at the late Dublin Exhibition, there is no doubt that it would have attracted considerable attention, which perhaps might have led to a substantial recognition of merit having been awarded to a poor dumb youth, the chief support of his widowed mother, as a well-deserved recompense for the patience and native talent displayed in the construction of this tiny chef d'euvre of naval art, which must have given him an immense amount of trouble and anxiety during the two years he has been engaged in building it.--_Irish Journal._

ALEXANDER FERGUSON, THE FAMOUS DEAF AND DUMB SWIMMER.

Alexander Ferguson, a dock mason of Dundee, (though now in employment at Irvine), has rescued forty-seven persons from drowning--one paper says fifty-one--in the Tay, Forth, Clyde, Dee, Tyne, Mersey, Wear, Ayr, Irwell, Calder, Humber, and other rivers in England, Scotland, and Ireland. He is thirty-nine years of age, and made his first rescue when about ten years old. We have before us accounts cut from the newspapers and other publications, from which we give the following particulars of some of the rescues and swimming feats:--

At Troon Dock. One Sunday a boy, who was playing with his companions at the quay, missed his footing, and fell into the harbour. Alexander Ferguson, observing the occurrence, pulled him out in a very exhausted condition. A purse of £15 was presented to him.

At Ayr Harbour. A boy named William M'Lean, aged 12 years, fell into the water and was just disappearing when A. F. leaped into the water and rescued him.

At Androsan Harbour. A boy named Robert Bodman, aged 10 years. He was rewarded with the sum of £16 by merchants and gentlemen.

At Llanelly Harbour. A boy named Francis Cornwall, 10 years old.

At Towey Dock. Richard Pearce, 11 years of age.

In the Camperdown Dock, Dundee. Alexander Yule, 10 years of age.

At King William Dock, Dundee. James Anderson, a bricklayer.

At Devonport Dock. A girl named Victoria Napier, 10 years of age.

At Dundee Pier. A boy named Alexander Robertson, 10 years old, for which he received the rescue medal of the Forth Swimming Club and Humane Society (1864.)

At Falmouth Dock. Sarah Armstrong, 11 years of age.

At Lime Dock. Oliver Markham, 7 years old.

At Maldon Dock. A girl named Jessie Brown, 12 years of age.

At Camperdown Dock. Mr. Alexander Doig, merchant of Forfar.

At Swanage Dock. A girl named Catherine Bruce, aged 14 years.

At Portcawl Dock. A boy named Albert Jones.

At Exmouth Dock. A girl named Alexandrina Nelson, 14 years old.

At Victoria Dock. A boy named Charles Blair, 8 years of age.

At Alexandra Dock. Richard Harrison, 8 years old.

At Earl Grey's Dock, Dundee. Peter Band, 8 years of age.

At Teignmouth Dock. Edgar Thorpe, 8 years of age.

At Alnwick Dock. Cæsar Franklin, 10 years old.

A brave man. The last official act of the late Mayor of Great Yarmouth was to present the silver medal of the Humane Society to Alexander Ferguson, mason, of Dundee, for having saved the life of Charles Cullen, a private in the 55th Regiment, who fell overboard the steamer "Juno" on returning to Inverness. Ferguson dived and saved him, but ran great risk of being drowned, Cullen having fallen under the paddle wheel, which was in motion.

Gallant rescue from drowning in the River Mersey, off Garston, near Liverpool. On Thursday afternoon four young lads had an exceedingly narrow escape from drowning in the ferry harbour; they were amusing themselves with a boat, when they overbalanced and fell into the water; this was noticed by Alexander Ferguson, mason, who was standing on the jetty, and he, without divesting himself of any of his clothes, swam to their rescue. Having succeeded in getting hold of three lads, he landed them ashore, and then struck out for the other, who by this time had almost disappeared, his hands only being visible above the water. Ferguson landed him ashore also. After some time all the four were able to walk home to Liverpool. A large crowd was on the jetty at the time, and great excitement prevailed. Ferguson deserves great credit for the courage and presence of mind he displayed, and it is believed that but for his efforts the lads would have been drowned.--_Liverpool Mercury_, 1872.

GREAT SWIMMING FEATS.

1. Fourteen miles down the river with the rapid ebb tide, from the middle buoys opposite the Tay ferries to far buoy at the mouth of the river Tay, in 5-1/2 hours (1859.)

2. Across the Frith of Clyde from Carrought, Ayrshire, to Ailsa Rock; 8 miles in 3 hours, through strong currents.

3. Across the Frith of Forth, from Buckhaven, in Fifeshire, to North Berwick; 18 miles in 7 hours (1862.)

4. Across the Bay of Leece, from the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse to Barrowhead; 10 miles in 4 hours.

5. Across the mouth of Loch Ryan, from Ronmach, in Ayrshire, to Kirkcolm Point in Gallowayshire; 4 miles in 2 hours.

6. From John O'Groat's House to Stoma; 8 miles in 2-1/2 hours, through dangerous currents (1873.)

7. Across the strong-currented river to Cardell Point, on the east of Cantyre, from Penrioch, on the coast of Arran; 11 miles in 3-1/2 hours (1874.)

8. Across the Frith of Clyde from West Kilbride, in Ayrshire, to Grombe, on the east coast of Arran, a distance of 12-1/2 miles in 4-1/2 hours (1874.)

9. Across the Frith of the Clyde from Port Glasgow to Cardross; 9 miles in 2-1/2 hours (1874.)

In all these instances he was followed by persons in boats.

We are informed that he has received presents for rescuing lives of the value of £300, besides twenty suits of clothes, and has also won many cups and other prizes in swimming and diving matches, and has also received several gold and silver medals.

Alexander Ferguson has on several occasions been present at the services for the adult deaf and dumb held at the Institution at Derby.

A DEAF MUTE'S GRATITUDE.

M. Felix Martin, an artist, deaf and dumb from his birth, has just executed a group representing the Abbé de L'Epèe teaching a deaf and dumb youth. He desires it to be placed in the Court of the Sourds et Muets Institution at Paris, to which he gives it in recognition of the debt of gratitude which he and his deaf mute brethren in misfortune owe to the Abbé for their moral and intellectual emancipation.

SIR WALTER SCOTT ON THE DEAF & DUMB.

Sir Walter Scott in his novel "Peveril of the Peak," uses the following language as to the deaf and dumb of his day:--"All knowledge is gained by communication, either with the dead through books, or more pleasingly through the conversation of the living. The deaf and dumb above are excluded from improvement, and surely their institution is not enviable that we should imitate them." Aristotle considered the deaf and dumb as incapable of acquiring knowledge; while St. Augustine insisted that they could not be instructed in the holy faith of the Catholic Church. Could the worthies come back to this world they would be slightly amazed at the practical refutation of their prophecies.

UNEDUCATED.

What would any of us be without education? By education, I mean not book-learning only, but the training in good habits which is given in well-ordered homes and schools.

Can any one read the following true story of a deaf and dumb man without feelings of the deepest pity for the poor fellow left untaught and untrained, to wander at will over the wild though beautiful country of his birth. Was he happy? Read the story, and judge for yourselves.

A few years since an artist visited Ireland to sketch the wild and rocky scenery for which parts of the coast are celebrated. One of the places he went to was so poor and uncivilized that there was no house better than a cabin to be found in the whole district. In a cabin, therefore, he took up his abode.

One day he was busily engaged sketching some high cliffs, at the bottom of which the wild waves dashed in fury. His seat was in a position as perilous as it was grand.

Presently he observed a creature approach, whose appearance at first puzzled him exceedingly. A nearer view showed him that it was a man clothed in a goatskin, but with the gait and manners of one wholly unused to civilized society.

The artist thought that he was about to encounter an escaped lunatic, and, although no coward, he confessed to a feeling somewhat akin to fear passing through him as he looked down at the depths below, and calculated how small a push might launch him into eternity. Then he remembered something about the advantage of being civil to madmen, and determined to try and ward off his impending fate by a show of civility. Beckoning the poor creature to him, he commenced to talk to him, to show him his drawings, and to offer him a share of his lunch. The man made no reply, but apparently assured by the artist's manner came up close, sat down beside him, and was soon deeply absorbed in devouring his portion of the lunch and in admiring the pictures. Still he never spoke, only uttered some unintelligible sounds.

The artist congratulated himself on the success of his experiments; but, nevertheless, he thought that on the whole "discretion was the better part of valour," and after a little he got up and returned to his lodging, the man following him at a distance.

On arriving at the cabin he related his adventure, when the people exclaimed, "Ah! it's only poor dummy!" and assured him the poor fellow was perfectly harmless, but he was wholly untaught, had received no training in a Deaf and Dumb Institution, and lived in this wild neglected manner. He was never asked to work, but roamed about at will, being fed by the neighbours, who would give bits to him as they would to a dog.

The artist was greatly touched by what he heard, and continued to be kind to the poor deaf and dumb man, who, on his part, attached himself to his patron in the most docile manner. Every morning he went to carry the artist's drawing materials, waited on him during the day, and only seemed too delighted if he could perform any little service for him. In return the artist could only reward him by kind looks and a share of his sandwiches. Once he offered him money, but it was received in such a manner that showed plainly he did not understand its value. And the neighbours said it was no use to give him money: _food_ was the only thing he seemed to care for.

At last the time came for the artist to return home. When it dawned upon the poor deaf mute he was about to lose his friend, he set up the most piteous wailing, and refused to be comforted, not even by the choicest morsels of food.

The artist, when relating it afterwards, said "that he was never more moved in his life than to see this unfeigned sorrow, and to feel himself unable (owing to the man not having been trained in a Deaf and Dumb Institution) to convey one single idea of suggestive consolation."

TRADES OF THE DEAF & DUMB IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

The following particulars showing the trades of the Deaf and Dumb are taken from the last Government Census of 1883:--

FEMALES:--

315 domestic servants, 12 teachers of the deaf and dumb, 74 charwomen, 158 washing and bathing service, 22 bookbinders, 21 cloth manufacturers, 146 manufacturers of silk and cotton goods, 62 making lace, carpets or trimmings, 580 milliners and dressmakers, 75 tailoresses, 28 straw hat and bonnet makers, 99 seamstresses, 12 glove makers, 19 baby shoe makers, 6 brush makers, 15 paper bag makers, 9 workers of porcelain, &c., &c.

MALES:--

24 artists (painters), 24 artists (engravers), 5 sculptors, 18 indoor domestic servants, 37 gardeners, 28 commercial clerks, 28 messengers, 47 engaged in harbour and dock service, 37 farming on own account, 3 farm bailiffs, 463 agricultural labourers, 15 nurserymen, 13 grooms, 2 veterinary surgeons, 2 gamekeepers, 40 bookbinders, 55 printers, 26 lithographic printers, 26 engine fitters and machinists, 11 watch and clock makers, 41 bricklayers, 137 carpenters and joiners, 61 masons, 99 painters and paperhangers, 75 cabinet makers, 21 French polishers, 22 wood carvers, 12 carvers and gilders, 12 coach-makers, 15 wheelwrights, 43 saddlers, 42 shipwrights and carpenters ashore, 5 innkeepers, 1 maltster, 5 brewers, 17 butchers, 19 bakers, 4 confectioners, 44 worsted stuff and cloth makers, 344 tailors, 507 shoemakers, 23 pattern makers, 10 hair dressers, 10 brush makers, 29 basket makers, 18 wood turners, 23 coopers, 71 coal miners, 22 brickmakers, 22 workers of porcelain, 29 glass makers, 11 jewellers, 55 blacksmiths, 65 iron and steel manufacturers, 14 tin plate workers, 360 general labourers, 11 engine drivers, stokers, &c., &c.

There are in Great Britain and Ireland about 20,000 deaf mutes.

A WILL MADE BY PANTOMIME.

The Supreme Court of Maine recently, after a six days trial, sustained the will of Horatio N. Foster, who was deaf and dumb, seventy-six years old, who could neither read, write, nor use the manual alphabet. The will, which was made by pantomime, devised 7000 dols. Only one similar case it is said was ever tried in the United States, and that was in North Carolina.

A BRAVE DEFENDER.

After reaching our encampment (at Jenin in Palestine) our dragoman told us that the people of the village were so quarrelsome and thievish that it was never safe to stop a night there without an extra guard, and he had engaged the brother of the sheik of the village to occupy this responsible post. This man was a great, tall, athletic-looking fellow, but a deaf mute. While we were taking our dinner he came into our tent, brandishing a revolver. He expressed to us by signs how safely we might lie down and rest, because he (brave fellow as he was) by the aid of that revolver would protect us from all harm. Directly after our waiter--Dominicho--came in and informed us that the guard had borrowed this revolver from our dragoman, Ali Solomon, but that he stood in mortal dread of the weapon he had flourished before us so heroically; that he refused to touch it till all the charges were withdrawn from it. With such a champion for our defender what cause could there be for fear?--_In Bible Lands._

A DEAF AND DUMB LAWYER.

Mr. Lowe, a gentleman who has been deaf and dumb from his infancy, will, we understand, be called to the Bar by the Society of the Middle Temple on Saturday next. He has had a good legal education, and is considered very clever as a conveyancer.--_Brighton Gazette_, Nov., 1829.

A DEAF AND DUMB MAN ON THE BIBLE.

The following remarks on the Bible were written by a deaf and dumb young man 26 years of age:--"The Bible is more valuable than all other books in the world. It is divided into two parts, the one called the Old Testament and the other the New Testament. The former was written by inspired men, directed by the Spirit of God; the latter contains the news of the Gospel, written by the witnessing disciples while Christ was on the earth. The Bible informs us of the guilt of sin, of the punishment of the wicked, of the Saviour who died to save men from dangerous destruction, of the way of forgiveness by Christ, of the condescension of Him, of the mercy and love of Him, and of the happiness which Christ has promised to His disciples.

The Bible teaches us how to do good to others, how to help them in distress, how to avoid temptation, how to love and obey God, how to pray to God to keep us out of dangerous things, and pray to God for our parents, for their children, and for our other friends.

The Bible is a very precious gift from heaven, and contains many precious truths, therefore we should reverence it.

UNEDUCATED DEAF MUTE'S IGNORANCE OF GOD.

Vauncey Thompson wrote after having been under instruction in the Deaf and Dumb School for six years:--"When I was at home, I knew one word, 'God,' but I did not know what it meant, nor how the world was made, and my mind was very hard and uncultivated, resembling the ground that is not ploughed, and I was perfectly ignorant. I thought then that my mind would open when I was a man: but I was mistaken, it would not have opened if I had not come to school to be taught; I would have been ignorant and have known nothing that is proper, and no religion would have come toward me. I must study my Bible till my life is departed, and I hope God will please never forsake me."

DO THE DEAF & DUMB THINK THEMSELVES UNHAPPY?

Two deaf and dumb scholars of the late Abbé Siccard were asked--Do the deaf and dumb think themselves unhappy? The following is the answer of Massien:--"No; because we seldom lament that which we never possessed, or know we can never be in possession of; but should the deaf and dumb become blind, they would think themselves very unhappy, because sight is the finest, the most useful, and the most agreeable of all the senses. Besides, we are amply indemnified for our misfortune by the signal favour of expressing by gestures and by writing our ideas, our thoughts, and our feelings, and likewise by being able to read books and manuscripts."

The following is the answer of Clerc, the other pupil, to the same question:--"He who never had anything has never lost anything, and he who never lost anything has nothing to regret; consequently, the deaf and dumb who never heard or spoke, have never lost either hearing or speech, therefore cannot lament either the one or the other. And he who has nothing to lament cannot be unhappy; consequently the deaf and dumb are not unhappy. Besides, it is a great consolation for them to be able to replace hearing by writing, and speech by signs."

A DEAF MUTE'S IDEAS BEFORE INSTRUCTION.

The following extract from the correspondence of a deaf and dumb pupil with his teacher is a fair specimen of the natural condition of the deaf and dumb before receiving instruction:--

"Before I came to school I thought that the stars were placed in the firmament like grates of fire, and that the moon at night was like a great furnace of fire; I did not know how the stars and moon and heavens were made; but I supposed that the people, like us above the firmament, kindled the moon and stars; and I did not know whether the heavens was made by art or not. I thought the world little and round like a table, and was always intending to go to the end of it."

OBSERVATIONS OF DEAF & DUMB CHILDREN.

A gentleman called to see some little deaf and dumb girls who had been present at a large meeting in aid of the Institution on the previous day, when the gentleman asked, "What did you think of the great meeting yesterday?" "I thought," replied a little girl of ten summers, "people would give great money for deaf and dumb school." To another little girl the question put was, "Did you observe any difference in the behaviour of the people present at the meeting?" "I saw some smile, and I believe some were fretting." "What do you think was the reason that some fretted?" "I thought they fretted about the deaf and dumb and about God."

A DEAF & DUMB BOY'S REMARKABLE DREAM.

William Brennen, aged about fourteen and a-half years, having been awakened from sleep, his first words were that he had been dreaming; and when he got into the school-room he commenced writing upon his slate as follows, assuring his teachers that he described exactly as he thought he saw and heard in his dream, and from his character for truth there was no doubt he did so:

I was dreaming about God; that he sent Jesus Christ, who came into the world from heaven. He was present with twelve men; they saw Him, and were frightened. He said, "Will you love God, and why?" They said, "He is the creator of all things; He saved us from our sin; He was walking on the water; He made them to live on the water and on the land. He spoke unto them, whose names are Disciples. I saw them by dreaming.

He said unto me, "Will you love God, and why?" I said unto Him, "Because He made me in a happy state and holy; he brought me to heaven from this world." His face was luminous and beautiful; he had a long beard, his hair was short and shining--I could not look at him. He wrote judgments of mankind--some were very good. When they died he took some to heaven, and some were sent to hell. His robe was very bright, like a cloud round the sun.

I could hear more than all the people in the world. I was more obedient to God. There was not the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars. I saw Addington--(one of his friends who had died lately)--who was in heaven. He shook hands with me. He was more tall than you.

I saw Adam and Eve: God made him by His word. He made him of the dust of the earth. He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God said, "Thy name is Adam." He took a rib of the man whilst he slept; he made woman by taking the rib from a man. Her name was Eve. He made them in a happy state and holy. He made a garden of Eden. He sent them to live in the garden. God said, "Thou shalt not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge."

I saw God making the world and all things. First the world, firmament, sun, moon, stars, land and water. God made the water with His breath, He gave it into the world. He made the sun, moon, stars very quickly with his word. He made the sun of part of the earth, from the world, and the moon of a little part from the sun, and the stars of a very little part from the moon. He did not make anything with His hands, but by His word.