J. Schuyler Long

“ There are three such schools in England and I am told that the deaf are even taught to articulate. There is also a school in Paris founded by the Abbe de l'Epee who was the first, I believe, to attempt the education of the deaf. He started a school, and since his death it has been under the Abbe Sicard.
Gal.—My observations have convinced me that the deaf possess normal minds and it is only because of their deafness that they have failed to develop. When we know how to reach them their minds will become awakened.
Cogs.—Yes, that has been amply demonstrated by Gallaudet's success with Alice. ”

“ In spite of the fact that it has been discarded from the school room and efforts made to relegate it to the past, the Sign Language is very much a live language. It is impossible for those who do not understand it to comprehend its possibilities with the deaf, its powerful influence on the moral and social happiness of those deprived of hearing, and its wonderful power of carrying thought to intellects which would otherwise be in perpetual darkness. ”

“ Invent.—With the "G" forefinger pointing upward, place the end against the middle of the forehead just above the nose so the finger almost rests on the length of the nose; push the finger upward till the length of it has crossed the forehead.
Learn.—Place the open palm of the left hand as if it were a book or printed page in front of self; with the other hand grasp imaginary knowledge from it with the fingers closing against the thumb and raise it to the forehead. ”

“ It will be best to wait a few months until the pupils have sufficiently advanced.
Woolbridge—The work here is indeed interesting. You have undertaken a very important work which marks the beginning of a great future for all those who are deaf.
Gal.—I realize that we are engaged in work of great moment. But it will be no easy task to make people believe. We must overcome the prejudice of ages, but we will eventually succeed in showing that the deaf are capable of being taught and of becoming useful citizens instead of a burden to the state as formerly. ”

“ Braidwood's consent.
Gallaudet—May I see Mr. Braidwood?
Wat.—Be seated; I will call him. (Exit Watson)
(Enter Watson and Braidwood. Watson introduces Gallaudet.)
Braidwood—Dr. Watson tells me you wish to secure information about our methods of teaching the deaf. I fear we can be of no assistance to you.
Gal.—Yes; I come on a mission to learn methods, being sent by a committee of gentlemen in America interested in establishing a school for the deaf there.
Braidwood.—But we can not divulge our metrods. They are our source of income and wealth to us and we can not give them away. ”

“ In colloquial use the fingers need not be so closely held nor so firmly flexed as represented in the cuts; but sprawling should be avoided. Each letter should be mastered before leaving it.
Certain letters, as c, d, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, q, u, v, w, and z, resemble written or printed forms. J is simply traced in the air with the little finger and z is in like manner traced with the index finger. H, u, and n differ only in the position of the hand and t is formed as in "taking off baby's nose." ”

“ Strong—I think we are all agreed that a school ought to be started and the only way to do it is to send some one to Europe to find out what methods are employed. But whom can we send?
Cogs.—Why not young Gallaudet here? I have already talked with him about the matter. He has been studying for the ministry but has become very much interested in the deaf and the possibility of their education. We might persuade him to take up this work, for it offers great opportunity to serve the cause of humanity and the work of God. What say you, Gallaudet? ”

“ Consequently this very useful and valuable language of pantomime has not been acquired by the rising generation in that purity and perfection attained by the deaf and their instructors during the early decades of its use in this country. It is believed, therefore, that the adult deaf on leaving school will find the manual of assistance in acquiring a more certain and accurate command of their natural language. ”

“ Alice runs to him and he puts his arm around her, as they approach Gallaudet who turns to meet the doctor.
Gallaudet—Good afternoon, Doctor; I have been much interested in your daughter Alice. I have noticed her several times from our house next door and often wondered whether she could not be sent to school.
Cogswell—God knows I would be glad to send her to school and have her educated if I could. She is very dear to me and I hate to think of her going thru life without an education. (Children discontinue play and run out; Alice follows.) ”

“ Place the end of the forefinger on the end of the nose; bring it away partly to one side and throw down toward the ground.
Note: This is a rather objectionable slang sign but much used to designate lack of interest in, announcement that one will have nothing to do with, and to say that one does not want anything to do with.
Ambitious (anxious to put oneself forward) .—Place the back of the thumb of "A" hand against breast, and with a more or less strong motion bring the hand up and outward, giving the body a sympathetic motion to indicate pushing oneself forward. ”

“ Build.—Build up the hands by placing the palm of one on back of other, like laying bricks, repeating the motion with each hand alternately several times, raising them during the action.
Artist.—Sign for "draw;" using the hand as a rest and the little finger as a brush, make motion of drawing, then add "-er." Or,
(2) Using both little fingers as brushes, holding them opposite, make motion (in the air) of drawing, adding "-er." ”

“ Defend, Protect.—Hold the "S" hands out in front so the left shall be near the body with the thumb inside and the elbow elevated to the same level as the hand, the right in similar position but just beyond it on the outside; as soon as the hands are brought into position they are given a slight resisting motion outward. Sometimes the sign is completed by changing the right hand to open, and with palm out both hands, the right on outside, moved from left to right as if warding off danger. ”

“ For there are usually some essential movements of the hands or fingers in each sign and some that are not essential, and a one-armed man making the necessary part of the signs with one hand instead of two against his body or a near-by object is readily understood. ”

“ The idea is the fingers represent legs keeping time together.
Hurry.—Push "H" hand rapidly forward, giving the "H" an up-and-down motion all the time.
Fast, Quick, Indicating rapidity of motion.—Place the thumb and forefinger as if ready to shoot off a marble; hold up the left "B" hand pointing upward; making motion of shooting a marble and pass the hand while doing so quickly against and across the palm of the other; sometimes merely the marble-shooting motion is made in the air. ”

“ The work is not presented with the idea that persons unfamiliar with the deaf or their language can take it up and therefrom master the art of communicating in the language of pantomine and understand its peculiarities. But it is believed that those who have had some experience with the deaf and have opportunities to see the signs made will find it easy to follow the instructions given. ”

“ The first finger alphabet adopted in teaching spoken and written language to the deaf was the Spanish one-hand alphabet which contain certain forms found in the Florentine plates of 1579. The idea of using it in this connection originated with a pious and learned monk, Pedro Ponce de Leon. ”

“ While in spiritual matters, signs enable the minister to reach thousands where any other method of communication would reach the few. Spiritual truths told and explained in the language of signs reach the understanding and the conscience of the deaf child as no other means can possibly do. ”

“ Whether they favor one or another of the methods of educating the deaf, they recognize the very great value of signs in social intercourse among the deaf, and its necessity in the pulpit and on the platform.
By means of the sign language the deaf child is enabled to comprehend subjects which his limited vocabulary would never enable him to do while dependent upon speech and reading alone. With the aid of an interpreter the deaf may enjoy lectures, sermons, plays, and all else while one of an audience, save, alone, music. ”

“ Thus the signs for "now," "past," and "will" are used with all verb signs to indicate time, and "finished" is used to designate the complete tenses. "One" and "many" are added or prefixed to mark the singular and plural, while "male" and "female" indicate "sex." Others of this class are the progressive sign and the auxiliary verbs.
In connection with its incompleteness and imperfection when compared with written or spoken language, it should be remembered that the sign language was originally designed as a means of educating young deaf children and the vocabulary was therefore limited. ”

“ An improved form of this alphabet was learned by Gallaudet while in France and with a few slight changes was adopted by him when he opened the first permanent school for the deaf in America at Hartford.
In making the letters it is recommended that the arm be held in an easy position near the body with the forearm as indicated in the plates. It is not necessary to move the arm, but a short leverage is conducive to ease and permissible, provided the hand delivers the letters within an imaginary ring, of, say, ten inches in diameter. ”

“ Bury.—Make motion of digging, one hand as a spade; then bring the top edges of the hands together, with them forming the mound on a grave.
Destroy.—Hold out both "5" hands, one above the other in front, palms facing; bring the hands together, closing them as if grasping something, so when they come together they meet closed fingers against fingers; rub the top hand across the lower as if grinding or mashing whatever was between to atoms, bring hand back across and finally open both hands directly. ”

“ In describing the position assumed to make the sign it is given as it would be in making the sign by itself. When a number of signs are made in succession, as in a continued narrative, they fall into the next position from the last without any stop, the movement of the arms and hands being practically continuous. The sign is made, usually in front of the body in an easy position, the hands, unless otherwise specified, being held on a line with the elbows or a little above. ”

“ To catch a ball, represent motion of catching.
Carry, Bear from one place to another.—Reach open hands, palms up, back beyond the right side, the right hand farther out than the left; imagine something having been put in the hands and carry it to the front of the body and beyond to the left side. ”

“ Father.—With fingers closed and thumb extended, place thumb at the right side of the forehead and at right angles to it; with a slightly twisting motion, bring hand away, opening fingers and turning palm upward; at the same time bring the left hand up similarly and place parallel to the right as if lifting up a babe. ”

“ Pain.—Place hands in front of you with only forefingers extended and pointing toward each other several inches apart, then throw them at each other without touching the ends together; pain in any part of the body in indicated by placing the hands over that part of the body and making the motion; for instance, in headache the fingers are thrown at each other across the forehead. ”

“ Wait.—Extend the left arm out a little away from the side, palm up; bring the right hand in the same position "tandem"-wise, so the arm rests across the body; work the fingers as in playing a piano or a stringed instrument, only have the fingers pointing up. ”

“ Examination is sometimes expressed by making sign with both hands and all the fingers extended, and hands thrown forward as if "charging."
Call, Attract the attention of.—Hold open left hand out in front, palm down and back slightly toward self; strike the back with the open right hand and then beckon toward self. ”

“ Disobey (defiance to authority) .—With elbow at side bend up the arm with the fist on a level with the shoulder; bring the elbow out and give a twist to the fist, slightly turning the head to indicate defiance. ”

“ Daughter.—Sign for "female;" then same as in "son."
Grandfather.—Sign for "father;" then with a slight twisting motion, raise both hands the second time and a little higher as if to represent a generation up. ”

“ Cross.—Place the hand, pointing upward before the face, palm to it; bend the fingers toward face like the talons of an eagle, repeating motion several times, and add meaning by expression of the face. IV, 57.
Angry.—With the fingers bent, talon-like, throw hand against the waist, partly at one side; give a tearing, upward motion against the body. Sometimes both hands are used. ”

“ Enemy.—Draw the hands up, the right close to the body, forefinger extended and pointing away from you, and the other hand with forefinger in similar position but opposite and pointing toward the right finger ”