l and the parents of those pupils who have been taught by
this method is given, showing the utmost satisfaction at the progress
made and results attained.

Deaf mutes are divided into two classes--viz., entire mutes and
semi-mutes. The first comprises those who either have been born deaf
or have become so at so early an age as to have retained no knowledge
of articulate speech. The second class embraces those who have lost
their hearing after attaining such an age as still to be able to talk.
Speech is more easily and perfectly learned if the pupil has learned
to read before the loss of hearing. A knowledge of the sounds and
powers of the letters enables him to acquire the pronunciation of new
words with much greater facility than would be otherwise possible,
giving him a foundation on which to build his acquisition of spoken
language. To this last class, semi-mutes, articulation is invaluable,
enabling them to pursue their education with less difficulty, and
also to retain their power of communication with the outside world. In
regard to entire mutes, the utility of the accomplishment is seriously
questioned by some experienced educators. The fact must be admitted
that, while a much larger number of entire mutes can be taught to
converse intelligently and agreeably than would be imagined by those
unacquainted with the results obtained, the great mass of the deaf and
dumb must still be instructed wholly by means of written language. In
most instances, to ensure success, instruction should be begun at a
very much earlier age than it is possible to receive them into school,
and constantly practiced by all who hold communication with the pupil,
doing away entirely with the habit of using signs. It also requires
pupils of bright, quick mind, keen perceptive faculties, and an amount
of intelligence and perseverance on the part of the parents not found
in the average parent of deaf mutes; for it is well known that a
very large proportion of deaf mutes come from the poorer and more
illiterate classes. This is mainly attributable to the fact that by
far the larger number lose their hearing in infancy or early childhood
through disease--scarlet fever, measles and diphtheria being probably
the most frequent causes of deafness. Among those able to give
skillful nursing and to obtain good medical aid the number of cases
resulting in deafness is reduced to a minimum. Accidents, too, causing
deafness, occur more frequently among thos