Page:American Pocket Library of Useful Knowledge.djvu/49

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ALPHABET FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.
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tion to a magistrate; it cautions a witness, requires an impartial verdict of a jury, and furnishes a judge with his sentence; it sets the husband as lord of the household, and the wife as mistress of the table; tells him how to rule and her how to manage. It entails honour to parents, and enjoins obedience upon children; it points out a faithful and eternal guardian, to the departing husband and father, tells him with whom to leave his fatherless children, and in whom his widow is to trust, and promises a father to the former, and husband to the latter. It defends the right of all, and reveals vengeance to the defrauder, over-reacher, and oppressor. It is the first book and the oldest book in the world. It contains the choicest matter, gives the best instruction, and affords the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that ever were revealed. It contains the best laws and profoundest mysteries that ever were penned. It brings the best tidings, and affords the best of comforts to the inquiring and disconsolate. It exhibits life and immorally, and shows the way to everlasting glory.


THE PAST TO THE FUTURE.

The following sentiment from an address delivered at the second centennial celebration of the settlement of Boston, is significant and impressive:–"The great comprehensive truths, written in letters of living light on every page of our history,–the language addressed by every past age of New England to all future ages, is this–Human happiness has no perfect security but freedom; freedom none but virtue; virtue none but knowledge; and neither freedom, virtue, nor knowledge, has any vigour, or immortal hope, except in the principles of the Christian faith, and in the sanctions of the Christian religion."



DACTYLOLOGY, (Finger Talking,)
OR
ALPHABET FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.


This Alphabet explains itself. Half an hour is sufficient to acquire a knowledge of it, and short practice will give ease and rapidity. It may be made a means of amusement, and occasionally of real service; while to none can it be without interest. The first attempt at instructing the Deaf and Dumb was made by a Spanish monk, who died in 1584. More has been done for them in the United States than in any other country.

Note.–J and Z are figured in the air; J with the little finger, and Z with the fore finger. Significant gestures often express whole sentences, and by means of the Manual Alphabet all the words and phrases of conversation can be expressed. The words should be separated, either by a slight pause, or a horizontal motion of the hand from right to left, or a snap of the fingers.