DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION AT WARATAH, N.S.W.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 278, 24 November 1888, Page 5

DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION AT WARATAH, N.S.W.

There is no class of human beings probably more helpless or more deserving of our sympathy and practical help than the deaf and dumb. Incapable by the ordinary natural means of either hearing or speaking, they would be cut off altogether from social intercourse by speech, and the delight of communicating their thoughts, of making known their wants, or of ministering in any great measure to the wants of others, or of understanding expressed thought, had it not be_n that through the efforts of humane and gifted men and women means have been obtained—a system (indeed, we might say systems) established by efforts oft repeat.fjl which have been developed into a scien,ee by which the twin misfortunes of deafness arid dumbness are considerably lessened. Not only has this been accomplished by the establishment and improvement of a medium for the communication of thought to the deaf and duma by signs, but these poor creatures, are enabled to understand others, and ta interchange thought with them, and ere also placed in many cases in the pofiSession of the blessing of a superior educatiou and instruction in instrumental music and the fine arts, and obtain a perfect knowledge of certain professions and indrustrial trades i and callings. This is done when they are brought under the excellent influences and highly-developed talents of a specially trained and thoroughly sympathetic staff of teachers, such as usually find a place in every well-governed deaf and dumb institution. In this connection we wish to refer to the truly noble work done by the order of Dominican Nuns at Waratah, Maitland, New South Wales, which is the only Catholic Institution of this kind in all Australasia. These good ladies purchased a central and healthy site at that place some years ago, and on the 3rd of October, 1866, His Eminence, Cardinal Moran, laid the foundation stone of the splending building which is now approaching completion. The nuns have expended for the purchase of the site £1,723, atidforthebuilding£B,ooo. While the religious teaching in the institution is Catholic, yet children of other religious persuasions are taken as day scholars or boarders, and receive a seoular educatioa without any interference with their religion. The nuns of the Dominican Order have an excellent name as teachers, and the nuns at Waratah aro all highly educated ladies, who have beeo specially

i trained in the first schools in Europe for ; this work, and hare become thorough ex- ! perts in all tile systems of teaching the deaf and dumb, and are thoroughly in Bym- ! pathetic aocord with the work. Under these circumstances, the institution has a good claim upon Catholics here, and the charitably disposed generally will help thoso good ladies in the efforts they are making to clear off the debt which will hang heavily upon the institution unless their friends come forward. They propose holding a bazaar and lottery in December next, at Waratah, and solicit the help of their coreligionists in the disposal or purchase of tickets for the latter. There will be 229 prizes, ranging in value from £3 up to £50. The tobal value of these prizes will be £400. As this institution is in many respects a national one (although receiving no Governmental support), we think its object is most praiseworthy; and this effort of the nuns to dear off the debt is deserving of assistance. Tickets for the lottery can be obtained from Mr John M. Grace, of this city, for Is each. Mr Grace has been specially requested to help tho nuns in this effort by letter received from Sister Mary Bertrand, the prioress of the institution, aad has con amore agreed to do so in the intereata of the charity.