DEAF MUTES' DEBATE

Shannon News, 3 May 1927, Page 1

DEAF MUTES' DEBATE

! «___ WORDS FJLY FROM FINGERS. EERIE HUSH THROUGHOUT. " Having been informed of an important international sporting congress convened at a fashionable Brus r sels restaurant," saysj a writer in the " New York Herald." " I presented myself, only to be puzzled by the rapping for 15 .minutes with no response. At last 1 decided to enter at the risk of ejection and observe discreetly what this most secretive assemblywas doing." "Within there was all the stir and animation of any large meeting," he continues, "but astonishingly unlike any convention —not a sound..A chairman was presiding, it was true, but as I watched his lips uttered no word. Likewise there were no monotone side conversations, no divided interest. All eyes were fastened on the chairman, whose fingers flitted feverishly in a kinematic series of gestures." "Reason enough that I had rapped unheeded ! Here was a sporting congress indeed, but the world's first international athletic conference without words —deaf and dumb sport enthusiasts, representatives of ' silent sport clubs' in nine European countries, met to establish an international committee of 'silent sports.' They in- ! eluded delegates from England, Germany, Italy, France, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Belgium." Lightning-like Gestures. Emilio Pacenza, the Italian delegate, was particularly, vigorous in; finger debate, beginning his address, if such it may be called, by making the Fascist salute to the assembly. They were debating over the admission of the Austrian deaf and dumb athletes, and Paeenza's fingers twisted like lightning describing sharp angles, loops, and geometrical designs.

The Italian's eyes flashed, every movement of his body showing his intense emotion. Then, as controversy 'became more" impassioriedi other delegates rose to their feet, desperately Signalling for the floor, flinging floods of postured words upon the air in fierce, cop(;!iet of Jdeas. A veritable pitched battle and still not a sound.

But noise finally broke the silence. The chairman, a true Frenchman, highly nerved, could not stand the bedlam any longer. With clenched fists he pounded the table to restore order and give one man the floor. Then 'the' debate went on, at times measured, at other times swept with' passion, yet always, in an uncanny hush like goblins jn a pantomime.

(" It seemed." . continues the writer. " that no- normal man could be a spectator of their proceedings without pondering upon how wasteful we are wilh words, and how far a few words'can go. Although equally excitable, the 'silent athletes' might have furn'shed a good lesson to politicians —at'least'., by making a few phrase? go a long way. . French Woman's Interest.

" Had it not been for a fortunate meeting I should have been quite at sea. But I chanced- to meet Mile Lariviero. who was born of deaf and dumb parents yet speaks not only hei native French, but also English, German, and Dutch with, great facility Like her six brothers she early learned the' deaf and dumb language, and so translated to me much of the hottest debate and most interesting incidents."

Because of her unusual education Mile. LarVcre may soon take an active in a much-discussed prob-, lem of the deaf and dumb, namely, as to which method of educating them is most At present' the 'best methods are said to be the French and 'Be!g"an. With these systems a French mute child learns Jo articulate 250 phrnses fit the age of ten, while with the Belgian method the child masters 537 phrases. This difference of instruction nevertheless made it especially striking to see how —in spite of such a handicap —the delegates'transferred their ideas with such speed and deftness. As a result of this congress it is expected there will be a great increase in athletic meetings between deaf and dumb athletes at the various European nations, and, at some later date, the possibility of a unification of education methods for those of the silent kindred.