Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1895 — SUCCESSFUL DEAF MUTES. [ARTICLE]

SUCCESSFUL DEAF MUTES.

Some of the Silent People Smart Enough Oecnpy ProminentPositions. Chicago Tribune. Mr. Nixes, whose remarabie skill in deciphering badly directed letters at the Post-Office was referred to in the Tribune the other day, is one of & cblony of something like a thousand deaf mutes Tin Chicago, many of whom occupy important positions. One of them is a lawyer of high standing, another is a chemist and assayer of tire National Smelting and Refining Company, another is head bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery house, another is president of a land association. Besides these the “silent seople” in Chicago are .scattered among the trades, including shoemaking, cabinet work, woodcarving, baking and type-setting. There are quite a number of compositors, the majority of whom work on the weekly trade papers. Until the adoption of the typesetting machines the v-deaf mutes were well represented among the morning papers, but now theee is only one setting type on a morning paper and none on any of the evening papers. Heretofore a large number of the pupils at the deaf and dumb institutions have learned the printing trade, but since typesetting machines have come into such general use The authorities have discouragee entrance into this trade as much as possible, although it is one which presents no obtacles to the deaf mute, as he is only required to exercise the faculty of seeing in order to do his work properly. ? The Chicago mutes have an organization known as the “Pas-a-Pas Club,” which has its rooms in the building on the southeast corner of Clark and Randolph streets, occupying the entiret fifth floor. The first steps towards the formation of this organization were taken t welve years ago at a picnic of deaf mutes in Jackson Park. ThS idea proved popular, and the club has flourished ever since. Social and literary meetings are held regularly in the in the winter time and picnics in the summer. Balls are given frequently. The most brilliant function of this character was that which took place at the Grand Pacific Hotel three years ago, whero 400 people were in attendance.