TRANSCRIPT

Cover page:

His worship the mayor G. Swinburne, Esq. M.L.A requests the pleasure of the Company of yourself and friend on the evening of Monday, October 20, 1902 at the town hall Hawthorne to meet Mr. Ernest, J.D. Abraham, F.I.M.D., expert on matters appertaining to the Deaf and Dumb, from England, and company of Deaf Mutes who will give their unique entertainment which received so enthusiastic a reception in the Melbourne Town Hall recently.

Doors open at seven o’clock for program holders only

7.45 for general public

for program see inside

Carriages at 10 o’clock, entertainment, eight o’clock. (Children not admitted).

Interior 1:

The above photograph illustrates the lines

“while I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyelids close in death.”

and is one of a series of five poses rendered in living statuary representing the hymn “Rock of Ages”

Interior 2:

Extracts from the “Spectator.”

“Next came lightning sketches by Mr. I. A. Tenny, a left handed Dead Mute, who drew with marvelous rapidity charcoal pictures.”

“A very interesting item was the sign representation of Longfellow’s Village Blacksmith by Mr. J. E. Muir. The spectators could almost hear the words as they watched the signs.”

“Another Deaf Mute, Mr. Leslie Downes was making ornamental objects out of sheets of thin paper, using no instrument but the fingers. He folded the sheets, pinched little bits out of them here and there, and the result was wonderful.”

“Then came the gem of the evening, ‘Rock of Ages in Statuary and Song’, the words of the hymn softly sung by the Cornish Choir to an exquistively delicate organ accompaniment by Mr. E. J. Watkin. The Grouping of Living Statuary with the limelight thrown upon them from either side, motionless as marble figures but with the life and love and adoration in their eyes and on their faces, formed the most beautiful objects we have ever beheld. The Audience looked and listened in breathless silence, and many eyes were glistening with tears.”

“Another item fairly took the Audience by storm. It was an example of Humor in the Language of Gesture by Mr. W. A. Paterson, a Deaf Mute. He personified a lady making ready to take her walks abroad. She combed her imaginary hair, twisted it, coiled it up on the top of her head, fastened it with numerous hairpins, put on her jacket, stabbed her hat through and through with long hair pins, drew down her veil and twisted it under her chin to keep it in its place. All was in dumb show; but it was understood perfectly, even by the inferior set, and the ladies showed their appreciation by continuous laughter and applause.”

Interior 3:

Programme

Part. I

Introductory Remarks … His Worship the Mayor.

Selection … Choir.

Recital “The Village Blacksmith” In The Language of Gesture … Mr. J. E. Muir.

Rapid Sketching Performance … Mr. I. A. Tenney.

“Rock of Ages” in Statuary & Song … Choir and Company of Ladies.

the “Deaf and Dumb and the Language of Gesture” … Mr. Ernest J. D. Abraham,

Collection in Aid of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Institute Fund.

Entertaining Exhibition of Paper Manipulation … Mr. L. Downes.

Interior 4:

Part II

Selection … Choir.

Living Statuary — Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, etc., etc. … Miss Lindsey, Miss Le’Hurey, Miss Wheeler, Miss Secombe, Misses Rayson.

Humorous Recital in the Language of Gesture … Mr. W A. Paterson (Deaf Mute Humorist).

The Story of the Deaf & Dumb

Illustrated by a Valuable Collection of Views

This Meeting and Entertainment is being held for the purpose of drawing public attention to the grand, and very necessary, work which is being done among the ADULT Deaf and Dumb of this State, and in the hope of securing public sympathy and support, the claims to which are sufficiently apparent from the fact that there are over 500 deaf and dumb persons in Victoria.

Interior 5:

“When I soar through worlds unknown , see Thee on Thy judgement throne.”

Interior 6:

The proposed Institute for the Adult Deaf and Dumb of Victoria.

There are institutes for ADULT Deaf Mutes in Adelaide and Sydney, also all the cities and large towns of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They cannot avail themselves with any profit of the Educational, Social, and Religious provisions intended for hearing people, but these have to be conducted in their own language.

The object is to raise sufficient money to build and equip a permanent Institute for the ADULT Deaf and Dumb, and an adequate income for its maintenance.

A piece of land in Flinders Street, Melbourne, has already been procured and paid for at a cost of £1,600 and the treasurer has £2,000 in hand towards the building.

The new Institute which is so sorely needed will be to the Deaf and Dumb what the Church, Sunday School, Lecture Hall, Library, Technical School, Social Club, Sick Club, Employment Agency and Relief Office are to hearing persons. Their affliction draws them together more closely than others, and they share more intimately their joys and sorrows.

Bereft as they are of two of our most cherished senses, hearing and speech, we are confident the claims of the Deaf and Dumb will find a place in all our hearts.

President: the Hon. Sir Frederick Sargood, K.C.M.G.

Hon. Treasurer: E. Newbigin, Esq, “Stella” Punt Road, Prahran

Hon. Secretary: H. Sumner Martin, Esq., B.A., L.L.B.,

Equitable Building, Collins Street, Melbourne.

Authorized Collector: S. Moss.

Back page:

Important notice
Owing to the vast concourse of people who were unable to obtain admission to the Melbourne Town Hall, in March last, and the certainty of a repetition of the huge crush if the admission again be made general, it has been decided, with the object of avoiding further disappointment, to invite through His Worship the Mayor a limited number of guests by Programme. Should you therefore be unable to attend, please hand this programme to a friend who is able to be present.

Deaf Lecture-Entertainment Committee
F. J. Rose
M. Miller
J. E. Muir
F. Frewin
E. Burke
W. A. Patterson
E. R. W. Smith

For Programme, see inside

Peacock bros., Printers. Collins St., Melbourne.