Gaillard in Deaf America: A Portrait of the Deaf Community 1917

WASHINGTON, D.C. What the Deaf Are Capable Of

137 H WASHINGTON, D.C. What the Deaf Are Capable Of The Reception When the train brought the French delegation to the capital of the United States on the evening of Monday, July 23, a group of deaf gentlemen were waiting at the station. Among them were Messrs. Hannan, Pfunder, Rev. Merril, Stewart, and others. Our reception was all the more enthusiastic since Mr. Hannan had lived for some time in Paris, while completing his training as a sculptor and he had conveyed to his companions his eagerness to welcome representatives from France. But first we hurried to a small restaurant where we were able to get some refreshments. As night fell, along wide streets lined with new one-story homes we made our way to the celebrated spot where every deaf person must go on his arrival in Washington, to Gallaudet College , the national college for the deaf, of which we shall have a great deal more to say in the following. It has the appearance of a large park. On our arrival, a private detective came up out of the dark and, recognizing us as deaf, 138 WASHINGTON, D.C. then disappeared among the trees. Public places everywhere are now being so guarded, we were told, because of the war. With their elegant and unencumbered architecture, the college buildings had retained the appearance that I had known twenty-five years earlier. Some were however surrounded by scaffolding . But the statue of Gallaudet seemed to me to have been moved. Instead of facing away from the front of the main building , it is now opposite on a small plot of dry grass that burned with thousands of unexpected, motionless spots of fire. Our hosts explained to us that these were fireflies. This was quite a new spectacle for us. Set off against the dull light from the glowering sky this illumination at ground level had a very charming effect. We thought of the pleasant hours that the students of the college must spend in this captivating setting, provided they had some feeling for the beauties of nature. Two deaf professors were there to greet us, Messrs. Hotchkiss and Drake, and they informed us that the principal of the college , Mr. Percival Hall, would receive us the next evening when we would be his guests. We drew up our schedule for the following day, and then were accompanied to the streetcar. Vaudeville and President Wilson But we scarcely had the means to remain longer with our Washington friends, among whom I must mention the charming ladies whose smiles and wit were reason enough to wish to stay. But President Hall urged us on. Out in the night an impressive automobile was waiting for us and we got in without having much of an idea of just where he was taking us. But Graff made a guess and was soon proven right. The car stopped in front of a building festooned with lights. It was a vaudeville theater. President Hall ushered us to seats in the first row of the balcony. On the stage was a chorus line of slim and pretty young women. Their dancing was varied and captivating, with high kicks and WHAT THE DEAF ARE CAPABLE OF 139 bold turns. But President Hall pointed out someone sitting in the same row as we were, four or five persons to our right. It was President Wilson! We were immensely grateful to President Hall for having arranged this wonderful surprise. It was the chance of a lifetime and a source of joy to a Frenchman interested in philosophical reflection to have the opportunity to study one of the great figures of our times, the master of the future that would see the triumph of human liberty and justice, and the elimination of the wars to which a contagious madness had inspired humankind. There he was, simple and modest, along with Mrs. Wilson, a charming and cultivated woman. He was in the company of a friend, and naturally had other people both behind and below him. Thus he seemed the true representative of the people, disdaining the costly and burlesque grandeur of the rulers and heads of state of Europe and Asia. He looked on, amused by the graceful antics of the dancing girls. Thus had President Wilson shed his weighty preoccupations and showed himself to be very human, dispelling the impression of narrow Puritanism that we had of...