DEAFNESS.
[To TIE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—There isn't any hope for us unless the electric invention from America proves successful. Then we should have to decide whether it is worth seven guineas and a nice little income in " refills" to hear Spifkins'a opinion whether it is going to rain. It is not the discovery that, like Swinburne. we had mistaken acquaintancea for friends that tells. We cannot hear a word of the general conversation in oar own families. What is said to its is not the spontaneous noiseless flow of a river, but an occa- sional sudden and violent outbreak like a milestone here and there plumped down on a dusty road. A little boy of seven says: " What nonsense you little ones do talk." Everybody laughs, and we haven't heard a word. We sit like the skeleton of the Egyptian dinner party at our own table. To those of us who are not by any means flapping their wings for their last long flight it must be very painful to see before them years of this spiritual Chilton. But it can't be helped. To our wives and daughters talking to deaf people is extremely hard and exhausting work. Experto erode. Many men and very many women are not built to raise voice or speak distinctly. Vona tout.—I am, Sir, Lc..
SEVENTY-SEVEN.
P.S.—Very much may be done for any one who is deaf by looking him straight in the face, raising the chin slightly, and speaking a little slowly. If you turn your back on him (the family method) and-address your conversation to the heels of your boots it is no wonder that he doesn't hear.
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