THE AMERICAN FINGER ALPHABET.

The one-hand alphabet is used exclusively in American schools for the deaf, and is the only one understood by the great majority of deaf mutes in this country. This alphabet can be learned in an hour. It has been learned by close application in ten minutes. It is recommended that the arm should be held in an easy position near the body with the fore-arm as indicated in the plates. It is not necessary to move the arm, but a short leverage is conducible to ease and is permissible, provided the hand delivers the letters steadily within an imaginary ring of, say, ten inches in diameter. Each letter should be mastered before leaving it. Speed will come with use; but should not be attempted or permitted until the forms of the letters and the appropriate positions of the hand are thoroughly familiar.

Certain letters, as c, d, i, j, k, l, în, n, o, q, u, v, and z, resemble written or printed forms. J is simply traced in the air with the little finger, and z in like manner with the index finger. H, u, and n differ only in the position of the hand, and t is formed as in "taking off baby's nose." These ten words contain all the letters: adz, fan, map, cow, box, jar, sky, hat, quill, glove. Practice upon each of these for five minutes.

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