EPAULET, epl-let, an ornamental badge consisting of a fringe hanging over the shoul der, worn in the English army up to 1855, and still worn in the English navy by all ranks above lieutenant. Epaulets were not partially discarded by the United States army until 1872, when none but general officers continued to wear them. In the United States navy the epaulet is worn by all officers above the rank of ensign. The French private soldiers wear epau lets of worsted.
EPEE, I-p3', Charles Michel, Abbe de 1', French instructor of the deaf and dumb: b. Ver sailles, France, 25 Nov. 1712; d. Paris, 23 Dec. 1789. Taking orders, he became a preacher and canon at Troyes, but later lived in retirement in Paris. In 1765 he first began to occupy him self with the education of two deaf and dumb sisters; and, as he asserted, without any previ ous knowledge of Pereira's efforts in the cause, invented a language of signs, by which persons thus afflicted might be enabled to hold inter course with their fellow-creatures. He deter
mined to devote his life to the subject. At his own expense he founded an institution for the deaf and dumb, which was first publicly ex amined in 1771, and from 1778 received an an nual subsidy. It was not, however, converted into a public institution till two years after his death. He published
des Sourds et Muets, etc.' (Paris 1774);
des Sourds et Muets par la Voie des Signes Meth odiques' (Paris 1776) ;