EPAULET (Fr. epaulette, diminutive of epattle, shoulder). An ornamental badge of rank, formerly in very general use throughout the armies and navies of the world—a survival of the metal shoulder-piece of mediawal days. Epaulets were worn by commissioned officers in the United States Army as late as 1872, when they were replaced, in all uniforms save those of general officers, by shoulder-knots. In the British Army they were worn np to 1855 by all ranks, the officers' epaulets being of gold, and those of the rank and file of worsted. Epaulets are worn generally in the navies of all nations by commissioned officers as a part of the full-dress uniform. They arc usually of gold bullion and hear the significant marks of the officer's rank. See UNIFORMS, MILITARY AND NAVAL.
EPEE., 9'phf, CHARLES MICIIEL, Abbe de 1', (1712-891. One of the founders of the system of instruction for the deaf and dumb. Be was born
at Versailles, France. Nov. 25. 1712. He became a priest and canon at Troyes. but eventually. on account of his Jansenist opinions. was deprived of this appointment, and went to live in retire ment in P.iris. About 1765 lie began to occupy himself with the education of two deaf and 11111116 Skier', Ili, first attempt being crowned with success, he determined to devote his life to the subject. At his own expense he founded an in stitution for the deaf and dumb, but his favorite wish, the foundation of such an institution at the public cost, was not fulfilled till after his death, which took place December 23, 1789. I I e wrote a work entitled institution des sourds el mmets (2 vols., Paris. 1774), which afterwards appeared in an improved form, under the title La veritable maniere d'instrvire les sourds et navels (Paris, 1784).