The Cedar Co. news-letter. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1853, 1853-11-19
TIPTON IOWA. SATURDAY, NOV. 49, 1853.

"When it was said above that sign
was made, it was intended to say that
the action was performed by her teacher,
she feeling his hands, and then initiating
the motion. The next step was to pro-
cure set Of metal types, with the differ.
ent letters Of the alphabet cast upon their
ends; also board, in which were square
holes, in which holes she could set the
types, so tha, the letters on their ends
could alone be felt above the surface.--
Then, on any article being handed to her
for instance, pencil or watch she
would select the component letters and
arrange them on her board and read them
with apparent pleasure. She was exer-
cised for several weeks in this way, until
her vocabulary became extensive; and
then the important step was taken Of
teaching her how to represent the differ.
ent letters by the position of her fingers,
instead Of the cumbrous apparatus of the
board and types. She accomplished this
speedily and easily, for her intellect had
begun to work in aid of her teacher, and
her progress was rapid.
This was the period, ahou. three months
after she had commenced, that the first
report of her case was made, in which
i, is stated tha, she has just learned the
manual alphabet, as used by the deaf
mutes; and it is subject of delight and
wonder to sec how rapidly, correctly and
eagerly, she goes on with her labors.--
Her teacher gives her new object-for
instance, a pcncil--frs, lets her examine
it, and get an idea of its use, then teach.
es her how to spell it by making the signs
for the letters with her own fingers. The
child grasps her hand and feels her fin
gers rs the different letters are formed
she turns her head little on one side,
like person listening closely her lips
are apart, she seems scarcely to breathe
and her countenance, at first anxious;
gradually changes to smile as she com.
/ prehends the lesson. She then holds uI
her tiny fingers, and spells the word ii
| the manual al lphabet; next she takes hel
types and arranges her letters and last
to make sure that she is right, she takes
the whole Of the types composing the
word, and places them upon or in contae
with the pencil, or whatever the objec'
may be-"
/ The whole of the succeeding year was
passed in gratifying her eager inquire:
for the names Of every object which sh.
could possibly handle; in exercising Lel
in the use OF the manual alphabet III ex
tending in every possible way her knowl
edge OF the physical relations of things
and in proper care of her health. At I'll,
end of the year areport OF her case wa.
!, made, from which the following is Il,
extract :--'sIt has been ascertained, be
yond the possibility Of doubt, that sh.
cannot see ray Of light, cannot Lea
the least sound, and never exercises he
sense OF smell, ii She have any. Thu
her mind dwells In darkness and stiffness
as profound as that oil closed tomb a
Il midnight. OF beautiful sights, and swec
sounds, and pleasant odors, she has m
conception; nevertheless she seems a
i happy and playful as bird or a lamb
!, and the employment of her intellectual
!, faculties, or the requirement Of ney
idea, gives her vivid pleasure which
plainly marked in her expressive features
5 She never seems to repine, but has al
!, the buoyanoy and gayety Of childhood
, She is fond Of fun and frolic, and whel
!, playing with the rest OF the children, he
/ shrlll laugh sounds loudest Of the group
L When left alone, she seems very happ,
J if she have her knitting or sewing, AM
& will busy herself for hours if she Lay
! no occupation, she evidently amuses her
r self by imaginary dialogues, or by recall
ing past impressions. She counts wit
5 her fingers, or spells out names Of thing
: which she has recently learned in tn
' manual alphabet Of the deaf-mutes. /
this lonely selt-communion she seems !,
5 reason, reflect, and argue if she spell
4 word wrong with the fingers OF her righ
Y hand, she instantly strikes il with her left
!, as her teacher does, in sign Of disappro
1 baton; if right, then she pats hcrse'
: upon the head, and looks pleased. Sh
/. sometimes purposelv spells word wron