Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-08

ciate the printed names upon the labels
with the articles, the letters were given
her on detached pieces of paper, and she
was taught to arrange them so as to spell
the words which she had already learned
upon the labels. She was next supplied
with set of metal types with the letters
of the alphabet cast upon their ends, and
board containing square holes, into
which the types could be set, so that only
the letters upon the ends could be felt
above the surface; and with these she
soon learned to spell the words
which she knew as she had with
the paper slips. After several
weeks of this practice she was taught to
make the different letters by the position
of her fingers, and thus dispense with the
more cumbrous aid of boards and types
About three months were spent in thus
teaching her the names of some common
objects and the means of expressing them
by setting up type or by the manual
alphabet. She was so eager to learn the
name of every object with which she
came in contact that much time was
spent in teaching her these. Next came
words expressing positive qualities; then
the use Of propositions: and she easily ac-
quired the use of some active verbs, such
as to walk, to run, to sew, etc., although
the distinctions of mood and tense came
ater. The process Of teaching was neces-
sarily so slow that, Notwithstanding the
unusual quickness of apprehension and
eagerness to learn, she had attained only
about the same command of language
as that possessed by ordinary children at
three years of age when she had been
under instruction twenty-siX months and
was ten years old. But as she now pos
sessed the means for the requirement of
all knowledge, and she became capable of
expressing her own thoughts, feelings
and impressions, the process of teaching
her and watching the development
of her moral and Intellectual nature be-
came more acute, and there was some i'm
provement in the senses of taste and
smell. Laura seems to have possessed
an innate love of neatness and modesty
which, even in early childhood, prevent
ed her from ever transgressing the
rules of propriety, She had bright
and sunny disposition, which delighted
in fun and merriment; and affection
ate and sympathetic nature and ready
confidence in others; and her conscienti-
ousness and love of truth were early de-
veloped. When she had acquired suffl
Gent command of language to converse
freely by means of the manual alphabet,
her circle of friends and acquaintance
began to enlarge and the development of
her character was greatly aided by COM
ing in contact with variety of persons.
A few years later she took great interest
in assisting in the education Of Oliver
Caswell, who was similarly afflicted with
herself. By the special teaching adapted
to her condition, Laura has acquired
good education, and is very skillful in
many Of the employments of women,
such as sewing (both by hand and ma
chine) knitting, crocheting and some
fancy work, and she is also capable of
performing many household duties. She
is very intelligent and fond of reading
and Of social intercourse; and notwith-
standing the isolation which her lack of
sight, hearing and speech necessarily in
wolves, her life is an industrious and
happy one"
When Laura learned of the shooting of
President Garfield she of her own impulse
addressed the following letter to Mrs.
Garfield.
"MRs. GARFIELD stranger toward
you, will introduce myself by writing
letter to you. was deeply grieved to
hear the sad news concerning your dear
husband, whom esteem most highly. l
have much sympathy in your great Attic
ton. Jesus Christ will not leave you
comfortless. Let not your heart be
troubled. Yours truly,
"LAURA D. BR1DGMAN.'
Mrs. Garfield replied IN the following
touching letter:
"WAsE1NGToN, D. c., July 90, ISL
My Dear Miss Bridgman: | have just
received your letter, and, while l thank
you, I am filled with wonder that from
out the silence and darkness of your life
you can speak to me. When was very
little girl heard of you, and l have al
ways felt that your spirit must be a great
deal stronger and brighter than that Of
any ordinary mortal to enable you to do
so well what we with all our faculties are
only able to do think the president
will recover, and 1t will be great pleas
ure to him to know that you remembered
him in his suffering. With great admir-
alton and regard, your friend.