The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-31
LITTLE HELEN KELLER.
Anecdotes Illustrating the Elind Deaf
Mute's EenarISable Intelligence.

Anecdotes Illustrating the EliRd Deaf
Mute's EemarISable Intelligence.
Helen Keller has q wonderful NOM
ory, and seldom forgets what she has
once learned; and she learns very
quickly. She is a wonderfully bright
child, and her teacher, instead Of urg-
ing her to study, is often obliged to
coax Helen away from some example
in arithmetic, or other task, lest the
little girl should injure her health bv
working too hard at her lessons. But
her marvellous progress IS not due to
her fine memory alone, but also 10 her
great quickness Of perception, and to
her remarkable powers Of thought
To speak little more clearly. Helen
understands with singular rapidity.
not only what Is said TO her. but even
tbs feelings and the state Of mind of
those about her. and she TANKS more
than most children of her age. Tho
Touch" schoolmistress has done
such wonders for her little pupil
that you would scarcely be-
lieve how many things Helen
finds out, as with electric quickness.
through her fingers. She knows In a
moment whether her companions are
sad, or frightened, or impatieut-lu
other words. she has learned so well
what movements people make under
the influence of different feelings that
at times she seems to road our
thoughts Thus, when she was walk
ing one day with her mother, a boy
exploded a torpedo which frightened
Mrs Keller. Helen asked AZ once:
What are you afraid of?' Some Of
you already know that sound q. G..
noise Of all sOrts) is produced by the
vibrations Of the air striking against
our organs Of hearing that IS 10 say.
tie ears and deaf people, even though
thoy can hear absolutely nothing, are
still conscious Of these vibrations
Thus, they can feel loud music.
probably because It shakes the floor;
aud Helen sense Of feeling l. so
wonderfully acute that she no doubt
learns many things from these vibra-
tions Of the air which to W arc I'M
perceptible.
The following anecdote illustrates
both her Quiosness OF touch and her
reasoning powers The matror Of the
Perkins Institution for tho Blind ex.
hl5ited one aSyr 70 a humber OF frie6I7ssz
glass lemon-squeezer Of a new pat
tern. 1t has never been used. and no
one present could guess for what pur-
pose it was intended. Some one
handed it to Helen, who spelled lem
onade' on her fingers. and asked for a
drinking-glass. When the glass was
brought, she placed the squeezer in
proper position for use.
The E,.la maid was closely qucs-
toned as TO how she found out q secret
that had ba1ied all the seeing peo-
pie present. She tapped her forehead
twice, and spelled. i think. "
/ can not lorbear telling YOU one mora
anecdote about her, which seems to
me q very pathetic one. She is very
good mimic. auG lovos to initiate the
motions and gestures of those sbout
her, and she can do il very cleverly.
On = certain Sunday she went to
church with q lady named Mrs Hop
kins, having been cautioned before
hand By her teacher that she must
keep very quiet during the church
service. 1t IS very hard 70 sit ger1
fectly still, however, when you oan't
hear one word Of what the minister Is
saying, and little Helen presently be-
gan - talk TO Mrs Hopkins, and ask
what was going on. Mrs. Hopkins
told her, and reminded her OF Miss
Sullivan's injunction about keeping
quiet She Immediately obeyed, and
turning her head in listening ntti-
tude, she said: Il listen "-FIorence
Howe Hall, in St. Nicholas