The record-union., 1898-10-18
TOMMY STRINGER.
Wonderful Mechanical Ability OF
a Deaf and Blind Boy.


Tommy Stringer is the kind of boy
who would sing merrily at his work II
he could, but that is one of the few
things that are out of range of ac-
conplishment. In lieu of it his comely
face shines with joy and satisfaction
when he takes a piece of wood III one
hand and a tool in the other and be-
gins to fashion some simple article OF
use or ornament.
Tom is deaf and blind, and his means
of communicating with other people are
confined almost wholly to the use OF
| the manual alphabet. Nevertheless, ne
| has been attending the Lloyd SchoO
| in Boston for the past year, where ne
| is taught with ordinary pupils, most
| of whom he excels in the neatness and
accuracy of his work. He goes twice
| a week, being accompanied from the
Kindergarten for the Blind in Jamaica
Plain by his teacher, Miss Conley, who
| is his companion, confidante, interpre-
! ter and protector as we'll as teacher.
These days are as good as holidays
| to Tom He never has to be reminded
of them or coaxed or scolded into 60
| ing The trip in itself is an event
| fraught with as much interest as II ne
could see the sights along the way and
hear the cries and the music of the
street; and, in a way, Tom does see
and hear more than many boy would
| in passing over the same route.
How many people are in the carp
he spells with his inquisitive little fin
gers into the palm of his teachers hand
What kind of lady sits next TO me
and what does she wear? What street
are we on now? Are the buildings high
OIL low? What is there in the shop win
dows?"
These questions go on from the time
he starts until he arrives at his destina-
ton. He knows the route SO thorough
ly that he can make a diagram of 1t in
the sand he uses for his geography les
sons. naming the streets. over which
hefpasses without a mistake, and could
doubtless find his way alone if it were
safe to trust him without protection on
the crowded streets.
He uses the same kind of tools in his
woodwork that the other boys do, ex-
cept that his rule has to have raised
figures on it, and in marking off he
uses an awl instead of a lead pencil.
Tom is neat, orderly, careful and exact
in his work, and rarely makes a blum
der of any kind. His intuitionS are so
keen and his two senses of touch and
smell, upon which he depends, are so
highly developed that he can detect the
slightest variation from the model. If
his work does not match the rule and
square perfectly he is miserable.
Tom is most successful driver of
nails. Every blow of the hammer falls
with unerring aim full upon the head
of the NAIL and he can send it through
the thinnest piece of wood without
splitting it. Seeing boys who mash
their fingers and splinter the wood in
their endeavor to drive nails look on
in wonder at Toms feat
Tom began his woodwork with a SIM
ply constructed little stool in which he
used only a saw, hammer and nails.
Since then he has made a score of ar
ticles, including boxes and other knick-
knacks suitable for Christmas presents
for his friends. One of his most am
bilious efforts, and one in which he
manifested the greatest interest, was a
bird house, in making which he used
twelve different tools.
When Tom is in doubt about the kind
of wood he is handling. he helps out his
fingers by smelling the wood, and by
this sense alone is able to distinguish