Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-09-22
TANNING a WILD GIRL.
The Job In Madc More Dimcuit -
cnuse OF IIcr Total Deafness.

cnuse OF Ecr Total Deafness.
One Of the most unique pupils OF the
dear and dumb institution Of Knox
county. Ind. is Rhoda Hewitt, stout,
sun tanned girl Of between IL and ~
summers. When she was brought to
the school. it was learned that she had
lived a wild sort OF life on an out OF
the way farm. spending much OF her
time wandering around In the woods
and fields and often sleeping at night
under the hedgerow or In fence cor
ner. Her mother died when the girl
was very young. and the father had
not the time or perhaps the ability to
tell her, after she lost her hearing at
3 years of age. OF the world about her.
She grew up one of natures own chill
dren.
When she was brought to the school.
she was In great terror. She hung her
head and threw her hands before her
face to hide from the gaze Of stfan-
gers. She had never In her life, 1t was
told. been to Monroe City, the nearest
town to her home, and had never seen
many other human beings than her IA
ther.
The strangers at the school were at
first looked on as enemies. She would
strike, kick and bite when they ap-
preached. This savageness Of temper
lasted about three weeks, when she be-
gan to appreciate that no one would
do her harm. but that all wanted to be
kind TO her.
RhOda was put In Miss Elizabeth
Rays class For three weeks she cried,
hid her face and repelled all advances
with kicks or fistlcuffs or threats to
use her teeth. BY degrees she cane to
learn that no harm would be done and
began to look up and take human In
terest In those about her.
Her teacher and the other pupils In
the class showed affection for her by
stroking her arm or shoulder, but It
was long time before this met with
response. Today she is one Of the
most affectionate pupils In Miss Ray''
class and rarely passes her teacher
without touching her In an affection
ate way characteristic Of the deaf
Sometimes the affection is shown by
rather too severe blow In the back, ant
one Of the teachers duties Is to make
her understand that great physical
force is not essential to affection.
When Rhoda was In a pugnacious
and inconsolable state Of mind, many
ways were tried to comfort her. She
was shown a picture book. This en-
gagged her attention little while. She
recognized the picture Of cow and ap-
parently thought Of home. for she be-
gan to cry and. pointing as II toward
home. said Papa, papaw This word and
baby" she could speak when she came
to school-words she had learned to
articulate before she lost her hearing.
She has already learned from the
other children what II Is to lie. The
children are forbidden to say any one
lies. Rhoda made q sign indicating
this the other day and was punisbed
by being put Ia seat separate from
the other children. She understood the
punishment. for she told her teacher
afterward that she had used the word
lie and had been made to sit apart
from the other children.
Her conception Of Creator Is dim-
cult to learn. The teacher takes many
occasions to try to impress upon her
some notion Of God, and Rhoda has
learned to point upward, as II to an
unseen power. when she is asked about
the maker and preserver Of all.
Her development has been so fast
since she came to the school that 1t is
difficult to learn how far II has gone.
She seems to understand many things
that she has no way to express.
The first word she associated With
an object was shoe" She can say
'shoe" in a rudimentary fashion. She
reads and initiates the motions OF the
teachers lips when she wants to ex-
press a word for an object. She now
has Ii words. When the teacher points
out the picture OF a cow on a chart,
RhOda can write the word cow" on
the blackboard. d.-lndianapolis Sentinel.
To Bed For Influenza.
Dr A r. Harris medical officer OF