The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-07-27
THIS BOY IS A WONDER.
a PENN YLVANla LAD WHO Is AS
MARKABLE AS HELEN KELLAR.

ne mANNHOLC 40 GIEN ~ ne IIHVs
When Five Years Old He Had No More
Intelligence Than n Good -Natured Pup
py-How His Drowsy Little Brain Was
Awakened-Is Active and self f-EeI!ant.
The fame of Helen Kellar has to an
extent OvershadoW< d that Of Tommy
Stringer, although in his way the lit
tie Pennsylvania boz is quite as inter
esting and quite as remarkable as the
little southern girl.
Just a year before the kindergarten
for the blind was opened in Boston, on
the Sd of July, 1886. Tommy was born
rear Waynesbury, Penn. He was like
any other healthy, happy baby in his
first few months. But soon after the
death of his mother he had an attack
Of spinal meningitis, and on his re-
coyery, when he was hardly 2 years
old. he was found both blind and deaf.
His father was a workingman with
small means, and he felt absolutely
powerless to help his afflicted little
boy. After time the blind and deaf
child was taken to the Allegheny hos
pital. He was a healthy little ami
NAL, apparently, with no more intelli-
gence than good natured puppy. In
this condition he was finally brought
to the kindergarten for the blind in
the spring of 1891.
Here he was at once put in the care
of a special teacher, whose duty it was
to give all her time to him. Although
it seemed an almost hopeless task,
an effort was to be made to rescue him
from the prison into which his deaf
ness and blindness had thrown him.
He had never yet walked upright. In
spite of his 5 years he crawled along,
pushing his way with his hands and
to save his head from coming in con-
tact with unexpected obstacles. The
only sound he ever made was pitt
full moan. which sounded the sam"
whether he meant it to express pleas
ure or pain. At times, when he felt
especially disturbed, he would scream
loudly and would strike out with his
hands and tear his clothes.
Before any effort could be made to
reach Tommy's mind his body had
to be put in order. Exercises were
given to develop his flabby muscles
and build up tissues. At last the eff
forts were rewarded. He could move
about unassisted, could feed himself
and even dress and undress himself.
Unlike Helen Kellar or Laura Bridg-
man. Tommy seemed very dull and
apathetic. He was unwilling to make
any effort for himself, and his teach
ers often feared that in the end they
must give up the attempt to reach his
mind.
Many, many months passed before
the drowsy little brain grasped the
fact that things have names, and that
these names may be represented by
the letters of the alphabet made on the
fingers. But at length, by constant
repetition, by infinite love and pa
tience, the first section of the bridge
was built. Tommy began to realize
the outer world. He walked over the
bridge, and began to take an interest.
Soon he was one Of the brightest
children in the kindergarten. He un-
derwent systematic training at the ba.
sis of which was Froebel's principles
of natural development" Today, at
II years of age, Tommy compares ia
vorably with other boys of his years.
He is tall, straight and strong He
has a well-shaped head and his ex-
preston is bright and cheerful. His
mind is full of information, and he is
constantly asking for more, more
knowledge.
But he is not a mere lover of books.
He is active and self-reliant He can
use his hands to better advantage than
most boys who can see and hear.
A year ago last summer, for exam
pie, Mrs. Quincy Shaw (Agassiz
daughter) gave Tommy sloyd bench
fitted with all the necessary tools.
Tommy was already fairly expert in
sloyd, because instruction in manual
raining had been an important part
of his education. But when he learned
that the bench was to be sent tC
Wrentham, where lie WAS to spend the
summer. he Immediately said: Now
| shall take all the care of Mr.. Browns
house" Consequently even on the
hottest days, he was to bc found a!
| Ills bench. lie replaced worn door
sills with new. made new barnyard
,atc. lie replaced loose boards ir the
Iocrng CT the porch, made hand
railing for persons going up and down
the steps. An old s:mokcnouse which
vas given him as lis especial domai:
lie improved wonderfully. He too!
cat the sliding windows. made new
frame on thc,c and swung them CT
sing,s. Tic: he put strong bars
Cross them To prevent the cows
,,cakin. tie gla:. with their horns
r., i:.vcntcd 4 clever device for open
ing and shutting another window: III
:.:t up shelves for holding tools am
other things connected with his work
':e repaired stone wall near tn
-::okchousc, and in other ways i'm
c,oved its surroundings. He is busy
rrcrretic hoy. and generally make:
-. owi pla,.: TOR work, and the plan:
+ ,hat he has made he always carries
! .,;t BEFORE starting for home in tn,