The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-07-27

left nothing. behind. and, in short,
showed himself more practical and
business like than the average bog
with sight would have been.
In the autumn of 1899. when Tommy
was entering for his 14th year, he was
placed in one Of the public grammar
schools near the kindergarten. IL
spite of his disability it was found
that he was then almost on a level
with boys of his own age. He started
in the sixth grade, and he has moro
than held his own ever since His
teacher and interpreter, Miss Helen s.
Conley, of course goes with him, and
through her he holds his own with his
class. His grammar school work has
increased his self-reliance, and he has
been very anxious to keep up with TIE
other boys. They on their part are
| very considerate of Tommy They in
vite him to enter into all their games
and sports, and they find him a very
good comrade.
The year before last he had trip
to Washington. and although not then
13, he showed the liveliest interest in
everything at the capital He had a
delightful interview with the presi-
| dent and Immediately accepted the in
vitatiOn of the latter TO visit the White
House. Tommy eagerly inspected ev.
cry room. carefully examining all the
| fittings and furnishings, and at last
announced "the blue room is the pret-
test" He had come to this decision
! undoubtedly on account Of the silk
| hangings on the walls. On the way to
Washington he had visited Phiadel-
| phia and had thoroughly enjoyed a
| visit to the mint.
Without any dogmatic teaching
Tommy has discovered the existence
| Of a supreme God. For example, The
world is very large. Men made houses
| and ships. but men cannot make land
Who made the land?" was a question
that came naturally from him, and as
| his inquiries are answered he is grad
ually shaping a creed for himself. Mr..
| AnagnOs says that as far as the
achievement of results is concerned,
| Tommy's record surpasses that of all
| other persons in his condition. That
| is, he is not second to Laura Bridg-
| man, Helen kellar or Willie Robin
| Instead of a helpless idiot, deformed
! Caliban, as he might have been, he is
| bright, intelligent boy. with face
full of expression. With his bent
| toward science and his zeal for in
vestigating, he may some time make
| his mark in the world.
Tommy's education is naturally ex-
pensive, since the time of one per-
son must be given entirely to him.
The 800 of the past year was con-
tributed by so individuals and organ
| izations in different parts of the coun-
try. Kindergartens in various day and
Sabbath schools have been among the
contributors. and many little children
are regularly saving their spare pen
nies to send to Tommy Stringer. A
movement has begun to establish
permanent fund for Tommy, similat
| to that which was raised for Helen
| as rapidly as in the past, he Will GER
| tainly be able to return to the world
a greater part of all that has been
showered on him. He is interested In
| electricity, and asks extremely intellt'
gent questions about its practical ap'
plication. His first ride in an automo-
bile was an event in his life, and the
gift of companion bicycle by lib
eral friend led him to devise kind
OF wooden bicycle which he called d
foot car"
But above all Tommy's cleverness Il
his affectionate disposition, which
makes him fully appreciate all thai
has been done to bring him out OF
darkness.-H L. R., in Chicago Times
Herald.