The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-04

teaching by means of raj ed letters or let
tiers formed by holes in paper.
But even though the meaning of the words
formed by these raised letters may be clea.
to the sightless. the sound OF the words
and therefore their proper accents must
remain a closed book forever to the deaf
and dumb.
The afflicted girl was the daughter OF
John F.. Wallace.
She was born t~wenty-one years ago, while
her father was the proprietor Of the Wal
lace Hotel. New York.
She was not a strong child and was al
ways carefully guarded against draughts
and sickness.
In spite of the care Of her parents she
was taken Ill with a fever when she was
6 years old.
For months she lowered upon the brink.
Even her physicians shook their heads and
feared for the outcome
But It seemed that there was work for
her to do. in this world. and she recovered
and was able to sit up ina little chair.
Then like a bolt from a clear sky 1t came.
why do you always keep the shutters
closed. mamma? The room is so dark"
she said:
''The windows are wide open. dearies."
replied the mother. land the room is full
Of light.
Then the startled woman. fearing the
worst. passed her hand before her laugh
ter's face. but no retreating movement fol-
lowed.
sishtIess eyes looked straight in front and
truth burst with crushing force upon the
mother.
Madeline. you are blind" cried the horri-
fled mother.
Yes. mamma" said the little one.
In the course of the next month .he
child's hearing also left her. and. having
lost the sense Of sound. after the manner
nf most 1nof norlOnS aha left on 0pp1ktnE,
although there appears to be nothing the
matter with her vocal chords.
Even If she could speak now 1t is prob
able that she would talk with the same
baby lisp she knew when all knowledge OF
sound left her.
As a child she had SHOWN rennarkapie
ability as a scholar.
She was most precocious, and II fs said
that she never forgot anything she had
been told.
Desiring that her girl should not remain
in ignorance all her life on account Of her
affliction. Mrs. Wallace sent her to the
New York Asylum for the BLIND. where she
was given private lessons by the superin-
tsndent. Mr.. Wait.
She learned rapidly and soon became an
ardent reader of history by means OF her
slender finger tips.
While Madeline was attending this school
her mother did not despair of securing some
relief for her uauShter. Sne applied 10 va
r.ous eye and ear specialists and they treat
ed her carefully, but attained no satisfying
results.
She continued her education at the asy-
lum and soon became a teacher in the in
stitut!on.
Madeline wallace also became ar expert
operator of the point" typewriter, a mo.
chine by which books are printed for the
blind. and during the time that she was
growing up she made many books for her
similarly afflicted friends. and contributed
many volumes to the fifteen public libraries
in the United States where books for the
blind are kept. the Albany Library. the Con-
gressional Library. the Cincinnati Library
and the Boston Library.
The Reverend Doctor Beecher took an es-
pecial interest in this girl and translated
the work of Thomas q Kempis into point"
because she was especially fond Of his
writings.
And. although she priced them highly and
would be sorry to lose them. she has lent
them her own point" copies to her blind
brothers and sisters all over the country.
Her unselhsh spirit and her desire to help
others less fortunate than herself was horn
in her. her mother says. Ever since her af-
Fiction, she has been OF a spiritual turn of
mind. Robbed of the pleasure Of seeing. the
ceremonies of the cathedral. with Its beau
tifuI altar and its shining candles: unable
to hear the peal Of the grand organ or tho
solemn chant Of the vestal virgtnS IN the