The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-05-11
A WONDERFUL ARmIEss CIR
kittie Smith Writes, Draws and Does
Needle Work with Her Feet.

kittie Smith Writes, Draws and Does
Needle Work with Her Feet.
No greater cx"mplihcation of the old
adagc that Necessity Is the mother of In
vrnt,on'' can 10 presented to the people
than the wonderful accomplishment Of
kittic Smith. the young lady who lost her
arms when . years old. and who. through
cheer necessity. has been compelled TO ed
ucatc her feet TO work like hands.
Miss Smith IL certainly n remarkable
young woman. In many ways her accom-
piishments equal those OF Blind Tom and
Helen Keller. Her humble station In life
has unfortunately kept her IN the back
ground 80 that hut few people have ever
heard OF her until within the last few
months. during which time she has been
selling a little book OF her life which also
contains reproductions OF some OF her
work. Her book IL not only Interesting.
but her pathetic story reaches the hearts
OF all who read IL.
Mss Smith was born IN Chicago. October
n. lsSs Her parents were poor people. and
IL was during the year OF 1891 that she was
sent with q car load OF fresh air children
tn whitley county. Indiana. where she
was kept for two weeks by AIR. and Mrs
W. L.. Hcagy OF South whitley. Shortly
after she returned home her mother died
leaving her. ut the age OF 3. TO he house
keeper for o little family OF two brothers.
"a little sister. and father.
On Thanksgiving day. 1891. In going
about the house dong her daily work. she
found a bottle which she knew contained
liquor Her father was a drinking man
and the children had often been sent To
the saloons for liquor. Sh. had often
drank OF tho liquor she had been sent for
and. without knowing the wrong she was
doing. she partook freely from the bottle
OF what afterwards proved TO be- whisky
Her father was In an adjoining room and
called for her 10 put some wood on the
Kitchen hrc. She answered that she was
sick aud could not go, but hc insisted and
she obcycd She took the lids from tho
stove. when the combined effect OF the
heat and the liquor caused her 20 faint
and she sank upon tho open stove uncon-
scious. She was only saved from death
10y her little brother coming In from play
and pulling her from tho stove. Her arms
were 30 badly burned that she was taken
To the Cook county hospital. where both
arms were arputatcd three inches from
the shoulders.
At this time she lived NJ SIS Park avenue.
Chicago. III. and the nciRhbors claimed
that her father was also Intoxicated at
the time OF the accident and many OF
them insisted that he held her on the stove
until her arms were burned. The Humane
society took the matter mp and had the
father arrested lie was tried In the
spring OF isas but was acquitted for lack
Of evidence. She remained ia the hospital
until February. 1872
After her accident the Childrtn's Home
society OF Illinois took control OF her and
through the efforts OF Dr. Frank NJ. Gregg
"a "Kittic Smith furd' waa raised which
Was used for her education and keeping
until the fund was exhausted. She was
kept for number OF years nj the Home
for Destitute Crippled Children and was
afterwards sent to Poyncttc, Wis. where
she lived for eight years IN a private
family.
In August 1891 the fund having been cx-
haustcd. and she having attained the age
OF -. the Institutes obligations ceased and
she was thrown upon her own rcrources
Her father had died since the accident
and her brothers were laboring men and
were not In position to assist her much.
~ soon aS she was old enough to realize
he. position. she immediately commenced
To make the best OF her condition. Know
ins that her feet were tn. only remaining
members OF her body with which sh.
might earn a living. she practiccd daily
TO train them 10 do things that others do
with their hands. Hen accomplishments
have been almost beyond conception as
there are but few things she cannot do
Many things she does more accurately
and almost a. rapidly as others do them
with their hands. She writes plainly and
sketches with wonderful accuracy Her
nccdlcwork would be credit 10 any one
with hands. She has made many pieces
OF fancy work and at one time made n
quilt consisting OF 20 pieces. which she cut
and scweJ with her feet. She can almost
entirely dress herself. wash her face brush
her teeth. comb her hair and do much
work about the house. such ~ sweeping
and dustlnE: IN fact. there are but few
things she cannot do.
Since becoming OF age she has madS n
living by selling her drawings and fancy
work. but recently she has been publish
ins a little book giving detailed state
mcnt of her life. together with many re-
productions OF her work. This book II
being published Mt South whitley. Ind.
where Miss Smith II now making her home
and the sale OF the book H. said 90 be- all
that can he expected. IL II n neatly print
cd Slxtccn-pagc booklet with Miss Smith n
picture on the front cover IL sells for -
cents and is a souvenir well worth having.
A fac simi.c copy OF letter written by
Miss Smith " sold with cacS OF her books.
IN which she states that the book IL be-
Ing published under contract with n pub
fishing company. and N she " able To
sell u. her profits will enable her TO make
living for herself.