The San Francisco call., 1910-06-05
CHARITY Sister
SERVES AFFLICTED
Woman Who Dies in France
Brings Understanding to
Little Helen Heurtin
Girl Is Born Deaf, Dumb and
Blind, but Religious Teacher
Gives Her Light
[SeselaI Dispateh 70 The Call

lOHcCtol DiSbdtCH 70 ne Nott1
AYEw YORK, June 4-Near Poi
M tiers. in France. there died re-
Il Gently an humble religious,
who I'm the noble work Of teaching
the deaf. dumb and blind, had worn
herself out. But the special task
which at last brought her q certain
amount of Bnsought public notice
was. her. success in instilling ideas into
the darlkened brain OF Marie Heurtin. a
poor peasant girl who was born blind,
deaf and dumb. Sister Ste. Margue-
rite, the good religious referred to,
took upon herself the task Of develop
ing the little peasant girls mental and
physical character.
Little Marie had been uncomfortable
when with her parents. She was sub
ject to fits of violent passion, when
she would sit on the floor and pound it
with her fists, her shrieks of anguish
alarming the neighbors, in her disap-
pointment at not making herself un-
derstood by those about her. Not until
she was 10 years old was she placed
under Sister ste. Marguerite's care.
The good sister first managed to es-
tablish a method Of signs by which the
child distinguished the different things
she wanted, such al eggs, bread, a knife,
etc. She next taught her the deaf mute
alpha bet, being obliged to rely en-
tirely upon the sense of touch for this
purpose. She then taught her to read
in the same way.
She finally accomplished the stupen-
dous undertaking Of leading her to
q grasp abstract ideas and supernatural
truths, but only after much patience
and persistent, unremitting effort
Gradually the child grasped the dis
tinction between right and wrong, the
idea Of God and his wisdom and good
ness. the history of Christ, etc.
Step by step with this training went
the learning Of the humble, homely
domestic duties that made her use
ful member of the community in which
she had her home.
The poor child responded readily to
the good sisters patient efforts and
eVinced a passionate eagerness to ac-
quire Yet further knowledge. She
who had been so violent and passion
ate showed desire to obey the gentle
sister. who personifed for her all that
was good and beautiful. which was
most touching.
At present Marie is inteIigently in
terested in all the subjects that are
brought TO her notice, is good reader
writes d good letter and can describe
her sensat tiOns and feelings in excellent
French. She can knit and crochet,
while her temper is constantly bright
and gay and the serenity Of her sweet
countenanee impresses all those who
come near her. She is not only resigned
to her infirmity but smilingly accepts
il from the hand Of God.
Finally Sister Ste. Marguerite gave
to her charge another child similarly
afflicted, and Marie is imparting her
own knowledge TO her with a delighted
earnestness and motherly feeling that
is z JOY TO witness.
Marie is the Helen Keller Of France,
but while in the latter case Miss Keller
heard and saw until she was Is months
old and the task of her education was
divided amongst several devoted pro-
fessors, IN Marie's case we have a child
born in her infirmity. and the herculean
task Of whose education was accom-
plished single handed by a devoted sis
ter in religion
The story Of this devotion found its
way TO the ears Of the French academy
and in 1899 one OF the prizes "of vir-
tue" was awarded to Sister Ste Mar
guerite by that distinguished assem-
bly,. But she shrank from public no
tice, and she has died as she lived. al