Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-12-27
THE STAMM ERER.
One Thus Afflicted Tells Of Hardships
With Which He Meets.

Among thosc of our fellow beings
afflicted with physical defects and in
firmities, none are less pitied, nor have
less allowance made for their handi-
cap in life, than are Stammerers.
The blind. the dumb, the halt tic
palsied. have pity, sympathetic and
practical, showered upon them. They
are not expected to compete in the
market Of life for bread to eat or raj
ment to wear: where necessary, these
are theirs either by public or private
benevolence.
They are. practically, exempt from
all sneers and reproach; nor are they
made the butt for cheap but cruel wit.
Kindly and comforting words are al
ways extended to them.
But for the persons aff1icted-yea.
cursed-with a stammering tongue all
this is different. We-for the writer
belongs to this unfortunate company
seriously Handicapped as we are, have
to stand on the Same mark in the race
of life as those whose tongue-cordS
are loosened, not that there are any
physical deformities in the voice or
gans of stanlmerers, for stammerinS
is question of nerves. and. strange
to relate. of habit.
Almost every sphere of labor is
closed to us; the professions certain
ly are The higher places in the cler-
ical world are not fer us, and the sales
room counter knows us not.
We may be good craftsmen and III
every way fitted for the position of
foreraen and room managers; those
positions can never be ours, for the
factories, mills and workshops are
now fitted with speaking-tubes and
telephones. We can never be COM
mcrc;als, for those positions call for
a ready tongue.
Chen, again. the question of tele-
phones and railways. Once, and once
only. have | attempted to speak over
the wires 1t required great effort,
but the matter was urgent. l knew
that the knowledge that some one was
listening at the other end would ln-
crease my stammer.
| called for the number. and through
the tube came the sound of tittering
from the operator at the other END.
| could have complained; but that
would have only advertised my fall-
ing. We are used to mocking laugh
ter. but usage doesn't lessen the an
el,ish.
70 ask for railway ticket in a
crowded booking office is a cruel or
deal. l usually assume dumbness. and
write my request. or I have simulated
being foreigner, and, i'll broken Eng
lish. have hidden my stammcr, and
got my ticket.
Social Joys and recreations are de-
ricd us: we refuse invitations to pleas
ant parties and functions, on, if we
accept we are in misery. We cannot
join debating nor societies for mutual
cdiiication and Improvement; we can
never aspire to civic honors; and even
our home life is under Il cloud.
Yes: take it from me. Il lifelong
|'stammcrer. stammering is an awful
curse. 4 strong WORD. true; but ask
any stammerers, and they will admit
It's truth
1T was bad enough in schoolboy days:
bet. being blessed with II good ply
siuuo and :: strong arm, I was able
to keep my would-bc tormentors in
check, and eXcellng in boyish games
gave respite from my trouble.
But now, IN manhood's days. with
ali the bitterness OF repeated uiSap-
roin'ment and loss due to my stam-
lncring tongue. my lot is indeed larn
to bear. Ny disposition is getting
.:pured. and my temper quickened.
Desperately. | have striven to over
Gene rly failing but i'll
vain. And [ know now that | shall
carry it to my grave.
feel [ am of little use TO tue world,
and that the world has but little use
for ne--all due to an affliction un-
numbered among the worlds sorrows.
yet real and wearisome and constant,
embittcring the cup of life.
At every turn to want q wOrd-you
who are unafTlicted cannot guess that
want.
1t is as lack of breath and bread;
life has, no grief more salling.-Pcar-
sons Weekly.