The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-03-26

.--ss---SS-- ~
II anyone who had physical DEL
f6Fmfty knew that BY a reasonable de-
gree 81 seIr;cohtrpI and self7goterp!
men ne eotilf cause that bIemIsh TO
grow less. and perhaps: finally dlsap,
pear, so that he could sbe Just like
other people, wouldn't he make every
effort 10 bring about that happy re.
sult?. is.;
,Ppt how many people there are
marked out from their fellow Sbeings
by mental deformitIes us ugly and as
evident as any physical malformations,
who do not make the slightest effort
to become natural, but even deEber,
ately feed and aggravate their defor
mites!
And yet the physical deformity sell
dom seriously saddens more than one
left, while the mental deformity al
most always FLINDERS the happiness,
not only OF the one who is afflicted
with it. but of all who have to live
with him. = M
| am thinking OF a woman Who has
a hldeously .oyergyown bump Of can
ton. She ,was born with It, Just as
II she had been born with six fingers
on one hand or any physical detoFm
| ity. But, whereas, II she had the physt
cal defect. ] am sure she would, vii,
ingly undergo the most painful oDer1.
ton, or give every cent she had to DO
Irid OF It, don't think she has ever
made the slightest attempt TO reduce
her mental deformIty. And far from
4beIng such comparatively unim'
portant thing as a superiority OF flu
gers, this malrormation continually III.
IterHeres with the happiness and ease
land comfort, not only OF It's victim,
Ibnt OF her whole family. 1t has, spoiled
Iinnumerable pleasure excursions by
| 1.-THE obstacles and precautions with
(which it strews the path OF every
plan. 1t has kept her husband from
lmany> profitable business ventures. II
has refused to allow the daughter 10
have her dearest wish OF going away
10 college, because ] should be wor
rled for fear something was the matter
with you all tho time You were gone.
Iii has. denied her son half the nor
lmal pleasures OF boyhood during his
minority, and caused perpetual dis
cord in, the famliysas soon as he was
l9Il enough to defy this Unjust and gait
J Ing parental restraint.
,, This woman knows that other peJiiI'
do not feel about these. things rs she
does. SlVn knows that her point o.
view is abnormal, just as. she would
know that to have six tinsers wheF
} other people have five, is NOT normal
4 And yet she feels YO sensitivehess IL
. regard to her mental deEormity, "
desire TO hide Il, 10 longing to be llkt
!tglher people. On the contrary, sh'
! apparently thinks the rest OF the vol,
lIfs wrong. and spends her life in
4 Notwithstanding effort to force he
lS4ndards on all With whom she comes
J III contact
/. Now there is no doubt that If SLY
, had admitted in her youth that th
oyer-defelope bump Of caution was
4 deformity, and had deliberately trleO
10 conquer 1t, she could have at leas
2 gotten it under control. Instead sh
i has never put up the slightest fish
[ against it, and this hideous, happiness
: spelling mental derormity has increas
g cd steadily, every year Of her life spo
. Ing more happiness and making NOR
g trouble.
h A great many Of us-f might almos
|. say the maj6rity-are born with som
,. tendence far in excess OF what
s should be. II may be e.of admire
o ton, it may be sensuousness, it ma
$ be caution, II may be jimMilsivcn5s
but whatever 1t Is this incipient al
). nOrmallty has within itself the tposs
II bIity OF spelling infinite happiness
r. our own and Others. ;i,.
J. Now if parentsiwould Qnly, look .
o such an excess as an, actual deforn
|. fly, TO overcome which no sacrifice
3 loo great, and would teach their CHI
II dren as soon as they are old enoug'
+. to feel the same, how much unhapr
Il ness the world might be saved.
2. Rz1G.A,,,-,-.-A.,.s.,4;Sssss >.