The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-11-28
DEAF; BLIND, ALERT
Chicagoan's Unirhpaired FacuI-
ties Developed to High Degree.
Harry L. vlrden, Instructor Of Waieott
Combs, 10 Working to Educate 9th
ere Like Himseh-TeIls How
Youth Enjoys Play.

~Chicago.-Wolcott Coombs. nineteen
years old, was born without two OF
the most important faculties OF man.
he car neither hear nor In
spite Of this handicap in life, he has
acquired an intellectual capacity un-
der the personal instruction Of his
friend, Harry l. virden, 272S Wash
.ng,on boulevard, that is likely to
make him another example. like Helen
Kellar, of what can be accomplished
by persons whose perceptive faculties
have been curtailed.
Coombs attends the theaters and en-
joys. the plays. He reads a great
deal, fevoring history and economics,
and holds decided political opinions.
He does expert hammock weaving. He
uses the typewriter and produces
clean, accurate copy. He writes in
all the forms used by deaf and blind
people, as we'll as English script. He
likes to nvers with normal people.
and has made many friends, who have
been only too anxious to answer his
questions.
Mr.. Virden was inclined to be re-
luctant in admitting his part in
COMBS education. He questioned
whether the same might not be done
with any blind and deaf person who is
anxious to learn.
THE fact that Coombs cannot hear
or see has made him concentrate more
on his other faculties" said Mr.. Vir-
den. Il do not believe that the re-
naming senses of a person SO az
fltcted are more acute in proportion.
They merely become more sensitive
through use. Few of us normal per-
sons use our ayes and ears prop
erly."
Mr.. Virden first became acquainted
with Coombs while principal of the
Oklahoma School for the Blind at
Fort Gibson, Okla, which is al the
lads home. When he gave up his
work there and came to Chicago, he
brought the lad with him. He decid-
ed to give him every advantage In
his power. Soon Coombs was able to
converse quickly and intelligently
with his teacher. Later he made
many acquaintance in Chicago. Miss
Mabel Taliaferro, who was then ap-
pearing in moving picture plays.
proved a helpful friend. He also Wis
tied the juvenile court. He showed
great interest in the welfare of ju-
venile offenders and held several con
f%erences with Judge Pinckney.
Although Coombs reads all man
ner of raised type and talks in the
usual sign language, I found that the
easiest way for him to communicate
with strangers who did not know any
sign language was to have the letters
of the alphabet traced on the palm
of his hand. Any one can speak with
him in this fashion, and, of course, l
can communicate more rapidly be-
cause l use authorizations which we
both understand. 8
AT the theater l hold his hand and
convey to him the words Of the play
ers. The pauses give me plenty Of
time to keep up with the dialogue"
Mr.. Virden is a member of the COM
mittee on special education of the Ma
tional Educational association and as
such will visit every institution for
the deaf, dumb and blind in the
United States. He believes that many
of his Investigations will have a d.
rect bearing on the future of educa-
ton for the deaf and blind.
Many of our state institutions are
highly efficient" said Mr.. Virden. The
field of education for persons both
deaf and blind, however, has hardly
been touched. A great deal can be
done for them when once we know
what means to employ to help them"