Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-28
A Common
Sense Decision
The Story of One Born to
Society
b. MARTHA v. MONROE

+ b. MARTHA v. MONROE +
4-s-s-ssss44-ss-s-tsssssss''' s'a'-ss-as-s'
David Bartlett, from the day he be-
gan to talk, showed that he would be
q stutterer. As soon as he grew old
enough to be taught anything bis par
ents made every effort to overcome @.
blemIsh that was sure to seriously In
terfere with his career. But despite
the fact that they placed him Under
the care Of various persons who pre-
tended to be able to cure him, the de-
feet remained.
The greater the loss from an imper..
lection the more aggravating the case.
From early boyhood David gave prom
ise of future prominence could he be
freed from his unfortunate impedi-
ment. In schools he showed an orig
lnality that surprised his teachers. In
college 1t was admitted that were he
able to speak easily he would be a
leader in debate. He made one at
tempt to address his fellow students,
but so lamentable was his failure that
he never tried again. On graduating
he was assigned one Of the principal
parts because he was entitled to the
honor, but the college authorities well
knew that his defect would compel
him to decline It
By this time Bartlett was man
among men and received from them
the forbearance and sympathy due
him. In his childhood it had been diff
ferent. Children who do not realize
the misfortunes Of others are cruel to
one another. From the time David
was old enough to have playmates he
received now and again jests and
laughter upon his misfortune. Boys
are more unsparing Of one another
than girls, and, though David's imme-
date companions learned to pass his
defect unnoticed, no sooner was he
thrown in with d strange boy than his
first failure Of utterance was received
with laughter.
This drove him from playmates OF
his own sex, and, being boys boy, he
did not care to be relegated to the
companionship Of girls. There was
one girl, however, whom he favored
because she was not favored by girls
of her own age. Mildred Swayne SUI.
fered from q misfortune similar to
that Of David Bartlett. She was born
with a contraction Of certain muscles
of the face which, when she was
pleased or amused, brought contor.
ton instead of q smile.
Those persons who have similar de.
fects are apt to shun one another
The reason for this may be more cas-
lily understood than expressed. 1t is
enough to say that 1t springs from
sensitveness. David must have over
come this sensitveness so far as Mil.
dred was concerned. At any rate, he
rose above 1t and showed his sympa
thy for her by juvenile attention &c
her. He was not ashamed In chill
dren's gatherings to pair of with her
though he knew that his doing so sub
jected him and her to being considered
two unfortunates whom others would
not care to favor. Mildred, notwith
standing her boy friends impeachment
was very proud Of his attentions and
always stopped him for a chat when
they met.
Nowhere do we find more pure self
ishness than in that society which con
siders itself the elite and into which
those who are without Its pale are
striving to enter. Favors are not be
slowed simply from liking or admira
ton, but for an expected return. the
returns usually being invitations. Da
vid Bartlett was not In position al
the age Of twenty-five to entertain his
friends. He was also handicapped BY
his speech impeachment. Nothing re
NAMED but intellectual and mora
worth, q very poor stock with which
to shine In what is called society
David's parents had occupied a socia
position In their younger days~and e1
pected him to do the same. His man
ner would have entitled him to suct
even without his brilliancy, but ht
| found that his inability to return IA
vors gave those who were really hi
interiors an advantage over him, and
his defect of speech caused him to be
| Stunned wherever 1t was possible
without gross rudeness. Therefore
notwithstanding the desire Of his
mother that he should occupy that 80
cial position to which he was born, be
one day resolved that he would moi
accept another invitation to society
| function.
David disappeared from society with
out being missed. Indeed, his drop
ping out was rather a relief to ladies
who were old friends Of his mother
and who felt obliged to invite him tc
their houses. This Is not surprising
| Charity there Is in the world, but there
| Is always q we'll defined dividing line
between 1t and sacrifice. Soon after
David began to decline invitations be
disappeared from the scenes Of his
childhood and youth and was forgot
ten by all except his parents. a fe"
| intimate friends and Mildred Swayne
who, having finished her education FOL
q teacher entered upon her duties ir
q grammar school.
"Oh, heavens" exclaimed girl al
an evening social function, there's
that David Bartlett! I haven't me-
him anywhere in an age. must sliI
out or I'll have to speak to him, and
II I do shall have to endure him fol
the whole evening unless some one
comes up to take me away from him.
"It's two years since he left home
understand that he has been curei
Of his suffering"
"You don't mean It'll How did ht
do thatw
mo one knows. Some say he curet
himself. Some say he was cured BY
process that he is pledged not t.
reveal No one can get any informa
ton about the process except those
who suffer from an impeachment o.
speech. To such persons he VIII re
| veal his method, but to no one else.n
David Bartlett had returned to hi!