The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-08-10
Like Helen KeNar
is Anderson Girl

years or age, is normal girl anu uds
tastes in common with other girls,
and likes pranks and fun just as
much as if she could see and hear
in other words, she is just a girl.
She has been brought back to nor
malcy" by the care, treatment and
patience of the South Carolina Init
tute for the Deaf and Blind at Cedar
Spring. For one year the one teach
er assigned to this little girl labored
to teach her three words-at the end
of that time it seemed that she had
been unsuccessful, as Ruby did not
seem to grasp any idea at all of COM
munication.
Just what perseverance and pa
tience can do has been shown by the
results of today, when this wonder
child can articulate so that she can
be understood, can speak f1uently on
her hands, can read the lips by touch,
can write two systems for the blind,
the Braille and the New York point,
and can use typewriter. When the
chords of "Onward Christian Sold
iers," were played, she readily nam
ed it, and the same with America,
showing what vibrations can do.
Ruby has been taught drill to be
done by music-she goes though this
drill with hands and feet, and If the
music stops she becomes rigid, keep
ing the position which she had when
the music ceased. This drill can be
done much better if she is barefoot,
as the vibrations seem to be felt more
acutely. Her nervous system re-
spends instantly to the waves OF mu-
sic.
In school work Ruby is in the sew
enth grade work for the deaf, but in
fourth grade for the blind. Her
course consists of geography, arith-
metic, first steps in physiology and
history. She has a very retentlVe
mind, and impressions are made
when least thought of by other peo-
pie. When she meets new person
she feels Immediately for something
by- which she canrecognizethem when
she meets them again-some ldentl-
flying piece of jewelry, or some other
method of which nobody knows, but
if she meets them again she shows
recognition.
In the school, it is said by one OF
her teachers, "she goes all the
paces," is active in gymnastics, and
is also an exceedingly good cook, TAX
ing active work in the domestic SCI
ence department. This. teacher also
saws that there is no more interest
ing. child in this school, from any
standpoint, intellectual or psyche
logical, than Ruby Miller"
She talks very rapidly with her
right hand, and almost continuously
and takes the hand that replies IN
her hand or in her two hands, and
feels the answers to her questions
instead of the eye communicating
with the brain her contact is through
the ends of the fingers. Her man
ner is quick and sometimes inslstent
that her remarks be noticed. She
walks with a springy step, and not
as if she was feeling her way, but
as if she was sure of it-but not
alone, unless she is very familiar
with the surroundings.
The expression of Ruby's face has
not that hopelessness often seen in
the faces of the blind. But for the
closed lids and the sunken sockets
there would be no suspicion that she
was blind-with the addition OF be-
ing deaf and almost dumb-all caus-
ed from a serious attack OF menln-
gifts when very small child.
The amia bility of the girl, the
bright responsiveness to the patient
care which she has received, and the
happiness she gets out of life, al
though so severely handicapped, is
strong lesson to others less unfortu-
nate, and brings realization, which
many have never had before, OF the
wonderful patience and love of teach
ers, the good of an institution OF this
kind in every state, the undreamed of
possibilities of the human mind, and
the results that may be accomplished
without the sense of sight, hearing
and speaking. Ruby Miller has dem
onstrated this and will be living
monument to Cedar Springs school.
CARRIE McC. PATRICK.
Appropriate Selection.
Having just finished his sermon on
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