WHY DESPAIR?

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 5, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 30.

THE work done for and by Laura Bridgman, whose recent death has again brought her before the public, should encourage all who are trying to educate others or themselves not to despair. Why should they? If one who was deprived of hearing, sight, and speech could become so accomplished, why should those despair who are in possession of all the senses. The Independent has the following reference to this wonderful case:—

"Miss Laura Bridgman, the blind deaf-mute, left behind her many warm friends, as well as those acquaintances interested in her wonderful personal history and affliction. She was only eight years old when taken to the South Boston Asylum, and there she remained until her death. Dr. Howe, assisted by Miss Drew, began her first lesson by giving her the word knife, which was printed in raised letters on a slip of paper. Then a knife was given to her. By repeating this process with other articles she was led to understand what words represented. Then she learned to spell, and at the end of a year her first writing-lesson was given her. At the time of her decease she was not merely an educated woman, but one of accomplishments and cultivated tastes; a perpetual example of what can be done in the field of deaf-mute instruction."