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abolished； but she had some sensation for large； bright objects in the right eye up to her eighth year； after that time she became totally blind。 After her recovery it was two years before she could sit up all day； and not until she was five years old had she entirely regained her strength。 Hearing being lost； she naturally never developed any speech； however； she was taught to sew； knit； braid； and perform several other minor household duties。 In 1837 Dr。 S。 W。 Howe； the Director of the Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind； took Laura in charge； and with her commenced the ordinary deaf…mute education。 At this time she was seven years and ten months old。 Two years later she had made such wonderful progress and shown such ability to learn that； notwithstanding her infirmities； she surpassed any of the pupils of her class。 Her advancement was particularly noticed immediately after her realization that an idea could be expressed by a succession of raised letters。 In fact； so rapid was her progress； that it was deemed advisable by the authorities to hold her back。 By her peculiar sensibility to vibration she could distinguish the difference between a whole and a half note in music； and she struck the notes on the piano quite correctly。 During the first years of her education she could not smell at all； but later she could locate the kitchen by this sense。 Taste had developed to such an extent that at this time she could distinguish the different degrees of acidity。 The sense of touch； however； was exceedingly delicate and acute。 As to her moral habits； cleanliness was the most marked。 The slightest dirt or rent in her clothes caused her much embarrassment and shame； and her sense of order； neatness； and propriety was remarkable。 She seemed quite at home and enjoyed the society of her own sex； but was uncomfortable and distant in the society of males。 She quickly comprehended the intellectual capacity of those with whom she was associated； and soon showed an affiliation for the more intelligent of her friends。 She was quite jealous of any extra attention shown to her fellow scholars； possibly arising from the fact that she had always been a favorite。 She cried only from grief； and partially ameliorated bodily pain by jumping and by other excessive muscular movements。 Like most mutes； she articulated a number of noises；50 or more； all monosyllabic； she laughed heartily； and was quite noisy in her play。 At this time it was thought that she had been heard to utter the words doctor； pin； ship； and others。 She attached great importance to orientation； and seemed quite ill at ease in finding her way about when not absolutely sure of directions。 She was always timid in the presence of animals； and by no persuasion could she be induced to caress a domestic animal。 In common with most maidens； at sixteen she became more sedate； reserved and thoughtful； at twenty she had finished her education。 In 1878 she was seen by G。 Stanley Hall； who found that she located the approach and departure of people through sensation in her feet； and seemed to have substituted the cutaneous sense of vibration for that of hearing。 At this time she could distinguish the odors of various fragrant flowers and had greater susceptibility to taste； particularly to sweet and salty substances。 She had written a journal for ten years； and had also composed three autobiographic sketches； was the authoress of several poems； and some remarkably clever letters。 She died at the Perkins Institute； May 24； 1889； after a life of sixty years； burdened with infirmities such as few ever endure； and which； by her superior development of the remnants of the original senses left her； she had overcome in a degree nothing less than marvelous。 According to a well…known observer； in speaking of her mental development； although she was eccentric she was not defective。 She necessarily lacked certain data of thought； but even this feet was not very marked； and was almost counterbalanced by her exceptional power of using what remained。
In the present day there is a girl as remarkable as Laura Bridgman； and who bids fair to attain even greater fame by her superior development。 This girl； Helen Keller； is both deaf and blind； she has been seen in all the principal cities of the United States； has been examined by thousands of persons； and is famous for her victories over infirmities。 On account of her wonderful power of comprehension special efforts have been made to educate Helen Keller； and for this reason her mind is far more finely developed than in most girls of her age。 It is true that she has the advantage over Laura Bridgman in having the senses of taste and smell； both of which she has developed to a most marvelous degree of acuteness。 It is said that by odor alone she is always conscious of the presence of another person； no matter how noiseless his entrance into the room in which she may be。 She cannot be persuaded to take food which she dislikes； and is never deceived in the taste。 It is； however； by the means of what might be called 〃touch…sight〃 that the most miraculous of her feats are performed。 By placing her hands on the face of a visitor she is able to detect shades of emotion which the normal human eye fails to distinguish； or； in the words of one of her lay observers； 〃her sense of touch is developed to such an exquisite extent as to form a better eye for her than are yours or mine for us； and what is more； she forms judgments of character by this sight。〃 According to a recent report of a conversation with one of the principals of the school in which her education is being completed； it is said that since the girl has been under his care he has been teaching her to sing with great success。 Placing the fingers of her hands on the throat of a singer； she is able to follow notes covering two octaves with her own voice； and sings synchronously with her instructor。 The only difference between her voice and that of a normal person is in its resonant qualities。 So acute has this sense become； that by placing her hand upon the frame of a piano she can distinguish two notes not more than half a tone apart。 Helen is expected to enter the preparatory school for Radcliffe College in the fall of 1896。
At a meeting of the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf； in Philadelphia； July； 1896； this child appeared； and in a well…chosen and distinct speech told the interesting story of her own progress。 Miss Sarah Fuller； principal of the Horace Mann School for the Deaf； Boston； is credited with the history of Helen Keller； as follows：
〃Helen Keller's home is in Tuscumbia； Ala。 At the age of nineteen months she became deaf； dumb； and blind after convulsions lasting three days。 Up to the age of seven years she had received no instruction。 Her parents engaged Miss Sullivan of the Perkins Institute for the Blind； South Boston； to go to Alabama as her teacher。 She was familiar with methods of teaching the blind； but knew nothing about instructing deaf children。 Miss Sullivan called upon Miss Fuller for some instruction on the subject。 Miss Fuller was at that time experimenting with two little deaf girls to make them speak as hearing children do； and called Miss Sul