Edith Thomas, a little inmate of the Perkins Institute for the
Blind, at South Boston, is not only deaf and dumb but also blind.
She was a fellow-pupil with Helen Keller, and in a measure
duplicated the rapid progress of her former playmate. In
commenting on progress in learning to talk the Boston Herald
says: "And as the teacher said the word 'Kitty' once or twice she
placed the finger-tips of one hand upon the teacher's lips and
with the other hand clasped tightly the teacher's throat; then,
guided by the muscular action of the throat and the position of
the teeth, tongue, and lips, as interpreted by that marvelous and
delicate touch of hers, she said the word 'Kitty' over and over
again distinctly in a very pretty way. She can be called dumb no
longer, and before the summer vacation comes she will have
mastered quite a number of words, and such is her intelligence
and patience, in spite of the loss of three senses, she may yet
speak quite readily.
"Her history is very interesting. She was born in Maplewood, and
up to the time of contracting diphtheria and scarlet fever, which
occurred when she was four years old, had been a very healthy
child of more than ordinary quickness and ability.
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