Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1897 — LEARNED BUT CAN’T READ. [ARTICLE]

LEARNED BUT CAN’T READ.

A Brockton Woman Educated by Listening. The wonderful development of certain faculties in the cases of persons who have lost the use of some of their natural functions, or of others whose faculties have not been fully developed, has long been a matter of remark, but it is not alone the outside observers who appreciate the provisions of nature for the benefit of the unfortunates. The sufferers themselves often appreciate this fully, says the New York Sun, and In some instances, after years, grow to defend so much upon their acquired faculties as to be afraid of a change, even if they have the chance of one. An illustration of this is given by a woman In Brooklyn who never lias learned to read or write. In no way could one discover this except by her own admission, or by putting her to a direct test, for she is one of the best educated women in the country, conversant with languages, art, literature nud all the current topics of the day. She is rich, too, aud could afford all the services of the best teachers If she but chose to learn to read, but she refuses to do so. When this woman was a child her parents lived far from schools, so she had no chance then to read or write. As a mere child she began to earn her own living, and again the chance for schooling slipped away. Then she married and the care of a family took up her time. By time the babies were off her hands her husband had grown rich, and then she began her real education, and now, as a widow, she continues It. Her companions read to her about all th* topics which interest her. Years of such work have stored her mind with a rich treasure of knowledge, aud there Is not a page of a book that has been read to her that she is not familiar with; her stores of knowledge are at her Instant command. Why will she not learn to read? Because, she says, she fears that this wonderful memory, which is now such a treasure-house to her, might be Impaired if she were to do anything to weaken the demands upon it. What such a memory can do is well illustrated In the case of a tailor of this city .who cannot read or write. He Is probably the most widely known man In ills business here, as for many years lie has done business with New York's firemen and policemen. Almost every man of these two bodies has dealings , with this tailor, and each mouth between the ffrst and the tenth days he visits every station house and eugine and truck house in this city to collect his dues. He has acquired considerable wealth, and it is said of him that in all the years he has dealt with the firemen and policemen he never was known to make a mistake of a cent in any man’s account, although all his records of transactions have been kept in his head.