Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 271, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1912 — DEAF, BLIND, ALERT [ARTICLE]

DEAF, BLIND, ALERT

Chicagoan’s Unimpaired Faculties Developed to High Degree. Harry L. Vlrden, Instructor of Walcott Combs, Is Working to Educate Others Like Himself—Tells How Youth Enjoys Play. Chicago.—Wolcott Coombs, nineteen years old, was born without two of the most important faculties of man. he can neither hear nor see. In spite of this handicap in life, he has acquired an intellectual capacity under the personal instruction of his friend, Harry L. Virden, 2728 Washington boulevard, that is lkely to make him another example, like Helen Kellar, of what can be accomplished by persons whose perceptiye faculties have been curtailed. Coombs attends the theaters and enjoys the plays. He reads a great deal, favoring history and economics,* and bolds decided political opinions. He does expert hammock weaving. He uses the typewriter and produces clean, accurate-“copy.” He writes In all the forms used by deaf and blind people, as well as English script. He likes to converse with normal people, and has made many friends, who have been only too anxious to answer his questions. Mr. Virden was Inclined to be reluctant in admitting his part In Coombs’ education. He questioned whether the same might not be done with any blind and deaf person who is anxious to learn. “The fact that Coombs cannot hear or see has made him concentrate more on his other faculties,” said Mr. Virden. "I do not believe that the remaining senses of a person so afflicted are more acute In proportion. They merely become more sensitive through use. Few of us normal persons use our eyes and ears properly.” Mr. Virden first became acquainted with Coombs while principal of the Oklahoma School for the Blind at Fort Gibson, Okla., which is near the lad s home. When he gave up his N \ work there and came to Chicago, he brought the lad with him. He decided to give him every advantage in his power. Soon Coombs was able to converse quickly and Intelligently with his teacher. Later he made many acquaintances in Chicago. Miss Mabel Taliaferro, who was then appearing in moving picture plays, proved a helpful friend. He also visited the juvenile court. He showed great interest in the welfare of juvenile offenders and held several conferences with Judge Pinckney. “Although Coombs reads all manner of raised type and talks in the usual sign language, I found that the easiest way for him to communicate

with strangers who did not know any sign language was to have the letters of the alphabet traced on the palm of his hand. Any one can speak with him in this fashion, and, of course, I can communicate more rapidly because I use abbreviations which we both understand. “At the theater I hold his hand and convey to him the words of the players. The pauses give me plenty of time to keep up with the dialogue.” Mr. Virden is a member of the committee on special education of the National Educational association and as such will visit every institution for the deaf, dumb and blind in the United States. He believes that many of his investigations will have a direct bearing on the future of education for the deaf and blind. Many of our state institutions are highly efficient,” said Mr. Virden. The field of education for persons both deaf and blind, however, has hardly been touched. A great deal can be done for them when once we know what means to employ to help them.”