Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1914 — BLIND AND DEAF, LEARNS TYPING [ARTICLE]

BLIND AND DEAF, LEARNS TYPING

Young Woman Has Accomplished Much Despite Loss of Her Two Sense* '• i - ■ -■ IS CHIEFLY SELF-EDUCATED Miss Maude Wlckliff, of Pataskalo, Ohio, Writes Sketch of Her Life on Her Own Machine—She is Thirtyone Years Old. Columbus, Ohio. —Blind and deaf, Miss Maude Wickliff, of Pataskale, Ohio, io in many respects a Helen Keller. Self-educated largely, she enjoys many of life’s pleasures and comforts. Her disposition is winning. One of her accomplishments is ability to operate a typewriter. Recently, upon being asked to give a sketch of herself, She wrote the following on her machine: ' "Having been asked for a little sketch of my li*'l now write down a few facts ab myself and what I have accomplished . which, though It seems very little in comparison to what other deaf-blind have done and are doing, has at least brought comforting rays of sunshine into my heart, enabling me to bear my sad lot with some degree of cheerfulness. "I was bom in Licking county, Ohio, on the sth of July, 1880. My mother died when I was little more than two years old, leaving me in th* care of her parents, and especially of her only sister, to whom I owe both a mother’s care and a mother’s love. ’ I was never healthy and strong, and flor this reason and because my sight was always defective, I never attended school.* However, I was taught to read at a very early age, and I remember that I made quick work of my first reader. "I was very fond of reading from the start, but I must confess that I cared little for study. Nor was study ever forced upon me. As a child I was thought to be good at reciting, and I frequently appeared at public gatherings where speaking was in order. I also gave a few entertainments myself, assisted by my brother. My one ambition then was to make the stage the scene of my life work. "But all my hopes of such a career were shattered when at the age of nine, I suddenly lost my hearing, which had been perfect up to that time. “I need not say hov; sad and lonely my life was after that But I did enjoy one blessing. My sight was tor some years much improved, so that I could keep myself company a good part of the time by reading.' Gradually, however, my sight also failed. Then I learned to read by touch. That was nearly ten years ago. I first learned to read line letter; later to read and write the New York point system. Alphabets and writing materials were furnished by the State School for the Blind and friends helped me. I am particularly grateful to the late M. A. H. Brice, a blind gentleman, forthe practical assistance and kindly encouragement ha gave me at that time. I never had the pleasure of meeting him personally, nor have I ever visited the State School for the Blind. “In 1904 I learned the English Braille system, being taught by a deaf blind lady of Chicago, lit A* soon as I could get a Braille slate I learned to write this system. I read American Braille, too, but do riot write it, simply because I have a profound dislike for the type. “With a writing board and lead pencil I can write a little script, but not a good, legible hand by any means. I correspond a good deal in the embossed types, having made friends with several interesting blind people in different States and in Canada.**