Page 365 - The Story of My Lif

How far Miss Sullivan carried this process of refinement and selection is evident
from the humorous comment of Dr. Bell, that she made her pupil a little old
woman, too widely different from ordinary children in her maturity of thought.

When Dr. Bell said this he was arguing his own case. For it was Dr. Bell who
first saw the principles that underlie Miss Sullivan’s method, and explained the
process by which Helen Keller absorbed language from books.

There is, moreover, a reason why Helen Keller writes good English, which lies
in the very absence of sight and hearing. The disadvantages of being deaf and

blind were overcome and the advantages remained. She excels other deaf people
because she was taught as if she were normal. On the other hand, the peculiar
value to her of language, which ordinary people take for granted as a necessary
part of them like their right hand, made her think about language and love it.
Language was her liberator, and from the first she cherished it.

The proof of Miss Keller’s early skill in the use of English, and the final
comment on the excellence of this whole method of teaching, is contained in an
incident, which, although at the time it seemed unfortunate, can no longer be
regretted. I refer to the “Frost King” episode, which I shall explain in detail.

Miss Keller has given her account of it, and the whole matter was discussed in
the first Volta Bureau Souvenir from which I quote at length:

MISS SULLIVAN’S ACCOUNT OF THE “FROST KING”

HON. JOHN HITZ,

Superintendent of the Volta Bureau, Washington, D. C.