Chapter 2 ‘Then there is the future,’ said the very young man. ‘Just think! One might invest all one’s money, leave it to accumulate at interest, and hurry on ahead!’‘To discover a society,’ said I, ‘erected on a strictly communistic basis.’‘Of all the wild extravagant theories!’ began the Psychologist.‘Yes, so it seemed to me, and […]
Chapter 1 The Time Traveller (for so it will be convenient to speak of him) was expounding a recondite matter to us. His grey eyes shone and twinkled, and his usually pale face was flushed and animated. The fire burned brightly, and the soft radiance of the incandescent lights in the lilies of silver caught
Chapter 15 I have many far-off friends whom I have never seen. Indeed they are so many that I have often been unable to reply to their letters; but I wish to say here that I am always grateful for their kind words, however insufficiently I acknowledge them.I count it one of the sweetest privileges
Chapter 14 My favourite amusement is sailing. In the summer of 1901 I visited Nova Scotia, and had opportunities such as I had not enjoyed before to make the acquaintance of the ocean. After spending a few days in Evangeline’s country, about which Longfellow’s beautiful poem has woven a spell of enchantment, Miss Sullivan and
Chapter 13 I have thus far sketched the events of my life, but I have not shown how much I have depended on books not only for pleasure and for the wisdom they bring to all who read, but also for that knowledge which comes to others through their eyes and their ears. Indeed, books
Chapter 12 I remember my first day at Radcliffe. It was a day full of interest for me. I had looked forward to it for years. A potent force within me, stronger than the persuasion of my friends, stronger even than the pleadings of my heart, had impelled me to try my strength by the
Chapter 11 I faced unforeseen difficulties in my second year at the Gilman School. Mr Gilman, the head of school, opined that I should study mathematics that year. On the other hand, I had physics, algebra, geometry, astronomy, Greek and Latin. Adding to my woes I lacked the necessary material for mathematics. There were students
Chapter 10 I attended the meeting in the summer of 1894 at Chautauqua of the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf. Accompanied by my able teacher Anne Sullivan, I visited the Wright- Humason School for the Deaf in New York City. It was the school with a difference because it
Chapter 9 The chief events of the year 1893 were my trip to Washington during the inauguration of President Cleveland, and visits to Niagara and the World’s Fair. Under such circumstances my studies were constantly interrupted and often put aside for many weeks, so that it is impossible for me to give a connected account
Chapter 8 In the winter of 1892 an incident completely shook me. For a long time I lived in anxiety, fear and doubt. Books had no charm for me. All my interest in reading or speaking had faded away. Whenever dreadful memory of that day haunts me, I am chilled to bone. What happened that
Chapter 7 I preferred a lot to spend my every winter in the North since my first visit to Boston. On one such visit I happened to reach a New England village. It was quite alluring and chanting. It had frozen lakes and vast snow fields. I was on cloud nine. In fact, my joy
Chapter 6 After I had recovered from my first experience in the water, I thought it great fun to sit on a big rock in my bathing-suit and feel wave after wave dash against the rock, sending up a shower of spray which quite covered me. I felt the pebbles rattling as the waves threw
Chapter 5 Under the expert and able guidance of Anne Sullivan I was learning to read. It was a big leep for me. With a lot of practice I could spell a few words. My teacher gave me slips of cardboard on which were printed words in raised letters. I could easily learn them as
Chapter 4 I recall many incidents of the summer of 1887 that followed my soul’s sudden awakening. I did nothing but explore with my hands and learn the name of every object that I touched; and the more I handled things and learnt their names and uses, the more joyous and confident grew my sense
Chapter 3 That was the unforgettable day of my life when I chanced to meet my teacher Anny Mansfield Sullivan. She was going to bring about a tremendous change in my life which was torn apart owing my deformities. I remember the date well. It was 3rd March 1887, three months before I turned seven.