The Story of My Life

Before October, 1893, I had studied various subjects by myself in a more or less desultory manner.  I read the histories of Greece, Rome and the United States.  I had a French grammar in raised print, and as I already knew some French, I often amused myself by composing in my head short exercises, using the new words as I came across them, and ignoring rules and other technicalities as much as possible.  I even tried, without aid, to master the French pronunciation, as I found all the letters and sounds described in the book.  Of course this was tasking slender powers for great ends; but it gave me something to do on a rainy day, and I acquired a sufficient knowledge of French to read with pleasure La Fontaine’s “Fables,” “Le Medecin Malgre Lui” and passages from “Athalie.”

I also gave considerable time to the improvement of my speech.  I read aloud to Miss Sullivan and recited passages from my favourite poets, which I had committed to memory; she corrected my pronunciation and helped me to phrase and inflect.  It was not, however, until October, 1893, after I had recovered from the fatigue and excitement of my visit to the World’s Fair, that I began to have lessons in special subjects at fixed hours.

Miss Sullivan and I were at that time in Hulton, Pennsylvania, visiting the family of Mr. William Wade.  Mr. Irons, a neighbour of theirs, was a good Latin scholar; it was arranged that I should study under him.  I remember him as a man of rare, sweet nature and of wide experience.  He taught me Latin grammar principally; but he often helped me in arithmetic, which I found as troublesome as it was uninteresting.  Mr. Irons also read with me Tennyson’s “In Memoriam.”  I had read many books before, but never from a critical point of view.  I learned for the first time to know an author, to recognize his style as I recognize the clasp of a friend’s hand.

At first I was rather unwilling to study Latin grammar.  It seemed absurd to waste time analyzing, every word I came across—­noun, genitive, singular, feminine—­when its meaning was quite plain.  I thought I might just as well describe my pet in order to know it—­order, vertebrate; division, quadruped; class, mammalia; genus, felinus; species, cat; individual, Tabby.  But as I got deeper into the subject, I became more interested, and the beauty of the language delighted me.  I often amused myself by reading Latin passages, picking up words I understood and trying to make sense.  I have never ceased to enjoy this pastime.

There is nothing more beautiful, I think, than the evanescent fleeting images and sentiments presented by a language one is just becoming familiar with—­ideas that flit across the mental sky, shaped and tinted by capricious fancy.  Miss Sullivan sat beside me at my lessons, spelling into my hand whatever Mr. Irons said, and looking up new words for me.  I was just beginning to read Caesar’s “Gallic War” when I went to my home in Alabama.