276 ArPLICATION OF THE METHOD FOLLOWED 



"The result, thus far, is quickly related and easily 

 conceived ; but not so was the process, for many weeks 

 of apparently unprofitable labour were spent before it 

 was effected. 



" The next step was to procure a set of metal types, 

 with the different letters of the alphabet cast separately 

 on their ends ; also a board, in which were square holes, 

 into which she could set the types, so that the letters 

 could alone be felt above the surface, 



" Thus, on any article being handed to her, as a pencil 

 or watch, she would select the component letters and 

 arrange them on the board, and read them with apparent 

 pleasure, assuring her teacher that she understood by 

 taking all the letters of the word and putting them to 

 her ear, or on the pencil." 



It is unnecessary, from my present point of view, to 

 carry the narrative further, interesting as it is. I will 

 only observe that even in the case of Laura Bridgman 

 the process was one of much difficulty and requiring 

 great patience. For a long while it was found im* 

 possible to make her realize the use of adjectives ; she 

 could not "understand any general expression of 

 quality." Again, we are told that ** Some idea of the 

 difficulty of teaching her common expressions may be 

 derived from the fact that a lesson of two hours upon 

 the words 'right' and 'left' was deemed very profitable 

 if she had in that time really mastered the idea." 



Now, it seemed to me that the ingenious method 

 devised by Dr. Howe, and so successfully carried 

 out in the case of Laura Bridgman, might be adapted 

 to the case of dogs, and I have tried this in a small 

 way with a black poodle named Van. 



