’09.—Nice shoes, pink, dark blue, and white ribbons.
’10.—Money for dentist bill.
’11.—Rubbers, three shirts, blue scarf, three yards linen, two yards lawn for fancy work.”
Age 15.
Age 17.
Deborah.
It will be remembered that in her history, number was mentioned as being one of her strong points. Indeed, she had a great deal of thorough drill in this branch. In a recent testing to determine how much of this she still retained, or whether the work had been of any value as mental discipline, the results were negative. It was discovered that she could neither add nor subtract, except where it was a question of concrete objects connected with her daily life. For example, she can set a table and wait on it very nicely. She can put the right number of plates at the head of the table, if she knows the people who are to sit there, but at a table with precisely the same number of strangers, she fails in making the correct count.
At a recent test made before a prominent scientist, the question was asked, “How many are 12 less 3?” She thought for a moment, looked around the room and finally answered, “Nine.” “Correct,” said her questioner. “Do you know how I did it?” she asked, delighted at her success. “I counted on my fingers.”