It means humiliation. It means disgrace in the eyes of
the other pupils. And finally, it means valuable time wasted--not in
getting an education--but in suffering untold misery in TRYING to get
one--and failing.

A boy fourteen years of age, who has failed to advance in school, and
who finds stammering a handicap of serious proportions, tells me:

"I am fourteen years old and only in the fifth grade. I am afraid to
recite because of my stuttering, and because of my not reciting when my
teachers call on me, I am getting low marks in school and do not know
if I will ever get through."

One mother writes:

"My little girl will not go to Sunday School because she does not like
the other children to look at her so straight when she stammers."

A boy says:

"I am thirteen years old and in school. I am afraid to recite because
of my stuttering; and because of my not reciting I get low average in
studies."

Another boy told me:

"I am now in the third year of my high school course. On the first day
of the term I went to school, I made such a miserable thing of myself
that I quit. The school superintendent and principal saw me when I came
back the second day as I was carrying my books out. Of course they
stopped me and I made an explanation. I couldn't tell any of the new
teachers my name. It was impossible to make any kind of a recitation. I
was introduced to all of my teachers and have been STUMBLING ALONG ever
since with grades anywhere from 0 to 60."

A SOCIAL DRAWBACK: No stammerer but knows that his malady marks him for
the half-suppressed smiles of thoughtless people and the unkind remarks
of those who really know nothing of the suffering which these unkind
remarks occasion. It is true, but unfortunate, that the stammerer is
not wanted in any social gathering, he can provide no entertainment,
save at his own expense, and of all people he is most ill at ease when
out among others.

A young lady writes:

"Mr. Bogue, I would give one of my eyes to get rid of stammering. That
is all I am after. Please excuse this awful writing. I AM SO NERVOUS I
CAN HARDLY GET THE PEN INTO THE INK BOTTLE."

Here is a letter from one man:

"I am 36 years old, and have stammered for 28 years. I don't stammer so
bad, but just bad enough to spoil my life. I always have to take a back
seat in company. I belong to three lodges, but I do not take part in
any of them because I am afraid they will ask me to take part in the
order. It