Sunday, March 24, 2013

Still Accident Prone?


You may be wondering how young high school graduate Sam Bean was faring after his promising launch out into the seeing and hearing world of adult responsibility. Granted, accolades were showered on him during those student years at the California School for the Deaf and Blind—and his accomplishments were, indeed, laudable.

Real life, however, does tend to put a different spin on dreams.

Can a poet really sell enough books of his own creation to raise the funds it would take to support himself? Would it provide for not only himself, but—as did happen soon afterwards with his marriage to Maud Woodworth in early 1921—also for a wife?

Thankfully, the Oakland Tribune persisted in its coverage of what seemed to be turning into “Sam’s saga” even after his graduation from the state school in Berkeley, California. One such report—accessible in the Tribune's November 2, 1920, issue for Ancestry.com subscribers here—mentioned that Sam had been “touring the state selling books of poetry” that he had written.

The conclusion of that particular report, though, had a curious twist to it, which made me think back to newspaper articles from Sam’s childhood. If you recall my search to find any story covering the true reason for Sam’s blind and deaf condition, you will remember my alarm at finding an entry in the San Francisco Call regarding yet another injury. At the time, I had remarked that it seemed as if Samuel Bean was a child who had become accident prone.

I realize the incident that befell Sam in 1920 most likely was the result of his inability to see all the details of his surroundings, leading to an unfortunate—and costly—mishap. But I couldn’t help remembering my observation about those earlier incidents. As much as Sam’s theme in life seemed to be “I can do anything you can do,” it makes me wonder if a seeing, hearing Sam would have taken that same unexpected tumble.
            Word of a recent escape from drowning at a Los Angeles suburb experienced by young Bean has reached friends in the bay section. Falling from a wharf, Bean was rescued, but lost, however, a valuable gold watch presented to him at the time of his graduation at the blind school.

7 comments:

  1. During the summer, I am ofter at a wharf and its amazing how many seeing and hearing people also fall off the docks. I think the row I am on, nearly everyone of the 40-50 people has fallen off at one time or another... including most of the dogs too! :) and me...

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    1. When I think of how much concern I've felt over falling in, during those few times I've been invited out on the delta in a friend's boat, I'm amazed to hear from you how many have fallen in at the docks by you. I guess that impression to watch my step wasn't as misplaced as I always thought it was!

      In Sam's case, I imagine he was with a group of people...all of whom may have forgotten that job #1 at the moment might have been to help prevent that mishap from happening.

      I also can't help but imagine that one of the reasons he was down south was to visit his intended's family. After all, it was only months after that incident that Sam and Maud were married. I'm sure, after the shock of the incident wore off, that they all had a good laugh about it.

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    2. ...well, except for the part about losing the watch :(

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  2. I have fallen off many a dock here in Minnesota..or been pushed off by "friends." So it could happen to anyone..but what being blind and deaf it must have been scary..but Sam doesn't seem fearful..just adventerous:)

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    1. Oh, so you have those sorts of "friends" too, eh?

      I keep wondering if anyone with Sam explained to him about his surroundings at the moment...and who rescued him...and who he was with...and why they were at the wharf. You're right: Sam doesn't seem the fearful type, but it's nice to know a little about what's going on around you--a head's up, so to speak.

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  3. Today in the 21st century I know of few, if any, seeing and hearing poets who can make a living publishing their poetry. The days of Robert Frost are gone. For sellers of fiction (except maybe mass market mysteries), the story is pretty much the same.

    As for the other question, I was never quite sure what the description "accident prone" meant, beyond describing a person who doesn't "watch where he's going"...Hm, I can be like that . . .

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    1. Good point, Mariann--although nowadays there is such a proliferation of choices of material to read (not to mention competition with other media) that I could understand any one given author not being able to make a living from their publications.

      I am not entirely sure how Sam fared with this proposal, himself. I have my guesses, but won't find confirmation without another trip back to San Jose, which unfortunately won't occur in the near future.

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