Inaccuracies in later editions of The Child Who Never Grew by Pearl Buck
　
Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (1892-1973) is one of the world's greatest writers as well as a humanitarian who worked hard to solve the problem of “unadoptable” Asian-American children after the Second World War and to reconcile the cultural differences between the East and the West.　The Child Who Never Grew, first published as an article in the Ladies' Home Journal in May 1950, was a historically significant work in that it first disclosed the existence of her PKU-afflicted daughter Carol and gave precious advice to all parents, then and thereafter, who have mentally challenged children.　In view of this, it is highly regrettable that the story should be circulated in such an inaccurate form.　The collation list below is made so that the publisher of the current edition may recognize the situation and make suitable amendments as quickly as possible.
There are basically two versions of the book The Child Who Never Grew.　The original hardcover edition was published from the John Day Company, founded by Pearl Buck's second husband and editor Richard Walsh.　In 1992, Woodbine House posthumously reissued the book, which includes Foreword by James A. Michener, Introduction, and Afterword by Janice C. Walsh, daughter of the author.　Unfortunately, this edition has many words missing or different from the former.　Both of these had long been out of print, until this year Open Road Integrated Media, an e-book publisher that ex-HarperCollins Jane Friedman founded in 2009, reissued her works electronically.　However, that edition is solely based on the 1992 Woodbine House book and copies all the deviations as they were.　In fact, all the errors of the Woodbine House book are faithfully repeated in the OpenRoadMedia e-book, except (obviously) improper hyphenations.
I have here listed in all fifty-three discrepancies.　The page numbers given are those of the Woodbine House edition.　Assuming that the John Day edition is accurate, I might classify them into seven categories.
　
　1. simple typos and the like: #ii, iii, iv, v, 03, 05, 29, 32, 43, 46
　2. matters of choice of variants and the like: #02, 09, 24, 26, 42, 45
　3. minor issues of punctuation: #11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 24, 27, 38
　4. inadvertent omissions: #04, 06, 07, 10, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 28, 30, 31, 36, 44, 47
　5. serious errors: #01, 08, 16, 21, 25, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41
　6. non-editorial error: #i
　7. improper hyphenation: #35, vi (only in the Woodbine House book)
　
Of these I believe the worst mistake is #41, humanity for humility.　To make the context clearer I quote the whole paragraph:
　
So by this most sorrowful way I was compelled to tread, I learned respect and reverence for every human mind.　It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity and that all have the same human rights.　None is to be considered less, as a human being, than any other, and each must be given his place and his safety in the world.　I might never have learned this in any other way.　I might have gone on in the arrogance of my own intolerance for those less able than myself.　My child taught me humility.
　
Dr. ITO Ryuji, famed educational psychologist, who translated this book into Japanese, renders the last sentence as: 娘はわたしに「自分を低くすること」を教えてくれたのです。Literally, “My daughter taught me how to make myself humbler.”　Otherwise, the author declares, she might have been as arrogant as she used to be.　Well, when can you be taught humanity at all?　Doesn't this imply more or less that you were not quite human until the teaching?　This might be going a bit too far, but I am positive that the author meant here humility, not humanity.
#i is unfortunate since the founder of Elizabeth Sanders Home is mistaken for her husband, but this probably derives from James Michener and should stand as it is.
#01 is significant.　Carol had unusual musical talent which could not be expressed. The phrase “find experience” just does not make sense here.
#08 makes the meaning considerably different.　Carol's restlessness did not increase, but never ceased.
#16, though apparently a small omission, does matter.　The parents should not be glad that the child is below knowing his or her condition.　They should be glad if the child is.
#21 makes the passage unclear.　Carol could change her roots from her home to a new one, the Training School.　The phrase “from this home in a new one” makes no sense here.
#25 also obscures the meaning.　The author meant that she had determined by this time.　It is not clear why she should have been forced to determine.
#33 may be small, but since looking up to someone often means respect, looking up at should be better.
I suspect #34 might make the sentence ungrammatical.　I wonder if it is acceptable to say frightened disappointment.
#35 is small, but the author meant that she put herself wholeheartedly into that half hour of talk with those challenged children, not just during that time.
#37 could be accepted, but the connotation of homeliness might be unnecessary here.
#39 is the least yet quite a serious one.　Although “I have done all that could be done.” is an independent sentence, the omission of a single full stop combines it with the previous and confuses the significance.
#40 makes the meaning quite strange.　The author reflects on her impatience and repents.　It is natural in the sense of being inherited.　The adjective normal almost sounds like an excuse for being impatient.
Now, quite ironical but fortunate for us Japanese is the fact that the domestic editions are based on the original John Day book and are accordingly exempt from those inaccuracies. The abridged college textbook edition from Nan'undo (南雲堂) is accurate, so is the 1993 translation by Dr. Ito, published from Hosei University.　In the meantime, it is preferable to read the book in the original edition, but you can be charged up to $999 to get a secondhand copy via Amazon.　(I myself spent \14200 to get one.)　The e-book is less than $10.　I do hope for an early revision of the OpenRoadMedia e-book all the more strongly for this.　By doing what little I can do to correct these inaccuracies, I'd like to show my respect and gratitude for the great Nobel and Pulitzer Prize Winner in a small way.
collation list of The Child Who Never Grew

#
　		 Woodbine House (1992)
p. (WH)
OpenRoadMedia (2012)
The John Day Company (1950)
　
i









　		 vi









　		 While on a writing assignment in Tokyo I received a cable from Miss Buck asking me to visit a Mrs. Renzo Sawada, who had organized her own orphanage to care for abandoned Japanese babies.
[correctly Miki Sawada, probably not an editorial error - Renzo (廉三) was the husband of SAWADA Miki (沢田美喜), grandchild of IWASAKI Yataro, founder of Mitsubishi]		 n/a



　
ii

　		 05

　		 Seguin contended that mental deficiency was a pedagogical rather then a medical problem. n/a

　
iii


　		 06


　		 Adapting Itard and Sequin's sensory teaching materials, Dr. Montessori showed that these “deficients,” as they were called, could indeed learn. n/a


　
iv


　		 14


　		 Yet many of the children could be aided to became useful citizens if they had special training and could work in a protected environment. n/a


　
v





　		 15





　		 JFK then threw the power and leadership of the Presidency behind the budding movement to improve the lives of mentally retarded people when he declared in 1963, “Although retarded children may be the victim of fate, they will not be the victims of our neglect.” n/a





　
01


　		 26


　		 I resolved that my child, whose natural gifts were obviously unusual, even though they were never to find experience, was not to be wasted. I resolved that my child, whose natural gifts were obviously unusual, even though they were never to find expression, was not to be wasted.

02
　
28
　
Neighbors whisper that so-and-so's child is “not right.”
Neighbors whisper that So-and-so's child is “not right.”
03



　		 29



　		 We know, for example, that if a women has German measles in the first three months of pregnancy, her child may be born mentally defective, but we do not know why. We know, for example, that if a woman has German measles in the first three months of pregnancy, her child may be born mentally defective, but we do not know why.
04


　		 30


　		 Until then I suppose I was the usual selfish creature, thinking of play and of nothing else except having my own way.
　		 Until then I suppose I was the usual selfish childish creature, thinking of play and of nothing else except having my own way.
05

　		 30

　		 I wanted children of my own, as most woman do, but I think my intense love of life added depth to natural longing. I wanted children of my own, as most women do, but I think my intense love of life added depth to natural longing.
06

　		 32

　		 I remember when she was two months old that an old friend saw her the first time. I remember when she was two months old that an old friend saw her for the first time.
07

　		 33

　		 There seem to be few, and such as there are remain at home, carefully tended. There seem to be very few, and such as there are remain at home, carefully tended.
08



　		 36



　		 The slowness to walk, the slowness to talk, and then when the child could walk, the increasing restlessness which took the form of constant running hither and thither, were all danger signs. The slowness to walk, the slowness to talk, and then when the child could walk, the incessant restlessness which took the form of constant running hither and thither, were all danger signs.
09


　		 36


　		 What I had taken to be the vitality of a splendid body I saw now might be the super energy of a mind that had not kept control of the body. What I had taken to be the vitality of a splendid body I saw now might be the superenergy of a mind that had not kept control of the body.
10

　		 38

　		 I began to feel that they were agreed that development had stopped in the child, but did not know why. I began to feel that they were agreed that development had stopped in the child, but they did not know why.
11


　		 39


　		 More than this, the Chinese believed that since Heaven ordains, it was a person's fate to be whatever he was and it was neither his fault nor his family's. More than this, the Chinese believed that since Heaven ordains, it was a person's fate to be whatever he was, and it was neither his fault nor his family's.
12


　		 44


　		 I remember, too, exactly how he looked, a little man, shorter than I, his face pale, a small, clipped black mustache under which his lips were grim. I remember, too, exactly how he looked, a little man, shorter than I, his face pale, a small, clipped black mustache, under which his lips were grim.
13
　		 47
　		 Most of them are young people and how my heart aches for them! Most of them are young people, and how my heart aches for them!
14



　		 47



　		 We come of long-lived stock, and though I might live to be old myself, I was borne down by grief and she had no burdens on her happy, childish mind.
　		 We come of long-lived stock, and though I might live to be old myself, I was borne down by grief and fear and she had no burdens on her happy, childish mind.
15 49 “No, no,” she will say. “I don't like it.” “No, no,” she will say, “I don't like it.”
16


　		 50


　		 To parents I say first that if you discover that your child cannot be normal, be glad he is below the possibility of knowing his own condition. To parents I say first that if you discover that your child cannot be normal, be glad if he is below the possibility of knowing his own condition.
17

　		 51

　		 Were the right to kill a child put into a parent's hands, the effect would be evil indeed in our world. Were the right to kill a child put even into a parent's hands, the effect would be evil indeed in our world.
18


　		 52


　		 Euthanasia is a long, smooth-sounding word, and it conceals its danger as long smooth words do, but the danger is there, nevertheless. Euthanasia is a long, smooth-sounding word, and it conceals its danger as long, smooth words do, but the danger is there, nevertheless.
19



　		 52



　		 My compromise was to learn to act on the surface as much like my usual self as possible, to talk, to laugh, to seem to take an interest in what went on.
　		 My compromise was to learn how to act on the surface as much like my usual self as possible, to talk, to laugh, to seem to take an interest in what went on.
20



　		 55



　		 It all began, I remember, in a sort of wonder that such things went on as they had before, and then a realization that what had happened to me had changed nothing except myself. It all began, I remember, in a sort of wonder that such things went on as they had before, and then a realization that what had happened to me had actually changed nothing except myself.
21


　		 56


　		 She could gradually change her roots from this home in a new one, knowing that I was near and would come to see her again and again. She could gradually change her roots from this home to a new one, knowing that I was near and would come to see her again and again.
22
　		 57
　		 They had gone to each other's parties.
　		 They had always gone to each other's parties.
23


　		 58


　		 It was hard to explain this to my Chinese friends, and hard not be moved by their appeals to me to keep the child with me. It was hard to explain this to my Chinese friends, and hard not to be moved by their appeals to me to keep the child with me.
24





　		 61





　		 We ate the little lunches we bought from vendors at the station, small clean wooden boxes packed with compartments of rice, pickles and fish, and my child for the first time in her life had fresh pasteurized milk, hot and in sealed bottles. We ate the little lunches we bought from venders at the station, small, clean, wooden boxes packed with compartments of rice, pickles and fish, and my child for the first time in her life had fresh pasteurized milk, hot and in sealed bottles.
25
　		 65
　		 I had to determine that I would not judge by money alone. I had determined that I would not judge by money alone.
26

　		 65

　		 There were an excellent school building and a good exhibit of handcraft, done by the children. There were an excellent school building and a good exhibit of handicraft, done by the children.
27
　		 66
　		 Go back to the steps and walk across the porch again. Go back to the steps and walk across the porch again!
28

　		 67

　		 Oh, how my heart suffered for those big rooms of children sitting dully on benches, waiting! Oh, how my heart suffered for those big rooms of children sitting dully on benches, waiting, waiting!
29

　		 69

　		 There were gay curtain at the windows and bright linoleum on the floors.
　		 There were gay curtains at the windows and bright linoleums on the floors.
30




　		 70




　		 Without looking at the buildings or the grounds, I knew when I entered the office and shook hands with quiet, gray-haired man who greeted me with a gentle voice that I had found what I wanted. Without looking at the buildings or the grounds, I knew when I entered the office and shook hands with the quiet, gray-haired man who greeted me with a gentle voice that I had found what I wanted.
31



　		 70



　		 I saw he took time to play with them and that he let them hug his knees and look in his pockets where there were small chocolates?very tiny ones, not enough to spoil a child's appetite. I saw that he took time to play with them and that he let them hug his knees and look in his pockets where there were small chocolates?very tiny ones, not enough to spoil a child's appetite.
32
　		 71
　		 Upon a September day I bought my little girl to the place I had found. Upon a September day I brought my little girl to the place I had found.
33


　		 72


　		 Such a one came to me when I stood on the platform of that room and saw before me hundreds of children's faces looking up to me. Such a one came to me when I stood on the platform of that room and saw before me hundreds of children's faces looking up at me.
34

　		 72

　		 What heartache loomed behind each one, what years of pain, what tears, what frightened disappointment and despair! What heartache loomed behind each one, what years of pain, what tears, what frightful disappointment and despair!

35



　
72



　		 [hyphenation in Woodbine House]
I think I never tried more earnestly to interest an audience,never had I put myself so wholehear-
tedly into any effort as I did that half hour of talk with those children.
I think I never tried more earnestly to interest an audience, never had I put myself so wholeheartedly into any effort as I did into that half hour of talk with those children.
36


　		 72


　		 I could not tell them I understood their lives better than I understood anything else, because I had lived through such a life. I could not tell them that I understood their lives better than I understood anything else, because I had lived through such a life.
37

　		 75

　		 “It is not possible for your child to live here exactly as she has in your home,” he said when I had finished. “It is not possible for your child to live here exactly as she has in your house,” he said when I had finished.
38

　		 76

　		 I stayed with her for only a day because they said it would be better not to stay too long the first time. I stayed with her for only a day, because they said it would be better not to stay too long the first time.
39


　		 77


　		 I have a sense of pride that she will be dependent on no one as long as she lives, and whether or not I live I have done all that could be done. I have a sense of pride that she will be dependent on no one as long as she lives, and whether or not I live. I have done all that could be done.
40

　		 77

　		 Normal impatience burst forth time and again, to my shame, and it seemed useless to try to teach. Natural impatience burst forth time and again, to my shame, and it seemed useless to try to teach.
41 78 My child taught me humanity. My child taught me humility.
42






　		 79






　		 Psychologists working with mentally retarded children at The Training School in Vineland, New Jersey, have found that while I.Q. may be very low indeed a child actually may function a good deal higher because of his social sense, his feeling of how he ought to behave, his pride, his kindness, his wish to be liked. Psychologists working with mentally retarded children at The Training School in Vineland, New Jersey, have found that while the I. Q. may be very low indeed a child actually may function a good deal higher because of his social sense, his feeling of how he ought to behave, his pride, his kindness, his wish to be liked.
43



　		 80



　		 There are states where the institutions are remarkably good the employees well paid, a pension system established and every inducement offered for good people to say. There are states where the institutions are remarkably good the employees well paid, a pension system established and every inducement offered for good people to stay.
44


　		 80


　		 Yet the weakness in most institutions is that often they do not continue beyond the lifetime of the person who establishes them. Yet the weakness in most private institutions is that often they do not continue beyond the lifetime of the person who establishes them.
45
　		 81
　		 My daddy and mommy came last week to see me! My daddy and mummy came last week to see me!
46







　		 83







　		 Its work with birth-injured children and cerebral palsy has been notable, and the vigorous men and woman who have spent their lives there learning from the children, in order that they may know better how to prevent and to cure, have infused vitality into the life of the institution, and into the whole subject of mental deficiency beyond. Its work with birth-injured children and cerebral palsy has been notable, and the vigorous men and women who have spent their lives there learning from the children, in order that they may know better how to prevent and to cure, have infused vitality into the life of the institution, and into the whole subject of mental deficiency beyond.
47


　		 86


　		 Even if boarding homes are multiplied, care of these children must be paid for, in the vast majority of cases, by public funds. Even if boarding homes are multiplied, the care of these children must be paid for, in the vast majority of cases, by public funds.

vi
　
95
　		 [hyphenation in Woodbine House]
　… several years of learning and inter-
nship, I became an Occupational …
n/a