Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-12-29

blind girl was capable.
TWAS occasionally the practice Of gen.
tlemen who from pity or curiosity visited
her, to make trial of her sagacity, by
giving her their watches aud employing
her to restore them to their right owner.
They would change their position with
regard to her, and each strive to take the
watch which did not belong to him; but ,
though she mi ght at the same time hold
two or three, neither siratagem nor per-
suasion would induce her to yield either
Of them, except to the person from whom
she had received it. There seemed to
be prtneiple in the tenacity with which
she adhered to this system to give every
one his own, which may probably be re-
solved into that moral honesty which has
ever formed conspicuous part Of her
character. Though nurtured in extreme
poverty, and after her removal from the
parental roof, in the constant habit of be-
ing in contact with articles of dress or
food which strongly tempted her desires,
she has never been known to appropriate
to herself, without permission, the most
trfling object. In well educated child
this would be no remarkable Virtue, but
in one who has had the benefit of no NOR
al training to teach her to respect the
rights ofproperty, & whose perfect blind
ness must often render it difficult to de-
fine them, the incorruptble irmness Of
this innate principle is truly laudable.-
There is also connected with it delicate
feeling or scrupulousness of conscience
which renders it necessary in presenting
her any gift, to assure her repeatedly by
sign which she understands that it is for
her, ere she will consent to accept it.
Continuing to become an object of in
creased attention, and her more remote
situation not being convenient for the ac
cess Of strangers, application was made
for her admission into the asylum, and
permission was granted by the directors
in the summer of 1926. After her rccep-
ton into that peaceful re luge, some at
tempts were made by benevolent in
structor to teach her the alphabet, by
means of letters both raised above and
indented beneath smooth surface. But
it was in vain that she punctually repair
cd to the, school room, and daily devot-
ed hour after hour to copying their forms
with pins upon cushion. However ac-
curate her dclineations sometimes were,
they conveyed no idea to the mind sitting
in darkness. 1t was therefore deemed
wiser to confne her attic nton to those few
attainments which were within her sphere
than to open warfare with nature, in
those avenues which she had 80 decided
ly sealed.
1t has been observed Of persons who
are deprived of a particular sense, that
additional quickness Of vigor is bestowed
on those which remain. Thus blind per-
sons arc often distinguished by particu-
lar exquisteness Of touch, and the deaf
and dumb, who gain all their knowledge
through the eye, concentrate, as it were,
their whole soul in that channel of OBJ
servation. With her, whose eye, ear, &
tongue, are alike dead, the capabilities
both of touch and smell are exceedingly
heightened. Especially the latter seems
almost to have acquired the properties of
new sense, and to transcend even the
sagacity of spaniels. Yet, keeping in
view all the aid which these limited fac.
ulties have the power of imparting, some
of the discoveries and exercises of her
intellect are still, in manner, unac-
countable.
AS the abodes which, from her earliest
recollection, she had inhabited, were cir
cumscrbed and humble, it was supposed
that, at her first reception into the asy-
lum, she would testify surprise at the
comparative spaciousness of the mansion.
But she Immediately busted herself in
quietly exploring the size of the apart
ments, and the height of the staircases;
she even knelt 8, smelled the thresholds;
and now, as if by the union of a myster-
ious geometry, with powerful memory,
never makes false step upon flight of
stairs, or enters wrong door, or mis-
takes her seat at the table.
Among her various excellencies, neat
ness, and love Of order arc conspicuous.
Her simple wardrobe is Systematically
arranged, and it is impossible to displace
single article in her drawers without
her percciving and restoring it. When
the large basket Of clean linen is weekly
brought from the laundress, she selects
her own garments without hesitation,
however widely they may be dispersed a
mong the mass. If any part of her dress
requires mending, she is prompt and skill.
ful in repairing it, and her perseverance,
in this branch Of economy greatly dimin-
ishes the expense Of her clothing.
Since her residence at the asylum, the
donations of charitable visitants have
been considerable in amount. These are