Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-22

truly laudable. There is also connected with It a
delicacy Of feeling or scrupulousness OF con.
science, 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 acceptit.
Continuing to be an object OF increased atten-
ton and her more remote situation not being con-
venient for the access of stranger, application was
made for her admission into the asylum and per-
mission was granted BY the Director in the sum-
mer of 1895. After her reception into that peace
full refuge, some attempts wereImade by benev-
olent instructor 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 repaired to the schoo-room,
and daily devoted hour after hour to copying their
forms with pins upon cushion. However ac-
curate her delineatiOns sometimes were, they con-
veyed no idea to the mind sitting in darkness
1t was therefore deemed wiser to conhne her at
tention to those few attanments, which were with
i'm her sphere, than to open warfare with Ma
ture in those avenues which she had 50 decidedly
sealed.
1t has been observed Of persons who are de
priyed of particular sense that additional quick
ness or vigor is bestowed on those which remain.
Thus blind persons are often distinguished by par.
ticular exquisiteness of touch, and the deal ana
dumb, who gain all their knowledge through the
eve, concentrate, as it were, their whole soul IN
hat channel of observation. With her, whose
eve. ear and tongue are alike dead, the capabill-
ties 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 Ut spaniel.
Yet keeping In view all the aid which these limit
ed faculties have, the power OF impartlns some
of the discoveries and exercises oil her intellect
are still, ia measure, unaccOuntable.
As the abOdes which from her earliest recolee.
ton she had inhabited, were cIrcumscribed anu
humble, 1t was supposed that at her first recep-
ton into the Asylum she would testify surprise
at the comparative spaciOusness OF the mansion.
But she Immediately busted herself in quietly eS-
poring the size of the apartments, and the height
of the staircases; she even kneIt, and smeled to
the thresholds; and now as IL by the union OF
mysterious geometry with powerful memory, new
err makes false step upon Alright OF stairs,or en-
tiers wrong door, or mistakes her seat at the
table.
Among her various excellencies, neatness, and
love of order are conspicuous. Her simple ward
robe is Systematically arragned. and it is impos-
sible 10 dispace a single article in her drawers
without her perceislng and restoring It. when
the large baskets of clean linen are weekly brought
from the laundress, she selects her own garments
without hesitation, however widely they may be
dispersed among the mass. 1t any part OF her
dress requires mending. she is prompt and skill
fuI in repairing it, and her perseverance IN this
branch Of economy greatly diminishes the eX-
pense of her clothing.
Since her residence at the ASYLUM, the dona-
tions of charitable visitans have been considera-
BILE IN amount These are deposited IN box
with an inscription, and she has been made to
understand that the contents are devoted to her
benefit. This box she frequently polses IN her
hand, and expresses pleasure when 1t testitles an
increase of weight; for she has long since ascer-
tanned that money is the medium for the supply
of her wants, and attaches to it proportionabe
value.
Though her habits are peculiarly regular and
consistent, vet occasionally some action occurs
which it is difficult to explain. One morning,
during the past summer, while employed with
her needle, she found herself incOmmoded BY the
warmth of the sun. She arose, opened the win
dow. closed the blind, and again resumed her
work.
At tbs tea table with the whole family, OIL her
sending cup to be replenlshed, one was acoi-
IDENTIFY returned to her which had been used by
another person. This she perceived at the mo-
ment of taking it into her hand. aud pushed It
from her with some slight appearance OF disgust,
as if her sense Of propriety had not been regard
ed. There was not the slightest difference in the
cups, and in this instance she seems endowed
with tegree Of penetration not possessed by
those in the fall enjoyment of sight.
Persons most intimately acquainted with her
habits assert that she constantly regards the re-
currence of the Sabbath, and composes herself to
unusual quietness, as if in meditation. Her nee
I,o,v,rL fro,n which she will not be debaEred on
other DAYS, she never attempts to resort to; and
this wholly without influence from those around
her.
Julia Brace leads life Of perfect contentment;
and is, in this respect, both an example and re-
proof to those who for triliug inconveniepces IN!
dulye in repining, though surrounded by all the
gifts Of nature and OF fortune.
The genial influences Of spring wake her lone
heart to gladness-and she gathers the hrs. How
ers. and even the young blades OF grass, and IN
haIes their freshness with delight bordeSag on
transport. Sometimes, when apparently IN deep
thought she is observed to burst into laughter, as
if her associations Of ideas were fav0rble not on