Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-10-28
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From the National Gazette.
JULIA BRAcE-DEAF, DUNE, AND BLIND GIRI

| JULIA BRAcE-DEAF, DUNE, AND BLIND GIRL
1T the Hartford .dsyium
BY far the most interesting subject present in the
institution is the poor deaf, DUN and blind girl, whose
situation has been described in beau fu and affect
ing manner by Mrs. Sgourney. charity box, the
proceeds of which designed exclusively for her sup.
put, is placed at the main entranee which
no stranger can pass, after viewing the utter desolaiion
in which she has been left by nature without droprpp
his mite Her is Julia Brace and she i. native
of the immediate neighborhood of the asylum She is
The only instance OF so great misfortune Of which any
record extant except European boy by the name
OF James Mitchell He irritable, that few ex.
peTments could be tried for his benefit but Julia Brace
il is said, has been mild and docie from her chdhood
although when saw her, from some temporary vexa.
ton indsposition, she evidently hat out OF
temper. She seated at table, her needle work in
her lap. "There Is nothing dsagreeable in her coun-
tenance but her eyes, forever closed, create decien
cy Of expression. Hor complexion is fair, her smile
gentle and sweet, though of rare occurrence; and her
person what bent when sitting, from her habits oil
liked attention to her work. Many strangers have wait
ed long time to her thread her needle which is
quite mysterious process, and never accomplished
without the aid OF the tongue.
She wa' the daugh sr Of exceedingly poor parents,
who had several younger children, 10 whom she was
N the habit OF showing such o SEES OF kindness her
afflicted state admitted. No,wthsianding her blind
she efrly ev nted close observation with regard
% aic 90 OF dress, preoTrng amcng those which
pre- en- ed her as gs, sueh as were Of tho finest lex
mfe Wben the weather beams cold, she would &C.
oaally knesl on The floor Of their humble DWELLING
20 feel wheter he other ehildfen Of the fan lily were
furnished with shoes aud stocking, while she wa,
without. and would exprfs' uns asness the onras
Seated GU her l'le block weaving strips OF thin bnk
with pieces OF lea her AID thread hieh her father 10
biz proc Of making Of shoes ,eed, she amused
heelf with constructing for her bonnets and van
dykes, roi wholly d,cordant With the principles of
taste Now ht,suding h,r peculia nslplessness she
vas oeca'iopaly sii with the OF his young chill
dTen, while her mother went cut 10 the occupation OF
washing IL was On such occasions, bat little ala eV,b-
sed co, only maternal sliieude but sk II In domss-
s legi'a'ioD, which could not have To nationally ex
pecd Ga one occasion ,hs discovered ,ha her eister
la broken piese OF sroekery ADD initiating what che
suopo'ed woLI b. the dscip OF her mober gave The
ole nder blow Bui placing her nd upon his eyes OF
tie little girl, and ascer,aniDg ita shs wspi she i'm
a'ty took her il her arms and with The psYse
yerng tenderness soethed her into good huDor and
hdebee Her parents were a, ieDx IN relieved from the
burden OF her 'Dan inan<e, by soms charitable ndivi.
duas, who paid the expenses her bcsrd with an elder
matfon who KEEP, school, for al hidfen Here he,
sag ei was continually The rich 10 comp
The nature OF their employmsn and as far as possible
o initiate them. O5serving that great part OF their
dne oxeupied with hooks, shs often held one be.
lore her sigh,es, eyes with Iorg patience She wouiC
also sptesc newsPsper for her favori kitten, apt
pung her niger on its uou b, and perteying that il
did not ike those OF the scholars when reading
would shake ihe animal 10 expreD di,pessurs al rs
ntolsnce and obs macy These circumstances, thou Oh
rifiia in themselves, reveslsd uiDd asiys amid all
'ho obs;seles which DA'ure bad in'erposed. Bn her
ptin-pal soliee wa' in 'bs employment Of needs wOL
md kniipg, which che had lie rned at early age Il
Pfsc ice. S1e would IhuS rit AFFORDED for bours
| uDtl " teesme necessary 10 urge her TO hat ex.
erciSe which 10 Fefnisiis 10 heal b. CoUntefpaDeI
beautifully oade by hpr OF small pieces OF sseo were
atsdy disposed Of 10 aid in no purchase OF her
wardrobe. And gnsl portions OF her work wsrs sent
by her bsnsseors az presents into various parts o.
| tie DO on, 10 show OF what neatneGs Of execution
| a lind siFI vas capable
II vac occasionally the praetite Of gentlemen wbc
from pi curiosity visited her, TO make trial OF Der
sag asy, by giving her heir watches and emtloyips
her 70 restore hen to their right owoer.
They would change heir To'i Ion Nib regard 10 her
nj eath sitiys TO take ih9 Us6h whsh did uOi bsor
20 m-bOi ihCuyb she might at the sams ims holi
TWO OF 'ht'e, n3ii6rT sf5 nor persuasion would
inuuee b. yield ii her Of hem, exesp 10 be per-
con iioIn whom the bsd received u. There feemet
| 10 be priuepls in ,be ienaeity Wi h which che cd
uerfd 20 'hi, System TO give every hs own, whist
may PROBABLY bs resolved ibto That moral bonesi,
which hes ever formed conspicuous part Of her cha
raster Though nurtured In exFems poverty and al
ter hsr removal from the parental roof in the eonstsn
habit OF being 10 contact With srlses Of dress or food
which constantly tempted her Desires she has eveI
been known 10 appropriate 10 herself, without permits.
siou the most irihiDg object ID well educated child