The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-07
From the National Gazette.
JULIA BRACE,
DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND GIRL,
III the Hartford .Asgium.

| ut The HurJ0rd .HSglum.
By far the most interesting subject al
present in the institution, is the poor deaf
dumb and blind girl, whose situation has
been described in SO beautiful and affect
ing manner by Mrs. Sgourney. A char
/ ity box, the proceeds ofwhch are designed
exclusively for her support, is placed at the
main entrance, which it is certain no stran-
ger can pass, after viewing the utter desc
lation in which she has been left bv nature.
without dropping his mite. Her name is
Julia Brace, and she is native of the i'm
mediate neighborhood of the ASYLUM. She
Is the only instance of so great misfor-
tune. of which any record is extant except
one European boy, by the name of James
/ Mitchell. He was so irritable, that few
experiments could be tried for his benefit :
but Julia Bruce, it is said, has been mild
and docile from her childhood; although
when | saw her, from some temporary veX-
alton or indisposition, she was evidently
somewhat out of temper. She was seated at
a table, her needle work in her lap. "There
1 is nothing dlsagreeajie in her countcnance.
but her eyes, forever closed, create def
cheney of expression. Her complexion is
| fair, her smile gentle and sweet, though of
rare occurrence and her person somewhat
bent, when sitting from her habits of fixed
attention to her work. Many strangers
have waited long time to see her thread
her needle, which is quite mysterious pro-
cess, and never accomplished without the
aid of the tongue"
She was the daughter of exceedingly
poor parents, who had several younger
children, to whom she was in the habit of
showing such Offices Of kindness as her
| own afflicted state admitted. Notwith-
standing her blindness, she early evinced
close observation with regard to articles
OF dress, preferring among those which
were presented her as gifts, such rs were
of the finest texture. When the weather
became cold, she would occasionally kneel
on the floor of their humble dwelling, to
feel whether the other children of the fam
lily were furnished with shoes and stock
ings, while she was without, and would ex-
| press uneaslness at the contrast.
Seated on her little block, weaving strips
of thin bark with pieces of leather and
| thread, which her father in his processes
herself with constructing for her cat hon
nets and vandykes, not wholly dscordant
with the principles of taste. Notwithstand-
ing her peculiar helplessness, she was oc-
caslonally left with the care of the young
children, while her mother went out to the
| occupation of washing. 1t was on such
occasions, that little Julia evnced not only
q maternal solicitude, but 4 skill in domes-
tic legislation, which could not have been
nationally expected. On one occasion she
discovered that her sister had broken a
piece OF crockery, and initiating what she
supposed would be the discipline of her
mother, gave the offender a blow. But
placing her hand upon the eyes of the little
girl, and ascertaining that she wept, she i'm
medlately took her up in her arms, and with
the most perseverlng tenderness, soothed
her into good humor and confidence. Her
parents were at length relieved from the
hiIrden of her maintenance, by some char
liable individuals, who paid the expenses
of her board with an elderly matron, who
kept school for small children. Here her
sagacity was continually on the stretch to
comprehend the nature of their employ
ment, and as far as possible to initiate
them. Observing that "A great part of their
time was occupied with books, she often
held one before her sightless eyes with
long patience. She would also spread Il
newspaper for her favorite kitten, and put
ting her finger on its mouth, and perceivng
that it did not move like those of the schol-
ars when reading, would shake the animal
to express dlspleasure at its incidence and
ohstinacy. These circumstances, though
tftling in themselves, reveal mind active
amid all the obstacles which nature had in
terposed. But her principal soace was in
the employments of needle work and knit
ting, which she had learned at an early
age to practice. She would thus sit abb
sorbed for hours, and until it became neees-
sary TO urge her TO that exercise which is
requisite to health. Counterpancs beauti-
fully made by her, of small pieces of calico,
were repeatedly disposed of TO aid in the
purchase of her wardrobe. And small por-
tons of her work were sent by her bene-
factors as presents into various parts of the
Union, to shew of what neatness Of execu-
ton blind girl was capable.
1t was occasionally the practice of gen.
tlemen who from pity or curiosity visited
her, to make trial of her sagacity, by Civ
nag her their watches and employing her to
restore them TO the 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 might at the same time hold
TWO or three, neither stratagem nor per-
suaslon would induce her TO yield either of
them, except to the person from whom she
had received it. There seemed to be
principle IN the tenacity with which she
adhered to TINS system to give every one
his own, which may probably be resolved
into that moral honesty which has ever
formed conspicuous part of her charac-
ter. VhOuuh nurtured in axtrnna novor,v
and after her removal from the parental
roof, in the constant habit of being in con-
tact with articles of dress or food, which
strongly tempted.her desires, she has never
been known to appropriate to herself with
out permission, the most trifling object. In
well educated child this would he no re-
maIkable viltue but in one who has had
the benefit of no moral training TO teach
her to respect the right Of property, and
whose perfect blindness must often render il
difficult even TO define them, the incorrup-
tible fimness of this innate principle is
truly laudable. There is also connected
with il delicacy of feeling or scrupulous-
ness of conscience, which renders it neces-
sary IN presenting her any gift, TO assure
her repeatedly by sign which she under
stands, that it is for her ere she will con-
sent TO accept it.
Continuing TO become an object of in
creased attention, and her more remote
situation not being convenient for the ne
cess of strangers, application was made for
her admission into the asylum, and permits
sion was granted Ivy the Directors in the
summer of 1925. AllSr her reception into
that peaceful refuge, SEINE attempts were
muIp nv n hcnpVolent instructor 10 teach