Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-16
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.

The Faculties Of the Ear.-The common At.
fairs OF Re are so constantly calling into action
the (. suIties Of the eye. that its quickuess is
scarcely confined to any class; but the faculties
Of the ear are comparabIy unemployed and let,
in state Of idIene.s. The formation of the mu.
steal ear depend upon early impressions. In.
fants who are placed within the constant hearing
of musical sounds soon learn to appreciate them,
aud nurses have the merit Of giving the first les
sons in melody; for we learn from eminent COM
Posers. that their early fondnes for the art may be
| traced 70 the ditties Of the nursery. Children
brought up in musical families, often entertained
| by the sound OF musical Instruments, SO soon
acquire musical sense as, in some instances, to
be regarded as prod,gies. Mozart began to com.
pose at the aye offour; and, in a paper read be-
fore the Royal Society by DR.. Bainev, it is af.
fined that Crotch played the air of {" Let Ambi-
ton f.e thy mind" when only two years DID,
1t is exuaordinary what effort nature makes up
on the loss Of sight to compensate the deicien-
cy by sharpening the sense OF hearing and touch
in The case Of Huber. the great naturalist, who
has made so maHy discoveries IN the minuti9 Of
Insects; and also Mr.. Cuff Of Kendall, an eminent
botanist, who can tell the name or specie Of any
plant or flower by the touch* Ia the improve
| meat, or rather actual formation of an ear, we
ter, who, blind frnm his birth. had so dull an ear
when sia years old, that he could not distinguish
the tone Of violin from that Of flutt. At this
period he was presented with pianolorte. viii Oh,
at FIRST, amused him only BY its curious structure;
at length. his ear was caught by the sounds, and
he soon began to Law aside his other amusements,
aud show an increasing fond ness tor music.
The rapidity with which his ear was formed an
perfected Is certainly without parallel. On first
hearing the Seventh SYMPHONY OF Haydn per-
formed by full orchestra, he instantly compre-
hended the modulatons in that piece. and play
ed them on the planoiorte with the greatest &C
curacy. In Things nf common life may men
ton, that he ascertans his situation IN the streets
and his near approach 10 objects by the stroke Of
his stick. To distinguish the firm step Of man
from the light step Of a won,aD is what many can
do; but he recognizes his friends BY their walk,
and can tell the age as well as the disposition oi
strangers by the tone of vuice. Dr.. Darwin IN
forms US. in his Zoonomia, that the late justice
Field,,.g walked for the first time into his room,
when he once visited him. and after speaking
few words, said. "this room is twenty two feet
long. eighteen wide, and twelve high" all which
he guessed by the ear. Blind people have pecu
liar method Of presenting the ear, and in some
cases, acquire the power Of moving it when
much interestedt
The incessant use they make OF it gives them
an understandable quckness; they judge Of every
thing by sound; soft sonOrous voice. with them,
is me symbol of beauty; and SO nice discerner
is blind person Of the accents OF speech, that,
through the voice, he fances he can see the sOul.f
From this idea they form notions OF character
that often lead them into erroneous conclusions.
By practice, the discriminating powers OF the ear
| may be carried to the highest degree Of perfec-
ton. The success Of thieves and gamblers de-
ponds upon its quickness Since the muney has
been recoinet, the regularity with which each
piece is str nck gives them an uniformity OF SOUND
that is very remarkable. Bankers quickly dis
cover the least deviation from the proper tone,
| by which they readily discover counterieits. In
the tossing up Of the money gamblers can per-
ceive 4 difference IN the sound. whether II iai1s
| upon ore side or the other. Pyemei are furnish
ed with a covering to their baskets made OF a
smooth piece of metal. by which they take m the
unwarv, as they readily tell which side is upper
m.sr by the sound Of the plate, though conceal
ed by the hand - GARDENERS MuSic Of Nature
Dogs. when blindfolled. have the power Of
finding their way by the sense OF smell: every
! lane, field or town, has its particular smell.
| SIR humphrey Dcry.
q
YOU will find that the hist horse points his ear
forward, and the last behind him. keeping watch;
| hut the intermediate ones, NhO seem not to be
called upon to do this duty. appear careless and
perfectly at their ease DR. Dartcins Zoonon,a'
I Sir John Fielding possessed g'cat faculty
of this SORT; and he could recollect every tibet
that had been brought brfurc HIM, BY the tone
and accent Of bis voice. for more than forty years
4
The Rep. E.ipard fruing.-We some time
ago noticed that the Amman Presbvtery hac
transmitted to the Rev. Edward lrvinsa list OF
queries regarding certain doctrinai points OF
Sculpture and as testing the alleged pecc''ar'ties
of that sentleman's religious faith and views,
requiring within certain specified time distinct
and categorical answers I" these cstechetiea'
queries We understand that Mr.. Irving has,
within the last few DAYS. written TO the Presby-
terry. praying for delay OF his case Tor two
months longer, and promising. at the end Of that
| fine n respectful and minnie apgwer to the