The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-20

would allow her to give any connected ac-
count Of what, till then, had appeared an in
explicable occurrence. Her reason and re-
collection gradually returned, bot her health
never. A few weeks afterwards, she Quilted
Ashly Park for-the gravel.
LAURA BRIDGMAN.-The following inte-
resting account Of this young girl, who is cut
on from all communication with the external
world, excepting through the medium Of the
touch, - extracted from the Annual Report Of
the Trustees Of the New England Institution
for the Education Of the Blind:
at may be remembered, that in the report
Of the last Board, particular mention was made
Of deaf, dumb, and blind girl, named Laura
Bridgman, then pupil, and promise was
given Of further notice OF her case.
It has been nscertained beyond the posi-
bility Of doubt that she cannot see a ray Of
light cannot hear the least sound, and never
exercises her sense Of smell, if she has any.
Thus her mind dwells in darkness and still
ness. as profound as that Of closed tomb at
midnight. OF beautiful sights, and sweet
sounds, and pleasant odors, she has no con-
ception; nevertheless, she seems as happy
and playful as bird or q lamb; and the en-
ployment OF her intellectual faculties. the ac-
quirement Of new idea, gives her vivid
pleasure, which is plainly marked in her ex-
pressive features. She never seems to repine,
but has all the buoyancy and gaieiy Of child
hood, she is fond Of fan and frolic, and when
playing with the rest of the children, her shrill
laugh sounds loudest Of the group.
When left alone, she seems very happy il
she has her knitting or sewing, and will busy
herself for hours. If she has no occupation,
she evidently amuses herself by imaginary dia-
logues, or recalling past Impressions; she
counts with her fingers, or spells out names of
things which she has recently learned, in the
manual alphabet of the deaf mutes. In this
lonely self-communion she reasons, reflects,
and argues, if she spells word wrong with
the fingers Of her right hand, she instantly
strikes it with her left, as her teacher does, IN
sign Of Misrepresentation; fright, then she pats
herself upon the head, and looks pleased. She
sometimes purposely spells a word with the
left hand, looks roguish for moment and
laughs, and then with the right hand strikes
the left, as tito correct it.
During the year she had attained great
dexterity in the use of the manual alphabet Of
the deaf mutes; and she spells out the words
and sentences which she knows SO fast, and
SO deity, that only those accustomed to this
language, can follow with the eye, the rapid
motions Of her fingers.
But wonderful as is the rapidity with which
she writes her thoughts upon the air, still more
SO is the ease and accuracy with which she
reads the words thus written by another,grasp-
ing their hands in hers, and following every
movement of their fingers, as letter after let
ter conveys their meaning to her mind. Il 10
in this way that she converses with her bind
playmates, and nothing can more forcibiy show
the power Of mind in forcing matter to its pur-
pose, than meeting between them. For, if
great talent and skill are necessary for two,
pantomimes TO paint their thoughts and feel
ings by the movements Of the body, and the
expression of the countenance, how much
greater the difficulty when darkness shrouds
them both, and the one can hear no sound /!
When Laura is walking through passage
way, with her hands spread before her, she
knows instantly every one she meets, and
passes them with sign Of recognition /; but
lift be girl other own age, and especially if
one of her fayorites, there is instantly bright
smile Of recognition---an INTERVENING Of arms
Ia grasping Of hands---and swift telegraph
ing upon the tiny fingers, whose rapid evou-
tons convey the thoughts and feelings from the
outposts Of one mind to those Of the other.
There are questions and ansWers---exchanges
ofjoy and sorrow there are kissjngs and part
ings---just as between little children with all
their senses.
One such interview is better refutation OF
the doctrine, that mind is the result OF sensa-
ton, than folios Of learned argument. II those
philosophers who consider man as only the
most perfect animal, and attribute his superio-
rity to his senses, be correct, then dog or
monkey should have mental power quadruPle
that Of poor Laura Brdgman, who has but one
sense.
We would not be understood to say that this
child has the same amount Of knowledge that
others of her age have very far from it; she
is nine years Of age, and yet her knowledge Of
language is not greater than common child
Of three years. There has been no difficulty
in communicating knowledge of facts---posi-
tive qualities Of bodies---numbers, &C., but
the words expressive Of them, which other chill
dren learn by hearing as they learn to talk,
must all be communicated to Laura by cir
cuitous and tedious method In all the know
ledge which is required by the perceptive IA
culties, she is Of course backward because,
previous 10 her coming here, her perceptive
faculties were probably less exercised in one
week, than those of common children are in
one hour.
What may be termed her moral nature, how
ever, her sentiments and affections, her sense
of propriety, of right, Of property, &C., is
equally well developed as those Of other chill
dren.
She is now able to understand simple SEN
fences expressive Of action, as "shnt the
door," 81 give me book" &C.. or rather, as
she expresses it. /" shut door," "give book"
for she does not know the force ofthe particles,
the and a, any more than prattling infant,
who understandable cake--but puts in me