Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-05-20
THE CHILD OF ONE SENSE.

4
THE CHILD OF ONE SENSE.
In brief notice OF the North American
Review, on Saturday, we parlicularized as
among its contents, an article relating to the
Boston Institution Tor the Blind, particular
! ~ devoted to the extraordinary case of the
deaf, dumb and blind child, LAURA BRlDc-
MAN-certainly the most Interesting member
Of the human family whom we have ever
seen. Since penning that reference to the
North American, we have received letter
from friend in Boston, from which we make
the following extract, which we art persuad-
ed will be most acceptable TO every reader.--.
~. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
BosroN, May LIST, 1871.
*N+T* But among the many noble monu-
men,c in this sober city. none has interested
me more than the Institution for the cduca-
| ton oil the Blind.
| This establishment has within few wears
risen rapidly from nothing 10 that high rank
| in public estimation which will ensure its
| perpetuity.
Itisnow permanently located in a magnir-
icent edifce, upon Dorchester Heights, aud
seems to be conducted in the most liberal and
scientific manner.-Ihe education of the
public, and we have in New York school,
| with the modus Oper0ndi of which you doubt
less are we'll acquainted, but there is i'm the
Boston institution pupil whose case is so
| interesting that too much cannot be written
| upon it; mean that of the one sense girl Lau-
IA Bridgman.
| You know that writers upon intellectual
philosophy have supposed that much lighl
might be thrown upon that subject by care
| iuI observations Of the phenomena i'm those
| deprived OF sense, and much more of those
deprived oftwo senses.
Hence the rare cases of double dcpriya,ions
have attracted much attention. The most
noted of these are the boy Mitchell, whose
case is detailed by Dugald Stewart, in his
| great work, and Julia Brace, now at the In
stitution for deaf mutes at Hartford. But this
case transcends all others in interest and i'm
portance, because. in the first place, the others
| had possessed their senses for considerable
period, while she lost hers totally during in
fancy second, because they possessed won
derful nicely of smell, which extended their
range of knowledge, while she has no smell
at all; and third, because they never could
acquire an arbitrary language by which to eX-
press their emotions, while this child has
completely mastered the finger language of
the deaf mutes, and can rapidly telegraph to
SbO WoiIh Nlt!'pul ali uidt pdoStS Nllltl ntT
own mind. She is totally and hopelassly
blind, deaf, and almost without smell, and
with ablunted taste. Thus her privation is
much greater than any other on record, while
her attainments far transcend them.
Again, the other unfortunate cases upon
record seem 10 have been such as we should
suppose they wonld be, disagreeab!e in APP
pearance, perverse in temper. and unhappy in
their desolation; but this girl is positively
very pretty, for she has a graceful figure, a
beautifully shaped head, clear glowing
complexion, regular feminine features, soft
hair, fine skin. and that delicacy Of organiza-
ton down to the very finger nail, which
marks the intellectual temperament.
Her slghtless orbs are covered indeed with
a green ribbon, but this does not put out the
light OF her countenance; for when she is
/ talking with her fingers, her features are ami.
mated with life, and her whole face is radiant
with intellectual expression.
Then she is as full Of motion and life as
bird, and as ffoicsome as d lamb. Her SOU
seems to be as transparent as crystal, for she
shows no guile, and suspects none in others
while her natural language of cndearmen
proves that her heart is overlooking with con
: hdence and love toward all around her
Most of those who visited this interesting
being with me, wondered that although she
was so enveioped inthck darkness her foot
steps were firm, and her motions about tn
room and house were as free as their OWL
that though she heard no sound, she cou
perceive the approach Of others by the vibra
= TONS OF the floor, or Of the air, and that sh
could recognize her friends by touching on
OF their fingers. l too marveled at thes
things, but much more did | admire the il
! ward guide which keeps her footsteps in tn
path ti rectltude--the inward light by whic
she walks upright, honest. truthful aud trus
: iui-the inward sense by which she know
: the true from the false, her souls friends froi
: her souls enemies.
y The attention Of others seemed fixed upo
the physical wonders--the astonishing acut
e ness Of her single scnse-but marvellt
IL most at the mental phenomena, and ador,
: the power and wisdom OF Him, who out
| this mental oasis could cause TO spring I
/ such beautiful moral productions; and wi
flied her ''dar ling SOUP full Of tho lig
which lightencth every one who cometb in
tire world.
q But am rdth r induloinr in my own r
r. Elections than describing the object Of ther
5r As have said, Laura Brigham is totally al
i hopelessly blind totally deaf, and so near
- sme.lcss that her ol.actcry nerves are rev