Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-01-11
LAURA BRIDGMAN AND JULIA BRACE
Correspondence ofte ". Y. Commercial
Advertiser.
H,pTropn Nov 1871


was at the school for the deaf and dumb this
morning, when that little creature, LAURA BRIDe-
MAN, (whO has but one sense-that of touch, ar
rived from Boston, and made her first visit. She
was accompanied by DIR. HOWE, Mrs. SIGoURNEY,
and some other persons, and her coming seemed to
be quite unexpected.
1t is probable that there is hardly another person
in the United States whose appearance at the school
would create such a sensation among the hundred
and fifty inmates. Her familiar to all
the pupils, who had doubtless marvelled much how
the dumb child, deprived also of the sense of sight
by which they themselves learn everything, should
be able to learn to read, WRITE and talk.
When the news was passed from hand to hand
that Laura Brldgman in the office, the teachers
and pupils came thrOnging around her. and filled
the passa way, while all the way up the stair
case stood scores of little girls, with sparkling eyes
and animated faces eagerly gesticuating to each
other, and cOnversng rapidly In dumb show.
1t was a beautiful sight to much life and
happiness among these unfortunates but the prin-
cipal attraction was little Laura, who, having
taken off her bonnet and cloak, appeared one of
the most interesting children you ever saw. Slen-
der and delicaely formed, with beautiful features
and fair complexion, so graceful were her MOTIONS
animated her gesticulations, and so full of lie
her countenance, that but for the green ribbon
bound over her slghtless orbs, you would have
called her one of Natures most gifted children
Such is the power Of the soul-such its independ-
ence of sense. There stood this child in a crowd
without ray of light to pierce her ever-during
darkness, without a sound to break the dreary
Stiffness without odor to show the presence
of others yet Joyous bird, yet conscious of
everything that was going on, yet eager TO shake
hands with all, and to learn the names OF ALL de-
lighted to find that every could talk in her fin
ger language, and evidently enjoying the boon of
existence, and speaking in dumb but expressive
language the praise of Him who wlleth the happl-
ness OF all whom he createth
She was very impatient to meet Julia Brace, the
only person In the world, perhaps, whose privation
of sense approaches in a degree to hers and about
whom it seems much had been told her,
At last Julia was brought down, and the two
met, and felt of each other. But what difference
between the two Julia is a grown, and
unprepossesslng IN her appearance, because she Is
without anlmatlon without vivaclty, without any
expression of face. She was made to understand
by placing her fingers on Laura's eyes and on her
ears, that she was blind and deaf like herself but
her cOunenance changed not; she manifested
little interest, and in a moment two began to
withdraw from the child, who chung to her, put
around her neck a chain of her own braiding, and
kissed her Vain impulse of affection Julia
coolly put into her pocket the present which Laura
had brought her, and was making off from the
child, whose distress now became evident, and
who eagerly asked the Others - Why does she push
me? achy does she not lore NEE
What contrast in the characters Laura
wanted her affection and sympathy, and would not
be satisfied without them; while Juna, having got
her present, was DESTROYS of terminating the inter-
view, and carrying of her possession.
Such is the effect of education such the conse-
qucnce of evolving the moral and social nature, as
has been done in the case of Laura of exercis-
ing onl Y the pxopenslties and allowing the human
being TO live as do the brutes, within himself, and
for himself alone
The kind and good people who have the charge
of Julia Brace, to do for her all they do
but this is little for they have no means of com
municatng with her. | learn that they think OF
sending her to the School for the Blind, in Boston,
in the hope that the method by which Laura has
been taught may be successful with her and al
though it seems to me almost hopeless case, for
she is thiry-fve years old, and her faculties have
lain so long inactive they can hardly be reused to
perform their functions, nevertheless the chance
should be given to her.