New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-08-06
A Blind Mans Offering.

a Will there's way
Nicholas Ssnderson was stone blind from the
first year Of bis infancy, yet be sat in Wilson's
chair as Lucasan Professor Of Mathematics at Cam
bridge was an excellent Greek and Latin scholar
and explained the primary laws Of light and the
phenomena Of colors. Thomas Blackjack lost his
sight by the smallpox when but six months old,
yet he excelled in descriptive poetry. was an able
and earned divine and died at the age Of TO- after
fulfilling acceptably the duties Of Scottish parish
minister for nearly half a century. The Grecian
Homer sang mperishsble ballads, when bis day
had been turned into perpetual highland the illus
trious Latin Secretary OF Oliver Cromwell com
posed and gave to the world Paradise Lost, while
cropping his weary way in bodily darkness to the
grave.
Mr. Bowen the youthful author Of the useful and
instructive octave now before us, and who bids fair
TO attain a eldeserved celebrity as a writer con-
sdering the difficulties he has TO contend with was
struck blind when six weeks old and lost his mother
when in his sixth year. At ten years Of age he was
a fisher boy. selling fish for ying--st twenty he
giving lessons on the piano to the daughters Of
wealthy and benevolent citizens whom he had sup
piled with perch and salmon many years before
His father was poor, bis childhood dreary but at
fourteen he was received as one Of the first six pu
pills of the Institution for the Blind at Boston where
he received an education which ne declares he
would not part with even in exchange for his sight
were such thing possible.
II was taught vocal and instrumental music, and
especially the piano organ, and in thorough bass
When he left the Institution and returned to the
home of bis G. ldhood at Marblehead, Massachu-
sets it appears that though deprived Of sight he
knew more of History, Geography Mathematics,
and Natural, Moral and Intellectual Philosophy
than his brothers and sisters who had the use OF
their eyes
Mr. Bowen, in due time. married and succeeded
though sightless in getting what some, who can
see the object of their choice fail TO obtain-namey
a faithful. happy and aiiectonste spouse. He is
now twenty eight years old, has family, and com.
posed and dedicated The Fairy Waltz to his
daughter Mara.-hs interesting book being with
very good taste, inscribed TO his wife.
In a brief sketch of his life, he names his mother
with tender regard
81 have always fsncied that / still retain some remem
brance of the beautiful and thoughtful countepAnce of
her whom my eyes first gazed, and whose yearniDs
"a snd blessed my earlier yesrs.'-Psge ii.
Mr. Bowen's book needs not the claim OF blind
ness on the part of the author 10 recommend it to
the general reader 1t is readable pleasing and
instructive volume filed with interesting stories
such as A Tale for the Blind, p. II The Blind
Pedlar p. 25l The Good and the Bad. p. lO7
The Blind Bride p. l3s and Henry Norton p.
ls5 very agreeable poetry, some OF which has al
ready appeared IN The Tribune and Essays on
Education, Government Religion. Morals, Music,
and many other subjects, evincing deep thought,
an elevated mind true patriotism, and kind dis
position.
He gives the lives Of Nicholas Sanderson and
Rev. DR.. Blackjack, with original remarks, which
could only have suggested themselves to one IN the
same situation as to bodily vision with these emf
nent scholars. His book also contains aremarkable
account of Laura Bridgman and Oliver Caswell,
children who are at once deaf dumb, and blind,
and of their education also variety OF descriptive
pieces. which like Sandersons lectures on light
and colors, puzzles one not little. The difficulty
is how he could describe so well the enchanting
view OF Seneca Lake, from Geneva Village for
instance, when he never either.
Mr. Bowen is a Republican. He liked his
coarse, unlettered companions, for there was an
equality of condition and feelings, the want of
which like millions on both sides of the Atlantic he
complains of in this society Nevertheless he de-
scribes Fourier as the greatest visionary OF mod
ern times has no sympathy with Robert Owens
mere machine whose actions can possess no mo-
raj quality" and deeply regrets in his Random
Thoughts that wv eslth and Luxury are the detes
enthroned in the bosom of the multitude
He is patriotic--vexed that America has not
played nobler part-thinks that ifAmerican- born
voters only had possessed the elective franchise,
such bad men and mean politicians as engross
power could not have disgraced the Union-his
only objection to the foreign voters being that,
through lack of education they have proved unsafe
repositories Of freedom.
Mr.. Bowen has none of that thoughtless folly
which is ever ready to raise to herosm and military
chieitainship any man who can win a few battles
no matter how unjust the cause may be in which
he fights and regrets that in many places he
who has shot an Indian stands better chance Of
election than the graduate Of our Universities"
He admires plain laws and would have the ele
ments of law taught in our Common Schools bat /
desires US not to look to the camp for our rulers
If Mr.. Bowen could write such a book as this at
eight and twenty, what may we not expect from |
him at forty He deserves to be cheered on and /
encouraged 1t is creditable to the College for the
Blind that he was OF its first graduates. May |
there be many such among those who, like him, |
are deprived OF sight We like to see bold. orr |
ginal thinker tell bis mind in print, whether we 4
agree with him in all things or not. In some mat
tiers we dissent from Mr. Bowens views, but are
not the less disposed admire the spirit and abili
ty with which be defends them, under very pecu.
liar circumstances.
That the 9" Blind Mans Offering will be widely
circulated we are well persuaded, and that its
good humored author is likely 70 have better luck
in his literary pheton than be had in driving the
tipsy farmer and his buuer-cart through Marble
head, long long ago, few who may read his
work will doubt
A BLIND MANS OTEERISG By BENJAMIN BOWEN.
DID, i32 Boston Published for the Author. l-47
MExlcAS PRIvATEERs.-We Ind the following
r ,hs c,b-oi,or Ckronick of the 23d June