Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-30
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO
KNOWLEDGE
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.

KNOW LEDGE.
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
Paper on the Vocal sounds of Laura Bridgman the
blind, deaf mute, at Boston, compared with tie
elements of Phonetic Language. By Francis Lie
Der.
The world renowned Laura Bridgman is remarka-
BILE OF person who has become universally
known, mainy through her deficiencies. Without sight
and without hearing, and with very imperfect devel-
opmeut of taste and SMELL she had only the sense of
touch to start with Her mind was flower planted in
dark cavern, into which faint ray OF light penetrated
through only one aperture. Who could have hoped
any thing but gradual extinction Who could have
predicted development ard maturity? But thanks 10
the thoughtful patient and skiul care OF DR.. Howe,
continued with rare perseverance, and the finest percep
lions, the mind thus imprisoned did grow and expand
and struggle to the light and feel its nvigoraling rays
and bear the fruit OF knowledge and exhae the per-
fume of happiness. The growth Of Laura Brdgman's
faculties moral, Intellectual and spiritual, shown In
the annual reports published by DR.. Howe, is OF
the most beautiful and interesting facts of time in
eresting to the psychologist less than the phan-
thropst; fruitful in valuable hints for the mental train
ing OF those who are endowed with all their senses
and animating those whose zeal is languishng in any
generous and benevolent enterprise. The result
more like creation than development A creature that
appeared born only to be object OF compassion to the
pul, and OF dsase to the sensitive, has been trained
and ripened into intelligent, refined we-inormed
active-minded, and, above all, happy young woman
endowed with high moral perceptions and warm affec
TONS There nobler efforts, purer ,riumphs,
than these.
The work before US, which is quarto pamphlet of
thirty one pages, is devoted to consideration OF only
one OF the many points OF interest which the case of
Laura Bridgman presents-her vocal sounds. She is
person OF ne organization and nervous temperament
and consequently inclined to express herself with ener
gy and vivaciy on all subjects which interest her,
Hence she makes OF variety OF conventional signs
and vocal sounds. These came under DR.. Llebers OBJ.
servation during repeated visits TO the North and falling
upon mind at once observing, philosophical, and orr
gnal led to variety Of reflections the result OF which
Is the curious and instructive paper before
1t would be doing injustice 10 Dr. Leber's ingenious
speculatlons to attempt to give any analysis OF them
The leading idea OF br paper is explanation and il
usira ton OF the general laws of language through and
by the parcu lar phenomena observed in the case of
Laura Brdgman. All mental emotion manitests itself
by certain bodily expressions which not arbitrary
but natural, instructive and lying deep 10 the uncon-
seious being OF man. Language one, and only one OF
these Sounds are articulae inaricuate. The dis
tincton between these is drawn with much precision
and accuracy. The verbal elements OF all phonetic
language are classified and subdivided The general
views OF the writer set forth with much ingenuity
and many novel reflections and observations, and illus
trated with curious anecdotes. -
The concluding pages more exclusively occupied
with Laura Brdgman and the peculiar phenomena OBJ
servabe in her case in connexon with the general prin-
cipes laid down before. This part of the paper will be
found OF especial interest. At the close are two yery
pleasing and graceful letters from Laura Bridgman Of
one OF which fac -smile s given.
Inc paper Will be found interesting to all persons
who are curious about the origin Of angus ge, and is
as an illustration OF the suggestions which may be
veyed TO thoughtful and philosophical mind by obv
Gus and common phenomena. DIR. Lieber is remarka-
Bile, among other good things for his power of keeping
subject steadily before his mud and surveying from
all points OF view, without letting it drop He has also
that wide range OF reading which the universal
attribute OF all who are born on the sol of Germany
as well as that power OF turning his stores practical
use which may in some be due to his adoption
and long residence in country. The essay is ami
mated throughout by generous and high toned sent-
rnent OF philanthropy AMI beDevol ance$