Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-04-11
LAURA BRIDGMAN.

LAURA BRIDGMAN.
The dear dumb, aud blind girl. whose
interesting history has excited THRILLING
interest in the heart of every philanthropic
person in both this country and the old
world, was born in Hanover, New Hamp-
shire. on the 2lst of December. 1929 A
puuy and sickly infant from her birth. be-
fore she was two years of age she lost
both sight and hearing, through the Sc
verify of her disease, and she did not re-
cover her health until she was nearly four.
when it was discovered that the senses of
smell and taste were nearly destroyed.-
What a situation for the poor childl What
was this bright world, so full of pleasing
sights. and sounds, and odors. to her {? for
she dwelt in more than Egyptian dark
ness, ard the silence of eternal night sur
rounded her. There were the blue heay-
ems above her. and smiling faces all around
her--but she could not get even glimpse
of them the happy voices of childhood,
the merry music Of the birds. and the
sweet tones Of affection filed the air about
her-but her ear was sealed to them all +:
/ flowers were shedding their rich fragrance
/ all about filing earth and air with their
/ perfumes Of Arabv-to her. alas they
were as nought Yet she exhibited traits
] of intellect which gave evidence that the
/ darkness and the silence were not spirit
ual, that the inner ray was not extinct.
and that, if it could be reached, it could
be developed, and the poor soul exhumed
from the dark grave in which it had SO
unfortunately been buried
1t was at this iuncture that her case
came to the knowledge Of DIR. Howe. of
the Blind and Deaf Asylum in Boston.
Immediately he set out on journey to
pay her family visit. He found her
finely formed girl, with every physical
manifestation Of intelligence and activity.
DESTROYS of making the attempt to devel-
op that benighted intellect, he easily per-
suaded her parents to intrust the child
to his care, and she became a member of
his interesting family in 1887
Laura was but eight years old when she
entered the institution of DR. Howe. at
South Boston. For long time but little
/ progress was made In her education. and
what she learned was purely mechanical.
/ Just as dogs and monkeys are taught to
/ perform their varied tricks: but at the
/ eud of three months her intellect was
/ awakened. and she began to learn with
astonishing quiekness. She manifested
/ the greatest delight also in her new ac-
/ quirements. aud pursued her studies with
/ the greatest ca agerness, turned her head
one side and apparently listened with the
/ greatest interest. until she began to COM
prehend the lesson she was learning. when
her face would become suddenly lit up
with the smiles Of an animated and
grateful intelligence most pleasing to be-
hold
At the end Of a year her instructor
writes of Laura in bis annual report, " Of
/ beautiful sights, and sweet sounds, and
pleasant odors, she has 10 conception
nevertheless she seems as happy and play
full as bird or lamb She never seems
to repine, but has all the buoyancy and
playfulness Of childhood She is fond of
fun and frolic, and when playing with the
children her shrill laugh sounds the loud
est among tie group" She made great
progress in the manual alphabet, and
could communicate with astonishing cell
Gritty with her teacher and others.
About a year and half after Laura
entered the institution, her mother made
her visit. She did not recognize her at
first. to the great grief Of the mother;
but after little while the truth flashed
upon her mind, and she manifested the
greatest JOY and affection. and ever since
has spoken of her with the strongest ex-
pressions Of attachment.
Would that we had space TO speak more
at length on the history Of this interest
ing mute, but we must content ourself
with brief summary of the traits of her
4 intellectual and moral character. She
gives evidence Of a strong mind possess
ing an almost Unsuitable thirst for knowl-
edge. and the capacity for thoroughly d.
gestiug and appropriatipg it The rela-
tion and fitness of things seem almost
, instructive to her, so admirably is her
causality developed To learn seems to
, be the desire of her life. In her moral
J character the most beautiful traits con-
} stantly appear like rich clusters upon a
r vine. She seems To have an innate per
j ception Of what is right and fit, amiable
, and pure, never utteriBg a thought or as
suming position which could offend the
most fastidious taste and g it is beauti-
ful to behold her continual gladness-her
keen enjoyment of existence-her exran-
sive love-her uBbesitatine coBfdence-
her sympathy with sufering-her con-
scientiousness, truthfulness, ard hopeful
ness-"-U s Jotr
/ ~ Mrs Darlington says she was much
= elucideted last Sunday on hearing a fne