The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-10-21
What a Blind Man G aii do.

annexed interesting account OF the remark
able achievements of blind genius now
living in Ludlow:
He is a young man twenty-four years
of age, who has been blind since he was
two years old, and does not remember that
be ever saw. The circumstances which at
tended the loss of his vision are almost too
horrible for belief: yet we have no reason
to doubt them as they have been related
to US. His widowed mother married a
drunkard, and his step father, conceivng
spite against the child, undertook, when
intoxicated to put his eyes out. Going
further in his diabolical purpose, he was
about to thrust red-hot poker down his
throat, when the frightened, but desperate
mother, interfered and prevented it. The
child was then thrown down cellar, where
he lay all night, taking a cold which 50
far aggravated the succeeding inflammation
of the eyes, that the schierotie coat of each
was burst. Of all this he hiss no memory.
and blessed thing it is for him. At niue
years age he lost his mother, and in that
loss became perfectly friendless. From
that day to this he has mainly taken care
of himself; and now, although cheated by
rascally agents, and laboring under every
possible disadvantage, he has money at in
terest.
Now, let us see what this man has done.
lie is mechanic, and knows every part Of
steam engine as we'll as if he could see.
lie is an engineer, and ha. not only had
charge of stationary engines, but has run
as engineer on the Mad River Railroad, in
Ohio! Of course, he ran with look out,
and between this look and himself he
had arranged series of abbreviations Of
language so that he could learn from him
the position of any object on the track in
simultaneously. He was engineer, let it be
membsred, of passenger train What
is more remarkable than ali is, that he has
made beautiful little steam engine with
his own hands, so srHll that he can carry
the whole of it in h1pocket, and get up
steam at pleasure. This might we'll be-
considered accomplishment enough for one
blind man, but this is not a beginning.
He has great genius for music, and
possesses voice which, in many charac-
teristics, is without doubt the most won
derful voice in the world. On one occa-
siyn he was invited to Il private house III
this city to give an exhibition of his mu-
sical abilities, and few musical men and
women were invited to hear him, all Of
whom will bear testimony to their aston
ishment and delight. We supposeIthst all
musical people will shrug their shoulders
with incredulity, when we tell them that
his voice has the compass of five octavos;
vet such is the fact that he demonstrated
to this company. OF course, the lowest
notes are cultural, and the highest fslsetto;
but the fa!setto notes are pleasant and
good, and the gutturals true tones, and as
musical as such tones can De. We are
not sufficiently versed in musical terms to
9 tell what his lowest note is, but it is the
lowest note in the piano, arranged upon
the usual scale-or triple G, as he calls it.
His chest tones are excellent; and al
though Carl Formcs may have more pow
! er, his quality is no better while in his
= lower notes he goes down " out of sight
! of Carl Formes altogether. We can give
no idea of this voice by any comparison,
, for we have never heard voice with which
!, to compare it.
Of course, with such a voice as this, the
= owner is tempted to try tricks. The most
interesting of these WAS the application Of
. It to seven purposes. He began by sing
ing in delicate sophrano, the first lines
. of ''Oft in the Silly Night" :" then, as he
s proceeded he slid into the alto, then into
the tenor, then into the bass, and then into
. the "double bass" an octave below. This
= finished The tune, when hs arose, and, turn
= ing bis back to the audience, executed
some most excellent feats of tentriOqulsm,
! and wound off by initiating an old fash
g ioned spinning wheel SO perfectly that the
:, assembly was thrown into roars of laugh
: ter. He usually accompanies himself with
melodeon, to which he has added swell
of his own invention. that produces oil the
effects of the swell in the organ. One OF
The most delightful of his performances va.
: solo on the cornet-he playing it with one
If hand, and accompanying himself on the
IS piano with the other Upon this instru
} ment, and in his way he played few airs
is with great sweetness and taste, and eXecu
$. ted come very difficult variations. The in
= strunent itself has been the subject of his
j improving hand but in what respects we
) do not know. Added 10 this, be plays the
o. guitar and other instruments, and is lead
= er teacher of bands lie seemed to take
n great deal of interest in explaining his
e steam engine to the company, and seemed
}, to be thoroughly versed In mechanical
4 matters.
4 Th. mans name is w. A. earns lie
n WAS born, we think, IN one of the Western
: States, and has lived wherever he could get
i chance. He is of medium height, thick
set, modest in demeauor, interestingly con-
versation, and has received an education
S in some asylum for the blind, for which he
: appears unboundedly grateful. He i, now
q engaged in the invention of some mean.
: by which the blind may be enabled to have
l their regular newspapers; and if anybody
, can accomplish go benevolent result, h.
: will do it.