Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-06-09
FOSTER HALE,
inventor CT Raised Letters for the
Blind.

i1eic - Il Ii IUutc 10 L OSIeT I1aie, one
of ''the greatest benefactors of the age
to ali unfortunate class Of the family of
man." 1t seems particularly mean-
choly that a man who poured such a
tide Of happiness thro' many a sufferers
heart, should himself close his career
under circumstances Of sach need and
Wretchedness.
We were band Of emigrants bound
for the prarie- Of the "far West" We
stood OH the deck Of a vessel which was
lea.!ng the harbor Of Mobile for the
"lsand city" ot' Galveston. A gentle
man stood beside me. holding by the
ha'id a delicate Toy Of twelve years.
We were silent; as all emigrarts are,
locking at the receCilug shores that
skirted either side Of the beautiful bay
with a dark green fringe Of rich foliage.
Farewell, Alabama! Beneath the
shade Of your forest tr"es I've passed
maay moments Of joy, and, alas! rs
many Of bitterness" said tie gentle
man, as # speaking to himself. He
bad given utterance to the thrnu ght
which ii ed my own bosom. [ APP
pr"achcd him. care you q native Of
Aiahana, sir?"
No, not a nat;ye; my child is,' lay
ing his hand on the curly head of the
boy beside hin. The rosy face was
Turned ,oWar5i n!e; tears hung on the
sii};en Ias''e's, bat the eyes WEI sight
less. In>tinc1lvcly I drew nearer, and
took his small b;;:i,l III mine. Blind
what IN arpea! to til syinpatnes OF
tie human heart Who can look ilto
q yorng Gare, destitute of Gods great.
est gilt, without he deepest emotion;
without the highest and holieSt feelings
OF pity and tenderness, for the Young
life doomed to eternal darkness! Dcs-
tined 10 pass through the weary stages
OF an existence of perpetual nj ght!
Blind (! berett Of the cheering sun
shine, Of the wealth Of beauty q bcned-
cent Providence has scattered in wild
rrofusion on earth, sea, skv and air -
Blind! shut out from all beauty, light
and smiles OF iove! How chee:less the
future, how dreary the present, and
no" fU. Of gloom tie past. All! Well
may tie father Of blind child speak of
butter moments!
The gentleman continued. seeing
lta; =. >.:y.t:' il: TX; ii}tla fellow:
Nv hen | was convinced that my ol.iid
WAS blit"i for iite-tol it was a long
time before I could believe shat Heav-
eli bad 50 afflicted ma-I applied my
sell = devise plans to instruct him to
open iielas Of thought to his mind
to place within his reach means Of
amusement independent of external OBJ
:iects. procured raised letters and
Taught him t. read. Though very small
and delicate III appearance, he is now
twelve years Of age, and possesses the
Information Of many Youths Of eighteen.
[ have great cause to bless the wise
and good in behalf of the blind. NY
poor boy has stored in his memory
abundant food Tor thought; and his
weary hours have become golden mo-
mclitS of study and research In com
paniun>liip with the greatest minds of
earth
'InIcct', sir" I replied, eve have
great canse t. be thankful for the phil
anthr pic movements in the cause of
the blind it has ever been subject
ct the deepest interest to me; and the
nam>ru'S aSylu'nS ani institutions for
/ the blind, erected in ali portions of oar
country, show that our people are not
entirely Sordi,i and selfish; there are
! those VINO can feel for the afflicted, and
work for their benefit Among the no.
best OF these is the late Foster Hale,
the inventor of raised letters for the use
Of the bIin;l iIe died a few DAYS ago,
; Ill Selma, Alabama, the town in which
! | lived. | saw him once. I was at
the house Of a friend in the suburbs of
the city, when man clothed in tatte--
ed garments entered! the yard.
80, there he is again = said NV
friend.
who is it?' I asked.
"'Do You know She said, that this
is the third day that man has come
! here tor something to eat?'
''At this moment the person alluded
TO entered the room with 4 slow and
heavy step.
81 have come again. he simply said.
''Mv friend arose, and offered him a
chair; but he sat down on the steps,
and leaned his head against pos: of
the portico. He took Of his old, tat
tered hat, aud wiped his face with a
solled, dark colo:ed pocket handker-
chief. His face was expressive of in
tellect anl benevoleace, although tan
gied hair and matted beard made him
look like q wretched outcast.
/ "My friend left the room, and in few