Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-03-28
Peculfarities of the Blind.

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some new sense had stepped in to supply the want of
the faculty which they have lost never possessed
We know that this is not the case aud that the ready
powers OF perception and appreciation which sometimes
astOnish the results of that finished education of
the other senses, which is in manner enforced upon
those who live 10 perpetual darkness. We shall iot down
few instances which have come withio our own OBJ
servation and knowledge and which, while interesting
ID themselves, will serve to illustrate the operation OF
what writers, in aludng TO this subject have
wrongly termed the sixth sense
poor blind pensoner, who travels London daily to
call his patrons for their contributions and whose
rounds not much short of hundred miles per week
on being asked bow he finds his way about tells US that
on starting from home be counts the urnDgs aod
lngs, however numerous they may be, (perhaps over
hive miles route until he arrives at the street
OF buildings which he wants. He then sticks it, or
counts the houses by their entrances with bis stick
til he comes to the right dwelling. This certified
IS never afterwards forgotten for if he should chance
to mlscount be would be made sensible Of his by
the different shape of the bell handle the kuocker the
rangs or some trhng popularity in the doorstep etc.
which, though they might escape the observation of or
dinary PERSONS are obvious enough to the blind. He
knows bis friends they approach him by the sound of
their football and will not allow them pass him without
giving them the" good day" He always tell when he
passing house or houses OF wo three four stories
high, by the difference in tie aound of bis own STEP or
OF the touch OF his stick tie flags. He knows the
trees by their odor grocers shop chemists shop,
eahercutters or butchers, is palpable to him as
milestone to traveller, lighthouse to sailor
II b. is ever pat out OF his reckoning, through meet
ing friend and having gossip until be forgets him
self in this case he has either to go back forward,
sticking it,, until he has recovered of his land
marks. This poor fellow has perambulated London
alone for twenty years, in all weathers, with other
guide than his stick, yet is known to lose his way
If the reader will compare these facts with bis
perence IN the dark, or with the of persons who
lose themselves in London fog, in neghbOrhoods with
which they have long been well acquainted, he will
sufficient cause to marvel at the of the blind
friend Ot the writer, attending church the Sun
day morning in village where be had arrived the day
before encountered blind man cropping at the principal
door, which, for some cause happened that day to
be closed Our friend took him by the hand, and led
him in at side door, After the service be led him out
but the blind man quite nonpussed, aud did not
know IN what direction to 60 "Wil you be good
to put me where you found me first 2" he said; and he
was conducted back to the front door. Having certified
himself OF his position by tOuch he at off tor
his home which lay at three miles distance-our friend
accompanying him part of the way. When they had
walked something than mile along the road, the
blind man stopped
"Wlll you have the Kindness, he said to put your
hand behind that hurdle in the hedge, and lift my
walking-stck? I always leave it there when 60
to church" Now the man had been talking all the
way from the village and be could have been count
ing his steps or his invisible landmarks and there &p-
peared to be nothing whatever in the level road which
could have indicated 10 blind the exact spot
on which he stood AS friend lifted out the stout
cudge which certainly did not look at all like church
going article, be asked him how he could tell precise
y where he There is tree in the hedge" said
the blind man, and that lu in the air. because
it stops the current always know when come to the
tree
Not many months back a traveller was riding, on one
of the bleak and stormy nights for which the past year
will long be remembered dreary district OF hill,
down and dale, in central Yorkshire He had weary
way to Co. and his whole route lay in the teeth OF the
wind and tempest, which threatened to sweep him from
the road AS he struggled on the night grew dark and
the storm furious Not relshDg the idea OF being be-
lated that wild spot, be set spurs to his steed and
trusting to the animals instinct and sureooedness,
gaoped through the darkness towards his destination.
lie had reason to repent of his precipitation Tor the
horse dverged from the track and became entanged
clump Of gorse and scrub, and he himself thrown,
but, fortunately without any serious injury. lie was
able to mount again. and to the path and pro-
ceeding more cautiously, arrived at the village inn,
where he intended to put up about midnight. Here,
dsmountng he discovered that he had lost his watch
which had been severed from the ribbon that served
guard and had likely fallen the ground among
the gorse where he had been thrown He grieved at
the loss of valuable tlmepece and bemoaned his mis-
fortune with the landlord
There was poor blind man sitting in the oar, who
Immediately and volunteered to in search of the
missing watch. The appeared hopeless to the
eeT who could scarcely describe the spot where his mis-
fortune had overtaken him. and who deemed the attempt
to recover it the part OF blind Supremey
) anu, dS Iuucu Ii vi
this discOuragement, however the blind seized his
staff and forth the midst OF the wind and pouring
rain He knew the district better than the traveller Gid
He traversed the six miles OF stormy heath and noun
tan and needless OF the driving scud, commenced bis
search. Having arrived at the spot, he set his to
the ground and CROPPED through the gorse in all drec
tions the wind howed, and the long grass whisted
around him, but amidst those wild and melancholy
sounds he able at length to identity the still small
ticking OF the watch which he recovered placed in bis
| o,1b bror # hocx in triuD jc oS
plot rivaing almost the fairy eats of Fneear himself
is One however, for the truth OF which vouch
while it is which it is most certain that other
. than blind man could have accomplished
It is probable that, most blind persons that faculty
of the mind which phrenoogsts have supposed to be
demonstrated by the organ OF locality must be exercised
and perfected to an extraordinary degree. A blind
workman, If he use score or more OF tools, always
places his hand the right when wanted, and will
tell in instant and even after considerable lapse OF
time whether his tOolbox had been tampered with or
the arrangement of the implements altered The per.
ecton of this faculty is sometimes exhibited In blind
essplayers, who generally attain to remarkable pro-
fcency in the most complicated Of games. We have
boys of tender age, and who were born blind play
ing this difficult game IN mastery way, and generally
3 checkmatng their more mature antagonists. Their
sole guide their of touch and it is astonishing
note with what rapidty they ascertain all they want
to know by this means. By merely laying the palm o.
the hand and the ngertips the pieces they stand
they in moment the position OF the conending
forces and without being informed of the adversary
moves make the necessary disposition to defeat them
USE INTELLECTUAL PA1NT.--lake our advice. young
women and in seeking for husbands, mind paint
ing your cheeks but color up your heart and conscience
to the ruddiest glow of honor and honesty Never mnC
the Uinaigre de rouge, but go it strong by all means
on virtuous principles. Toss aside, of little moment
the hly-whte and the fun" but adhere tena
ciousy to the daily of liberal charity and never
forget that the meanest kind OF fun is that which is
INDUCED 10 at the expense of morality or integrity Ar
old writer has well said women in fishing TOR husbands
rely much their personal instead OF their menta
charms" They forget that entciDg bait is of little