Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-04-20
5f(tstcllantous.
Blind Peculiarities.

Those who have closely observed the con.
duet OF the blind must, we imagine, have been
sometimes startled with the precise knowl.
edge they appeOr to possess of what is going
on around them. 1t would seem as though
some new sense bad stepped in to supply the
want of the faculty which they have lost or
have never possessed We know that this is
not the case, and that the ready powers of
perception and appreciation which sometimes
| astonsh Us are the results OF that finished
| education of the other senses which is in o
manner enforced upon those who live in
| perpetual darkness. We shall iot down a
few instances which have come within our
own observation aud knowledge, and which,
while interesting in themselves, will serve to
/ illustrate the operation of what some writer's,
in abiding TO this subject, have wrongly
termed the sixth sense.
a poor blind pensioner, who travels Lon
don daily to call on his patrons for their
contributions, and whose rounds are not much
short OF a hundred miles per week, on being
asked how he finds bis way about, tells us
/ that on starting from home be counts the
turuings and crossings, however numerous
they may be, (perhaps over miles route J
until he arrives at the street or row of build.
iugs which he wants. lie then "sticks it," or
counts the houses by their entrances with his
stick until he comes to the right DWELLING
This once certified, is never afterwards for
! gotten for II he should chance TO mscourt,
| be would be made sensible of his error by the
differing shape of the bell handle, the knocker,
the ralIngs, or some triding popularity in
the doorstep. etc, which, though they might
escape the observation of ordinary persons,
are obvious enough to the blind. He knows
his friends, as they approach him, by the
sound Of their football, aud will not allow
them TO pass him without giving them the
"good day" He car always tell when he is
passing house or houses of two, three, or
| four stories high, by the difference in the
sound OF bis own step, or Of the touch Of his
stick on the flags. lie knows the trees by
their odor. A grocer's shop, chemists
shop, leather cutters, or O butchers, is as
palpable TO him as a milestone to q traveller
or lighthouse to sailor. II be is ever put
out of his reckoning, it is through meeting a
| friend and having gossip till be forgets
! himself; in this case be has either to 60 back
or forward, sticking it" until he has reco-
vered one of bis landmarks. This poor fellow
has perambulated London alone for twenty
years, 10 oil weathers, with 40 other guide
than his stick, yet is never known to lose his
way. IL the reader will compare these facts
n
the cases of persons who lose themselves in a
London fog in neighborhoods with which
they have long been well acquainted, he will
see sufficient cause to marvel at the resources
of the blind.
A friend of the writer, attending church on
the Sunday morning in village where be
had arrived the day before, encountered 0
bllnd man cropping at the principal door
which, Tor some couse, happened on that day
to be slosed. Our friend took him by the
hand aud led him in at q side door. After
the service he led him out but the blind mau
was quite nonplussed, and did not know in
what direction to go. "Will you be so good
as 10 put me where You found me first ?" be
sald' and he was conducted back to the front
door, Having certified himself of his position
oy touch, he at once set off for his home
which lay at three miles distance-our friend
accompanying him part of the way. WAer
lhey had walked something more than mile
along the road the blind man stopped
Nv Ill you have the kindness" he said, "tC
put your hand behind that hurdle in thu
hedhe, and lift out my walking stickl
always leave it there when go 10 church.
Now the msn had been talking all the wa,
from the village, aud he could not have besI
counting his steps or bis invisible landmarks
and there appeared to be nothing wbateye
D 10 the level road which could have indicate
to one stone blind the exact spot on which b
stood. As our friend lifted out the stou
eudgel. which certainly did not look at
IKE church. going article, be asked him ho
ne could tell so precisely where be was
"lhere is a tree in the hodge" said the blin
'man' and ihai causes ull la ihe air, b