Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-05-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Blind Man at a Circus.

Robinson circus, cincinnati, WAS 'Isltcu d
few nights ago by blind man, whose beha-
vior there is thus described by 4 reporter in
the Commercial Of the 1st Instant:
"Many people started and stared yesterday
afternoon at Robnson's circus, when there en-
tered the tall and brawny but bowed form Of
the always groping blind man, Mr.. Sine, whose
cane tipped along in advance Of him, as, with
his left hand in the right arm Of friend who
could see, lie made his way along to a conve-
nient seat-convenient for the one who could
see. 1t was a strange and rather affecting
sight, that of the closed portals to the soul that
were turned upon the ring, while the mouth
and the high intelligent forehead gave the face
world of expression of wonder, pleasure or
sympathy as bis friend informed him every
minute or two of the feats that were performed.
When Jim Robinson hung to galloping horse
with the grip of his toes on the animals haun-
ches, or became 4 man, cut in tinted marble
into elastic statuary, or whirled twice around,
like dervish, as he jumped the banners, and
yet rode on still erect and when the blind
man was told of it, the expression of incredu-
lity that spread over his face was painful; for
it told that all the time he had in his minds
eye the circus of twenty years ago, with the
awkward tumbing on broad pads, on the backs
of great easy horses, to very slow music.
But over in the East End there is, or used
to be, a blind man who took pleasure in theat-
ricals and the circus, and the nimblc action Of
the ballet, although he could remember the ap-
pearance of but one thing-and that was blood
so long had he been afflicted.
"To Mr. Sine, however, the world is not a
black pail covered with weird imaginings of
things altogether unnatural and unearthly.-
He can remember distinctly the appearance Of
nearly everything worth remembering that he
saw up to nineteen years ago. lie never for
gets the voice of friend or old acquaintance,
and this is a source Of much satisfaction to
him. And be can enjoy many things that
those who see enjoy. When he plays friend
" game of cards he does so readily by having
friend at his back to post him as to lis hand
and the order of the cards and to tell him what
is being played This man is now wealthy,
having been very successful in gift enterprise
lottery for many years. Nineteen years ago,
he was stricken so terribly, and we fnl the
following account of it in the Commercial:
"' Yesterday, in the composing room Of the
Gazette Office, powder was wrapped in paper
and put into large stove-drum for the pur
pose Of blowing it out. After some time very
worthy young man, named Sine, went to see
whether the explosion had taken place or not
When he opened the fue in the drum, and
was looking in, the explosion took place
throwing powder red-hot ashes and SCOT into
his face and eyes Dr. Foster was Immediately
sent for, and found him in excruciatng agony
his face horribly burned, and his eyes sight
less. After cleaning them of powder and
ashes, he found the balls aattened and almost
sightless.'"
TMr L. D. SINE, above alluded to, was an
employee of this Office and inmate Of our house
hold for several years previous to the sad ca
lamity which befell him. Our recollections Of
him are all pleasant. We have seen him but
once since, and found him the sameintelligent,
agreeable man-and none more gratfed than
ourselves to learn ofbis prosperity.-H FP1