Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-11
The ArmiesS Painter.

When the sense Of sight is wanting,
the hearing, the touch, the taste, the
smell will almost make IL good. The
blind lear nquickly to read with their fin
gers, ard to recognize their friends as
readily NJ hose who can zee. They will
not only go about the house without dit
fculty, but will of'en fnd their way
through the streets f the town or city
where they live, and even make long jour
neys without assistance. There have
been some WHO could even distinguish
oolors by the delicate sense of their touch.
The deaf aud dumb learn quickly to con-
verse by signs-the eyes take the place of
the ear. the hand the plaee of the tongue.
There is no language nor science which
they csnuot learn, nor is there
any thought too abtruso to be COM
mnnicated TO those who have been educa-
ted in tie language of signs. [ have
known some who could articulate well,
and others who could play on any instru-
ment of music without ever having heard
sound, though their exercises were
rather dull music" Of course, and prac-
ticed by them rather as an accomplish
ment than for pleasure or profit. l re-
member a very pleasant interview / had
the deaf, dumb, and blind girl, and by
taking her hand, how readily conversed
with her by the manual alphabet, which
she had learned to use. Some two years
ago, when in the British House of Com.
mons, 1 eaw Mr.. Kavanaugh, the Irish
member, who has neither hands nor feet :;
nevertheless, he ia an active member of
that body, and can speak and vote as we'll
as any of them. He is said also to be
good writer. He holds the pen in his
mouth, and guides it with the stumps of
his arms, without bands, which nature
has given him.
But one of the most extraordinary cases
of triumph over physical difficulties ]
ever knew, is that of the Antwerp paint
er. He was born entirely destitute of
arms, end yet he has learned to use his
toes moro readily than most persons use
their fingers. He often passes my win
dows with his coat sleeves tucked into
his pockets on each side, and walking so
gracefully, that stranger would not de-
teet any defect in him. Hs may be seen
any day at work in the picture-gallery at
Antwerp. II is wonderful to notice how
skillfully h handles his tools. His can.
vas rests upon An easel, 50 arranged that
he can raise or lower it at pleas by turn
ing crank He sits on an ordinary stool
in front of it, without any support what
ever for his back or limbs He takes his
pallet and resting rod with one foot, with
the other he seizes the brush, mixes his
paint, and applies it Gs freely, and pre-
cisely in the same way as his fellow ar
fists, more favored by nature, many of
w ha lo IN ba y
of his paintings.
called upon him the other day, in
company with DR.. B, an American |
friend at his own house. He received us
very kindly into his parlor, and showed |
as his collection of paintings, all of which |
had Teen executed by himself. After this
he took US up into his studio. Every
thing WAS in perfect order. I saw
nothing that indicated any popularity |
in his way of doing things. There was |
on an easel a beautiful sportrait, yet IN
finished, of young lady. which 1 re-
at once as the likeness of one
had seen. There were other unfinish-
I'd pictures, some of them quite
large. and embracing many figures,
which he was painting to order. He says
ne has quite IS many orders as he can fill
We asked him for his card. He immedi-
4tely put his foot into his pocket, and
took ont bis porte monnaie, opened it and
took from it a small key, Unlocked the
drawer and drew it out, and took a blank
Yard from pack, and laying it upoa the
leak, sAt down before it, selected pen.
Tipped into the ink, and after first irving
I on his toe nail, as one would on his
.humb, he wrote his name and address
'Charles Felu, Artistepeintre, 90 Longue
Alice, Anvers.