Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-31
COMMUNICATED.

SAGACITY AND FEATs OF THE BLISD-The
sagaclty and ingenuity of The blind Is in very
many Instances, truly marvellous 4 total pri-
vation Of sight is the sadest misfortune that hui
mainly l. suffice, to, yet the misfortune is to
great degree aIlev!ated by advantages peculiar
to The afflicted. 10 some, the defect has been
supplied by a most excellent gift Of remember
Ing what they had seen: in others bya delicate
sense OF smelling: in others, by an exquisite
touch. or sense OF feeling. s me have been en-
ablcd 10 perform all sorts of curious and subtle
works 10 the incest and most dsx,erous mauner
AL xandria furnishes remarkable case in
the person Of the totally blind colorcd wood
sawyer. 1t is wonderful how he walks our
streets. passes through allies turns sharp cor
lerS finds his pile of wood and then cuts it to
any length ordered, almost with the exactness
II the best mechanical eye. OF late, We have
watched his movements with surprising inter
EST and hereafter, we propose to improve our
sympathy by besoEing our patronage.
The British Encyclopedia, published by Mr..
Nicholson, III London, about sixty years ago,
gives many extraordinary teats performed by
the blind. 1t describes scul ptor who became
bind at twenty years of age, and yet, ten years
after, made perfect marble statue Of Cosmo
H.. and another Of clay like Irban Will
Bartholln tells Of blind sou ptor 10 Denmark,
who distinguished perfectly we'll, by mere touch,
not only all kind, of wood but ali the colors,
and Grltnaldi gives an instance of the like kind,
besides the blind orgaulst of Paris, vino is said
to have done the same
The most extraordinary Of ali Is blind guide,
who, according TO the report of reliable authors
used to conduct the merchants through the
sands and deserts Of Arabia.
DR.. Bcw published statement in the Trans
actions Of the Manchester England Society, y.
| still more extraordinary. 1t is that of person
named John Metcalf: native Of the neighbor-
| hood OF Manchester, who became blind at 50
| early an age as 10 be altogether unconscious of
!! light aud its various effects. His employment
in the younger period of his life was that of
WAGNER aud as a guide n intricate roads dur
lug the night Afterwards he became pro-
icctor and surveyor of highways 10 difficult and
mountainous parts, and. in this capacity, with
the assistance OF "a long staff, he traversel the
roads, assembled the prccipiceS. explored valleys
aud investigated their several extcuts. forms,
and situations His plans and estimates were
made with great ability and accuracy.
DiodotuS the philosopher and teacher of
Cicero exercised himself with great assiduity
after he became blind, and described his dia
grains 80 accurately 10 bis scholars as to enable
! ,h,m TO draw every line IN its proper direction.
Professor Saundcr>on was deprived of his
! >ight Jy small pox when he was only twelve
months I'D He could discriminate with the
srest",t .xact,,s, the .minue:t J. ference #
! rou@h an! smooth in a surface, or the least de-
&c, i: i, III. He could distinguish the genuine
coin I'm the false though couuterfeted in
I such q manner a 10 deceive experts who judged
! rs the Eye H. >rESe OF feeling was 50 acute
that he could perceiv" the least variation IN
H., ,:ae f thu air H.. c3ui! tell whcD Any
! 'l'Dg vas bel near hi face. or when ne pass.
II ~ Ii re-. Al ~, great li>ta're providing H.:
air va cam Hi, >e,-hiry Of h.-aring wa>
~tch rhar b. coul distinguish the 18th part IF
Il rot, H. cool te, the >iz- Of a room into
which he wa~ in'rnnce ami 1T his distance
! from tn Val.
! Sculpture, painting. an music ar: art> which
/ one would ips4jn" OF difficult and almp>t i'm
i,racric the atanrneutS 10 h!ind persons. Yet
nanny n>!anc.> can BIZ g,v.O Ia show fine ule
chan;ca >k. and pric.-try in printing AID
! tuu>,c tru Y astonishing. TIL. present g"n"r.-
! rInn in the pr .nn OF b lui 'Gu.n the nero aud
musical genius furnishes i remarkable INSTANCE
! o. rh::t fne baud tavr AM eau 10 il n" van
,,u> departments pf s:!e!ic. lNDEX