Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-08-12

Amanda Is. Harris gives III the CtrtsttdH
Union the following account of visit
made by her TO Laura Bridgman, who was
born blind, deaf and dumb, and has been
40 wonderfully educated at the Institution
for the blind at South Boston:
A few weeks since j visited Laura
Bridgman in her home nearthe institution
for the Blind at South Boston. If anyone
suppOses that by reason of her deprivation
she il queer or awkward in person or
manners, he Is altogether In error. There
Ii nothing at all singular In her appear
ance. When | eptered the parlor mem
Der Of the family with whom she lives was
playing on the piano, and close beside her,
on low seat, there was very slight,
very erect, quiet, self'possessed looking
girl who seemed To be listening 10 the
music, while her hands were busy Over
some crocheting or similar work. She
would have been taken for guest VINO
was nimbly fashioning some pretty article
while being entertained with music. The
expression of her face was bright and in
terested land one watching her satisfied
look would have been slow 10 believe that
she did not hear. The green shade over
her eyes indicated that she was one Of the
blind. She had on a brown dress a blue
ribbon at the neck, gold ring and chain,
and watch or locket In her beta neat.
ly,attircd, genteel, lady.like person, look.
ing about thirty-fye, though her age Is
really not tar from forty -four, with soft,
brown hair, smooth and fine, ell-shaped
head, fair complexion and handsome feat
ures. That was Laura. DIR. Howe spoke
Of her as " comely and refined In form and
attitude, graceful in motion, and positive
ly handsome In features" and Of her sex,
prcssive face which, indeed, In sensi
bility and intelligence, is above instead Of
below the average.
As soon ms the information was con.
veyed to her that she had visitor from
her native State who knew people in the
town where her nearest kindred live, she
came swiftly across the room, leaving her
work on the center-table as she passed II,
and grasped my hand, laughing with the
eagerness Of child Then she sat down
face to face with the lady who has charge
OF her and commenced an animated con.
versation by the manual alphabet, easily
understood by one who has practiced it
but the sleightof-hand by which the fin.
gers ofthc friendly hostess, manipulating on
Laura's slender wrists, communicated with
that living consciousness shut In there with
In one perfect sense except the taste and
touch was something mysterious, inscruta-
BILE to my duller sense Yet that the COM
munication was definite, quick, incisive,
SO 10 speak, was manifest enough, for
Laura's face beamcd, and she was
all alert Partly by the letters and
partly by signs she said a great deal to me.
She ought to be al home To be company
for mother" she said and once or twice
she fashioned tie word IMAM ma" very
distinctly with her lips With regard to
this vocal expression DIR. Howe says
"She has attained such facility for talking
In the manual alphabet that regret that
did not try also to teach her 10 speak by
vocal organs or regular speech She asked
II knew member of her family now
dead, and said THAT was long wear
aflcr Carl died" She seemed trimming
over with things to tell me, and wanted me 10
know about her teaching some OF the blind
girls 10 sew, which ispnrt Of her daily EN-.
ployment In the schoo! Fear by, and whie,
she takes great pride in, threading I
needles and making her pupils PICK, !
their work If II is not done nicely. She