The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-01-13
LAURA BRIDGMAN.
An Evening In Her Home-Her Won
derfuI Tact and Ingenuity.

An Evening In Her Aome-der Won
derfuI Tact and Ingenuity.
The Rev. Newton ]. Jones writes the
following communication to the Con.
o,eoationalia, concerning visit to Miss
Laura Bridgman:
Previous to the time when the dis
ease came upon her which was the
cause of her calamity, she had never
been well only q very short time, and
that just before she was two years old
At that age, DR.. Howe informs us, "the
scarlet fever ravaged her System with
great fury, destroying utterly the
organs of sight and hearing, bunting
the sense of smell, and prostrating her
whole system so completely that recov-
cry seemed impossible" Of her sub
sequent recovery and wonderful pro-
gress under the care Of DR.. Howe, who
took charge of her education when she
was seven years old, need not speak.
On arriving at the house, we were
brought into the presence of very
good-looking lady of forty -seven years.
Her countenance was spare, and spec
tacles covered her eyes from view.
Her regular features and tidy appear
ance would convey any other impress
sion than that she was the person
whose misfortunes have been told in
both hemispheres She arose from her
chair and took us each warmly by the
hand as we entered, and at once COM
menced conversation with the remark
that she had not expected to see us that
evening, our call being later than was
intended. Let it be borne in mind that
she conversed by means of the deaf
and dumb alphabet, and that she was
addressed by these same characters
being made in the palm Of the hand
and communicated to her through the
sense of feeling.
Knowing that was minister, she
inquired if l was a Baptist. On my
answering that | was Congregational
list, she remarked and repeated:
eve cannot commune here, but we
can in heaven"
This remark was probably suggested
by the fact that she had just attended
the covenant meeting of the Baptist
church, of which she is d member. 1t
being suggested that the temperature
of the room was warm, she went to
open door as readily as any one could
have done, extending the hand just at
the proper time to take the latch. She
asked my residence, and if it was near
Boston. She also inquired if | had
read of her in books. After a few
minutes conversation she asked if we
would like to see her fancy work. /
answered in the affirmative; upon
which she went to drawer-she could
not have gone more directly if she had
had her sight-and brought number
of articles Of excellent knit and crochet
work-ladies' collars, lamp mats, ETC.,
all of which bore her name and the
price of each article in her own hand
writing. l selected q specimen and
picture of herself, and she at once
knew the amount paid her from the
size of the scrip-remarking that it
was new, and making a graceful ges-
ture of thanks. 1t will be interesting
to say that she makes any garment
without assistance after it is cut,
threading her own needle with her
tongue.
| asked for her autograph, and she
proceeded up stairs in the darkness
darkness to her in any case-and
brought her writing implements,
among them small board with grooved
lines. These grooves determine the
breadth of the letter she is to make, and
their distance apart determine the dis
lance of the lines. She wrote neatly
and rapidly IN letters resembling the
raised ones of her books. 1.-The Lord
Is my Shepherd, | shall not want"
Her mother remarked that she would
write letter sooner than she could her
self. When we arose to go she took
her watch from her belt and told us
the time" Three minutes past seven !"
by means of the raised figures on
the face; and she took us by the hand,
which was her ways of saying good even
ing.
1t is surprising that one who is deaf,
dumb, and blind, whose mind has to be
reached manly through the sense of
feeling, should be able to comprehend
SO readily, and express herself so easily.
She recognizes those whom she has ex-
pected, her emotions all show them
selves in her countenance whether of
JOY or sadness. The death of her kind
friend, DR.. Howe, was a severe blow to
her.
Such is the appearance of Laura
Bridgman She has no recollection of
sight or sound, as she tells US, yet is
able to do such things as l have related
and finds much more to enjoy in life
than many who have all their facul-
ties. 1t IS said that she plays skillfully