Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-10
Restored 10 Sight fter sixty Years of
klIInduess.

The Phil 4dei phil corr spoudent OF The
Boston Globe writes that an old colored
woman wss sewing by the light Of an oil
lamp in the front room OF a small house on
Center street, near Ely, Germantown lew
evenings since. There was something de-
cidedly wonderful in this fact, commonplace
sc il might first appear. The woman, Mrs.
Harriet Holmes, who is sixty years old, was
blind from her birth until three weeks ago.
Mrs. Holmes was born near Cambridge, on
the "East'n Sho'r of Maryland, and came 10
Philadelphia about three years ago TO live
with some relatives in Germantown. Size
was several times taken to the Germantown
hospital en- Penn street, and became known
in that institution ss "Bliud Aunt Harriet"
DR.. L. W. Fox, one of the surgeons at the
hospital, was sttrscted by the peculiarly in
the form stion Of her eyes and made an ex-
animation, which convinced him that her
sight might be restored. The old
womsn's consent 10 an operation was
not obtained without difficulty, as
she said that she was "dresdfully
afeard of dem cuttsn doctors" DIR. Fox
was delighted At the success of the operation,
which consisted in the removal of 8 cataract
from the left eye BY what is knowd as Grar-
bis method" sud awaited with great interest
the arrival OF the lime when his subject
could be taken into the light. AT last she
was removed to one OF the wards OF the
hospital which looked upon the street, and
the bandsge was removed. The patient
started violently and cried out, as if with
fear, aud for a moment was quite nervous
from the effects Of the shock, For the trs
| time in her life she looked upon the earth
The fret ihing she noticed was a little
| flock of spsrrows. In relating her expert
ence TO d reporter last night she said tina
she thought they were teacups, although
| strange to say, a few moments afterward chi
| readily distinguished a watch and chair
which was shown her. 1t ia supposed tina
| this recognition was owing 10 the fact th a
she heard its ticking and at once ESQ
| ciated the Two together. SIT ssemes
| kinder queer" she said 10 th'
| reporter, "but knoEed things putty quick
| 1t appears that she was soon able to distin
| guish those objects which she had been &C
customed to handle, such al chair, doc
! or table. She said that everything seemed
pretty, and although at first all objects sp
| psared to her bright and shining, like gold
she soon became accustomed TO colors, an
can now distinguished them very we'll. Fo
long time distant objects appeared SO nea
| that she thought that she could touch then
| She begins TO distinguish distances il not to
| great. Owing 10 her first impression Of dis
lance, she Was Tor some time afraid to wal
with her eyes open, the ground or floor ap
Pearing "fur way off" in strange eontras
| with her impression OF distant objects. TIL
popular impression that person born bin
who lis restored to sight inagines that me
aud women are walking on their heads, an
trees look like elephants, Vas not verified /
her case, although she nov even makes mi
takes quite as ludicrous, as in the case OF th
mistake of the birds for teacups. The blaz
of lamp excited the most lively surprir
in her mind. She had no idea what it wal
and when il was brought near her wanted I
pick i: up. When night approached upo
The day when she frat used her eyes she wi
in fright, fearing that she was losing Ii
sight which che had SO wonderfully foun
after sixty years Of darkness. Naturally 81
thinks DR.. Fox il the greatest man who evt
livej, and, with the superstition of her rae
cannot be convinced that he does not posse
| superhuman power,