Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-10-11
Blind.

One Of the most wonderful blind men
that ever lived was John Metcah, OF
blind Jack of Knaresborougb, as he
was always called. This remarkable
Yorkshiremsn lost his eyesight when he
was child of six years by smallpox,
but he grew to be not only an expert
musician and tradesman, but also an ex-
pert horseman. In athletic sports, such
as wrestling and boxing, he was also a
great adept; and being, when full
grown man, very strong and robust,
and In sta ture six feet two, few burst try
Upon him the practical jokes which cow
ardly persons are sometimes disposed TO
play upon the blind.
There must have been something very
winning about the man. too (says his
biographer), for the landlords daughter
OF the CRANKY Inn fairly fell in love with
hlm-and married him, in spite of the
opposition Of her relatives. When asked
how she could marry such man, her
wonianlike reply was, because /
couldn't be happy without him; his ac-
tiors are SO singular, and his spirits so
manly and enterprising, that couldn't
help loving him."
After all, Dolly was not so far wrong
in her choice as her parents thought her.
As the result proved, Metcalf had in him
the elements Of success in life, which,
even according to the worlds estimate,
made him eventually ga very good
match"
His surprising faculty as pathfinder
and natural engineer gave him both lu-
crative employment and local, and even
national fame. 1t is remarkable that
to-day England's Postal-Route King
Professor Fawcett, at the head of the
British Mail SERVICES blind man;
and it is no less remarkable that Eng
lands first great road-builder, John
Metcalf, was blind. One incident, when
he was very young man, illustrates
how well he could not only find his own
way, but guide people who had good
eyes.
On one occasion, he went with be-
lated gentleman to show him along the
difficult road from York to Harrowgate.
The road was then full OF turns and
windings, and no better than track on
the moor common. Mctcalf brought
the gentleman safe to the inn. and then,
for the first time, the traveller noticed
the appearance of his eyes. Feeling
delicate about questioning him directly,
he mentioned it to the landlord.
''Whyp said the landlord, didn't
you know he was blindp"
blind! What do you mean?"
81 mean, sir, that that man can't see;
he's as blind as stone"
well, landlord, that is really too |
much" said the gentleman. Call him |
in"
Metcalf was called in. ''My friend,
are you really blind?'
Eyes, SIR" said he. II lost my sight |
when | was six years old.'
"Well! well! had / known that, l |
wouldn't have ventured with you on the |
road for hundred pounds.
"And |, SIR" said Metcalf, wouldn't |
have lost my way for thousand"
Blind Jacks sagacity was such that |
he could tell the character of any ground |
he walked over, and whether a bed of |
stone lay underneath; he could measure
things accurately by the touch, and work
out the plan Of a bridge or causeway in
bis head quicker than any engineer could
put it on paper. This led to his being
largely employed in contracts time
(mddle of the last century, when few
English roads were better than cart
paths in the woods--and in the course
OF his life he constructed nearly two hun
bred miles OF excellent highways