The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-06-14
LAURA BRTDGMAN.

LAURA BRIDGnlAN. Co.,
Interesting History OF Mrs. Haw.
thorno's Bust Of the Greatly Anltct-
ed Child. - !: .
From the Boston Commonwealth.
In 1889 there was published by Weeks,
Jordan & Co., in this city, and Wiley &
Putnam, New York and London, pa
per-covered quarto pamphlet entitled
1.-THE Gentle Boy;a Thri.e-Told Tale, by
Nathanial Hawthorne. with an Oriental
Illustration" The illustration was an
outline-drawing, after Flaxman. and
the passage in the story selected dis its
theme was: ''The boy had hushed his
Wailing at once and turned his face t1p to
the STRANGE" This sketch, falling un-
der the eye of Clevingef, young sculp-
tor Of brilliant promise, Who had come
to Boston from the west, was examined
with much interest. His Comment up-
on it was that the artist had, in his
iudeemeilt,a decided natural Gift for
sculpture: Miss Sophia A Peabody of
Salem (afterward the wife of Nathaniel
Hawthorne,) was the artist, and in
due course she became a pupil of Gle.
vinger. And, although in this depart
mems of art but few specimens Of her
work remain, she ACCOMPLISHED
enough to satisfy her friends that Clev-
niger was not mistaken. Among her
earlier efforts were two medallian por-
traits which were remarkably success
full, although one was made chiefly from
memory, aud the other from such sug-
gestions as friends were able to:furnish.
Her first serious work in sculpture, for
which sittihgs were regularly given; was
portrait bust of Laura Bridgman, at -
years of age, which she undertook at:the
request Of DR.. Howe. To the benevo,
lent in all lands the history of Laura
Bridgnlan has been familiar story. A
child Of unusual promise. she had bee II
smltten With scarlet tevef while not
three years Of age. Escaping barely
with her life, she survived with an inn
paired constitution and totally deprived
Of sight, of hearing, and of every sense,
in fact, save that of touch and d
faint Vestige Of taste and smell:
It is difficult to conceive of the utter
sadness and isolation of this child upon
whom had fallen calamity so complete
and dreadful. With bodily disabi tiles
thus multiplied, it seemed as if her soul
were immured within marble tomb,
and her one solitary sense, that of
touch, has been likened to a lily hand
stretched out from her living grave, APP
pealing in her silence and darkness for
sympathy and succor.
1.-THE fleshIy walls are white and thin
Which close her yearning spirit in;
Celestial footballs she can hear
Tnau6ihle tO vrOssp~ oarD
And DR.. Howe Ito the glory of God and
his own everlasting honor) responded
with celestial footballs" to tn . cry of
this imprisoned Psyche; and beautiful
upon the mountain tops were the feet
Of her deliverer. He took her to the
institution for the blind which will forev-
er more be identified with his name and
Laura's. He watched over and in
structed Der, until ,Iundef his foster care,
her faculties were so marvelously devel
oped that be has been termed, not inap
propriately her, second creator.
One Of the most interesting chapters
in Dickens American Notes, is the
story of his visit to the Perkins institu-
ton and his account Of Laura Bridgman.
"Her face" he says "was radiant with
intelligence and pleasure. Her hair,
braided by her own hands, bound about
head whose intellectual capacity and
preselopnient were beautifully ex-
broased in it's graceful outline and its
pectd open brow" Such were the as
was Of the little girl when Miss Peabody
Aep commissioned by DR.. Howe to
make the portrait bust above referred
to. And it is an interesting circum-
stance that she was at that time be-
trothed to Nathaniel Hawthorne, and
that the $3.50 which she received for the
work went into a fund which she had
already begun to set apart for her we'd
ding trousseau.
Laura herself watched the progress of
the clay model with keen interest, per-
using its features with delicate; sensitive
fingers, clapping her little hands with
delight, and gleeiuly speaking of the
bust as her white baby Miss Peabody's
plan was to screen the eyes with q kerr
chief as in the classic statues of the god
dess of Justice; but Dir. Howe unfortu-
nately,: as we think, objected to that
method, preferring literal treatment;
and, in conformity with his wishes, she
reluctantly copied the ribbon which was
actually worn hgthe childat the time,
The completed bust was a perfect sue:
NCoo S1lAotoClO1y ~ IL. 4O"CasAN w UlA
who had watched with interest the pro.
gress of the work. Only one copy was
made, however, and that may still be
seen at the Perkins institution for the
blind; at South Boston. For long time
it has stood there in the rotupda, but
unfortunately. it was placed at too high 8
point for the light to fall upon it at 9
favorable angle, and 50 1t would seem to
have lapsed practically Into unmerited
oblivion.
During the present year. however, an
active interest seems to have sprung UP
in this nearly forgotten work roS Of M 1I1t;
Piled; and nearly every school for blind
and for deaf mutes in this country which
could afford the trifing cost has gladly
procured one. And inquiries for copies
are now coming from England, France,
Scotland, and elsewhere abroad.