The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-04
Deaf, Dumb and Blind.

Jllia Bruce, who died at Bloomfield
on Tuesday, has been known all over the
country, and indeed, wherever attention
has been paid TO the education of deaf
mutes. She was born in what is now
Newington in 1906. When about years
old she lost her sight and hearing from
sickness, and rs nothing was then known
of the possibility, of retaining the facul-
ty of speech in such cases she soon
became blind deaf mute At this time
there was no school for deff mutes.
The American Asylum was founded
when she was II or IL years old, but she
did not enter it until 1925, when she
was 19 years old. There she remained
until within twenty or twenty five years,
when she removed 10 live with sister at
Bloomfield. Her case attracted particu-
lar attention on account of its connection
with the earlier dayo of the American
Asylum, when it was still new thing
and one as TO which there was much
curiosity aud some increduli.y. Visitors
who were astonished to see this woman,
deprived of three senses and yet able to
understand much that was addressed TO
her and communicate with those among
whom she lived. Almost all the older
residents Of asylum hill remember her
well, and have themselves seen what she
could do. She could distinguish the
clothes belonging to different pupils, and
was employed in sorting them and put.
ting them away. In many ways she
could render much service in the daily
work of the institution. She had good
many curious and amusing ways For
instance, 1t is told that when the girl
pupils were dressing in the morning and
took turns before the glass to dress their
hair, and always insisted on having her
turn and would stand there to Ert up
her hair like any one else.
No other place would answer the pur-
pose, though it could, of course make no
difference whether she was before the
glass or in the darkest corner of closet.
Like many other blind people she used
her tongue to thread needle, and did it
promptly and accurately. Probably
because her education began late, and yet
than now as to the proper way to proceed
never made much progress in language.
1t was, however, easy to communicate
with her as to all the common events of
her daily life, ard she received hosts Of
visitors. who wer, always impressed with
her very remarkable development of
faculties that were 80 hampered by ply
sical defects. Her case was not to be
compared with that of Laury Bridgeman.
She had none of the early, assidious,
special care that wae given to the latter,
and propably u much lees acute mental
constitution at the outset.
In certain waya, however, what she
learned to do was, perhaps, as remarka.
BILE. 1t was in the direction Of the Or
dinary duties Of a household, rather than
in the more strictly intellectual training.
Personally, she was little "queer," but
no more than hosts of other people,
especially such rs live much alone. One
thing was noticeable. She had very
clear notion of her own rights and did
not allow any interference with them.
Sometimes her idea of personal right
was little out Of the common course,
but she had no question about it, and
probably could not see how any one
should have. Since che left the asylum
comparatively little hcs been known of
her except among those near her and
some of the older persons connected with
the aevlnm - H1rffnrH (bnD \ (our1rf