St. Paul daily globe., 1884-09-02
DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND
Pursuit of KnotciedDe Under Difficulties
A WOnderTtII Case.
Hartford Courant.


Julia Brace, who died at Bloomfield Tues
day, 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 four years old she lost her sight
and hearing from sickness, and as moth
ing was then known OF the possibility OF
retaining the faculty Of speech in such cases
she soon became a blind deaf-mute. AT
this time there was no school for deaf f-mutes.
The American asylum was opened when she
was eleven or twelve years old, but she did
not enter 1t till 1928, when she was nine
teen wears old There she remained until
within twenty or twenty-five years, when
she removed to live with sister in Bloom
field. Her case attracted particular atten-
ton on account OF its connection with the
earlier days of the American asylum, when
it was still new thing and one as to which
there was much curiosity and some incredu-
lity. Visitors who were astonished at all
the saw were more astonlshed TO see this
woman, deprived of three senses and yet
able to understand much that was addressed
to her and to communicate with those
among whom she lived Almost all the
OluCT IGSluCulS III aS AuilA LIN
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 putting
them away. In many ways she could render
much service in the daily work of the insti-
tuition. She had good many curious and
amusing ways. For instance, tits told that
when the girl pupils were dressing in the
morning and took turns before the glass to
put up their hair she always insisted on
having her turn and would stand there to
put her hair like any one else.
Noother place would answer the purpose,
though it could, of course, make no differ
! ence whether she was before the glass or in
the darkest corner of dark closet Like
many other blind persons she used her
! tongue to thread 8 needle and did it promptly
and accurately. Probably because her ed
ucation began late and yet at q time when
much less is known than now as to the
proper way to proceed, or as to the posibili-
! ties that exist, she never made much pro-
gress in language. 1t was, however, easy to
communicate with her as to all the common
events Of her daily life. and she received
hosts of visitors who were always impressed
with her remarkable development difficulties
that were so hampered by physical defects
Her case was not to be compared with thai
of Laura Bridgeman. She had none OF the
early. assiduous, special care that was given
to the latter and probably much less acute
mental constitution at the outset.
In certain ways, however, what shS
learned to do was, perhaps, as remarkable.
1t was in the direction of the ordinary dutie:
of a household, rather than in the more
strictly intellectual training. Personally
she was little "queer," but no more thar
hosts of other people, especially such as live
much alone. One thing was notlcebie
Shs mad very clear notion of her own rights
and did not allow any interference witt
them. Sometimes her idea of a persona
right was little out of the common course
but she had no question about it, and prob
ably could not see how any one should have
Since she left the asylum comparativel.
little has been known of her except anon:
those near her and some of the older persons
connected with the asylum.