News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-01-26
| HOW A BLIND MAN SEE3
THE EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF a
WESTERN MAN.
Totally Blind, and yet Able to Travel
without an Escort by Perception
Some Tests

Some Tests.
Many instances have been related show
ing that detection in any one or more
of the human senses often results in de-
veloping the CORES sponding inner sense.
This has been more frequently observed
! in persons afflicted with loss of sight and
| hearing. One of the kind is interestingly
( described in a late issue of the Chicago
| Htrad, which can be safely taken as one
of the most remarkable on record.
Mr.. Henry Hendrickson, born IN Nor
way forty-three years ago, but who has
lived in this country forty years, was de-
prived of sight when six months old. lie
was educated at the institution for the
blind in GAINESVILLE, Wis, and is the
author of book entitled "Out OF the
Darkness, +" somewhat in explanation OF
the mediumship with which he IS be-
coming endowed, although unable to
account for it in any manner satisfactory
to himself or conformable to the known
laws of physical science.
The narrative states that he Is well
educated, brilliant cOnversationallst,
and, with glasses which hide his com
pletely closed eyes, one would scarcely
recognize him as blind man. For .he
last twenty years he has seldom used an
escort, except when in great haste, aud
when going on territory entirely strange
to him. Many people who have OBJ
served the facility with which he moves
from place to place doubt that he IS
totally blind, but he has been put under
the severest tests, and those who have
made the investigations are convinced
that he cannot see.
Describing his habits to the reporter,
he said: "When in a train at full speed
| can distinguish and count the teic-
graph poles cas- ly, and often do IT as
pastime, or to determine our speed. Ot
course do not see them, but perceive
them. 1t is perception. Of course my
perceptiye qualities are not in the least
impaired on account of my blindness.
| am not able to explain it, but l am
never in total darkness. 1t is the same
at midnight as at midday. There is al
ways a bright glow of light surround
ing me-"
A practical test was made. A thick,
heavy cloth was thrown over his head as
he sat in his chair. This hung down on
all sides to his waist. 1t was impossible
for any one to see through it. Then be-
fore him or behind him, it mattered not,
an ordinary walking cane was held up in
various positions, and in answer to the
inquiry: I'm what position am l hold
ing it" he gave prompt and correct
answers, without single mistake, some
times describing acute or oblique angles.
II have never" he said, "by the
ordinary sense of sight seen an OBJ
Ject in my life, not the faintest glim-
mer of one. My sight or discernment
does not come in that way. This will
prove the idea to you: Take me into
strange room, one that have never been
into, and never heard about, and no
matter how dark it is, | can tell you the
dimensions OF the room very closely. l
do not feel the walls | will touch moth
ing; but there is communicated to me
by some strange law Of perception the
size and coniguration of the room"
He then related that being in New
York in 1871, he walked from Union
! Square to a friends house on Forty-first
street, long distance, with several
turns, and did not make miss. He
said: II knew the house when came to
1t. / did not see it, aud yet did. l
am studying shorthand. and as my hear
ing is very good, l expect to become an
expert. l had little trouble with my
writing at first, but am now able to
write very we'll"
! Another remarkable illustration of his
power to see without eyes is this: If one
make motions in the air like beating the
time for a choir, but describing phonetic
characters, he tells the characters, and
interprets them. What might be termed
crucial test' of this was given the
Hegtld reporter.
Mr.. Hendrickson furtheH-said: 'I'm
very 4good skater, and can, when
gliding Npver the ice swiftly, see every
particle son the ice, every crack and
rough spot, no matter how small and in-
distinct. The faster go, the palmer l
can see. Well, l don't mean that l can
see, but perceive, or something. 1t is
light to me, and discern everything."