The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-01
PERFECTED SENSES.
They are Made to Serve the loss Of One or the
Observation-Disclosures Of the Blind.

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When a person is deprived of one Of the
natural senses, either at birth or after
wards. those remaining become more ACUTE.
and in many instances they become so per-
feet that the lacking sense is partially sup
piled. Probably the case of the famous Laura
Bridgeman il the best Illustration. Three
of her faculties were minus-sight, hearing
and speech-and notwithstanding this
great affection she became an educated
woman. Doubtless If some of the children
at the Home for the Predetermined could
come under the care and influence that
Laura Bridgeman did, they might in o de-
gree become children of sense. The per-
centage might be small, and probably
would. Few of those IN charge
of such homes have the philan-
thropic idea sufficiently developed to
make the redemption of one of these chill
dren their life work The work 10 carried
forward to q wonderful extent in many
cases. but such institutions are too liable to
political changes for the teachers in them
to be sure that they viii be retained. To
the children of darkness the greatest sym
paths should be extended. for they are de-
prived OK the most valuabie of the senses.
The deaf. the dumb, and those who iack IN
earn q livelihood that the blind have.
They are the most helpless OF all Cut off
from all vision, their other faculties be-
come sharpened- 1t is wonderful how q
man-for blind women are rarely seen alone
on the streets-who cannot see daylight
from darkness viii find his way
alone all over town, and this
city has men who are well
breadth with only . zane for company or
guide. Some of them are even indignant
when a sympathic person offers TO conduct
them over a crossing or takes al arm 20 as
sist them on their n
The reporter remem bers walking down
the street n day, several years ago, and
was just about to pass an alley when a
man. totally blind. was coming IN the OPP
posite direction. A heavy team with two
lieving the blind man would be Knocked
down and possibly injured, called TO him to
stop. He became very angry, saying: don't
thank You In interfering; guess L know
Some others accept a courtesy. but a. a
rule they do not like to be thought de-
pendent on any one. The sense
Of. tg n1;aa Is SO fn cultivated vsts d BY
jects, It is really wonderful how much a
blind person can know about the appear
anee of things. A common expression is
LET me see you.r or sec it, and this
means Let me feel YOU" By passing the
h hnssri in l shsil G %ind a the s'' s . 1a esnt snsy
They have in their imagination something
that answers to color, not as those who
have sight regard color, but an idea not to
be understood by others.
Many persons blind from sickness have
the remembrance of form and color to aid
them. Their education in reading with
their finger-tips. by means Of letters slightly
raised, is familiar to tall: To the uned-
,a<a had &Laoa aIoxro rV,u ora ~
like so much rough paper; but to
their sensitive touch each letter has its
form, and they can read almost as rapidly
by hand as others con by eye. Another
branch of the girls education Is learning
to sew and do bead-work, and various other
needlework. Some of them can turn . hem
and sew it In stitches that would put to
shame the labor of many o girl who can see
what she Is doing. and Knitting and GRO
cheting are also added to her list of accom-
plishments. She can play the piano or
violin, and sing like o bird, and the list of
what she can do is being added to yearly.
The mems work is also increasing In va
riety. This city has blind lawyers. piano
of this acquires an Improvement of some
faculty in proportion to what they lose
by eight. A story is told of Mr.. Church
i msn, ~n Of tS %af f%nst at Gne for s,lf the B fa1Red5-
He could not see at all. One day there was
some tuilding being done at the institution
and Mrs. Churchman went out to look at
the work; She saw, a board with a knot
hole. and perfect lumber had been con-
tracted for. She spoke to the workmen
about it. and they said it would not mat
ter. We'll" she said, IF Mr.. Churchman
sees it. it will have to come off, They
hooted at the idea. 1t was only a few min
utes till Mr.. Churchman came around. He
always walked with q cane and directed
himself with it, When he came wher the
men were working he kept beating about
with his cane. and. as fate would have it,
he placed the stick straight into the knot
hole. The board had to come off. Mrs.
Churchman knew what she said.
and meant it, for it was a COM
mon thing for Mr.. Churchman to
.see" many other things in the same way.
The blind can see through their sense of
touch in a remarkable degree, and seeing
people are not capable of comprehending
bow much they can ''seer in this way. and
therefore do not give them the credit for
knowing as much as they do. 1t is CON-
mon. and probably only human. for one
person to believe that another who is
blind, deaf, dumb. lame, or in any way af-
fiicted, can not know as much as they
know.