Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-16
A BLIND COLLEGlAN.
Learning Latin, Greek, and Geometry I'm
der Difficulties.

lLewiston (Me.) correspondence Boston Globe.l
For a man totally blind. and, moreover,
without the advantages which wealth can
give, to attempt 10 obtains collegiate edu-
cation would, at first thought, seem TO be "A
well-nigh impossible task. That it is a rare
thing is demonstrated by the fact that, up
10 the present time, there have been
but two blind men who have gradu-
ated from any of the American col
leges. The first Of these, now dead,
graduated some twelve or fifteen years
ago from Harvard. The second, Ar
thur Elmer Hatch OF this city, graduated
from Bates College last week. As an ex-
ample of plucky struggle for an educa-
tion In the face Of almost insurmountable
obstacles. the career of young Hatch has
rarely been eaualled or excelled. He was
born of poor parents about twenty seven
years ago, in Franklin county, Me. When
about two years old he was deprived of his
sight by disease. In 1870, at the age of
eight years. he was sent to the school for
the blind at South Boston. His parents
were too poor to accompany him, and,
Young and helpless as he was, he made the
trip alone. He went by boat, and on arrl-
val at Boston he asked bystander 10 call
policeman TO aid him in getting across
the city, and TO be certain that he was not
being deceived made the officer lift him up
until he could feel OF his shield, and thus
be certain that 1t was an officer. he re-
NAMED at the South Boston Institute for
ten years, taking a common English
course. and learning the trade of chair
bottoming. He did not, as most Of the
pupils did. take a musical course. He left
the school and returned home in 1880.
Soon after his return, as he expresses II,
Il conceived the idea that blind man
ought to have a college education as
much as any one else, and | deter
mined 10 have one if possible In the
fall of that year he entered Wilton
Academy of which Professor l. G. Phil
lips, a Bates graduate, was principal.
Professor Phillips took much interest m
young Hatch and aided him materially in
fitting for college. His lessons were
learned by the aid of his mother and his
fellow-students. His mother read his Eng
lish studies to him until he had them
firmly fixed in his memory, and his Latin
and Greek he learned with the assistance
of the other boys. When his turn came 20
recite, instead Of reading the text from
the book himself, the teacher would read 9
passage and he would then translate and
give its grammatical construction. Ge-
ometry be mastered by means OF o cushion
upon which he outlined the proposition
with pins and twine. Sometimes his mother
would draw the geometrical figures, re-
yersed, upon a sheet Of paper, and then
prick them through so that he could feel the
figure IN its proper form upon the back OF
the paper. lie was also aided In the study
OF geometry by the use Of kindergarten
blocks. At this academy he also under
took the study of French and German, as
il was still uncertain whether he would he
able 10 get through college. His expenses
he met by working at his trade Of chair
bottoming, getting work from the New
Sharon Chair-Factory. lie graduated from
the academy IN 1884, and after remaining
out a year 10 earn money. entered
Bates College In the fall of 1885, with
tke.class- OF 1889. with which hs gradra-