Catoctin clarion., 1889-10-24
SOME BLIND WONDERS.
NEk WITHOUT SIGHT WHO HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED GREAT THINGS.

CRe Who Surveyed. Built Bridges and
Rode to Hounds-A sIght,ess Cricket
Player blind Poets, Scientists and
Theologians.
Today 1t Is proposed to discuss the remark
able things which have been accomplished
by persons deprived Of sight.
Who're the list properly begins the writer
will not attempt to say. The genesis Of this
list will appropriately commence, II not
with, then near, the beginning of the Chris
tian era with Eusebius, the blind theologian.
Accounts vary as to the time he lived. Ono
says that he was born near the close Of the
third century, about A. d. 296, and that he
died at tho age Of ~ in the year $40. The bulk
of evidence, however, forces us to the concl,-
sion that he was born about 3l5 and died in
5a0 at the age Of q years, twenty of which
we're spent in total blindness. It is greatly to
tho credit OF this man, whose light went out
forever Just as he was merging from infancy,
that in tho few short years he lived, en-.
shrouded in perpetual darkness, he should
become ono Of tho best known Of tho early
Christian writer's, and be known even to this
day as one of the fathers Of ecclesiastical
history.
SOME BLIND roETA
Henry, the author of the Poetic Life Of
Wallace" was born blind. He early exhibit
ed wonderful imaginative faculties, which
wore turned to good account In the pro-
duction Of the book mentioned. Tho
have a wide circulation, making the name Of
Henry, tho minstrel, more familiar to tho
rhyme loving common people OF tho British
~ ho$ ~ tb, 81
writer.
Hermann Torrentins, blind Swiss, born
in 1870, becamo ono Of the principals Of the
University Of Bcrne, the author OF poetical
dictionary of rare merit, besides works ON
history and botany.
John Milton, tho great English writer Of
prose and verse, best known as the author Of
"Pnradise Lost" was totally blind during
not belong to this list, having had forty-six
years of daylight in which to complete his
studies before ilnpcnetrable and perpetual
night shroulcd him in its inky gloom. Ihav
only mentioned him in this connection in
order to open the way for a broad assertion,
VIZ: That two of the greatest poets known
to history, Milton and Homer, were both
blind.
1nOllluS DluChIOCN, ~. H., Viz VI uiOSs
learned men Of tho Eighteenth century, was
born in l72l and died in l19l He was blind
at the age of 3 months Notwithstanding tho
Encouraging circumstances under which he
lalore,l, Dr. Blackjack became one of the
most eminent men of tho times. He was tho
trusted friend of Hume, the free thinker, and
of Burns, the Scottish lyrist. contempo-
raneous writer, speaking of the polished doc
T.. u. s H.
age, but has now won for himself, before he
has reached what men call the middle ago,
the designation Of an accomplished scholar, a
cultivated thinker and a poet Of high order.
His accomplishments, won under the most
oppressive disadvantages, give us wonder
full exhibition of the powers Of mind TO over
come seemingly insurlnountable obstacles"
Dr. Blackjack was al ordained minister, but
his friendship for Hume, as mentioned above,
caused the flock to rebel against their shep-
herd, which finally resulted In tho doctors
expulsion. Had Blackjack never lived the
name Of Robert Burns would, perhaps never
have been known in the world Of letters.
Tho embryo poet was on tho point Of ship
ping for the West Indies, when letter from
Blackjack caused him to change his mind.
and saved to the world ono Of its greatest
writer's of verse.
A GREAT NATURALIST.
Francois Huber, the Swiss naturalist, lost
his sight at an early age, became an eminent
entomolosist, and wrote OH bees, ants and
other insects His son, Pierre, aud a servant
named Rurnens aideN him in making many
valuable original observations on the habits
of these creatures. Although tho servant and
son rendered invaluable aid, it was admitted
by both that the c!,!er Huber was the master
mind in the preparation Of their many books
and spapers on entomology, zoology aud mo-
tcorology Many believe that Huber would
have become as eminent in his special branches
as either Humboldt or Cuvier could he have
had the use Of his eyes.
HUNTER, DRIVER AND SURVEYOR.
John Mctcalf, most wonderful produc>
ton of the last century, was born at knares-
borough, Yorkshire, England, in lTl1. At
the age of 4 years hard attack Of tho nea-
ses struck him totally blind-so blind that
the brightest rays Of tho sun gave him no
perception of light. Yet Ee did not give up
In despair A calamity had overt0ken him
which would have benumbed the faculties o@
a less courageous man forever. Not so with
John Metcalf. 1t seemed only to brighten
his remaining senses At first he learned
music, and, at the age Of 12, was the most
expert violiMst in all England. When he
arrived at mans estate he was owner OF
house, a email farm and horse and car
riage. At the age Of % ho was we'll
known carrier, engaged in the occupation
of carrying persons through the crowd
ed streets to and from places of amus6-
ment. Besides bis street work he fire.
q,iently engaged to carry travellers to
York, a distance Of sixteen miles. In oil
this hazardous work he was as trusty
as any man with two eyes, ard got into but
few difficulties from which lie could not
easily extricats himself He became great
hunter and followed the hounds with as much
pleasure aud as surely as the most keen eyed
hunter. He had bis own horse and could tell
the baying of his own hounds among hun
dreds At tho age Of 40 he began the study Of
surveying and bridge building. This not for
idle postilne, but for profit At one time he
was the official surveyor OF Yorkshire. Even
to this day there IRE dozens Of monuments to
John Mctcalf in his native shire In the shape
of elegant road beds and splendid bridges.
At Huddcrslle!d ono of the finest and most
substantial bridges is known to have been
constructed by him. What he couhl have ac-
complished with organs Of sight uninpaired
we can only conjecture john W. Wrighs
in ST. Louis Republic.
4 Blind Man Who Could Soc.