The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1889-11-15
SOME BLIND WONDERS,
MEN WITHOUT SIGHT WHO HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED GREAT THINGS.

sion that he was born about 3l5 and died in
$40 at the age of 25 years, twenty Of which
were spent in total blindness. It is greatly To
the credit OF this man, whose light went out
forever just as he was merging from infancy.
that IN the few short years he lived, en-.
shroudc1 in perpetual darkness, he should
become one of the best known Of tho early
Christian writer's, and be known oven to this
day as one of tho fathers of ecclesiastical
history.
SOME BLIND POETS.
Henry, tho author of the ssPoetic Life Of
Wallace" was born blind. He early exhibit
ed wonderful imaginative faculties, which
were turned to good account in the pro-
ducton of the book mentioned. The
unique character of the work caused 1t To
have wide circulation, making the name of
Henry, the minstrel, more familiar to the
rhyme loving common people of the British
Isles thnn that of the most standard nrosa
writer.
Hermann Torrentins n blind Swiss, born
in 1920, became one of the principals of the
University of Berne, the author of a poetical
dictionary of rare merit, besides works on
history and botany.
John Milton, the great English writer Of
prsse and verse; best known as the author of
Paradise Lost" was totally blind during
J
not belong to this list, having had forty-six
years of daylight in which to complete his
studies before ilnpenetrable and perpetual
night shroudcd him in its inky gloom Ihav
only mentioned him in this connection in
or'ier to open the way for a broad assertion.
VIZ: That two Of tho greatest poets known
to history, Milton and Homer were both
blind
Thomas Blackjack, D. D., one OF the most
learned men Of the Eighteenth century, was
born i'll 72l and died in 1871 He was blind
Mt tile aga Of months. Notwithstanding tile
.discouraging circumstances under which he
l;.borcd, DR.. Blacklocl: became one Of tia
most eminent men of the times. He was tho
trusted friend Of Hume, the free thinker. and
Of Burns, the Scottish ly,ist. A contempo-
rnneous writer. speaking Of the polished doc
tor, said: He was child of humble parent
age, but has now won for himself, before he
has reached what men call the middle age,
the designation Of an accomplished scholar, d
cultivated thinker and poet Of high order.
Ills accomplishments, won under the most
oppressive disadvantages, give US a wonder
I'LL exhibition Of the powers Of mind to over
come seemingly msurmountuble obstacles"
Dr. Blackjack was m ordained minister, but
his friendship for Hume Us mentioned above,
caused the flock to rebel against their shep-
herd, which finally resulted III the doctors
expulsion, Had Blackjack never lived Tho
tame of Robert Burns would, perhaps, never
lave been known i'll the world OF letters,
Tie embryo poet was on the point Of ship
ping for the West lndies when 4 letter from
Blackjack caused hin, to change his mind,
und saved to the world one Of its createst
writers of verse.
4 GREAT NATURALIST
Francois Hubpr tho Swiss i, tnr,1;st ,,s+
his siylt ut IN early nra become m omin,,,t
eutoulolorist. and wrote on hoes n,ts o,t1
other INSECTS His son, Pierre md 4 servant
named Rllrmens aided him in maxim, 1, ~,
valuable original observations on thn hahifs
OF these creatures, Although the servant md
son rendered Invaluable mid H. waa o,,nittn1
by both thar tlo c]dnr Hrlar yv,s m. ,,,n.tar.
mind III the prepar,tion nf thetr m,nr hor,.,
and paucrs on entomology ynoI,,yv ~ n,n-
teoroloee, Many hchey. that Hnho, ,ro,,ld
layuhccon!cus rl,i,,rut II his sn,c.i,, hr,ncLns
us either humboldt or Cuyipr could IL lnya
had tle use OF lis ewes
r4ryrpp np,yrp ,,r, ,1.,,.,,,
,y,uu ,trtra1r !, n,osr ,vo,utorr,,l ,1no,,,,
ZION If ma loxt car,,,.1. ,,,s 49,, ~ l-,,aas
horoup, Yorkshire F,rl,,d i, 1-,r 4
tho ope of i yenrs n h,rl att,rl, ~ ~, 49,,
sles strucl linn tot,}lv h,in1~Sso Ma 49,
,hn b,.;u.h+est ,,rc ~ M, e,,,, ~,
norcantion of l,,rbt VA Iva iii ~ 49,. ~
i, ,esnoir !, c,l,mitv h.d n,,o,to,.n ~, ~
which would bnyn bcnrmhl tbo fao',it;as -
n loss conr,oam,s man ror,yor NJ 80 III
John Nrtc,lf n se.mol orlv ~ h,i,.i,t,,,
bis rau,.ini,r snnso. ~ 49, ~ 80,
,r,,ein ,,,l "a ~, ,,r<, ~ 10 80, ~. .'. -