The Helena independent., 1889-12-23
THEY WERE ALL BLIND.
Facts Which Prove that Not Those
With the Best Sight are Most
Successful
Sightless People Who Have Built
Bridges, Surveyed and
Hunted
Many Played the violin Long List of
Poets, Musicians, Astronomers, Sci
entists and Inventors.

the book mentioned.
Hermann Torrentius, a blind Swiss, born
in 1920 became one of the principals of the
University of Berne, the author Of a poeti-
cal dictionary Of rare merit, besides works
on history and botany.
In 1875 Nicholas Sanderson was well.
known character in Yorkshire, England.
lie WAS not born blind, but became 80
through sickness ut the age of three years.
and upon arriving at the age Of disrrimina-
ton could not remember of ever being able
to see. As unlikely as II may SEEM lac actu-
ally becamed learned in two Of the most
difficult branches. astronomy and mathe-
matics, and three years before hs death fin
ished an exhaustive treatise On algebra.
Francois Huber, the Swiss naturalist. lost
his sight nj an early age, became an emi-
nent entomologist and wrote on bees. ants
and other insects. His son Pierre. and a
servant named Rurnens aided him i'll MAX
ing many valuable original observations on
the habits of these creatures. Although
the servant and son rendered invaluable
aid, IL was admitted by both that the elder
Huber was the master mind In the prepara-
ton Of their many books and papers ON en-
tomology, zoology and meteorolOgy. 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.
John Milton, the great English writer of
prose and verse, best known as the author
Of Paradise Lost, was totally blind during
the last years of his life. Properly he may
not belong in this list, having had forty-six
years Of daylight IN which TO complete his
studies before impenetrable and perpetual
night shrouded him III its inky gloom. !
have only mentioned him in this connection
in order 10 open the way for a broad asser-
tion, viz; That two of the greatest poets
known TO history, Milton and Homer, were
both blind.
John Metcaf, most wonderful production
OF the last century, wis born At hnares-
borough, Yorkshire, Eng, IN l7l7. At the
age of four years n hard attack Of the
measles struck nIm totally blind-so blind
that the brightest rays Of the sun gave him
no perception of light. Yet he did not give
up in despair. calemity had overtaken
him which would have Denunbed the facul-
ties of a less courageous man forever. Not
30 with John Metcalf. Ii seemed only TO
brighten his remaining senses. Az first he
learned music, and at the age of twelve was
the most expert violinist in all England.
When he arrived at mans estate he was
owner of a house, a small farm and horse
and carriage. At the age of twenty-three
he was well-knovn carrier, engaged In the
occupation of carrying persons through the
crowded streets to and from places Of amuse-
ment. Besides his street work he was fire.
quently engaged TO carry travellers TO York.
a distance of sixteen miles. In this hazard
ous work he was as trusty as any man with
two eyes, and got into few difficulties from
which he could not easily extricate himself.
He became a great hunter, and followed the
hounds with az much pleasure and as surely
as the most keen-eyed hunter. He had his
own horse, and could tell the baying of his
own hounds among hundreds. At the age
OF forty he began the study of surveying aud
bridge building. This not for an idle pass
time, but for profit. AT one time he was the
official surveyor of Yorkshire. Even 10 this
day there are dozens of monuments 10 John
hetcalf in his native shire in the shape of
elegant roadbeds and splendid bridges Al
Huddersield one of the finest and most sub
stantial bridges is known 10 have been con-
structed by him. What he could have ac-
complished with organs of sight unmpaired
we can only conjecture.
namesake OF our great American tenn
perance lecturer, John Cough, also an Eng
lshman 10y birth, became quite celebrated
as a botanist and writer on subjects pertain
ing to natural philosophy. lie WAS totally
blind from the age of ) years, the sense Of
vision being so deadened that he could not
perceive the glare Of sunlight upon the
snow on the brightest winter DAYS. DIS.
abled by this appalling ailiictlon he studied
botany, his wife, brothers and sisters doing
his reading and collected and arranged. by
the sense of touch alone. and without the
least aid from any living human being one
of the largest and most valuable collections
of dried herbs aud grasses at that time
tl7SO) known IN Britain.
That wonderful invention, the string al
phabet for the blind. WIS invented by A
man who never saw his queer looking ma
chine, the face of his mother or tue "glad
sunlight" of which he 40 feelingly wrote.
David Macbeth WAS blind from birth, vet a
perfect genius in u dozen different ways.
lie was an accomplished musician. a per-
feet prodigy IN mathematics and an inven.
tor of no mean order Of merit Besides his
string alphabet he WAS the inventor of one
Of the earliest known revolving barrel
churns, of Il clamp to be used by b0okbind-
ers IN stitching leaves together, and of A
self oiling attachment for wagons and car
riages. lie could take his watch 10 pieces
and put IT together almost az quickly as
the man who made II could have done, IL
was without a crystal, and by touching the
hands with the tips of his fingers he could
tell within one second of the time of day OF
night.
lie was an expert at the national game of
cricket, and was reckoned as being one of
the most valuable men IN some parts of the
game, but useless in others.
When lac died he had been engaged for
years ON the perfection of hre-escape
which has since. with some slight changes
and additions, made London firm inde-
pendent.
Alexander kodenbRck, the Belgian poll
tician, and for u long time member of the
Belgian lower house, WAS totally blind
Besides being noted as n political econo.
mist. Rodenback wis the author of several
works on deaf mutlsn, blindness and kin
dred subjects,
Rev. W. "A. Milbun, known throughout
the civilized world as the blind preacher"
and who Is actively in the field nt the pres
ent time, Is one of the most remarkable men
of the age. tie WIS born IN Philadelphia IN
le23. tie totally lost the sight OF one eye
when quite young, the other becoming bndiy
impaired from sympathy. 50 much 10 that
II soon darkened forever.
With spirit undnunted lac studied, and
WAS ordained MS minister At the ace of ~. |
and, 1t Is claimed. Travelled Oyur aO.OO |
miles filling appointments IN the southern
states. Within the last thirty years he hns
preached III nearly every state in the union |
and some European countries. He has been |
chaplain IN the house oi representatives. at
WASHINGTON, beside hiling many other iui- |
portnnt positions, 40 "A WItor he Il known |
A. the author Of Ten Years Vt Preachers /,
Life" "Rife, Az and Sadlle-'qc," and |
.Pioneer Preachers and People Of The Mis-. |
sissippi Valley"
Nidnl, the blind sculptor, IL one of the |
wonders of the French capital He has I
been blind since his 2lsi year. We CEN |
quite easily understand how blind farmer /
would cultivate the ground with the |
plOw, spade and hoe; how he would feel |
around the tender plants and gently loosen /
the dirt from their roots or how the blind |