Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-03-22
Laura D. Blidgman.
Some Facts Regarding This Remark
able Woman Recalled.

ntI StofS mas OIteu betu lOiu DelOft.
but 1t Can Never Lose Its Wonder
full Interest-Her Delight In
WOrk-Her Writing.
In Hanover, n. H, OH December 2l
1929, the wife of Daniel Bridgman gave
birth to delicate girl, who was destined
to become one of the most Interesting
persons of this age. The constitution of
the little girl was very feeble, and she
was subject to severe commissions till she
was year and half old. For while
her health improved wonderfully. and she
began to show fair degree of intelli-
gCnce. She had barely reached the age
of two years when she was stricken down
with scarlet fever, and at the END of five
weeks she had lost both sig hit and hearing.
For five months she Wes kept in bed in a
darkened room; year passed before she
could walk unsupported, and 1t was two
years before she was strong enough to sit
up all day. 1t vas not until she was 4
years of age that her bodily health was
restored, but her sense of taste and smell
had died too. Her living brain refused
to die, but there was no meaps OF COM
munication with her except through
her sense of touch. As soon as she was
able to walk she wandered about the room
feeling of everything she could lay her
hands on, ana through the guidance of
her mother even learned to sew, to knit
and to braid. She was very affectionate,
but it was not easy to Communicate with
her. Tie only way of telling her TO go to
place was by a push, and a wish to draw
,,,l Lr
N ent. A pat on the head meant approval,
on the back disapproval. She showed
esgerness to learn, but the need of langu
age 70 restrain her became evident; only
her father had control over her will. She
had lived this manotonous life for eight
years when DR.. S. G.. Howe, director of
the Perkins Institute and Massachusetts,
School for the Blind, in South B Jston,
heard of her. He weht to Hanover, saw
the child and prevailed upon the parents
to intrust her to his care. In October,
1887, she was taken to the institution.
DR.. Howe commenced her instruction by
taking comm on household articles, such
as spoon, fork, knife, table, etc, and hav-
ing the names printed in raised letters.
By feeling of these she learned that the
words differed from each other as much
as the articles they designated. Then she
learned to place the la1les on the things
they designated. Within three months
after the beginning of these experiments
she had learned the manual alphabet as
used by the deaf mutes.
Imagine the delight Laura Brdgman
must have felt when she found that she
could communicate with the world by
the movements of her fingers.
Her progress from now on was marvel
ous, and she was soon able to read books
for the blind and to write letters to her
parents. She also learned the process of
addition and subtraction in small num-
bers to understand the days of the week,
and to measure time SO accurately as to
distinguish between half and a whole
nots In music. Her sense of touch in
forms her when music is being perform.
ed by the fluctuations of the air or the
vibrations of the floor. She is quick to
perceive the opening of a door the ap-
proach of person, and recognizes in an
instant her acquaiDtances by touchiug
their hands or their dress. Laura Bridg-
man is now almost 60 years old and en-
joys the best of health. Her head is fine
ly developed. Her light brown hair is
parted in the middle and combed very
smoothly back the ends are braided in
fine plaits and twisted around the back of
her head. Her face is small and some
what wrinkled, her mouth very small, her
lips thin ard colorless and her nose slend-
er and straight. The blue glasses which
she wears effectually hide her eyes. She
is an expert lace maker, and il plea5es
her to have her work appreciated.
She takes great pleasure in max
ing samples of lace which visitors
are eager to buy as mementoes of
her skill. She has a great desire to be
useful, and delights in the idea of earn
ing money and accommodating it. With
every mat she sells she gives her auto
graph with the price marked on IL. Her
method of writing is quite interesting.
She has covered pad with slight grooves
in it which keep her lines straight. She
places two fingers on the groove and
quickly makes the letters, pushing her
fingers close to the pencil, so that she
will not run one letter on to another. She
writes as rapidly as an ordinary pecson
does. Laura is very fond of receiving
visitors, with whom she converses on all
subjects and never seems to tire. She
has received calls from numerous distin.
Suishsd people of this country and 9th
ers. Laura threads needles in a unique
way; she places the eye on her tongue
and deftly rolls the thread into it. She
is great correspondent. When Presi-
dent Garfield died she wrote long letter
OF condolence to Mrs. Garfield. Her
highest pleasure seems to be conversa-
ton. Che is also haapy when assisting
the teachers in the institution. She reads
the Bible carefully and likes to have
books and magazines read to her. 1t is
= thoE 7 Il
she has missed in life; she is always
cheerful, happy and affectionate to her
nearest friends.