The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-24
LAURA BRDenln.
Some Facts Regarding This Re
markable Woman Recalled.
Her story Has oftea Been Told Ne
fsse lint II Can Never Lsse rs
wonderfsf Infersst

New York World.
In Hanover. y. H., on Dec. Il, Isz9.
the wife OF Daniel Bridgman gave
birth 70 4 delicate girl, who ~I.s des-
tined TO become ossc OF the most in
feresting persons OF this age. The
constitution Of the little girl was very
feeble, and she was subject 20 severe
commissions till she was year and a
half old. For while her health i'm
proved wonderfully, and she began 10
shoe . fair degree of intelligence.
she had barely rescsaesi the age OF 2
Years when she sas stricken down
with scarlet fever, and at the end Of
i've weeks she had lost both sight and
hearing For five months she WIS
Eept IN bed IN o earkened room: 3
year passed before she could walk un-
supported. and it was two years before
she wss strong enough so sif UP ali
day. Is xss not until she was { years
OF age that her bodily health was re-
stored. bat her sense of smell had died
too Her living brain refused to die,
bat there was no means of communi-
eating 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 hs.ads on. and through
the guidance OF her mother even
learned 20 sew. 10 knit and to
braid She was very affecssonate. hur
i Was not easy 10 communicate with
her. The eiEy way OF telling her TO go
10 place was by = push. and wish
70 draw near was indicated By draw
ing movement. A pat on the head
meant approval, on the back disap-
prevail. she showed eagerness 10
learn, but the need of language 20 re-
strain her became evident: only her
father bad control over her will. She
had lived this nonosonoGs life Tor
eight years when DR. :. G.. Howe, tli-
rector OF the Perkins Institute and
Massachusetts School for the Blind. ia
South Boston, heard OF her. He went
u Hanover, saw the child and pre-
vailed upon the parents to intrust her
10 his care. In October. 1851. she was
taken to the institution. DIR. Howe
commenced her instruction by taking
common household articles. such as
spoon, fork, knife, table, etc, and hay
ing the names printed in raised let
tiers. By feeling of these she learned
that the words differed FROM each
other SIS much as the articles they
designated. Then she learned to place
the labels on the things they dssig-
mated. 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 Bridg-
man must have felt when she found
that she could communicate with the
world by the movements OF her fin
gers
Her progress from now on was mar
Vicious, and she was soon able to read
books for the blind aud to write let
tiers TO her parents. She also learned
the process OF addition and subtrac-
ton in small numbers, 10 understand
the days of the week and to measure
time so accurately as To distinguish
between half and a whole note in
music. Her sense OF touch informs
her when music is being performed by
the fluctuations OF the air or the VI
brations OF the floor. She is quick to
perceive the opening of door or the
approach of person, and recognizes
IN an instant her acquaintance by
touching their hands or their dress
Laura Bridgman is now almost 60
tEale tiA aitu tuIONS tue Dtet Of
health. Her head Is finely developed.
Her light brown hair is parted in the
middle and conbed very smoothly
buck: the ends are braided in tine
piaits and twisted around the back of
her head. Her face is small and some
what wrinkled, her mouth very small,
her lips thin and coiorless and her
neSe slender and straight. The blue
glasses which she wears effeetuaily
hide her eyes. She Is an expert lace
maker, and it pleases her to have her
work appreciated. She takes great
pleasure in making samples of lace
which visitors are eager to buy as
mementoes of her skill. She has a
great desire 20 be useful, and delights
IN the idea OF earning money and ac-
cumulating il. With every mat she
sells she gives her autograph with the
price marked on IL Her method of
writing is quite interesting. She has
covered pad with slight grooves in ii
which keep her lines straight She
places two fingers ON the groove
and quickly makes the let
iers, pJlsbing her fingers
close ta>tR pencil, so that she viii not
ruupreme letter on to another. She
p4sfites as rapidly aS an ordinary per
son does Laura il very fond of re-
ceiying visitors. with whom she con-
verses on all subjects and never seems
to tire. She has received calls from
numerous distinguished people of this
country and others. Laura threads
needles in unique way she places
the eve ON her tongue and deity rolls
the thread into it. She is great cor
respondent. When President Garfield
died she wrote long letter of condo
lence to Mrs. Garfield Her highest
pleasure seems TO be conversation.
She Is also happy when assisting the
teachers in the institution. She reads
the Bible carefully and likes 10 have
books and magazines read to her. liz
IS thought that Laura does not realize