Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-11-01
THE BLIND TWADDLM
AN OHIO FAMILY OF NINE, NONE
 OF WHOM COULD SEE.


 Years Ago-The Death of the Last One Brings Out the Story.
 "Bnnu 4cdrew Twaddle" remained seated in his pew after the benediction, and his friends and neighbors passed down the aisles. With a calm smile upon his aged face, his large eyes sight less no more now than they had been during the three score years and four of his life, and turned toward the rude pull pit, he sat quiet and still in death. "The Blind Twaddles," as they wers known in this neighborhood, was one of the most remarkable families of this state, and perhaps of the United States, and this was the last one left. Sixty or seventy years ago this family attracted almost universal attention from physi- clans ana scientific men generally throughout the civilized world. The parents, who have long years ago gone over to the majority, had nothing out of the common to distinguish them from their neighbCrs.
 But there were born to them large family of children, nine in all, and ot these the first seven were born entirely blind and the last two had but partial eyesight. Scientific man were utterly at a loss to account for this phenomenon. The father and mother had excellent eyesight, and the eyes of their children were large brown and bright, but sight less. They were without optic nerves. In all other respects they were bright healthy and intelligent children. The scientific journals and newspapers of that day had long accounts and various theories regarding this, but why it should have been so is yet mystery.
 The state of Ohio, by 0 special act of its legislature. deeded to the parents for the support of their children a quarter of a section Q60 acres) of the best of the az ricultural lands of eastern Ohio, and the farm is known to this day as the Blind Twaddles section" Upon this farm the young men and women-there were even boys and two girls-grew up in Sotal darkness, became useful citizens, married and settled in the surrounding community, and reared families in which no trace of blindness is shown. The blind people all lived the prophets allot- ment of threescore and ten. They were a fine looking family, and when it is con- sidered that these people, who were born blind and lived out their long and useful lives in total darkness, became success full farmers, mixers, distillers, etc., it must be conceded that they were re markable in more senses than that of be- ing blind.
 They were as able to go to any place upon their farms or to surrounding towns and perform all their necessary farm work without attendance or help, as if they had perfect eyesight. They cut timber in the woods, made rails, built fences, plowed their lands, sowed and harvested their crops, ran their grise mill and distillery, worked oxen and horses, and, in fact, learned all of that by intuition which is supposed impossi- ble for people without sight. Many are the queer storie- recited by old residents of Lee, London and Fox townships re- garding feats performed by this family. Their lands were intersected by numer- ous deep creeks, which were crossed by foot logs, and these people would go un- hesitatingly anywhere along these farm paths, crossing tho precarious foot bridges and treading the most intricate ways unerringly.
 They could name any tree in the for ests by feeling of the bark, select the best ones for any designed purpose, and ''fell' them in the most convenient man. ner for working. Out of such timber they would make rails and build fences when they desired, having them better and straighter than many farmers with eyes. They could take to pieces, repair and place again in working order any kind of machinery with which they were called upon to be familiar, and two of them successfully conducted flour ing mill for the farmers of the vicinity for years.
 But perhaps the most remarkable as we'll as the best authenticated of their requirements was the power of telling the colors of animals by touch. They were all great lovers of horses, and by placing their hands upon the coat of a horse they would instantly tell its color, and by feeling it's head tell to which sex it belonged. They were excellent judges of horses, and by few slight touches here and there, and hearing 1t walk or trot, would pronounce an infa]ible opin. ion as to its merits.
 A good many years ago one of the ''Blind Twaddles" came to this country town on some business. At tbat time a famous hoste'ry was kept hers by James Patton, yet a resident, and Twaddles stopped and quartered himself and horse at his tavern. His presence at the hotel gave rise to discussion of his wonder full powers regarding horses, and it was agreed among some of the parties to test it. The landlord had splendid sorrel team, = which one, however, was a good | deal better than the other. When MT. | TwaGGie, who was riding brown mare. called for his horse, the stableman placed the trappinSs upon one of the sorrels and | led it forth. As Twaddle put his hand upon the animals neck preparatory to | mounting, he stopped ana said: You've made a mistake; this Is not my horse" The hostler apolOgized and, changing the bridle and saddle, brought out the other of Nr. PattOn's sOrrels. Twaddle, perhaps suSpecting joke, as he listened intentiy as the other horse was led up,
 went forward, placed his hand upon the norse head and said at once: ''This Is another sOrrel horse, a single fOOter,' and a much better one than you showed ne before. But please bring out my brown marc, as I am in bcrry to start | ,One."
 This story. as we'll as many others | aquaHy remarkable as inStanciDg the
 wonderful intuition of these people, Is
 vel vcut h,5 for. By the death of An | jaw ths iAst of the family has vanished,
 ;i.L to R!Ind Twaddle section is now
 -,.uiirJ by people with eyes.-CarroI
 ,a eC L-su. St. Louis Globe Democrat
 The Way Made Clear.
 One of the most serious obstacle to