Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-06-21
THE BLIND TWADDLES.
AN OHIO FAMILY OF NINE, NONE
 OF WHOM COULD SEE.

and his friends and nelghbOrS 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 il death.
 "The Blind Twaddles," as they were 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- cians and 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 neighbors.
 But there were born to them a large family of children, nine in all, and of these the first seven were born entirely blind and the last two had but partial eyesight. Scientific man were utterly at loss to account for this phenomenon. The father and mother mad 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 a mystery.
 The state of Ohio, by special act of it's legislature. deeded to the parents for the support of their children quarter of q 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-g-ew 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 OiAI1u SA'lO hNOh Oub uoCi LII lives in total darkness, became success ful farmers, millers, distillers, etc., it must be conceded that they were re- mark able in more senses than that of be- ing blind.
 They were as able to go 70 any place upon their farms or to surrounding towns and perform all their necessary farm work without attendance or help, as if !hey had perfect eyesight They cut timber in the woods, made rails, built fences. plowed their lands, sowed and harvested their crops, ran their grist mill and distillery, worked oxen and horses, and. in fact, learned all of that by intuition which is supposed impossi- blc for people without sight. Many are the queer storie rccited by old residents of Lee. London and Fox townships re- gardiGg ica:s performed by this family. Their lands were intersected by numer- ous deep creeks, which were crossed by foct logs, and these people would go un- hrsitatingly anywhere along these farm paths, crossing the 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 four ing mil for the farmers of the vicinity for years.
 Hut perhaps the most remarkable as well as the best authenticated of their requirements was the power of telling the colOrs or 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 its head tell to which sex it belonged. They were excellent judges of horses, and by q few slight touches lere and there, and hearing 1t walk or trot. would pronounce an infalhble opin ion as to its merits.
 A goOd many years ago one of the ''Biind T"addles" came to U6s country town Oil some business. At it at time a famous EOstc'ry was kept hers by James Patton, vet q resident, and Twaddles stopped and quartered himself and horse at his tavern. His presence at the hotel gave rise to a discussion of bis wonder full powers regarding horses, and it was agreed a.uoHg some of the parties to test it. The landlord had a splendid sorrel team, = which one, however, was q good deal better than the other. When Mir. TwadGle, who was riding brown mare. called fer his horse, the stableman placed the trap1in5s upon one of the sorrels and led it forth. As Twaddle put his hand upon the animals neck preparatory to mounting, he topped and said: You've inat!e q mistake: thi:; Is not my horse.
 The hos;ler apologized and, changing the hridie anI saddle. brought out the other oi I.r. Pattons sOrrelS. rwaddle, p2rha,s su"pecting :I joke, as he listened iuUentir as ihc other horse was led un. went forward, placed his hand upon the horse lead and said at once: This is another YUr:el horse, d single fuUter.' snG a much letter one than y2u showed .ne Lef"rr. But please b?in. out my ,rowc 'i3ar''. as am in q h3::y to start hoihp."
 This story. as well as nianv others aqua:y rcm%rkahlc as ir,;ancir;c the Nondcrfii i'::;iiiinn of .h.-:c Inoplr. k wt,l Nc..,:.<,: for By the .leath of An ds w t!.: iArt of the family l.;s vanished. s:..! T." -Ri,t.l Twaddlc section" is now c,t u:i,l D. I.c";'le with s.-Carr"ll. L,I ,G.,, L." :>; Louis G!rbe- Domucr:.t.