The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1890-04-18

bA'A.'b A'HA NJ III IlANb.
in the midst Of great throng in Pail Mall,
and in feigned voice said, "How do you do,
Mr.. Stanley!n The musician hesitated oil
instant and said, why, God bless me, Mr.,
Rivers, when did you return from Jnnaica?'
That he could tap his cane lightly on the
floor Of room and tell how much furniture
there was in it is strange, but many blind
men have had this power. A blind porter
employed in Edinburgh used to adopt this
and other like methods OF determining the
furnishings aud general condition of houses
to which he was sent with packages, and
often gave the dealers valuable hints as to
certain peoples capacity to pay.
"Aye, aye, sir" he would sometimes say,
''ye'll get the silcr. The Teddy of the house
is an honest lcddy; I'd put my life on her
voice" In a similar way the learned DR..
Thomas Blackjack, being led by dog, noted
tho pattering Of the animals feet on the
boards which partially covered an old we'll,
and was thus gaved from falling into it. This
once noted genius was born at Amman, Scot
land, in 173l and at the age Of @ months be-
came totally blind. By hearing others read
he soon became boyish expert in English
history. He was then taught Latin, and at
the age of 12 produced creditable verses in
that language. He acquired classical edu-
cation, preached many years with marked
success, md produced several philosophical
and theological works. We are not, however,
to conclude that he would not have done
equally well, or even better, with sight
At this point it is well to consider fact
often mentioned in the official reports, but
still puzzle to scientists-the great dispro-
portion Of the blind in different countries.
They are fewer In the United States than in
any other country in the world, never rising
above l in 2,400, while in Nova Scotia they
arc about in / 800, the same in Prince Ed
wards Island, in 800 in France, in 2 600 In
Bavaria, l In !, 400 in Sweden and in $50 in
Norway. In Great Britain recent statistics
are not available, but the totally blind sev-
eral years ago were about in 1,100. Going
southwark and eastward the ratio increases
to point which, to English speaking people,
seems horrible. Including Egypt and ndja-
cent coasts, the ratio OF the blind to the whole
population in the zone from 20 degs. to 80
degs north latitude is believed to be in 100,
while In considerable sections the partially
blind are one-ffth Of the population.
Two facts are sslf evident: the north
temperate ATTITUDES, say from IS deg. to IS
degrees. are most favorable Tor is 1t only be-
cause the people are more ciyilizedN and the
British-American race has the best eyes in
the world. In Ireland, however, the ratio Is
nearly three times as great as in the United
States and the local medical authorities at
tribute it almost entirely to the comparative
American exemption from smallpox. It
should be added that the 81 in z, ,5O0'' above
set down means native Americans; immi-
grafton has noticeably increased the ratio,
though the immigrant lands with apparently
good eyes, for, as has been well said, Many
not horn blind are born to become blind" !"
In China alone, on the other hand, there are
at least LOCO, 600 totally blind, and In India
about 10000. The number IN the whole