Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-24
EYELESS SUCCESSES
Blind People Who Have Carved Noble
Careers.
New York Journal
Blind, but busy.

New 1oIh oOufnal.
Blind, but busy.
Perhaps the most prominent blind man
in this city to-day is Louis B. CARL.
The visible beauty of this world has been
a closed book to Louis since his birth. He
was born in this city forty-two years ago,
and has made for himself mark in the
realm of mathematics since.
He has perfectly formed evebalIs, but
that strange and mysterious light is lack
ing from them.
When young man he entered the New
| York institution for the blind
There he developed the faculties of the
other senses to such a degree that college
course was advised. He attended Column
bia College, and graduated few years
later second in his class. While at col
lege he developed wonderful faculty for
brain-cracking mathematics. and some
| years ago wrote work of 800 pages, en-
titled The Calculus of Variations. :"
This book has been highly praised by
mathematicians all over the world, and
! treasured as a curiosity as the literary pro-
duct of blind man.
Mr.. CARL is a teacher in the Institution
for the blind, at the corner of Ninth
avenue and West Thirty fourth street.
He is rather handsome man, with a
full IRON gray beard and heavy, dropping
| mustache. But for the hesitancy in his
gait he would easily pass for a man pos
sessing an unimpaired power of vision.
Another prosperous and successful man
who does not possess the power of sight is
Richard Place, the Cedar street insurance
agent. He has been blind from his early
youth, having lost his eyesight through an
| accident. Though his eyeballs are sight
| less, he has, in mental sense, keen eve
| for business.
Most of his big business is done by a
dozen Or more of clerks, but Mr.. Place
himself is the motive power that directs
| to their proper ends all the business facii-
tiles OF his office.
He has no difficulty about finding his
way to any part of the city, as carriage
always waits at his door and the driver is
subject to his every beck and nod.
Up In Harlem, at the corner of Tenth
avenue and 104th street, in the Home for
the Blind, there is blind man whose
mechanical cleverness is phenomenal. His
name is James Wilkey. He lost his sight
while at sea, and even then worked as a
sailor for fully two years after his irrepar-
able loss.
The loss OF his vision rendering him
incapable of following the sea any longer,
he was compelled to enter the Home in
| Harlem. Since his admitance he has led
life of partial activity.
His chief occupation is the making of
| toy SHIPS, and the mechanical cleverness
of his fingers is something wonderful
| 1t is a well-known fact that the two
blind Herreshof brothers, of Bristol, r. l.,
who build all the launches and steam
| yachts for the Government, do most of the
| firm clever mechanical work with their
own hands.
Many of New York blind earn liveli-
| hood as music teachers
Miss Catharine Connel is the name of
an excellent teacher who makes the Insiitu-
| ton for the Blind her home With her
! trained ear she can detect the most subtle
variations in sound, just as the keen eye
may dedect the slightest change in
color.
| She is a Young woman with remark
ably beautiful face. She is totally blind
| but yet there is a sweet expression on her
face that touches the heart with pity for
| her misfortune.
In this same Institution there is gen.
| tleman named William Waterbury who
is a wonder as tradesmen. His business
is understanding He teaches a class
of blind boys, and some of the pupils are
as clever at their craft as tradesmen pos
sessing the full power of their eyes, Mr.
Waterbury is about IS years of age, and
| he has been blind since his birth When
but boy he learned his trade, and now
works with his needle with dexteritv
that fairly rivals many quick-eyed
taiIors.
There is newsdealer over on Fulton
street, Brooklyn, named Charles Stafford,
who is blind, but Notwithstanding this
physical defect has builtup business that
favorably compares with his more FORUM
ate brothers. He received his education
at this same institution, and afterward
actually set type on newspaper
Mr.. John Garfield. the will known Post
master of Hyland N. Y, was until recent
ly a resident of this city. A few wears AGO
he settled in the quiet little town of Nv
land, and from the position of Tax Collect
or rose to the more exalted one of Post
master. 1t will be remembered that ex-
who also blind man.
In Steiner piano factory, on Fourteenth
! street, there Is blind boy named Robert
kraufmau who is a wonder as piano
tuner.
When but littl child of six he developed
the faculty of hearing to such an exten
| that he could tell tie slightest variation in
the toneof the piano or organ.
| RUSSIAN PRISONS.
| How the Penal Institution of the Slave is
| Conducted.
Referring to the proposed international
congress of prison reform, writer of the
Furidetcheskig Viestni *, apparently a
man familiar with the subject, published