The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-27
AN EOUR WITH TIE BLIND.
How the Sightless Ons Manage to
Enjoy Themselves.
Fr0ns nc Macon (Ga. TeEeornnh

ENJOY themselves.
From; the Macon (Ga Telegraph.
Much has been written aoout the Georgia
Academy for the Blind, which is one of
Macon's noblest institutions, but great
deal of interesting thing can still be said
about it.
Not only can they learn to read as
rapidly as ordinary pupils, but they can
also learn to write with ease aud rapidity.
For this purpose cards are used which ara
manufactured in Louisville, KY, with fiat,
shallow grooves pressed into the paper,
which guide the pencil in straight lines.
Miss Ella Timnons, a young lady from
Carroll county, who never saw the light in
her life, having been born blind, CORE
spends for several papers. Her writing is
clear and distinct, and quickly done. She
is probably the best educated young lady
that Carroll county has ever produced.
being accomplished in many ways.
Wesley Taft, young man from Chatta-
hoOchee county, also entirely blind, is the
correspondent Of his neighborhood for the
SAVANNAH NEWS and other papers, doing
it all IN his own handwriting This pecu-
lisr branch of training is done by A. d.
Williams, q son of the principal, and has
been brought TO degree of perfection that
is remarkable.
Typewriters can be used to a great adj
vantage by the blind, and, in fact, there
are pupils at the academy who can use that
instrument as well as the average operator.
But when they can write with a pen or
pencil they seem to greatly prefer it,
because it makes them independent Of their
infirmity. There are two or three type-
writers at the academy, but they are seldom
used.
1t is in the wide domain of music that the
blild are free to wander at will, ana even
to soar higher aud find greater pleasure in
their art than is vouchSafed to ordinary
m0rtaIs
There are a number of pupils at the acad-
envy whose performances would be aston
isllng if heard upon the public stage. And,
strange 10 say, the best musicians are
among the boys.
The Telegraph, in a recent article on the
scademy, told of the wonderful playing of
Hope Hodnett, young man from Coweta
Wanty. But there is a still more remark
able example IN little Ellie McNiel. a bow
who was born in Randolph county fourteen
years ago and who lost his evesight in
early infancy.
Ellie is very modest about his attain
ments, and does not seem to realize that he
possesses talent but little short of genius.
When he was called upon the other day to
play for some visitors he turned slightly to
enc side in that peculiar, listening attitude
often noticed in the blind, and, putting out
bis hands to guide himself through the
darkness, he CROPPED his way to the piano,
and on the stool he felt perfectly at home.
In his playing, which embraced a variety
Of melodies with different expressions. it
Was noticeable that he avoided all harsh
lingering, and that there was
certain bird-like tone in the
Instrument which is not heard in
ordinary playing. He has learned every
thing by air, and yet not one note Of the
complicated melodies, with their still more
pTolx variations and accompaniment, es-
cares his touch. When providence took
from him his sight. it bestowed upon mis-
nerves power and a sense higher than we
possess. And no doubt his auditory nerves
nave also teen moro highly organized than
ours until he can hear harmones and after
melodies in the voice of his beloved piano
taat entirely escape the ears Of his listeners.
MS head, with its almost abnormally de-
yeIoped forehead, betokens unusual mental
Development.