Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-24
FAMOUS BLIND MEN.
The Loss Of Sight is Not Always a
Bar to Success in Life.
SOME NAMES FROM A LONG LIST.
Scholars, Authors, Philosophers and Travel
ers Among Them.
THE STORY OF A BLIND ROAD BUILDER


blind deaf mutes, Helen Kellar, Edith
Thomas and Willie Robin, that one is apt
to forget that there have been many cases
on record almost as wonderful as these re-
cent ones. A few of the most interesting
cases may be of interest as showing how
thoroughly the mind can triumph over the
obstacles of its environment. 1t has often
seemed as if nature, to compensate for the
lack of sight, has given to the afflicted per-
son an extraordinary Keenness in the use of
other faculties.
From the beginning of history there have
been blind poets, musicians, rulers and
statesmen. The majestic measures of the
sightless Homer, ''the blind old poet of
Scio's rocky isle,'' the fiery and impas-
stoned stanzas of Ossian and the high and
heroic epics of Milton will ever appeal to
the heart which echoes responsive TO the
emotions of hope and love and courage.
NO DRAWBACK TO LEARNING.
In the walks of learning blindness has
seemed to prove no drawback. Diodotus,
the Stole goo 3. c. +, "guide, philosopher
and friend" of Cicero was a famous teacher
of geometry. The famous Didymus ca D.
313-39S) filled for many years the chair of
theology in the school of divinity at Alex
andria and was the author of a multitude of
valuable works on history and theology. 1t
is said that st. Anthony, the hermit, was
filled with astonishment that SO profound
scholar should regret the lack of sense
(which we possess only in common with
gnats and ants.
James Shegkins, who died in the latter
part of the sixteenth century, taught physics
and philosophy at Tubingen for nearly q
score of years, and left many works on diff
ferent branches of science. The ascetic st.
Simon would have pronounced him man
after his own heart, since he steadfastly re-
fused to have an operation performed, al
though assured of its success, since he 'did
not wish to be compelled to see things
which might appear offensive or riSicu-
lous"
A book entitled 'tAn Historical and Geo.
graphical Account of River Amazons" con-
tains faithful chart, which is remarkable
from the fact that its designer, who was the
author of the book as well, Field Marshal
Count de Hagen, was totally blind when
the book was written.
A GREAT MATHEMATICIAN.
The great mathematician, Euler G7O7-
1889, lost his sight when past so years of
age, but after this misfortune wrote works
which have been translated into almost
every civilized language; he was elected
honorary member of the Academy of
Science of Paris and received various prizes
from scientific bodies, among them one for
an essay on the inequalities Of planetal
motion. Among other noted blind scholars
was John Cough Q749- 1920, the celebrated
botanist, mathematician and philosopher.
1t is said that near the close of his life a
rare plant was given him for examination,
when he at once gave its name, stating that
h. L,1 , hofA
previously.
DR.. Nicholas Saunderson (1682-1739), the
friend of Sir Isaac Newton, and his sue
cessor as Lucas Professor of Mathematics in
Cambridge University, was totally blind;
vet he became q member of the Royal
Society, was made doctor of laws at the re-
quest of King George IL, and wrote many
valuable mathematical works.
DR.. Henry Moyes' Q750-1S07, the cele-
brated lecturer on optics, was himself blind
from infancy; but on one occasion he was
overturned in stagecoach on dark and
stormy night, and the driver and passengers,
with their full complement of eyes, had to
ask his assistance, and under his direction
the coach and horses were extricated from
the ditch. DR.. Davidson, the inventor of
the apparatus for removing firedamp from
mines, was a celebrated chemist, and, de-
spite his blindness, carried out most COM
pEcated experiments, to the amazement of
all who saw him. He had previously fitted
himself for the ministry, but the judges de-
cided that his misfortune prevented him
from undertaking clerical duties The
question might well be put as to which were
the really blind ones.
A CLASSICAL TEACHER.
DR.. Nelson. of Rutgers College, in spite
of total blindness, was most successful
classical teacher. Artman relates that on
one occasion, while he was student, dis
pute arose between Mr.. Nelson and the
professor as to the construction of GER
tain sentence, when the professor ex-
claimed: "You must confess, sir, that the
comma shows conclusively that my view is
correct.
Slightly coloring and turning his sight
less eyeballs toward the book which he
mechanically held in his hand, young Mel
son replied: 81 beg to inform you, sir, that
in my Heine's edition it is colon"
Soon after Mr.. Nelson started classical
school, which soon became the best patron
lied in the country, and, as DR.. Griffin says,
she succeeded in placing classical education
on higher ground than any of his prede-
cessors or contemporaries had done, and felt
proud to think that he was, in some meas
ure, benetactor to that college which few
years before he had entered in poverty and
quilted in blindness"
In the realms of natural history one would
hardly expect to find the blind eminent, yet
Francis Hyber. Swiss (1750-1S31), was one
of the greatest authorities ON beekeeping.
He conducted investigations for many years,
aided by his wife, and published several
valuable works on the subject of the origin
and formation of wax, the swarming of
bees, which won for him recognition from
the foremost scientific societies of Europe.
A VOLUME OF TRAVEL.
A volume of travels by blind man, de-
scriptive of people and scenery, would seem
to be almost incredible, yet James Holman,
ex-Lieutenant of the Royal English Navy,
was the author of such book, published In
1925, describing his travels through Aus
tria, Poland, Saxony, Prussia, Hanover,
Russia and Siberia. Nor was this the limit
of his travels, since at various times he Wis
tied most of the other countries of Europe,
as well as the East Indies and the Ameri-
can continent. Nearly the whole civilized
world was traversed by this indefatigable
blind voyager, who added to his enterprise
the ability to describe in glowing and culti-
waited words the wonders he had "seen."
One might dwell much longer upon the
subject without exhausting the facts which
are recorded about the blind who have
shown literary or scientific activity. The
list of authors, poets, clergymen, teachers,
and even doctors and lawyers is one of sur
prising magnitude.
In mechanical and industrial pursuits
some of the most Painstaking work has been
accomplished by the blind. Encouraged by
the success of blind pianists and musicians,
the typewriter is already coming into ex-
tensive use among the blind, and blind
seamstresses, embroiderers, lacemakers, etc.,
are not rarities