The morning call., 1893-11-26
BRILLIANT THOUGH BLIND.
A Student Who Is Now Taking the
Full Course at Harvard.

Inc Boston GioOe mas the following
notice of Everett Chauncey Bumpus, a
blind young man. VINO has just entered
Harvard College. intending to take a full
four years course and obtain the degree of
A. B. at the close. He is a son of Judge
Bumpus of Quincy. Mass. lived at his
fathers home until he was IL years OF age,
when lie WAS sent to the Perkins Insti-
tute. where he siaid for two years. He
there learned to read by touch aud pro-
gressed rapidly both in this and in writing
A fter he had mastered the system as taught
at that institution he went to Thayer
Academy. in Braintree, where he prepared
for college. In class of twenty he held a
high rank and was always near the head.
He has always been fond OF study and Is
a hard worker. He took the Harvard en-
trance examination last June. A special
proctor was given him for his entrance ex-
animation. who would read the questions
to him. and young Bumpus would answer
them by means of a typewriter.
This answered well for most Of the SUBJ
jects, but of course he could not write the
Greek characters with his machine, so be
dictated the answers in the eXaminatio
to his attendant, who wrote them down.
! The same method was followed in the ex-
aminations in mathematics. In geometry,
| however. he uses wheel which can be
changed into different geometric forms,
aud by pressing this down upon
paper he has the required figure, in
dented on the sheet literally at his fingers
ends.
He passed the examination all right and
is now settled in pleasant Dom in Eel
ton Hall, which is about three minutes
walk from the yard, where he must go
every day TO his lectures; but he is rapidly
learning his way about Cambridge.
All of Mr.. Bumpus' textbooks are
/ q rQh fnr I'M hal llo
| system instead OF the older plan of raised
| letters. IL Is much more convenient 10
read and it can be read much quicker.
! His Greek, however. he prepares by hav-
! ing 1t read aloud 10 him, and in some other
| subjects be finds it more convenient to be
read TO than to read himself.
This is the case largely in mathematics,
except in geometry, when his wheel be-
| comes very useful. The typewriter, too.
on which he does most of his writing. is
made expressly with reference to the
Braille system of writing. The Brallle
writing-frame, on the principal of which
! the typewriter is made, Is a most interest
| ing and ingenious cOutrivance.
| A frame is used, consisting of gronved
| metal bed with ten grooves to the Inch,
and over it is suspended perforated
! guide in light wooden frame. This lat
ter is like the frame of slate and is at.
! tached TO the metal bed by hinges The
| sheet of paper is then laid between the
| frame and the bed.
A blunt awl moves over the paper car
! rylng IL before IL into the grooves of tie
| bed and produces a series of little pits
| on the side of the paper next to the writer
Prominences are thus made on the other
| size of the sheet. which, when turned
over, can be easily read by the nimble,
sensitive fingers of the writer. The writing
must be done from right TO left, however,
| TO enable it TO be read in the usual man
mer from left to right.
| 1t is 0y this system as applied to type-
| wIlter. with certain notifications, that
| Mr.. bumpus puts down his obserya tian 8
| on the lectures with wonderful speed.
| This system includes not only letters. but
there are certain positions of the dots
which stands for figures, and still Others
! for nOteS of music, so that man can keen
accounts, write music, emboss his own
| books from dlctatiOn and carry on cor
| respondence.
Mr. Bumpus has naturally kept very
| quiet since he has been in Cam bridge, and
| but few men outside of his immediate ac-
| qnaintance have known of his being In
college. But on the first Monday night of
| the term, when the reception was given 10
| the freshmen in Sanders Theater, he went
TO the meeting, listened to the speeches,
and afterward went TO the rece ption, where
| he met many of the professors and stu
dents. To see him walking by himself
| one would never suspect that he was blind
| but he almost always has IN attendant OF
| friend with him 10 guide him when neces-
| sary.
Although he is debarred by his nisfor.
tune from entering actively into the socia
| lie OF the university, yet ne is very com.
panlonaole, and the friends he has made
| thus far IN his college course have beer
charmed by his good nature and by his en-.
/ tlring perseverance,