The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-14
BLIND BOY TAKES HONORS.
LEADS THE SENIOR CLASS In THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
PheaOmenaI Collegiate Career of
Joseph DOhmen, q Young Texan
Of German Percentage, Who Has
Been Blind Since 40 Years Old.
Special CORRESPONDENCE.

AUSTIN. Tex. March 5-Franz Joseph
Dohmen, of Austin. Tex. ranks above any
of his fellow students OF the present Sc
tho next commencement he viii receive
the degree Of Bachelor of Literature. The
fact that Mr.. Dohmen Is the first honor
man OF his class is only remarkable be-
cause since his 10th year he has been to-
tally blind. He Is "a years old and was
born at New Braunfels. Tex, of German
parents. His father. DIR. Dohmen, was at
the time of his death the state occulist,
his profession in the state. When young
Dohmen was 10 years old he was seized
with an attack of the typhoid fever which
settled in his eyes, and when his strength
was restored IL was found that he had
completely lost his sight.
His fondness for study and his natural
musical taste have apparently afforded
him ample recompense for the loss of his
sight He was placed in the blind asy-
ium, and there had his talents for music
developed and at the same time received
splendid preparatory training for his uni
yersity career. While he was studying in
the blind asylum he received training in
a system of writing that has been inval-
liable TO him while student In the uni
versity. This system consists of piercing
fun of small holes a stiff waxed paper by
means OF a sharp instrument, the posi-
ton OF the hole being determined by
small metal frame held on the opposite
side OF the paper. This furnishes pro-
jections which the blind learn to read :
readily as they do raised letters. Mr.. DOH
men is a perfect master Of this system,
and writes IT as rapidly as an ordinary
writer does iong-hand. He comes to the
= IL
tends classes. takes notes, and goes about
the building so easily and naturally that
the loss of his sight Is scarcely noticed.
When a term examination occurs he
writes his answers TO the questions ac-
cording 10 his shorthand system for the
blind. and then takes his replies home and
makes a neat copy himself upon his type
writer. He does his typewriter work
rapidly and neatly and presents TO his
professors manuscript faultless in its ap-
pearance and almost fawless as to its
scholarly grasp of the subject under con-
sideration.
Mr.. Dohmen graduated from the blind
asylum In 1885 with the highest honors
and has now been a student OF the Uni
verslty OF Texas for five years. Ills pro-
ficienry as performer on the piano is a
great solace both to himself md to his
friends but his greatest delight consists
I'm deiving In the problems Of higher math-
ematfcs. philosophy. and political science.
He speaks and writes English. German
and French. He Is a fair Latin scholar.
and knows a smatterfng OK Greek. AT
present he Is studying Greek. French, Ger
man. mathematics. Latin and political sci
ence. Upon these studies next June he will
receive his degree of Bachelor II Ljtera-
ture. and viii leave Immediately for Ger
many To pursue further lnvestigation In
his favOrite subjects OF philosophy. math-
ematics and political science III some enc
Or the great universities there.
Mr. Dohmen Is rather tall. His face is
sensitive. refined and pleasingiy inteli-
gent His disposition is bright and cheer
f,!l. He Is popular with everyone. and
the small Coterie OF his friends. 20 whom
he reveals In some degree his inner SELF
All testify by their sincere admiration 70
the true nobility and greatness OF his char
acter. His life after his return from Ger
many VIII be spent in teaching.
No citizen of Texas can ever bcsrudge
thu generosity Of the state that has pro-
Vided means for educating the unfortun-
ate blind. and surely every one viii Re
ioce that The honors u the present grad
uatiug class OF the University OF Texas
VIII DE taken by a blind boy who re-
cesvea his preparatory education IN tAe
state institute for fhe blind. And patient
perseYerlng application have won thi.
honor Ter young Dohmen. HIS rec-
ora VIII be lest behind him On the books
% the university. and II Is As Phenomenal
rs Il ls hoped his success will DC in after