The Washington times., 1902-02-02
NEVER saw LIGHT
OR WIFE TILL FORTY
Remarkable Case of 'MiSSiS-
sippi Resident.
He Declared lie Would Rather Not
See for Fenr Pleasant Illusions
Would Fade.

Blindness is not such bad thing when
a fellow gets used to it," said a New Or
leans oculist, 'and, after all, in cases
where a man is born blind there are GER
tain compensating effects which seem to
Offset, to some extent at least, the afilic-
tion of living in utter darkness.
Sam Jones is the author of a rather
homely stor. to the effect that man
who lost his right foot in an accident
consoled himself with the reflection that
it was the foot that had the corns on it.
The law of compensation is a great and
consoling factor in life, and Emerson's
splendid tribute to the principle did not
reach too high.
But. speaking OF blindness, l recall a
rather remarkable case which came under
the observation of Tennessee oculist,
DR.. J. l.. Minor. now living in Memphis.
1t was the case of a Mississippian. He
was born blind. and was forty years old
when the atte-tion of the specialist was
first called to his case. He had cataracts
on his eyes and had never seen the light
of day, and. in fact, had lived in utter
darkness during the forty years of his
life
Went Hunting at Night.
''He was farmer. He had bought and
paid for the farm. He was able to do
any kind Of agricultural work, except use
the hoe and plow cotton in the earlier
stages OF its growth. He was able to leave
his home without a guide and go to the
home of his neighbor on a social or busi-
ness mission. and he often called his dogs
around him at night with the hunters
horn and would plunge into the very heart
OF the forest on coon hunt or fox chase,
and he never experienced any trouble in
getting back home. either.
While he could not tell where the moss
was on the tree, he knew intuitively north
from south and always got home even
when he would make the trip by himself
The fact is that he experienced absolutely
no trouble in ordinary affairs of life and
was looked upon by his neighbors and
friends as a good and useful member of
society in every respect. He had wooed,
won. and had married Il young Mississippi
girl and had reared an interesting family
of children
But the most interesting part of the
story, the narrator continued, from the
way | look at the case, was in the expert
ments made by DR.. Minor after the blind
man came under his observation. These
experiments had particular reference to
the mans method of reasoning. He con-
cluded that he would have his eyes oper-
ated on, and he sought the specialist for
that purpose.
A Moment of Fear,
Just before going to the operating
room he weakened. 4 believe I'd rather
not see anything he said appealingly to
the specialist, and when pressed for the
reason he explained that he was married,
that he loved bis wife, and believed she
was the prettiest and sweetest thing in
the world, and that he had drawn a men
tai picture of her, and he was fearful that
really seeing her might in some way mar
the picture. At any rate the specialist
persuaded him TO undergo the operation.
The sudden change which followed was
marvellous.
Square blocks. things in circular form.
glass tumblers and things of that sort were
held up before him after the operation.
When the specialist would ask him TO
name the shape of a certain article he
would reach for it from force OF habit,
but, OF course. the physician would not let
him touch 1t. He was able, after some
hesitation, to tell the shapes and names
OF things which he had only known
through the sense OF touch. Even the
more pronounced colors. which he had
been able to distinguish through the sense
of touch, he was able TO name when his
eyes fell on them for the first time.
Tho cot in the hospital, upon which
he had lain and which he found with
out dificulety in room containing a
hundred or more before the operation,
he was able TO find after the specialist
had removed the cataracts from his eyes.
The only thing he failed to recognize
was poodle dog which was covered with
long white hair. and with evident curl
osity he asked his benefactor what kind
of an animal it was. He had been used
to hounds, and a dog which did not have
long ears, short hair and slim legs was
something he had never known while he
was seeing things with his hand.
He was cured and returned TO his
family in Mississippi. He wrote to the
specialist as soon as he reached home.
He recalled the conversation he had with
the doctor respecting his wife Just before
he went to the operating table. He said
he knew the physician was anxious to
know what he thought OF his wife since
he could see her as she really was, and
he added that she was really prettier than
he had ever thought she was in the days
of his blindness, and the vision had amply
repaid him for all the pain and expense
TO which he had been put while under
the specialists treatment. New Orleans
Times Democrat.