The Opelousas courier., 1904-08-20
Jar1es holman.

story of Helen Keller is that of James
Holman, the blind traveller. Not even
the celebrated Baron Won Humboldt
travelled so far, visited so many dis
tant countries. Eighty years ago, too,
when Holman lived, travel vas vastly
more difficult and perilous than now.
At an early age James Holman had
entered the English navy as a mid
shipman. For several years his ship
was with the squadron at Halifax,
Nova Scotia. In 1907 he was promoted
to be a naval lieutenant.
Three years later there befe1l him
a severe illness, accompanied by an
acute Inflammation Of the eyes, which
resulted In complete loss Of sight.
Thus, almost in a day, an ambitious
officer found every plan and ardent
hope OF his youth faded out In dark
ness. For a time grief and despair
quite overcame him; he would gladly
have died.
King George III. IN whose service
he met with his misfortune, inside
him a knight Of Windsor, and gave
him some nominal duties at court,
with q pension.
Afterward. when the natural buoy
ancy of youth had revived, the mac
tivity and aimlessness of life at Wind
D Castle preyed upon Holman's
spirits and seriously affected his
health, He obtained leave Of absence,
took q two years cours Of study at
Edinburgh University, and then form
edthe bold plan CT making a European,
four In search Of health and informa-
aon. ALI arguments failed to move
him, and to the CONSERVATION Of his
friends, he set OF entirely alone to
feel his way In the dark through
strange lands.
What rendered such an undertaking
still more difficult was the fact that
at first he could not speak French,
German or Italian. But bis indomit-
able will, HIS resourcefulness, and 9
happy faculty of making friends. car
xied him through successfully, and
he returned in triumph to tell OF two
years w~anderings in France. italy.
Switzerland, Germany and Holland.
He wrote a narrative of his travels,
which proved interesting enough to
his contemporaries to go through sew.
eral editions.
Each succeeding Journey was fol-
loved by a volume. and these, the En-
cyclopaedia Britannica says, ara "of
considerable value as books OF travel"
as well as occupying "a unique place
~ literature as products OF very extra
ordinary energy and perseverance"
Young Holman, for all his iron will,
was of q genial disposition. He sell
dom referred to his afdictfon, and
never sought pity. He had a good
share OF humor. which perhaps ac-
counts for his happy faculty OF max
lng friends. who we're glad to serve
As eyes for him.
Fol fifteen years Lieutenant Holman
travelled almost constantly. He visited
Brazil, Chile, the west coast OF Africa,
Barhary. South Africa, Madagascar,
Zanzibar. Maurstins, India, China,
Singapore and Java. Space prevents
making even a catalogue of these brave
vOyages, Although often exposed to
Grave perils and repeatedly In the
power Of robbers and savages, he
came safely back from every journey,
His most notabla adventure. indeed,
vas at the hands of the Russian au.
Mor!ties, while in Siberia. Travelling
~leisurely from city to city, he had
reached the distant northern town Of
Afkutsk, III the winter Of 1928. Ills
character and TIC objects of this trav.
elz had been ~a'sendantly certified Ii
his passport AMI letters of introduc.
ton to Russian officials.
But now sus7:e.on that he was an
English spy, or aoU1e kind Of spy II
disguise, appears to have entered the
minds OF the Car and his ministers
Immediately an aiae,de camp, or mes
senger of the Gar, was sent to appre
bend the blind traveller and conduci
him to the frontier of the empire.
The aide-de-ca~p--a young ofacel
named Alexis Kalovln-arriyed 81
sledge at IrRrssg On January 10th
when the temperature was twenty DC
grees Fahrenhe below fsr7. II has
been Holman's intentior Lax