Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1910-12-10
"I see,' said the blind man. ="

. i see, said the blind man.
How often we have heard the above
spoken in Jest. And yet it is fact that
the blnd-some of them-actually do
see. They do not see according to the
first definition of the word in the diction-
airy, viz: "To perceive by the eye,
but other dehnitions-'to perceive by
mental vision, ito note with the
mind''-ft.their cases exactly.
Yerington has blind man, in the per-
son of Billy Brooks, who has not only
had his remaining senses abnormally de-
veloped since he lost the sight of his
ewes, but who has developed SIXTH or
substitute sense which enables him 10
count the trees along the sidewalk as he
walks down the street and to tell wheth-
er ward has or has not a fence around
il and, if so. whether it is of wood or of
iron. This, of course, without feeling
or coming in physical contact.
This substitute sense nearly all blind
have, but few have developed it to the
extent that Billy Brooks has He is not
able to explain it thoroughly only
knows that in some manner he is able to
''see" upright objects, and as he walks
along the street, without guidance, he
seldom runs into anything above the
ground Frequently, however, he has
fallen into trap doors or depressions of
any kind.
Billy not only makes his way about
town without any particular trouble, go
ing into different stores and negotiating
safely the different height sidewalks and
lack of sidewalks on Yerington's main
street, but, further than that, he rides
horseback about town and has no diff
Guilty in going to any store or house IN
town if he is on horse which will keep
the road He will ride hIs horse up to
the front of Judson Smiths store, jump
off, go in through the door, walk the
full length of the store, and sit down to
the piano in the rear room and play
tune. Billy is good pianist and vocal
ist
The writer met Billy Tuesday and,
while walking with him down the street,
remarked, 1t has turned out nice and
warm"
Eyes. but il has clouded up again"
"You can distinguish light and dark
ness. then, can you2" asked the writer.
Not with my eyes-only from the
suns heat, or absence of it, answered
Billy.
- Billy frequently skates at the rink,
but goes in the afternoon when the sun
is shining lie starts at the upper end
and knows from feeling the suns heat
through them that there are four win
dows at the side When lie passes the
fourth one he knows it is time to make
the turn.
One of Brooks principal diversions is
PLAYING cards. He has the cards marked
according to the New York point alpha
bet. The letters OF this alphabet are
made from the use of one or more of SIX
dots placed in horizontal lines-the num-
Der OF dots placed in certain position
making the letter. In marking the cards
certain letters are used for the numbers
and the initial letter of the suit is marked
below-as c for clubs, etc. lie is also
fond of reading, and constantly receives
books for the blind from the California
state library at Sacramento.
The other day Billy asked friend to
allow him to use his typewriter. Re
ceiving permission, he sat down and,
Immediately on feeling it, said, BY
George! This is the Underwood, isn't
it? used one of them five years ago. >"
The Underwood has the universal key
board, the same as the Remington,
(Which Billy uses) and yet he knew al
most instantly that it was an Under
wood, though he had used the machine
but once, and that five years before
Billy Brooks was born i'll Sonora, Tu-
olumne county, California, thrty-two
years ago. When three days old he
caught severe cold which settled III his
ewes and almost ruined them, though he
could distinguish the primary colors
aud, when able to walk, get around
pretty well until he was five years OF
age. AT that time it became necessary
to remove one eve, and he soon COM
pletely lost the sight of the other one
lie was educated at the Institute ior
the Deaf and Blind at Berkeley, gradu-
ating from there in the class OF 1870.