Julia Brace, a deaf, dumb, and blind woman, who died in August, 1884, in
her seventy-eighth year, was well known all over America, at least
wherever attention has been paid to the education of deaf mutes. In the
year 1810, when about four years old, she lost her sight and hearing
from malignant sickness. At that time there was no school for deaf
mutes. It was not until after she was turned nineteen years that she
entered school, and she remained there between twenty and twenty-five
years. During her long stay at the school her case always attracted
particularly interesting attention on the part of visitors. In many ways
she could render much service in the daily work of the Institution. She
could even distinguish clothes belonging to different pupils, and was
therefore employed in sorting and putting them away. She had a good many
curious and amusing ways. For instance, when girl-pupils, dressing, took
their turns before the looking glass to comb up their hair, she always
insisted on having her turn, and would stand there to comb hers like any
one else. But one thing was noticeable. She had a very clear notion of
her own rights, and would not allow any interference with them.
Sometimes her idea of a personal right was rather out of a common
course, but she had no question about it, and probably could not see how
any one should have.
Her case is not to be compared with that of Laura Bridgman, who
possessed mental powers of a higher order. She had not got the benefit
of early, assiduous, and special care that was given to the latter, and
probably she had a much less acute mental constitution at the outset of
her education. Her education began late, and at a time when very little
was known of the proper way of education for a case like hers; and she
consequently did not make much progress in language. However, it has
been found quite easy to communicate with her as to all the common
events of her daily life.
"AN AMUSING STORY."
Here is an amusing story hailing from Munich. During the past year the
professor of Aesthetics in the University, whose lectures are
proverbially wearisome, delivered his lectures (as usual) to a scanty
audience. There were five students in all, who, week by week, melted and
grew "beautifully less," until at last but one was left. This solitary
individual, however, seemed to concentrate in his own person all the
diligence, application, and punctuality of his frivolous fellows. At the
conclusion of the last lecture of the course the professor approached
him and praised him for these admirable qualities, and proceeded to
inquire of him, "What is your name, my young friend?" No answer. "What
country are you from?" Absolute silence. The matter was soon elucidated,
for it was discovered that the patient and persevering disciple was a
poor deaf mute, who had taken refuge from the severe cold of winter in
the warm lecture rooms of the University.
[Illustration]
The following is extracted from "The Christian Leader":--At a Christmas
competition of blind readers which took place on Friday and Saturday,
21st and 22nd December, 1883, in the Mission Hall in Bath Street,
Glasgow, was found a blind deaf mute among the blind hearing
competitors. Educated when young in the Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb, he was able to do for himself until he lost his sight two or three
years ago. He had then to make use of his fingers in reading as well as
speaking; and in spite of the formidable difficulties in the way of his
learning the embossed type, he made a most creditable appearance on
Saturday and gained a special prize. The remark made by one of the
examiners when this man was reading will, we are sure, express the
thought of all who peruse these lines--"How thankful to God we ought to
be for the use of our faculties, and especially for this precious
blessing of sight!" This blind deaf mute is Mr. Daniel Hunter Ardrossan,
one of the members of the Ayrshire Deaf and Dumb Mission.