I take great
pleasure in introducing below, not only because of its eminent source,
but from its confirmation of some of the points I have attempted to
illustrate, and which, together with many original and suggestive
thoughts, are given with the plenitude and the power of eloquent
rendition.

"HOW DO THE BLIND SEE?"

BY L.V. HALL.

This may be regarded by some as a paradoxical question; and yet it is not,
if we accept the word see, in its fullest and broadest sense. Webster
defines the verb see, as follows: "To perceive by mental vision; to form
an adequate conception of; to discern; to distinguish; to understand; to
comprehend." True, we do not see through the same medium that you do, who
have perfect organs of sight, but we certainly perceive and comprehend the
relation and condition of things about us. The Creator has so wisely made,
and beautifully adjusted the external organs of sense, one to another, and
each to all, that when one is lacking the others are made able, by greater
exercise, to perform the functions of the missing one. For example, if
one loses his hearing, sight is rendered keener, and the nerves acquire a
sensitiveness almost painful. Dr. Kitto, who was deaf from twelve years of
age, speaks of this peculiar sensitiveness as follows: "The drawing of
furniture, as tables or chairs, over the floor, above or below me, the
shutting of doors, and the feet of children at play, distress me far more
than the same cause would do if I were in actual possession of my hearing.

"By being unattended by any circumstances or preliminaries, they startle
dreadfully; and by the vibration being diffused from the feet over the
whole body, they shake the whole nervous system in a way which even long
use has not enabled me to bear."

In the same interesting article on percussion, he says: "A few days since,
when I was seated with the back of my chair facing a chiffonier, the door
of this receptacle was opened by some one, and swung back so as to touch
my hair. The touch could not but have been slight, but to me the
concussion was dreadful, and almost made me scream with the surprise and
pain; the sensation being very similar to that which a heavy person feels
on touching the ground, when he has jumped from a higher place than he
ought. Even this concussion, to me so violent and distressing, had not
been noticed by any one in the room but myself."

This physiological phenomenon is analagous to the sensation exp