A BLIND MAN WHO SEES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1815, 14 April 1888, Page 3

A BLIND MAN WHO SEES.

Many instances have been related showing that defection m &ny one or more of the human senses often resulte la developing the corresponding inner sense This has been more frequently obierved m personß affl'cted with ksa of sight and hearing. One of ihe kind is Interestingly described m a late ieaae of the Chicago •• Herald," which can be safely taken as one of the most remarkable on record. Mr Henry Hendrickson, born m Norway 43 years agr, but who has lived m the United Stated 40 years, was deprived of sight when bJx months old He was educated at the institution for ihe blind m Janesville, Wis., and is the author of a book entitled " Oat of the Darkness," somewhat m explanation of the mediumship with which he is becoming endowed, although enable to account for it m any manner satisfactory to himself or conformable to the known l»ws of physical Ecience. The narrative states that he is well educated, a brilliant con versationallst, and with glasieß which hide his completely cloead eyes, one woald scarcely recognise him as a blind man. For the last twenty years he haa seldom used an escort, except when m great haste, and when on territory entirely strange to him. Many people who have observed the facility wlih which he movis from place to place doubt that he is totally blind, bat be has been pnt under the severest teßts, and those who tuve made the invoa'igatlona are convinced that he cannot see. Describing his habits to the reporter he said : When m a train at full speed I can distinguish and count telegraph pole 3 easily, and often do it aB a pastime, or to determine onr spaed. Of coarse I uo not bog them, bat I perceive them. It fa perception. Of course my perceptive qualities are not m the lea^t impaired on account of my blindness. I am not able t > explain it, bat I am never !n total darkueeß, It is the came ai midnight as at midday. There is alwaye a bright glow of light surrounding me." A practical test w»b made. \ thick heavy cloth was thrown over hia head as he sat In hia chair. This hung down on all Bides to his waist. It was impossible for anyone to see through it. Then before or behind Mm, it mattered not, an ordinary walking cane was held up m various positions, and, In answer to the orqulry "m what position am I holding it V He gave prompt and oorrect answers, without a einglo xnietake, sometimes describing acute or oblique angles. " I have never," he said, lf by the ordinary set-'se of eight seen an object m my life, ncr the faintest glimmer of one. My Bight or discernment does, pot come m that way. This will prove the idea to yon. Take me into a strange room, one that I have never been into, and never heard about, and no matter how dark It is I can tell you the dimensions of the room very closely, Ido not feel the walla ; I will toach nothing ; but there Is communicated to me by some strange law of perception the s'zs and configuration of the room." He then related that being m New York m 1871 he walked from Union Square to a friend's house on Forty-6ve etroet, a long distance, with several turns and did not make a mies. He said : " I knew the houae when I came to it. I did not see it and yet I did, lam atudylog Bhorthand, and as my hearing is very good 1 expect to bee me an expert. I had a litt'e trouble with my writing at first, but am now able to writo very well." Another remarkable il'tutration of hid power to see without eyes is this ; if nno raakea motions m the air like beating the time for a choir, but describing phonetic characters, ha telia the characters and interpT fc3 them What might be termed a " crucial test " of this w&a given the "Herald" reporter. Mr Henirickson Jnrther said : I'm a good Bl>aler, and can, when gliding over the ioo swiftly, see every particle on the ice, every craok and rough epc^t no natter bow small and indietlnct. The faster I go,' the plainer I can see. Well, I don't mean that I can see., bat I perceive, or something. It le light to we, and I dUoem every thing."