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FEATS BY BLIND MEN.

SOME AYRSHIRE YARNS In none of the biographies I have seen of the late James Wyllie ("The Herd Lauddie,") the most original draughts player that ever lived, is it mentioned that he was colour blind. Such is the fact, however. Wyllie, long before he was out of his teens, was apprenticed to a carpet weaver in Kilmarnock as a "dawboy," and I was not only very iotimato with that weaver in my youth, but with Wyllie in later years. In these days of comparative primitive weaving, une of the dutes of a "draw-boy" was to "throw the shuttle" for the weaver. It was very soon discovered that the poor lad — even then the foremost draughts player in Ayrshire —could not distinguish colours.and as ho was constantly making mistakes with the dyed yarns he had to abandon work. It was then he began his wanderings as a player. He was but a very short time in regular employment as a shepherd. THE MINISTER "SPURTS" SCARLET.

It was from the same old Kilmarnock [weaver I heard the following story, and Ifmay say that my informant was a man of sterling veracity, and intelligence far in advance of his tims. During the first quarter of the last century the chief draper in Kilmarnock was a Bailie *Craig, also noted as the leader of the Radical party in Ayrshire. One day, while a country gentleman was engaged examining a web of cloth for a scarlet hunting coat, 1 a venerable minister entered the shop and, when the laird retired he fingered the cloth "an' ca'd it guid," ordering as much as would make liim a complete suit. "But," instantly remonstrated the Bailie, "that, is for a hunting suit, and "

"Nane o' yer 'buts,' Bailie. Ye ken I'll pay you, so jist sen' it on tae the manse." The Bailie did so, and in due time the itinerant taior, (an Ayrshire intitution in those days), arrived at the manse to make the minister his new suit. He also was "dumfoonert," but obeyed, did his job, and the minister's first appearance at the kirk in a complete suit of scarlet (the colour cf the scarlet woman that sita on the seven h'lls of abomination drinking the cup o' iniquity} can be better imagined than described. Us was colour blind! PEDESTRIAN FEATS BY A BLIND FIDDLER. Archie McAlpine, a blind fiddler, lived in Mauchline, where he died about thirty years ago. He was known all over the country, and even in Dumfriesshire, and he required no guide to or from the most distant villages where his services were required at balls, "penny weddings," now an extinct custom, or private entertainments*. Nay, more—Archie could tread with sure foot the often dangerous woodland or river bank pathways on nights in which the most expert and "seasoned" poacher would "swither" about venturing out. He was passionately fond of birds, kept many in large and roomy aviaries, which he made himself, and astonished visitors by describing the colouration of plumage of each. The fact was that he had lost his eyesight when about twelve years of | age, and up to that period had been a keen,"bird boy." So that, having a very acute ear, he knew the species by their songs, call notes or chirpings. AN ADVENTURE. It waß a dark but clear, frosty morning, and, hearing "a sound of revelrv" in a humble howf in Harlford, Archie and I went in, and found the place crowded with colliers just up from the pit He was well known, •■ and a dram or two sent him fiddling. ; Before leaving he "stood a treat," | and got change out of his dirty pound j note. Some three or four miles on the Mauchline road Archie said he heard followers. We stopped to listen. I could hear nothing. We ! went on at a rapid rate, and, nearing the "Long Mile," he said that he wag positive we were being followed, and that by three or four persons. We stood again and listened, but I still could hear nothing, "fit your lug tae the grun," was his : advice. I did so, and then distinctly heard footsteps coining on at a rapid pace. We jumped over the hedge, and lay down behind it in the frozen ditch. It was twenty minutes before three men come up the road at a rapid pace, so that they must have been over two miles distant whsn Archie first heard them. As they

passed us we heard one say that they would "nab the auld fiddler on the Lang Mile, and hae his siller, an' if' that wee brat M says a word we'll thraw his neck." They went forward; we got back into the road, and returned to Kilmarnock in time for an early train for Mauchline. Archie had a keen sense of humour, and on repassing the howf at Hurlford, he astonished both landlord and his collier customers, Archie had a dram, naid for it, and throwing down a shilling said — "When th?y three scoonereh get back withoot ma bit pickle o' siller gie them ma compliments an' a guid dram; they'll need it!" Of the picturesque moss-trooper, William of Deloraine, Scotc says:— Ihrough Solway sands, through 'iarras moss, Blinf.fold, he knew the paths to cross." I And that was probably no. poetic' exaggeration of skilful river guides ! in oldsn times. Scott knew a blind rural postman who travelled much of the "Forest" on his journeys, and I know at the present day a blind traveller in (he tea trade who has a very extensive . ''circuit" in the most mountainous 'parts of the West Riding of York- • shire. Leaving out of consideration blind men as gamblers, Hogarth's blind cock-fighting enthusiast will occur to many as a graphic illustration, It is very singular that many blind men ; have been enthusiastic lieid snortsmen. The late Mr Henry as an expert angler, was a notable instance, Tnc fact is, however that j Fawcett was an angling enthusiast before he lost his eyesight, and "once an angler, aye an a,;glcr." A BLIND FOX HUNTJSK. A blind fox hunter may appear more than an exaggeration. But it is j not so. About the middle of the last century there w«s no more familiar figure in the Kilkenny hunting country than Mr Hewetson .Nixon, a bold and skilful rider—and stone blind!

He had a boy to ride in front of him to give him warning when he was nearing a fence. Nixon had many "spiJis." But he died in bid, "sound in wind and limb" up to tho last. He also was an expert swimmer, an accomplished musician, and was considered one of the best judges of horses and dogs in Ireland.

The owner of tha winner of lie Gim crack Stakes race at York in 1903 was Mr H. Sandford, who is perfectly blind. I may add that I had a blind for over three years who knew every woodland pall), etc., for miles round my house aa well as myself—not a particularly strange thing, however, in the casa of a dog.—G. W. Murdoch, F.Z.S. in the "Scotsman."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19100422.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10025, 22 April 1910, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,188

FEATS BY BLIND MEN. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10025, 22 April 1910, Page 3

FEATS BY BLIND MEN. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10025, 22 April 1910, Page 3

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