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Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 44, 21 February 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

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So universally nowadays is art applied to the assistance and improvement of Nature that the latter has in a measure lost its individuality, and the majority of people have ceased to wonder at its phenomena or contemplate its possibilities. Any unusual achievement in human affairs is greeted with feelings les3 of surprise than of curiosity as to" where ' Nature ends and art begins.' Those who would know how effectively both forces may be brought into co-operation to relievo ono of tho most unfortunate ot human ailiiction..—bhab 'total

eclipse without all hope of day,' of which Milton so bitterly and feelingly wrote—will be interested in bho feat accomplished by Miss Matilda Ann Aston. aged seventeen years, mi inmate of the Victorian Asylum and School for the Blind, whoso name appears in tho list of successful candidates in the recent matriculation examination at tbe Melbourne University. Miss Aston is the daughter of a widow who resides at South Yarra, and was committed to the care of the asylum authorities about eight and a-half ve'arsago. Partial blindness, with which she was afflicted from her infancy, became complete in her seventh year, and as no hope could be held out for bho recovery of her sight, she was placed for education in the asylum. Soon the girl began to display an apbitudo for learning, her special inclination being for music, both vocal and instrumental, (lifted like most blind people with ! a keen sense of touch she soon acquired a knowledge of the rudiments of the art through "tho. medium of tho Braille typo, which includes a complete musical alphabet in addition to being applicable to all kinds of general study. Her voice developed rapidly, and sho soon bceaino one of the besb female vocalists in the asylum, besides becoming a skilful player of both tho pianoforte and tho violin. In tho meantime hor general education had gone on so satisfactorily that sho svas able about two and a-half year., ago to join a class which had been formed for the study of matriculation in the asylum. In May last she endeavoured to pass the matriculation examination, and studied six subjects — namely, English, arithmetic, geography, botany, history and physiology. In all but the latter she was successful, and considering her condition and youth, tho results *ho achieved were very satisfactory. In the second attempt, which she made during the lasb examinations at the University, she passed in every subject, and thereby established for herself a record which, in the circumstances, is unique as far as this colony is concerned. Much of the credit of tho achievement is due to the active interest taken in the girl by the teaching staff of the asylum, and particularly Miss Campbell, tho principal of tho matriculation class. Miss Aston intends to continue her studies with a view to qualify herself for the position of a teacher in bhe institution. —'Age.'