THEY HEAR OBSTACLES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 98, 7 December 1928, Page 8

THEY HEAR OBSTACLES

HOW THE SLiND '“SEE.”Can the blind “see”? The question was raised at a concert given by the ■Blind' Boys’ Band in Oliristphjurch on Saturday night. Speaking at the concert, Mr. H .Holland, M.P., said that at the Jubilee Institute in land he was astonished at the way in which the blind developed some ot their senses. Walking with Mr. Clu.tha Mackenzie, he 'warned him that he was approaching a wall. Mr. Mackenzie replied that it was all right; he knew it was there. Tliisi gave Mr Mackenzie, an opportunity tot explain that blind people, have a very distinct sense of the presence of obstacles (states the “Lyttelton Times”). “It is a tremendous help to us/' ’he said. “We don’t go barging into walls and posts. Usually we know that we are. within six or eight feet of them. A lamp post or a, telegraph post we sense within one or two feet. The more elderly blind people, and those whose hearing is not very good do not acquire that sense, but the young active people do, and that is why w© don’t crash into everything. The same sense tolls ns when there is an open door; we hear the sound of an open space. Sometimes we only feel the presence of an- obstacle; we may give it a dig with a. stick, which may he followed by a. protest from some stout gentleman. We have this sort of adventure, and, occasionally, it is given nl humourous turn by neoplc misinterpreting our actions.” 1