DREAMS OF THE BLIND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 46, 15 November 1890, Page 3

DREAMS OF THE BLIND.

THEdreams of people born blind reflect their daily life just as those of a man born deaf and dumb never transcend the limits othisexperience. The latter never dreams of people talking to him save by signs, nor of ever learning anything save by sight and the use of the finger language. He dreams of what he sees, but even in dreams he is compelled to rely upon the sign language. A deaf-and-dumb man in York city recently dreamed that being in the street car he saw the people talking and laughing about him. He knew that the conversation and laughing were with reference to himself, though he could not tell what was the matter until after he had left the car, when he ascertained he had put on his coat wrong side out. Another recently dreamed of an interesting lecture he had heard about the Jeannette expedition to the polar regions, the lecture being illustrated by magic-lantern views and given throughout in the sign language. Like the deaf and dumb man, the blind man who was born so carries his infirmity into his dream-life. He wanders to and fro into a Jream-world where he learns only by hearing, touching, tasting and smelling. He gains new ideas from these senses only, and even in sleep he is blind as in his waking hours.

Our sight is the most enjoyable of our senses, and the loss of it our greatest deprivation. The man born deaf and dumb can acquire much information with his eyes alone, and it is a well known fact that deaf mutes have generally a more intelligent look than the blind. Around the congenitally blind the world is in a great measure closed, fm even in their dreams they must depend on their other senses for information and pleasure. The man who has once enjoyed the gift of sight has, whether sleeping or walking, a great advantage over men who never saw ; the former knows nothing of the world, except such parts as he conies in immediate contact with, but. the latter can recall sights he has witnessed, and whether sleeping or waking live over again his life with something of the pleasure experienced by the old man who can recall and describe the scenes of his youthful days.

Outcast : * Please mum, could you help an unfortunate man who was caught up in a lift and laid up for six months ?’ Old lady : ‘ Poor man : here’s sixpence for you. How did you happen to get caught?’ (Pocketing the money) ‘ The police were too quick for me.’