Julia Brace
Julia Brace, a deaf, dumb, and blind woman, who died in August, 1884, in
her seventy-eighth year, was well known all over America, at least
wherever attention has been paid to the education of deaf mutes. In the
year 1810, when about four years old, she lost her sight and hearing
from malignant sickness. At that time there was no school for deaf
mutes. It was not until after she was turned nineteen years that she
enter
d school, and she remained there between twenty and twenty-five
years. During her long stay at the school her case always attracted
particularly interesting attention on the part of visitors. In many ways
she could render much service in the daily work of the Institution. She
could even distinguish clothes belonging to different pupils, and was
therefore employed in sorting and putting them away. She had a good many
curious and amusing ways. For instance, when girl-pupils, dressing, took
their turns before the looking glass to comb up their hair, she always
insisted on having her turn, and would stand there to comb hers like any
one else. But one thing was noticeable. She had a very clear notion of
her own rights, and would not allow any interference with them.
Sometimes her idea of a personal right was rather out of a common
course, but she had no question about it, and probably could not see how
any one should have.
Her case is not to be compared with that of Laura Bridgman, who
possessed mental powers of a higher order. She had not got the benefit
of early, assiduous, and special care that was given to the latter, and
probably she had a much less acute mental constitution at the outset of
her education. Her education began late, and at a time when very little
was known of the proper way of education for a case like hers; and she
consequently did not make much progress in language. However, it has
been found quite easy to communicate with her as to all the common
events of her daily life.