J
ulia 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 entered 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.