trusty guides； touch； smell； and taste； I make many excursions into the
borderland of experience which is in sight of the city of Light。 Nature
acmodates itself to every man's necessity。 If the eye is maimed； so
that it does not see the beauteous face of day； the touch bees more
poignant and discriminating。 Nature proceeds through practice to
strengthen and augment the remaining senses。 For this reason the blind
often hear with greater ease and distinctness than other people。 The
sense of smell bees almost a new faculty to perate the tangle and
vagueness of things。 Thus； according to an immutable law； the senses
assist and reinforce one another。
It is not for me to say whether we see best with the hand or the eye。 I
only know that the world I see with my fingers is alive； ruddy； and
satisfying。 Touch brings the blind many sweet certainties which our more
fortunate fellows miss； because their sense of touch is uncultivated。
When they look at things； they put their hands in their pockets。 No
doubt that is one reason why their knowledge is often so vague；
inaccurate； and useless。 It is probable； too； that our knowledge of
phenomena beyond the reach of the hand is equally imperfect。 But； at all
events； we behold them through a golden mist of fantasy。
There is nothing； however； misty or uncertain about what we can touch。
Through the sense of touch I know the faces of friends； the illimitable
variety of straight and curved lines； all surfaces； the exuberance of
the soil； the delicate shapes of flowers； the noble forms of trees； and
the range of mighty winds。 Besides objects； surfaces； and atmospherical
chan