e for the most part; but I
have much to find out on this point. I can now, however, quite
understand that systems of signals might be made very intelligible
to the senses of hearing and smell. I remember Dufeau thinks that
these senses might be much more developed; but he does not think
that the principles upon which this should be done are yet
sufficiently understood to establish a system of accurate training
of them.

From what I have seen, nothing does this so effectually as the
necessity of using all the faculties in self-maintenance, though it
is true sometimes that when this struggle is too hard the whole
being seems so utterly depressed that all the faculties seem to be
dormant.

I wish I had time for more personal intercourse with the blind. I
have, however, had more this year. One of the women at the
Repository, Jane Jones, strikes me very much as having a good deal
of spiritual insight, for I know not what else to call it. It is
strange, for her other faculties seem to be below the average;
perhaps, however, partly from the want of having been called out.
Among the women there seems to be a great mutual kindliness. A. L.,
the most intelligent of them, is full of energy, and seems to have
a strong desire for improvement in every way. She is only one and
twenty, and more educated than the rest. She has much to contend
with. I hope she may do much in teaching.

I have found the only two men I have as yet taken to teach,
wonderfully patient, and most willing to learn. One has a very good
notion of spelling, and is evidently really fond of arithmetic. The
other has scarcely any idea whatever of spelling, and it is very
difficult to give him a notion of the sound of the letters; but as
far as his mind has been opened to different subjects he has, I
suspect, a good deal of information and seems full of interest,
especially in accounts of travels. The history of Egypt, so far as
he knows it, seems to have seized upon his imagination in a way at
which I was quite astonished. He is an Irishman.

CHAPTER XI

REFLECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

"Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt,
Nothing's so hard but search will find it out."
LOVELACE.

The entries in Bessie's Common Place Book are not n