The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-30 00:00:00

THE FAWCETT MEMORIAL.

A numerous company gathered on Saturday at the
Royal Normal College for the Blind, Upper Norwood,
to witness the opening of the new play-grounds and
skating rink, which have been subscribed for as a
memorial to the late Mr. Fawcett. Private donations
amounted to £l6OO, and the National Fawcett
Memorial Committee were able to contribute some-
thing over double that amount, so that the Committee
had the handsome total of nearly £3300 wherewith to
make the desired additions to the college grounds.
The money, it is hardly necessary to say, has been
expended to the best possible purpose, and the environ-
ments of the institution are now admirably adapted
for the exercise and recreation of the pupils.
During the afternoon an excellent concert was
given by the scholars in the Music Hall, and they
further exhibited their proficiency in various games
and gymnastic exercises. At half-past four a large
open-air meeting was held in the Skating Rink, and
presided over by Mr. Mundella, M.P., supported by
Sir Lyon Playfair, M.P.' Dr. Campbell (Principal of
the College), Dr. T. R. Armitage, the Rev. H. J. R.
Marston, and other friends of the institution.
The Chairman said that they were there to inaugu-
rate the Fawcett Memorial, in connection with the
Normal College for the Blind, and as he had walked
through the grounds, witnessing the interesting
examples of physical education and enjoyment on the
part of the blind students, he could not help feeling
that, if the spirits of the departed were conscious of
what took place amongst them, Mr. Fawcett was re-
joicing with them that day. (Applause.) No man
who was ever afflicted with blindness had greater
courage, a keener sense of physical enjoyment, than
their late friend. (Hear, hear.) The institution was
started 16 years ago with two students, now it had
between 160 and 170, and it was hardly necessary
for him to expatiate upon the marvellous results
which had been achieved, thanks mainly to the
energy and courage of the principal, Dr. Campbell.
As a member of the Blind Commission, it had been
his business to obtain what information he could
with regard to the education of the blind throughout
Europe, and he was boutd to say that of all that he
had seen this appeared to be the best. Moreover,
this institution had served the double purpose of
giving a tone to blind asylums all over the country.
The State, he regretted to say, did nothing for the
blind; but he haped that condition of things would
not last much longer. There were a thousand blind
people out of evt ry million in this country, and surely
it was not too much to ask that those who did not
suffer from this affliction should take care, as he
hoped the Royal Commission would do. that no blind
person should escape education, or be deprived of the
advantages which such an institution as that offered.
(Cheers.)
Sir Lyon Playfair next delivered a brief address,
in the course of which he observed that the educated
blind possessed a faculty which science, for want of a
more precise term, called intro-reception, which was
totally unknown to those who possessed the sense of
sight. There were in that institution only 160 blind
people out of the 30,000 in this country, but the
extent of the usefulness of the College was not be
measured merely by numbers, inasmuch as :it gave
a tone to institutions of the kind all over the country.
(Hear.)
Mr. Mundella then declared the grounds open,
and the proceedings closed with the usual votes of
thanks.