The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-05-21

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isolated blind man must buy his stock a
retail prices, and sell his work as soon al
it can be done, be the market what it may
for his daily bread depends upon it. L
is true that some succeed, and earn a toll
cradle livelihood, in spite of those obsla.
Giles but they are either assisted by rela'
tons and friends, or they are persons Of
such remarkable capacity as to form ex'
ceplions 10 the general rule.
The blind, then, have Two great obsta,
cles in the way of earning a livelihood
the first is the want of that advantage
which sight gives to a workman ; the
second is that all the usual arrangements
for work are adapted 10 a sense which they
lack. The first obstacle is instrumental.
BILE; the second is not, and it is with the
view of overcoming it that we have for
several years been carrying on a depart.
ment which must be considered as supple.
mental to the main purpose of the Inslitu-
ton namely, our Work Department.
This has been struggling along many
years under manifold disadvantages such
as the difficulty always attendant upon
new enterprises, The inexperience of the
blind themselves, the incredibly Of the
public about The capacity of the blind for
becoming good workmen, and, finally,
the necessary expense of carrying such an
enterprise through its early stages.
These obstacles, we believe, are so far
overcome, that reasonable assurance may
be given of the %permanency of the depart
meat.
During the past year, there have been
twenty blind men and seven young women
furnished steadily with work, aud paid re-
gular wages TO the amount Of Sl,459.8 81.
This, we think, is very important the
money thus paid TO lwenty>seven blind
persons was not given or received as aims.
1t was money for which they had work.
ed hard, and which they well deserved.
1t will do them vastly more good than if
it had been bestowed IN charity; for it
will incite them 10 industry in future, aud
perhaps induce others TO follow their ex-
ample. Most of them were formerly pu,
pills of ours, but three Of them are from
other institutions, from which they were
discharged with a knowledge of mere
handicraft, but without place or means for
exercising it. Besides this, the shop has
paid It's own rent, for all its stock, and
several hundred dollars for overseeing and
incidental expenses. The sales have been
greater during the past year than in any
former by the sum Of So ,437,74, and the
balance at the end of the year in favor of
the shop was 1881.
But though no money has been drawn
from the treasury, the shop cannot be said,
strictly speaking, 10 have betrayed its W
expenses , for though the workmen pay a
small sum for their board, and this is de-
Quoted from their wages, this sum is not
passed into the general treasury. The
institution, then, gives TO the shop the
amount of the cost Of the board of the
workmen; but it is at no other charge for
the work department.
We believe that even this charge may
be diminished until it ceases, and that the
workmen may have the unmiligated salts
faction Of supporting themselves entirely !;
and the reasons for this belief are ground
ed in the fact Of their greater skill, and The
regular increase of the demand for their
work. The sales during the past year
have been larger than in any former year;
and the list of patrons of the shop con-
tains the names of some of our most val
liable citizens.
If a fund could be established which
would yield a regular and permanent in.
come Of $4,000. it would secure to nearly
fifty blind persons the means Of supports
ing themselves, independently Of any oth~
er aid. Such a fund would, in reality ,
constitute an independent establishment,
and might be made useful through COM
ing generations.
1t may be added. that The institutions in
New York and Philadelphia are prepar.
ing TO make some arrangement similar to
ours for the employment of those who
have finished their course Of instruction,
We are glad to find that their experience
on this point accords with our own.
Finally, We would have it understood
that, although we believe the establish
ment Of a large workshop, which should
furnish employment to the blind upon Ia
vorable terms, would be of great benefit tc
them as a class, yet we would not have il
offer such attractions of comfort, or suct
advantage of terms, as would induce those
10 congregate in it who might otherwise
find some nook in society which they
could fill with advantage to themselves anc
to others. This would be at variance
with sound principle of eIe-emosynary ad.
ministration, and would prove, that, ever
when extended towards the blind, public
benevolence tends 10 produce public evils.
We have, in former Reports, set forth
the great importance OF books with raised
letters; other institutions have done the
same; and the most intelligent persons en-
gagged in the instruction of the blind have
advocated their multiplication, and yet the
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