The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-14

n. MAxTs HoaR ao1 TIE NMD.
In the admirable little volume, Irish
Homes and Irish Hearts, "by Fanny Taylor,
noticed in ours tNew Publications" last week,
we find a fitting tribute to one of the most
noble institutions with which Ireland is
blessed-that which bears the title mt the
head of this article-the greater portion OF
which we subjoin:
OF all the charitable institutions I ever
visited, this is, without exception, the hap
piest. A spirit of joy and cheerfulness per-
vades the whole house; the sound Of merry
laughter meets your ear continually; peace
and joy 10 written almost on every face ;
and yet this 10 the home of a class of deeply
afflicted beinGs-those who have never seen,
or who must never see again, the light OF
day, the fair world around them, or the
fulness of the blind is, indeed, often
remarked by strangers; but a peculiar
joyfulness seemed to characterize the girls
of st. Mary's. When we came to know
more of the management of the Institution,
we ceased to wonder at their happiness.
They are surrounded by those whose one
thought it is how to make their life happy
and u holy one. The most watchful care is
exercised for their comfort; the most careful
training given to their capabilities. The
superioress of the house is one Of those
beings who have the gift of drawing the
hearts of others to them, and of influencing
them for good. She has singular aptitude
for understanding the characteristics of the
blind, and is untiring in her exertions to
promote their welfare. And surely special
blessing is theirs who smooth the difficult
ties and tighten the burdens of those whom
God has stamped with the seal of suffering,
whom He has shut up in a cloister of His
nIyTvr yyx~Ar
blindness falls, it is always Heavy misfor-
tune. There are, indeed exceptional cases,
where the mind is so richly gifted, where
the other faculties of the body are so mar
velously quickened, that q blind person
becomes the centre of a home, the support
of all around him. But these cases are
rare; and, generally speaking, the blind
member of a family is a burden and an
anxiety, even among the Weather classes.
But how is this misfortune doubled when
it regards the poor! The poor families to
whom it is a struggle to get the children
through their early childhood, and who
look forward to each member becoming in
what q burden must not a blind child be to
them It requires double watching through
its infancy; and when school time comes,
brothers and sisters may go, but not the
blind child. Shut out from the pleasures
and employments of childhood, how sad
again, at the blind children in warehouses;
what miserable life is theirs! what aggra
vatiOns of the unhappy lot of all workhouse
children! how completely are they at the
mercy of rough officials, and when they
grow up to man and womanhood, how man
fold the hardships and dangers to which
they are exposed! Hardships mostly as
regards boys, but fearful dangers as regards
girls. Then, in the matter of faith, ALSO
in this respect how unprotected are the
blind! The outward symbols of the faith
have no power to retain their affections;
they cannot see the altar gloriously arrayed,
the priests in the vestments-which each
convey a lesson; they may not look upon
even the yelled presence of their Lord |
they cannot gaze on the beautiful picture,
the " storied window" the imposing wor-
ship of the sanctuary; above all others they
IF fellow-creatures to enlighten their minds |
and instruct them in the truth. i
1t would be difficult to describe the effect
produced on the mind by visit to this /
asylum. We found two large rooms filled |
with the pupils-one the older, the other |
the younger portion of the school. Looking
round on those faces, we were struck by the
listening took common to the blind when |
has been cultivated. Some
lines the faces of the blind display touch
ng beauty; and even when the blindness
has proceeded from some cause which has |
lisfgured the face, it is almost always ac-
,ompanied by that expression of mute
which goes straight to the spec
.ator's heart. The intelligence of these
children was truly remarkable; they were
far beyond seeing children of the same age.
The love and desire of learning had been
better than eyes to them Specimens of
beautiful needlework done by them were
for sale. To listen to their music and sing
ing was really treat. The love of and
aptitude for music is proverbial among the
blind; but in this case it had been brought
to perfection. An excellent music master
had come constantly to give lessons and
under his care the girls had acquired Il re-
nement of taste i'll singing which took us
fairly by surprise. The attitude of the
group who stood round the organ was
worthy of ~ sketch the rapt faces, the
listeuiuu LoaE unnrn maf1.lsed tllnn nyer. as