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

rare instances, and this especially applies
70 blind girls. Blindness generally arises
Mom 1llnesak euddon accident, or disease in
the parenteH II ~ ordinarily accompanied
by deliceeo Mutton, SO that blind
woman - ancepaep of long and persistent
labor at MT md basket-making, the
branches of bustness generally open to them.
In this matter, the deaf and dumb are much
better off than the blind there are a dozen
occupations to which they can be traiped I;
i'll many large houses an intelligent deaf
and dumb servant would be rather an ac-
QUESTION than otherwise. But who would
engage o blind servaut7 The blind inmates
of the PortObello Asylum are not, therefore,
q changing community vacancies seldom
occnr. When we visited it, one child was
dying. She lay in the pretty little infirmary,
gasping for breath, the death-dew on her
brow; but she was ready to die-ready to
open her eyes at last, and gaze upon the
vision OF Eternal Beauty. She had only
one earthly wish that her little blind sister
might be taken into the asylum, and there
us she had four pressing applications for the
bed when death should have made it vacant.
The union among the blind children is
remarkable. The Sisters Of Charity, ac-
customed as they nre to every kind of labor
among the poor, consider the charge of the
works; there is seldom a dispute, or q re-
proof needed; the children are gentle,
0bedient, and loving, and most fervent in
faith. AS they pass mp the broad staircase,
you see them bow their heads. "What do
you do that fort" /" Because the images of
| our Lady and st. Joseph are there" they
| answer" you told me So" Their prayers
rise up like incense before God, for they are
| the prayers of sinless hearts. Happy are
those who, by becoming their benefactors,
have q right to be remembered by them at
the throne of God
,rvl, fho ~ oon
to support themselves entirely is a fallacious
one, there are many families who would find
it an immense benefit to have child
! educated at this school, and then sent home
when she is grown up. Instead of the help
less, useless, unhappy being she would have
been, if allowed to pass all her life without
education, and under the system of petting,
she returns home an intelligent, happy
creature, dependent on others for many
things, it is true, but able to render them
services in return; for, though the Sisters
of Charity show their blind charges every
possible kindness, they are never weakly
lndulgent. They are careful to train their
characters; to treat them, in short, as far
as possible, as if they sa,c; providing, with
quick foresight, for the occasions when they
cannot help themselves; but exacting from
them what Is within their capacity, and,
therefore, preventing them from feeling a
constant sense OF helplessness.
One of the temptations peculiar to blind
ness Is suspiciousness; it is, also, as we
knew, the temptation of old or intirm per-
sons who are dependent OH others. Who
can wonder? How easy it is to deceive the
blind! How often advantages might he
taken of their weakness by evil, designing
people! And, not to go SO far, people who
are deficient in Judgment may make many
mistakes and cause much suffering to the
blind. 1t is easy, therefore, to see the i'm
mense benefit it is to have a blind asylum
watched over by religious. AS soon as the |
blind girls knew the nuns, all suspicion
vanished, and has never returned. Instinct
was as strong as sight, and revealed to them
the character written on those faces which
we looked upon they felt the refined sense
of honor, the patient self denial, the heart
felt affection which we sa,c in the gentle |
Sisters of Charity.
After our first visit to the asylum, we
were invited by the kind superioress to
witness play acted by the blind and,
truly, it was worth seeing. The scene was |
laid in the time of the French Revolution
and Marie Antoinette, Madame Elizabeth,
and other personages of the period did their
parts with admirable self possession; the
Able Edgeworth, in beretta and cloak,
gave his blessing with sacerdotal dignity.
Several choral pieces were introduced into
the play, to enliven the scene while the
remarks of comic character, who, somehow
or other, had something to say to every one,
ehectually dissipated the mournfrll charac-
ter of the play. The burden of her tale was
the superior merits of "old Irelandn over
any other country in the world; and some
stanzas of her parting song, composed by
herself, were as follows:
Come to old Ireland and seek information
tbs there you zee sights that you stare;
Sure half what you hear of is all bOtheratiOn-
Come judge for yourself and you'll find speak fair
Come to old Ireland and those fine places
They have raised in this land for for Of mankind
That beautiful spot called the Home of the Blind"
n COUNTIES
They re from Dublin and Cork. Tipperary and Kerry
Kilkenny aud Waterford, Limerick and Glare.
These simple pleasures are highly priced
by the blind children and, surely, it is of
no little moment to give pleasure to those
who are cut off from the many enioyments
which strew our paths