The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-09-03
HOU THE BLISU/SEE.
INTERESTING REMAINS OF PROFESSOR FAWCErT
TIE ELIND ENGLISH STATESMAN.
~ D. Colwa;. !xlCinetnnat! ConIneroian

IN. D. Corway. 1ICincin natl Commercially
Tho concert giTen by the blind pupils at
Devopshire HoEse, London, was very impress
siVe 1t was/a:tended by large and dIstin.
gushed company, ard was held ia the great
hall, which Wa, decorated in the gorgeous pa
atial style of the Olden time. 1t was pathetic to
see tbe blind choir, made up of teachers and pu-
pi1s>all ages, surrounded by so much splendor
grand pictures, profuson of flowers and bril-
/ilant company, aud think how their eyes would
have danced conld they have beheld what was
around them. The performances consisted OF
exquisite and in some instances difficult pieces
from the great composers aud vocal solos or
choruses, which were charmingly rendered. A
girl of twelve moved the assembly to emotion
by Tsciting poem by Jean Ingelow with an
Intoned refrain of echoes, and made herself a
heroine. A striking incident was an address
6y Professor Fawcett, the blind statesman, wbo
leit fariiament 10 be present. 1t was the first
time had ever heard him speak at any length
On the subject of blindness. His speech was
marked by it's cheerfolness and the entire ab-
eence OF anything sentimental. He was lis
tened TO with breathless interest, when, draw
ing upon his own experience, he said that the
ideal OF one who il blind would be to lead the
sRInS life as they might have hoped to live if
they were not so afflicted. Persons, he seid
sometimes imagined that it was hardly polite
or might be even cruel, to describe before the
blind beautiful scenes and attractive Objects
lest they should make them feel too deeply a
sense OF their deprivation. But this is q total
mistake. The best service that can be done
Ghe blind is to treat them and speak to them
continually aud unconscionsly cultivating the
power Of seeing things vividly through the
eyes Of Others. 1t was within his own expert
6nce that things which had been deacrbed Tn
him had afterwards become SO real that he
could hardly persuade himself that he had not
seen them before be lost his sight. He dwelt
most impressively on the new hope that would
light mp the hearts of the blind as it more and
more became known that an American bad
como here to teach the English no " suoh might
be taught the means of helping themselves and |
rescuiDG their lives from fruitleesuess He
0aid he had heard that in America 25 per cent |
Of the blind were able to do something for |
themselves-a fact startling enough to q com |
munity which had never until lately imagined |
the possibility of such thing, unless in very |
exceptional cases. You may imagine the great |
eject produced by this address from q man in |
Professor Fawcett's situation. He stood as a |
high type of what q blind man may accom- |
PliAh under favorable ciroumstances The |
story of his blindness has been often told He |
had just graduated at Cambridge with high |
honor, and was out shooting with his father
His fathers gun went off by accident and in |
each of his sons eyes entered one shot The |
father almost died of grief, but the son was
cheerful and assured his father that blipdness
Rhould make nc difference in the parliamentary
md scholastic career to which they had both
looked forward. The youth not only fulfilled |
1hB promise to- his father, but it seems verv
probable that his efforts were so stimulated by
tho circumstances that he has achieved more
Shan he would have done had the accident |
never occurred. 1t has always been a oharac-
teristic of Professor FHwcett that he is invari-
ably cheerful and happy.