South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-11-10
PRIZE ESSAY.
On the Employment of the Blind


adephia.
Among The many problems demand.
ing solution at the hands OF an enlight.
encd philanthropy, there is, perhaps.
none so difficult rs that which requires
the profitable employment OF force so
dispersed, and manifesting itself under
conditions SO varied rs that OF the tai.
ent OF the Blind. This class OF people,
although very uniformly distributed
through the mass of society, scarcely
amounts to the twentieth Of one per cent
OF tho population, attaining. under the
most favorable conditions, to rs low
rate rs one twenty fifth Of one per cent,
and finding its maximum limit Mt about
one twelfth Of one per cent. To deter.
mine the laws Of class SO small, and q
general formula for profitable employ.
ment. or even the means OF ameliorating
their condition by wisely directed chari-
ty, are problems-the solution of which,
as to tho aggregate, is simply impossi-
bic Tor this obvious reason: the class is
not only small. but inconsiderable rs to
most of the manifestations which engage
the attention Of the philosophical econ.
omist. Tho few distinguished individ-
uals. who rise by force Of talent to ma.
tional celebrity, and become the univer-
sal benefactors Of their kind, cannot be
included in the study under considera.
ton, by the very conditions of the prob.
lem; and the above remarks should not
be understood rs undertaking their use.
fulness, both individual and representa-.
tive, which is most gratefully apprecia-
ted, not by the Blind alone, but by all
who arc interested in increasing the sum
Of human happiness.
Perhaps the most discouraging obsta.
Gle in tho way of the employment of the
Blind, is that well-nigh universal con
yiction, that so grave bodily infrmity
Us blindness must needs destroy all pos
sible qualification for productive indus
try. The conviction is prejudice which
finds occasional verification in the inten-
tional or accidental misconduct of ire
sponsible blind laborers and the pre-
judice deepens and widens under the
operation Of that unfortunate law of the
Pessimists, that the worst is to be expec-
ted of class Of which any evil can De
prcdicatcd of an individual. The rome.
dy for this evil is as impossible as any
other branch Of the general problem
nevertheless, suggestion may not be
amiss. The means by which the preju-
dice has been overcome, in few parti-
cular instances, may be so modified rs
to admit Of a somewhat more general
application. a blind man, after start
ing school in his native village and
teaching it successfully for several years,
became DESTROYS of improving his situa-
ton by removing to n larger community
lie applied for the school in that COM
munity, only forty miles distant from
his former residence. His testimonials
would have been considered moro than
satisfactory in any other imaginable case,
and his examination was quite without
fault. Notwithstanding oil this, the
Board found it impossible to- overcome
their convictions until q compromise
was proposed by the applicant, which
they promptly accepted. lie proposed
to teach the school for the term OF one
month, Mt the end OF which time, the
Board and himself should each select a
man, and the two should choose third,
to whom as judges, the question Of his
further employment should be submit.
ted. II they should decide adversely,
he would withdraw without claiming his
salary, 1t may be interesting TO state.
that, az the end Of the month, the pre-.
judice had so entirely vanished, that il
was thought unnecessary TO raise tho
Committee, and the school went on
This method has succeeded in more than
once instance. / have also found that
the applications OF Blind persons for
work OF various kinds, nave succeeded
more frequently when the applications
have been made in person, than when
the matter has been entrusted to friends.
For small proportion of Blind persons
who are instructed in the schools, teach
ing in the common schools Of the coun-
try is, by these and other means, m a
valuable field Of remuneratiye labor. /
doubt not that this proportion might be
greatly increased, if teachers i'm the
schools for the Blind, themselves fully
understood the availability Of this field.
and would direct their labors, 20 pupils
Of promise. with this work in view
Blind persons are frequently incapable
of administering affairs Of a school. but
would succeed we'll in subordinate ca
pacity. Females rs well az males. NAV
find the reward OF their labors in this
direction but the most uncompromisinp
propriety OF life in the whole round OK
morals, personal address, and bouignant
courtesy, is absolutely indispensable,
even TO the smallest success. in this field
OF labor more, perhaps, than in others.
Akin TO this kind OF work, and more n
valuable for females than malice ia teach
ing in private families. Blind girls.
growing into womanhood under circum.
stances favorable TO refined culture and
varied accomplishments, may find situa-
tions In private families where mere no.
minal salaries may grow into indepen.
dent establishments. Girls who can be
led to adopt this as their object in life,
cannot be too much impressed with the
Importance OF purest culture OF the do
nestle virtues, truth, amiability, high.
toned sense Of honor, and self.respect.
prudence. modesty, love Of children, re.