The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-09-08
Louisiana Institution for the In
sfrnctiOn of the Blind.

al
Lane, principal Of the above named
institution, circular, dated at Baton
Rouge, and addressed to Secretaries
of School Boards, parish officers, pas
tors and all Others interested in good
work, from which we make this ex-
tract /:
The Louisiana Institution for the
Education of the Blind is now reor-
ganizing and will be ready for full
work on the LIST of September.
The purpose of this Institution is
to train to self-support all the blind
of the State who are capable of such
training and are willing to receive it.
Tn every country, elevated by Chris
tan civilization, schools for training
the blind are established. In many
countries of Europe, and in every
American State, trained blind per-
sons are achieving subsistence by
useful work. Blindness is IL great
evil: but its hnrtful effects are inten-
siffed by ignorance and inertness.
The blind ought to desire and to seek
all possible mitigations, and their
friends ought to help them to find re-
lief. To assume that the victim OF
blindness can do nothing, is to con-
tradiet fact and blaspheme humanity
1t is wrong in the blind to believe
that they are wholly incapable OF
usefulness and that the seeing
should persuade them to such belief,
or permit them TO rest in it, is mon
strous.
This Institution will furnish its
pupils thorough common school in
struction and whenever is mani
tested capability for fuller education.
special provision will be made to
meet the case. instruction in music
will be given and all pupils of suffi-
cient ability will be trained with di-
rect reference to earning living as
musicians. Pupils will be instructed
in several mechanical occupations
For the present, in cane seating
chairs, broom manufacture, mattress
making and sewing. As means in
crease, and as the Institution devel-
ops, other lines of handicraft will be
tried. A few of the former pupils OF
this Institution are now earning a
partial or whole support by the
trades already mentioned.
All blind persons between eight and
irty-fve, of sound mind and good
moral character, are eligible as pu-
pills. Instruction, board, lodging aud
medical attendance will be gratni-
tously afforded to all. Persons un-
able to clothe themselves, must OBJ
tain from the Mayor of the town, OF
from Police Juror of the parish in
which they reside, a certificate de-
claring their inability. When such
persons become pupils, the Institu-
ton will clothe them. All Others are
required to bring full supply OF
neat and comfortable clothing. This
Institution is not an asylum for the
helpless not home for the desti-
tute. 1t is a school to train the blind
to self support department. of tho
system of public instruction special
lied to meet the educational needs o
class. Pupils are received solely
for this purpose, and only for a limi.
ted term. Every assurance which
earnest kindness can offer or reasona
BILE soiicitude demand, is given, tina
inmates will be carefully and kindly
treated.
You are respectfully and urgently
requested to seek out the blind o
your neighborhood, to send their al
dresses to this Institution and to com
municate the substance of this circuIa
to them and to their friends. Man,
of the relatives of the blind, and som,
of the blind themselves, doubt thei
capability for useful training. Per
sistence in this error will assure til,
ineompetency which the doubtimplies
Do not add uselessness to the woe
of blindness. Let the blind boy be
come as full a man as his limitation
| will permit. In this work every OH
can be missionary. Find out al
young blind persons and urge then
to enter this Institution. Do this
and thereby help them to the fulles
redemption which Christian civiliza
ton can offer. Louisiana ought no
to be the last and least in philan
thropic work. All properly qualified
blind persons are cordially invited +
enter, and their friends earnestl
solicited to place them in this Institn
ton. The personal character an,
high social position of the Trustee
amply guarantee the faithful fulfil
ment of the trust they have accepted
All communications should be ad
dressed to the Principal.
p. LANE, Principal.
Trustees H. Goodale, j. W
McMain, w. Garig, D. H. Waddell
| r. Morris.