, 1884-07-12

A TRAINED EAR.
As the reporter passed upthe long walk be-
tween the grassy sides of the lawn, a woman's
lace turned toward him at the window.
There WINS nothing to show that the eyes were
s~ightless. but the half-turued listening ear
told the story as he entered the front door
and touched the pare at the little sliding
glass Office window. The lady was knitting.
but at once arose, crossed the room and
pulled a hidde handle which opened the
door several feet away. Her eyes followed
every movement, hearing being her guide.
A bell ring brought down q little girl. who
ran in, and stopped suddenly with a
bow, took her message, closed the
door and ran or through the hallway, and
bounded up the staircase, two steps at a time.
The reporter calculated "Sae isn't blind
Yes, totally blind" was the answer, Abut
she knows more Of the building than your
eyes could tell you" A moment later the
lady said, "Here he now alluding TO
the gentleman who had boon sent for. The
reporter listened for several seconds before
be could hear tho footstep which she had n-
ready heard and recognized.
Deafness, she afterward explained, was the
greatest misfortune a blind person couIi
have, as their every movement was guided
by sound Of some sort A ticking clock. a
burning fire in stove or CRATE, or any similar
sound that was regular or constant, Is an in
valuable aid to the blind, guiding them
about n room as the shipmaster fol-
lows his compass at sea. The institution
is intended to fit its inmates to earn
ar independent livelihood The studies Of O
seven years course extend from the alphabet
to algebra, geometry, logic, mental and
moral science and the science of government,
rhetoric, conn ~ositiop, natural science and
use OF various philosophical apparatus. They
are trained in gymnastics, taught music, aud
become experts in cane seating, mattress
making, sewing. knitting, crocheting and
lace weaving. With these they are expected
to earn a livelihood after they are 90 years
old. Unfortunately, this the graduates can
not always do. They become respondent,
fail to get supporting employment, drift
about, become ~dissipated If opportunity
offers, and wind up in the almshouse.
MEANS OF RELIEF.
Means Of relieving tho deserving are In.
creasipg rapidly, amt renal kablo as it may
seem, principally through the exertioas Of
the blind men then selves, although the best
and most deserving OF them can scarcely
earn more than an average of 75 cents a day
in all wcathcrs. They have two papers de-
voted solely to their Interests, and TO securing
legislation and effective charities. They are
both edited by blind men, and are sold at the
cheap rate of so cents a year. They have
a mutual beEeicial association who's
Offices are on ~Thirty-sixth street
The regular payment Of a small fee
entities members to an allowance
OF 50 q week in case Of illness AMI $40 for
funeral expenses in case of death. A Phila-
delphia society for similar purposes has a
branch Office on Sixth avenue. Its members
are bind, but its business is transacted by
those who can see. 1t buIies its dead attends
to the sick, and advances necessary capital to
es ablish the worthy in business. A Gaming
establishment is in operation on Thirty fourth
street, where the work IS taught from models
and where the proficient are given employ.
ment 1t is also understood hat a new home
on a new plan is 10 be established on Que
Hundre -and-Tenth tteet, which will hay,
accommodations FOL zoo persona