The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-14
AMONG THE blind IN DUBLIN
Father O'ReiiIy's Visit TO mn Asyiuw Coa-
asoiied by the sisters Of NhnrIty.

beautiful seaside suburb OF Dublin. situated on
the southern shore Of the bay Is well known as
q summer resort. 1t takcs It's name from
stronghold. either OF the Danes who built Dub
lin and fortified all tho approaches to 1t. or Of
the early Anglo Norman invaders. who occu-
pied II ns an outpost OF their metropolitan col
ony. and abarrisr against tho incItsion- OF the
native Septs. In later times 1t became tho In
heritance Of the Herberts. to whom belongs
wide district all around. In 1866 Merton
Castle was but an iyy-mnntled ruin. when
chain OF provdsntial CIRCUMSTANCES caused
tho property to fail into the hands Of tho Sis
tors Of Charity whose Asylum for the Blind. n,
Portobello was both insaiubrious and unable
to accommodate the ever incrensing number
OF applicantsifor admission. In October OF
that year tho medieval ruin had disap.
peared, and Cardinal Cullen solemnly
blosseJ aud lail the corner stonp Of ono
OF the haudsonest conventual structures IN MI
ireland. But must correct myself by saying
that tho convent proper. the small and modest
abode of the sisters is thrust out OF tho way.
while the asylum and tho adjoining industrial
school. with the beautiful chapel form II group
OF buildings which strike Tia" visitor AZ singu.
larry appropriate and substantial. But tho
architectural merits OF both the exterior and
interior. much as they cannot fail to impress
the cultivated observer will DO soon forgotten
In tho delightful spectacle winch awaits MI
men md women who Owe then kihd and ~ M
pathizc with the most God like work ii charity.
TEN ptcd 10 speak now admirable and Successful
though It be in every way. Mind and heart are
boring department. st. Mays Asylum for the
Blind. as II is called. that | must at once nu,,
my i'm sions on pap-r. What may br called
the germ OF this ins'tntion was formed some
fifty years ago 10y M)n-iGn"r lore. on" OF those
ETsse ~" na r pr's ga9s S snH n CIV
The elOD which constituted MS entire fortune
Mt his death is - this dny the only funded
property Of ST Nery's Asylum. Tho modest
house Ia which thi> GOOD man at FIRST coll ctsd
his little fl1cl Of The bind was s,tuytrd in an
obscurt street Of the nstroro Is. In 1888 ', he
charge Of It. A. things were ~ the timo
, H. 'G B S STdn y Ills The pa. n"'' caro- ' Hs
AN incst i.nahlo hnnn;ij. IL pctnhcr. 1853 how
ever. Mr-. Tcford was asked by her superior if
she could uuier,ake ta" entire care Of such an
estuh.,shmrEL trusting s""iy e. Providrug"
tnr the means of su"Hor'ins IT, Sh" n."nrt"d.
The blind were trni-irrrrd to the Oil Porto
bello Rot". In tn" suburbs whore thoir mum
Der Increased 50 randy, and the ncc1minoia-
tons were 80 iow AMI the AR 50 ih~alubrIpus
that u chanso 10 mo rurt ht,p1 .Pi"re 81 we
country hec,mn inrrra' We. How ms change
was BROUGHT about ~ itnyiinnr" NIT nv not
now stop 20 say. II 10" autumn 81 lHi' Mr@.
Tolluri was able t. "lulsrni" wI'h hoe trst
and hFlpes1 tarIy to the era ., ho ,.,,
and amOS; within u stones throw ot th" beach.
Should any Of tiIp-s who hhPr-n u" p"Tu-c
these lines ever inquire why the dans t're ~
our beast families The mos: nccompllrh"d, the
most brilliant. the most rirGiy endowed IN
mind and heart. turn th"ir back4 on al worldly
prospects to become tho servants OF III" poor,
/ could point to IN" example before me-. Of one
who, trusting to God. 10 til" cooperation Il
heroic women ike h,t-n,f, aud ~ IN" Urtdi,,nE
resources Of IRISH generosity. undertook to
Great suen IN h'tHt'n r.. -, Mr, r., IasYiiH4
not n school tn winch tu"y colnr to l." otL-
Gated. and thnG return To- .iheir FAMILIES
and chilirsu who hHvN from the h--inuing
been received by Mrs. r"ltord. housed. clothed
fed educated. caroi for with infinite tcHdrr-
ness. az without execution. zane from 'ur
very lowest walk, oi society. There j. n"t II
this day in the asylum u single woman or ra.lI
m Angel had MOI :uide them to tn" Sisters q
Char, t. Once th"S hhy' crossed thr tHr'- inuI
them tho NOr i Of misery INTO which they hal
been born nnd h"-in tneir aeIuhntapcc " ~
nsw world, winch "a v"rle-t 'ruth becomes
to Thorn tor'tN-'e If paradise.
So, then. the i5n h'ini Of nl age whom |
spenkabIr peace, comfort. and union OF hearts.
are in what = 10 he their home until 1"oth
Of tho bea, ne, vis.oi rs. And til, home with ITS
security. Its comforts, IT. happiness. hnd the
s .s ~ hI.,"W7 on ttest az ,nnetl'ra
under God; the work Of one woman the result
Of twenty-five Year, OF s..f-,pcrii'ce and nhtir-
family OF 400 loving, graceful. happy heats To
return and reward n li.e.'"HyS ioveanl charity
aconvent life j. hnrr"n, when there are suciI
glorious examples OF DEVOTION Ia the poor re-
woalth OF pur. and supernatural a.I"c,Ion?
After sAploru.: aver, part oi thu VIM. appro.
priatnd to the iulu-triai school. bull, under
tho direction of tn" Enctgo,S herself W" enter
tho bind asylum 1T Jp"r whore Mrs. IeltuId's
Intelligent forrthpU stit hal made architects
and uphpIsterers adopt rvHry drtHi for tho need
and comfort If her luiirm caiidr'n. Thought
the hui lin! and is Arrangement ware pHr!oc-
tioc. Thc~" poor blind girls. Whistler in cr!i-.-
QuencA OF early ne.,i""' and prIvItlpn OF on &C.
count ~ their iIilrmii5 lt1r.i. are exceedingly
delicate. and II requires N" greatest pr""Gu-
tons to GIard M health a-.alne ~ ifisn rnI
fata! CHANG. the wide ami ioity "orrii"!o
are heated hY 1t-aln nni per'aicd by gentle
anu eiuhn" i-mr'ihtur"; ;" are tho ci"'s
muse ana WORK rooms. H~ W"I a. tEp rhhrur
the re'rtloty. II" 'nrmif0rl"S. and laNh'0''"-.
We enter the h-nr"st = as room. ul'is u
from ID - II an seated around ta'",, 7'r"
rehilhi:, S"We writing. lh"re - nothing un'"
to remind On" -, an ordinary class room II =.
70 al al 'nTaH',t cosy. c'H.1r'u '" a'p'y.
Win '"'e't Hurry ~ or" "Hd ana twp
writers W ~ p''hN ~ N" oih"r. Tne system
o. wI!ihG r"h!'h%. Hhd rrinun. Is that o.
Brail.e, wien ~ !ri"r3 Hhd u Sister CON
Panl"h went TO f|r.~ 10 learn some ct-hte"t
year ~, rae g'hSS iar tho blinI. pHutei
IN fHSmhi n" i'nE - thiF sFs'"in. ware
foun4 {! hh quite uuS'l'i"d t. ~. religious AMI