The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-10-01
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4
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Baltimore Sun: We met on Tuesday
night at the institution for the blind. on
Boulevard avenue, Francis j. Campbell,
LII. D., one Of the most remarkable men
In his way that we have ever seen. Mr..
Morrison, the superlnt sndent, had been
kind enough to notify Us, and at q few
minutes after s We found ourselves in
the concert hall, surrounded by 6 num-
beg OF blind children, listening to this
remarkable blind man telling his simple
story OF wonderful success, and showing
his blind audience that they need be
only true to themselves in order to com.
mand, not thesympathy, but the admira.
ton and confidence of the world. Dr..
Campbell is director of the Royal Col
lege and Academy of Music for the
Blind, Upper Norwood, London.
81 had struggled" SAID Dr.. Campbell,
''in attempting to establish the Royal
Normal School for the blind in London.
1t was growing, but I want.d the as
sistAnce of the press. One day, during
holiday visit to Switzerland, made
up my mind to Fscsnd Mount Blsnc. I
made the ascent and came down q hero.
found myself in every leading news
paper on the continent. The London
Times gave me leader, and from that
hour the press has b9en glad TO receive
me. The Prln' OF Weles came to hear
my story. John Bright made me
a speech, and when 1 went
TO Berlin with few selec,
musical scholars. crown princess asked
for my story. and there was opened to
me and mine salon which had hereto
fore only been free 70 nobility, to art, &C
literature and to the mnsIcal composer
10 DAY, instead OF having to solicit for
pupils have forty applications to one
place. ALI wanted ives that nv cause
should be known, The poor people Of
England, from whom my pupils come,
have been poor so long that they are
very wanting in ambition, and found il
very hard work to get them TO under
stand that an educaled class was work.
ing for their elevation. To do this, ]
had to educate that educated cless. ss
well as the poor blind, and the press Was
my best lever. From the moment ]
found my way to the press the public
found its way t. me-
any next step WAS to stimulate the
English themselves. had young girl
whom had picked up as q wall in 4
work house al Liverpool, who, with 8
few others of the same class, had devel
oped wonderful musical talent. I tool
them to Berlin. The Germans received
me with open arms. l played compo
sitions from Beethoven, Rubsnsteln anG
LIsZt efOre the best musical critics Of
Berlin, and astonIshed them with wha
the blind could do. Society and thu
press Endorsed me. The Times AGAR
came to nv assistance and when l re
turned to England found the Englisl
, public ambitious TO emulate the Ger
mans and to show their recognition O
home enterprise.
al mention these things simply {,
show what the blind can do. and to slim
ulate the blind to help themselves, ant
generous public not to sympathIz
with them. but to trust them. My meth
cd is simple: take them young iron
among the poorest; put them into tn
t Kindergarten and surround them with
world of beauty and life which the
have never known; I send them out int
the play ground and teach them to pla,
the same games as the seeing play;
i, try to impress upon them that their al
Fiction should be simply used as a steL
! ping stone, and see gradually develop
ing before me an independence an
self-rellance not simply equal to that {
the rest of the world, but often superior
e AS they advance / take them into th
, modeling-rOom. They have neve
known how properly to take hold of OF
jects or use their fingers. In this ROOF
: with a lump of clay teach them I
r mold first simple objects, then fruit
f then flowers, leaf, bud and full flower
then Typographical maps, until little b
: little each finger Is taught ITS use and
: delicacy and accuracy of touch taugf
: which fits the pupil for still highG
things. BY this time they are fitted fl
# music, and / can show among my pupil
o taken from the lowest classes, not sin
b ply performers. but artists, to whom
v symphony of Beethoven is as familis
as a Scotch ballad"
We could relate much more of this e,
traordinary man and his work. NevG
I have we passed al hour of more intens
interest, and we are only too glad to pa
this slight tribute to DIR. Campbell. W
pay it, too, not without some selfish fee
;, ing, fer we hope that this simple stat
q ment may help to show the public whit
our work is, may attract the notice
those who feel for the needs of their fel
y low-men, and carry with it the impre
q sion that all we are working for an
d asking for In behalf of the blind Is TIL
/. they may be understood, and that the
8 aim is not to live upon the sympathy
9 their fellow-men, but win, as thew d
!, serve, their trust and confidence. Ont
0 let the blind understand that the con
munity recognizes that success, In spi
of blindness, Is a passport eud not
drawback, and the question of educatir
the blind is relieved from its create
It obstacle.