Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-16
HOME FOR SlGHTLESS.
HOW DESTITUTE BLIND PEOPLE
SPEND THEIR LONG DAYS.


What Work Is Done by the Sexes.
On the corner of One Hundred and
Fourth street and Amsterdam avenue Is
situated the Home for the Destitute Blind.
There is nothing about the cheerful req
brick exterior, or the many windows open
ing out upon the broad streets and blue
sky to suggest the night of perpetual dark
ness in which the inmates forever dwell;
but within the long, straight corridors,
unbroken by turns or furniture OF any
kind, and the bare walls, devoid of pic
lures, denote to the observer that the pow
err of sight is denied to those who are given
u home there.
| visited the institution one afternoon
and, escorted by the gentle little lady who
Is the matron, went through the building,
and had that often asked question, "Is life
worth lvingY' most practically answered
by the apparent contentnent and satisfac-
ton these destitute blind people find in
their existence.
Preceded by the matrou, passed through
the door of what she called the 'woman's
workroom." a number of comfortably
cushioned high backed benches were ar
ranged in rows through the middle of the
large room. A piano stood at one end, and
"a large music box, or organette, WAS upon
q table by the door. Near the wide fire
place were two or three easy chairs. The
apartment had much the appearance Of II
chldren's private schooIoon.
Great windows let in Il flood of gay sun
shine that glistened on the polished wood
floor; but the busy workers can know
nothing of the merry times the sunbeams
have, and never stop work to look out at
the bits of blue sky, nor find fault If the
shadow Of IL cloud happens to fall upon
their work 1t Is all alike, sunlight or
shadow, to them-a long, dark night. And
yet the pretty things these blind people
make are delight to the eyes that can see
them.
HOW THEY WORK AND PLAY.
"They are having vacation now" said
the matron. "The superintendent of the
workshops has gone to the country; when
she returns the work will be resuncd.'
"Do they lave regular hours for work."
! asked
"Yes, the women do" was the reply.
"They are expected to come into the work
room at half past 9 every morning and
work until o'clock in the afternoon; of
course stopping for dinner"
1t seems to be unnecessary to regulate
the working hours tor the men, rs they
show II greater ambition for employ meut.
The men make cane chairs and mattresses.
Their workshop is at the other side of the
building. In n room opening from the
long corridors which connect the separate
workshops Of the men and women sits the
superintendent. If any Of the women hap
pen to drop a stitch in their knitting, or f
a mans fingers fail in the sensitive touch,
the perplexed creatures feel their way
through the corridor to the superintend-
ent's room and receive the necessary AS
sistnnce from her The inmates are al
lowed two-thirds of the receipts of the
workshop, the other third being used for
the superintendent salary, for he ma
terials required in the work and in aid Of
the sick fund.
The time of the inmates is not all passed
in work, however, Every day they are on
tertained by readiu-s given by kindly Dis
posed volunteers, an! the piano and music
box are at their disposal. Checkers and
chess, arranged for the blind, are also pro
vlded for their amusement.
When the natron and stepped into the
mems reception room two men were play
ing checkers. Their heads were bent over
the board as if to follow the moves of one
another, and if their hands had not been
kept so close to the board an ordinary OBJ
server would never have suspected the real
misfortune of the players. Several other
men were lounging about the room in com
Portable chairs.
COMFORTABLE SURROUNDINGS.
Everywhere there was an air Of content
ment. Upon a table were scattered books
and papers for the blind. They prefer what
is called point print" to any other raised
lettering. TO me the sheets of paper looked
like the wrong side of a perforated card
board.
For those of the men who wish to smoke
special room is provided The floor of
this room is covered with zinc aud the
walls are brick, painted white. Against
the wall is a long bench. 1t is not a pretty
room. No man gifted with sight could
possibly enjoy q cigar in that cherries
chamber; but it is thus arranged so as to
insure safety from burning matches, and
the blind men are satisfied Two old men
! sat smoking pipes when peeped in.
! Up stairs are the sleeping chambers.
Three iron bedsteads and three or four
chairs, wardrobe and n small table or two
is all the furniture any room contains.
The sad affection of the occupants i'm
press the visitor instantly in the absence
of looking glasses and the want Of orna-
ments to please the eye.
Between the sleeping departments Of the
male and female inmates is located the
chapel where Episcopal services are held
every Sunday 1t is bright, pretty room,
with upholstered pews and stained glass
windows, through which the sunlight
sends subdued tints Of beautiful color. If
the sightless eyes were opened just for an
instant in that room there would be an
end of all contentment in their barren
lives forever after.
There are one or two inmates of the in
sttution who are not totally blind. Each
applicant is required to pass an examina-
ton before being admitted to the home.
These two deceived the examiners and es-
capped detection, but they are SO nearly, if
not quite, blind that they are permitted to
remain, although the home is intended
only for those who have entirely lost the
power Of seeing,
Occasionally the men 90 out alone, some
times even crossing the ferries to Brooklyn
and New Jersey, but the women are never
allowed out unattended. They do not, the
matron said, show the confidence to take
care of Themselves that the men exhi bit