The sun., 1892-05-15

ousTAvus J. KAuFAANN.
Tho Blind Piano-tuner.
The tuner continued his work while he
talked. laying his hand readily upon the tools
| he used. which were spread out before him on
| q chair. The novelty OF the scene led the lady
| to stay and talk with him.
"Of course I am thoroughly familiar with
| the make OF tho instrument" the tuner went
| on. with a little encouragement. and my
| fingers and ears tell me all that need to
| know. The friend spoke Of is not OF course.
absolutely deaf. but he is so hard OF hearing
| that you would find 1t difficult to talk with him.
| Musical sounds. however. he can hear dis
| tinctly. and he is an excellent tuner. He Is
| not only piano tuner. but newsdealer. and
makes O handsome income.
Music is ono Of tho first things that blind
person takes to-" ho continued. If there is
any melody in his composition. I do not be-
lieve that the mere absence OF sight sharpens
the other faculties. but it makes it necessary
for the blind person to take rains to sharpen
them. My finger tips have naturally no moro
sensitiveness than yours. but trained them
because had to. Having only four senses.
instead OF tho ordinary tiye. We are taught to
make each Of the four 90 oRe,Igarter GO t Iot; more
tuition for the Blind. where was educated. the
great effort is to teach every pupil to be self
sase been aeheves ie '' '"' f'Su'S 'A
there blind ba d.D1sS pnn0 I'm,
possible to say just how many. for we can only
keen track of those who have been educated
ways OF them. OF these there are about $50 In
the United States: but there are many more
have not been educated in any OF the institu-
tons TheTe are at least doTen blind pano
the blind musicians are not piano tuners you
know; OF those who have been educated in
for SS the Blind nearly 50o, other music teachers.
went s%enty composers Composer ' and pubishers Q! music.
me- %ents: t Ana these are eniS the ones thaf M are
lug the SCHOOLS and nothing can be learned
"Oh. dear. no." the tuner replied. The
public haze % very wrong notion ABOUT that;
about one in n thousand. or one-tcnth OF ono
per per cent cent are Born SIind F1teen per @ cent
cation. and iity per cent after passing the age
OF 50 years. 80 you see. Of all tho blind there
the the @ hs
Of population. Those who go to the New York
Institution are started with good English
whatever other branches may DO desired.
"Oh. no. We use what Is known throughout
The sGuntry a the Il Nsw York point system
The tuner took from his pocket small slip
Of thick paper in which a large number Of
iike Big periods pressed through the paper. '
This is your name and address" he said.
e as frsn sa9u dea Of S
types, and presses But it is an easy matter
any blind person can read. For Instance.
He took a pin from his vest and quickly prick
ed these characters across the top Of the little
slip OF paper:
Tho S u u n a'y CHI . i:
DO You know" he was AL asked "ot any blind
are able to support themselves"
,hiS h%ioh great manyt hG replied ,%And yet
Unless he n has 'e pec1ar % abty in some o drae
ton. IT Is dillcult for him to 60 about some
anl bnaf ahtSf"y hesp
than they do in other places. unless they have
great confidence in themselves, 1t Is entirely
without, any assistance. crossing the most
crowded roIsd streets and making his way through
man You Know and maEe m es Way VI for thp lin. Dh st
there is n hesitation generally about Drawing
the dangers of tho streets alone. which can
only b9 overcome by trainin and long prac-
tIce, Then enthecompetition in every business in
this city is so great that a man needs all
business or protest. ion. you understand must
be not only as good MS his competitors. but
at least six points. Some Of tho smaller cities
are better than the metropolis for blind men.
on account OF this hustle and heavy compcti-
@ stay in NeW iolk A But tas tere sms ars
great many lett. divided among large, mum
hold work are the three empioyments in Which
more blind persons are engaged than any
others. When blind person. particularly
course that is the best place for her. Some
blind women are excellent cooks and house
Thse hs saSh
sshle 70 FAY how many Of them are in. New
York Those are more than q thousand blind
graduates OF the various schools tor the blind:
Of course there arc thousands Of others. who
woS Safdy Ss %snt
persons. What woaid You think T q a a Iiind Iiind
eral of them in this country. all stationed. Of
meehanical., They are blind living human au,
Wade Of the Sew York ihsttstionr rsiyes them.
There are blind, superintendents OF asylums
Of literature and teaahsrs IN public t scheo!s'
cierGymen. lawyers editors, authors, publish
can see great many valuable works
Gina men S'sss ssse sseoaS sS
known In literature 1t Is true; but no more |
tions are about equal. Hundreds OF blind |
men are engaged in manufacturing. othoE |
there, are blind managers Of estates sawyers |
and iambeEmen., farmers knitting machine |
AeH oe orss
tors. carpenters printers. ilorsts. mail con- |