The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05

receptive and retentive; and while they
even show less discomfort with their lot.
there are nevertheless tendencies manifest
I'd in these blind children which make
them almost children of darkness. This
.endency has been accounted for in sever3!
ways, but the most rational theory seems
20 be based upon the fact that the blind.
born so in many cases as the curse handed
iOwn from vicious ancestry, are endowed
With an inheritance with which their az
licted condition enables them TO poorly
,ombat They feel their loneliness, realize
I craving for companionship are thirsting
or affection, and this is manifested in
.aresses ard fOndlings instead of facial
Expression and words of endearment The
result is to make the battle harder and
moral resistance succumbs TO the cravings
IF nature. So, i'm an institute for the
blind. strict vigilance is maintained and
he sexes are kept separated. Further
han this, the formation Of an affection
between the young is discouraged as a
matter of public welfare and policy. Mar
riage between those born blind would but
-esult in the birth of children similarly
doomed by inheritance. and these hapless
little ones would be nothing but a burden.
This is one Of the many delicate matters
with which the officers of blind institu-
tons have TO contend in their manage
ment. In many cases when the matter Is
presented to the blind by one in whom
they nave pIdceu lLlllCll CplillutllCc, IL -
received in an imprisoned manner, but
the reverse is also true in many instances.
Indiana Blind Institute.
The Indiana institute for the education of
the blind receives children of ordinary ca
pacity as early as at the age of six years
and takes as much care of their education
and training as do the public schools the
education Of the other children of the land.
The course of study is similar to the public
schools and the pupils are advanced in the
useful branches as far. The lis pupils rise
al o'clock. breakfast, study till o'clock.
attend chapel, have choir practice, attend
recitation from till u o'clock, dine in
dulgc in literary work from l till o'clock,
do shop work and attend to their musical
studies till 4:30 o'clock. have supper lis
ten to useful and entertaining reading by
the teachers from $50 till 1880 o'clock and
engage in study and music till 915. when
they retire TO their dOrmitories. Especial
attention is paid to music as it is the source
of great pleasure as well as of profit TO
the blind. There are in the institution six
teen pianos, a pipe organ and reed organ
and these are in constant use. Many Of
the pupils become highly skilled in the art
and after graduation are able TO earn their
own support by teaching and piano tuning.
in music and all are kept busy. The New
York point system is used in writing the
music as we'll as IN all writing and has been
found to be highly successful and a great
Improvement over the old system of raised
letters. This system is the mere arrange
ment Of six points raised on the paper in
different relative positions to represent the
letters of the alphabet. The sharp points
are caught by the keen sense of touch in
the finger tips of the pupils much more
readily than the entire raised letter and
much greater facility is acquired
Middle-aged men are received into the
institution when in good health and de-
sirous Of learning a trade. AS long as
they continue to advance they are kept
until the trade has been learned. There
are taught cane seating, carpet weaving
mattress making, the manufacture Of
brooms, mops and busters and piano tun-
ing. Girls and women are taught needle
work, bead work, crocheting and music
The shops. of course. do not pay for the
maintenance of the institution, as the
pupils are dismissed as soon as they be-
come skilled, but the shops more than
pay Cor all the material used. which
operates as a great saving Of money to
the state. They learn readily and all
realize the difficulties that will confront