The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-14
SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND.
The Attitude of Those Without Light
to the Outside World.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
During the past few months a great deal
has been said through the newspapers OF
this State concerning the Indiana School
for the blind, its work, successes, advance
ment and it's pupils. But in all that has
been SAID it seems to be the desire of those
writer's to avoid two subjects. TIL true
character of the blind and their position in
life. A writer in the indianapolis Sentinel
of Dec. 2 attempts TO draw a vivid picture
showing the difference between the bhnd
and their more fortunate friends. he rep
resents them as being in an almost misera-
BILE condition. Forever lost to the beauties
of nature, suspicious of every person or
object and with little or no confidence A
pitiable class who when their confidence is
once obtained can be trusted. He seems to
have a desire to represent them as objects
of pity and sympathy who are different
from every other class on the face of the
earth. But whatever may be said con-
corning the blind, or in any way they may be
pictured, it will be found by a close observer
that they are just the same as other per-
sons. True they sometimes possess char
acteristics which furnish a foundation for
contrast or comparison. Do not the inhab-
tants of different sections of the country
have their own manners and customs, or
different societies distinct rules and regula-
tons? Or each State it's own laws? All
of which at the same time have in view but
one objective point. And SO it is with the
blind. They possess a few laws, rules or
actions which they alone can fully under
stand and appreciate. These apparently
strange movements have been misconstrued
by the public and have caused the blind to
be set aside as a different and distinct class.
This imaginary difference has always been
an injustice. It has caused these unfor-
steps had been taken could have been
avoided and sunshine and happiness been
implanted in the lives of many instead of
the half-miserable half-wretched melancholy
condition in which we sometimes find them.
of nature inis loss is more than supplanted
by an understanding of the scene. While
they grope their way along the pathway
of life the loss of sight is counterbalanced
by the more acute senses of feeling and
the sun in his glory may shine or hide be-
hind the cloud or beneath the Western
the lightning flash and the heavens grow
dark, these changes and the beautiful. rays
OF d the rising ISL rgn SUM- !. flier last loy tbagge smile e,s Of
BILE to those blessed with sight may come
S Who g are an tot niVe BIND Pin h't sfif Hie With hp9 phe tn loss
of all this their condition is not 50 miserable
and unhappy as it is sometimes supposed
enjoy, many scenes which make as great an
impression upon their mind and afford as
see. The song of the bird, the warmth of
the monday sun, a refreshing breeze, the
nv Z oCiIC veal JIG, ~ ans
ing of church bells, the joyous peals of the
organ. the singing of the choir, the mutter-
the rain, the last farewell and blessing of
that dying parent or friend fill the heart of
make an impression upon the mind which
age and death only can erase. This mental
to them much happiness which they alone
can enjoy: But let us return to the ques-
those possessing sight. The queer actions
or manners so noticeable in the blind must
Man in his natural state possesses i've
senses and should he lose one of them it's
Hence the loss of sight is supplanted by
feeling and hearing. By the sense of feel
objects and distance. By Hearing they judge
from the sound the location of objects and
cover persons or places. A sudden turning
or the head is sometimes made to obtain
pause while walking, a stroke of the cane
or foot on the paving is to locate certain
objects or, distance. 1t also serves to warn
them of danger of coming in contact with
distractions in their paths. In the school
ff66om or NV work shop. in any and every place
one. In many cases they are SO accustomed
to judging everything by touch or sound.
Ihey are, mistaken for persons with sight.
IL sometimes takes years for persons who
lose their sight late in life to become ac-
customed to the use of these two senses.
They Will find many, ups and downs in their
first experience in blindness. Many dlscour-
ticulties are to. be overcome, but practice
and perseverance will bring success and
ere long they will be surprised at the rapid
ity with which they are able to move from
place to place. Blindness in this case is a
second nature and it must be cultivated and
first lessons of life. But with those bird
blindness being their first nature it is much
easier Tor them to learn the use of these
hence they. do not feel the loss and have
nothing to renew in later years. This class
fbo e,ln I,f sho sisbt in b every y way possible oe IKE
fhi ,,q tyi in their the way and if the parents would
ness in the future to their afflicted child.
Generally when there is a blind child in
way. The parents caress the child
more than they, do the other children,
who are taught to show it special favors.
It's Affections are spoken of frequently in
a sympathetic way as well as being de-
is seldom permitted to join the play of
the other children, but is kept close to the
Itself it is REGARDED widde with ithehp wend 70 am ane
amazement. The child is looked upon with
a curious awe. II is the curiosity of the
neighborhood, told repeatedly of it's afHic-
ton. taught that the rest of the family
have nothing to do but serve it for use
or pastime, praised and fattered for every
attempt at work or play, caressed and
spoiled until when it enters school and
finds itself among strangers it is in an al
most helpless as well as miserable condi-
ton. Here it must begin life anew and
learn things it should have been taught at
1AeS 1dl III uO 1OI
itself. but it is hard for the little one to
shake off the habits learned at home and
to assume all at once an entirely new
line of duties and fully understand the
change. In school every effort is used to
destroy these habits and the melancholy
which seems to have come over them.
They are taught to help themselves in
stead of depending upon others. They are
taught to be Independent and self-support-
ing and are given an opportunity to obtain
an education by the means of which they
can earn for themselves a place in the
world equal to those possessing sight. But
many of them fail in life, and why is ii?
They are competent to performing their
work for they are given thorough knowI-
edge. of it before they leave school. Some
of them possess good business qualifica-
tionS. Some are uneXcelled in mechanical
work and many others are artists in music
and all are given a practical education.
They with their different vocations go
out into the world to take part in the
battle of life with an energy and determin-
alton. What is the result? No less than so
per cent. meet with failure, are soon dis
couraged, they become greater burdens
upon their friends. There must be some
reasons for these failures of the blind. OF
course we do not expect all to be equally
world and if some fail the fault must be
either with the one making the attempt
or with the public itself. The early train
ing of the child will never be forgotten.
The management of the blind school may