The times., 1897-08-27
BOOKS FOR THE s|GHTLEss
Librarian Young's Plans for a
Private Reading Room.
SUGGESTED BY A BLIND GIRL
Miss CampbelI's Appeal Meets With
Generous Costly
Who Need Them-Musical Works
in Demand ny the Talented Blind.

Mr.. John Russell Young, Librarian of
Congress, has obeyed that first coInnland
OF creation, Let there be light"
When the Eew Library is thrown open
to the nation it viii be found that some
where under it's golden dome provision has
been especially made for the blind. All
books ami musical compositions published
in finger print viii be placed in reserved
nook with special attendant in charge.
and those readers who have heretofore
disliked TO avail themselves OF the advant-
agesof tie Library because of the unpleasant
publicity il entailed, viii now have in
opportunity OF enjoying the books in peace.
Ii is the first time in The history of
libraries of this country and probably
Ihoseor the old world that the blind have
been recognized in this just, and humane
manner, as a class.
The collection Of blind" books at the
Capitol includes the Bible, encyclopedia,
histories, Dickens 'oid Curiosity Shop"
the EneiG, iii Latin, poems musical COM
positions anG copies Of all the systems.
The dot or Wait system, which owes its
name 10 It's inventor, Superintendent Wait.
OF the institution for the blind OF the
State OF New York, is the newest and best.
The line system is another method. Of
finger reading, and There are still two
Others the ''Braile," origin ated by a
Frenchman OF that name, and dn Eng
lish system known as the Moon type"
neither OF which is in general use.
The printing for the blind OF this coun-
try is done in Philadelphia 10y Napoleon
b. Knease, himself a blind man, and iii
Louisville and Boston. The Bible, which
can be condensed into pocket edition
for culinary readers and be bought 1or
few cents, when published in finger print
covers series OF eight volumes and costs
S1O0. A prayer book sells for $50
and cctnmon writing slate for 81 20.
only the bInd can esJimatetne advantage
to be derived from Mr.. Young action in
theiI behalf, and, Ii Ike most great bless
ings, 1T has come aboutin the simplest way
Miss Helen Mari Campbell, who is a cuI
tiS ated Woman and accomplished musician,
though entirely blind, was the guest last
week OF Mrs Alice Under wood Hunt, the
widow of Gov. Hunt. OF Color ado, whose
! home ''GlOria Point" is on the river
road beyond Tenle ytowu. In the course or
| an evenings conversation Miss Campbell
expressed her regret that neither the
| District authorities nor Individual philan
| thropy have ever done anything for the
blind Of the city, the majority OF whom are
very poor.
The deaf and dumb have their college:
there are hospitals for the sick and insane
and a home for the Districts paupers, but
no provision Of any kind has been made by
anybody for the betterment of the condition
Of the blind
There are at least twenty-five blind
people in this city, said Miss Campbell,
| whom / know as cultivated, talented
and earnestly desirous OF opportunities
TO read but our hooks are so expensive as
! to be almost entirely unobtaina BILE. One
of our great sources of sorrow has been
that we have had no chance with others
OF equal education. OF course, we have
/ a right tc 20 TO the Congressional Library
| and sit down with our books in the public
room, but finger reading naturally calls
| around US a crowd of SPECTATORS, who ask
| idle and curious questions that-hurt.
We are always grateful for sympathy, but
only the blind can know how many hours
OF Sadness are inflicted upon US by thought
less people who see"
The pa athetic little outburst kept Mrs
| Huntthin king throughthe night, and know
/ Ing it TO be Mr.. Young's earnest deternina-
ton that the advantages OF che Library
shall be free to all alike, she called upon
| him next morning and asked him if in the
| formation Of the great Library, he had
| given d thought TO the blind. Mr.. Young
expressed a generous interest in the matter
and when Miss Campbell received the
hopeful report, her heart was so touched
with gratitude that she wrote this letter
in dot print. and sentit to Mr.. Young:
Gloria Point, Tenleytown, D. c.,
August Is, 697.
| Hon. John Russell Young:
Dear Sir-Hayng learned through Mrs.
/ Hunt of your kind interest in the blind, !,
| a graduated of the Academy for the Blind, OF
Baltimore, earnestly desire to call your at
| tentIon TO a few facts regarding us as a
class. First, We are usually sent while
| children to some school where We remain
until we are grown. Then we go out into
the world with little or rather no oppor-
| tunity for reading, since our books are
| very expensive, and most of US are not
| able 10 procure them.
Again, among the many noble advances
| made toward the improvement of man kind
but little thought has been given TO the
| well being OF the blind, apart from their
early education
] now ask you, IN Ufle name Oh humanity,
only to think for one moment what your
condition would be were You deprived of
| the blessed delight of readin ng-and Femem-
| ber the blind in the forming of your great
library. Respectfully yours,
HELEN MARI CAMPBELL.
Mr.. Young replied as follows:
Library of Congress,
Washington, August %, 1897.
Dear Madam: / am very much obliged
TO you for your letter in regard 20 giving
special attention in tile Library to those
WIN srul.ar irffi-tt,itr- ,,f