The times., 1897-06-18
BLIND PUPILS RECITAL
Scholars of the Maryland Institute
Appear in Concert.
SightIess Children Sing and Per
Address by Prof. Morrison.

The MARYLAND Institute for the Blind
Square Opera House yesterday afternoon
This school, which is one of the greatest
of its kind In the world, is located at
baltimore. Children from the State or
MARYLAND and from the District of Co
lumhia are eligible TO enter there. The
performance given by its pupils was
nothing short of marvellous They dis
played wonderful talent for music, and
some Of the solos Were powerful in their
depth of feeling and in their sweetness.
The program began with an overture by
the orchestra Of the school. II is no ex-
aggeration to say that few professional
orchestras could have equaled the mastery
manner in which these sightless boys
rendered this difficult piece. The little
children were next heard in q chorus, THE
Mermaid's Evening Song" Miss Gertrude
Keeny played the accompaniment. Master
Clinton RusseI, Washington lad. won
the hearts of all by his expressive music
On the violin, Dauclas sixth Air Varie"
was the piece played, and though he had
no music to guide him, not an echo of a
false sound was heard.
The two next numbers on the program
were vocal solo, by another Washin gton
hey, Harry T. Maxwell; and selections from
Carmen by the orchestra Both were
well received But the event which most
strongly affected the audience was tue
performance OF the kindergarten class.
The very youngest children of the school
first appeared in o little play called Build
ing the BIRD Nest" There were dozen
no faI in rfUhf yyeiI
they sing and go through the little act.
The kin dergarten and infant classes then
appeared together in flag drill. They
wheeled and turned, crossed and twisted
their columns in all conceivable manners of
squares and fancy figures, but not one or
them missed his proper place or faltered
as to what should next be done.
The second portion of the program began
with a piano concerto, played by Mr..
Francisc. Myers. accompanied by the men,
bers of the orchestra This young gentle
man. although totally blind, orchestrated
every note Of the piece played After this
followed a clarionet solo, by Mr.. Oliver C.
Keeny; q piano solo, by Mr.. Wilfred Jones;
singing by the Giee club, and an ably rem
dered piece of descriptive music by the
orchest "a. entitled The Hunting Scene"
institution, addressed the audience at the
close of the first part of the exercises
He spoke about the school, saying that
1t was not to be considered an asylum,
out tn at it is similar to any other boanl-
ing school. Pupils aIe received in Sep
tember and are allowed to return home
In June. Although there are a number
of District children en- rolled in the roster
Of the school. Dr. Morrison desires 10
have larger representation here. Not
only are the blind eligible TO enter, but
all whose sight has become so defective
as to preclude all possibility OF learning
by means of the public school system of
instruction BY a recent act on Congress-,
any child in the District can enter the
school those whose parents are too poor
to pay being allowed to enter free.
Pupils are taught to read. write and
to perform music as soon as they enter.
The higher rcurriculum contains pretty much
the same course of study as in use at
ordinary schools. In addition. the girls
learn to sew, knit, crochet and use the
typewriter, and the boys to tune pianos.
make mattresses and other kindred pur-
suits.
Dr Morrison, after the close or his re-
marks. called upon several OF the little
ones to read This they did with marked
proficiency, feeling their way over the
pages and calling out the words without
hesitation.