The Newtown bee., 1898-05-06
NEW PRESTON.
ALL DELIGHTED WITH THE CONCERT BY
 THE BLIND PEOPLE.

ALL DELIGHTED WITH THE CONCERT BY
 THE BLIND PEOPLE.
 The troupe from the Industrial Home at Hartford, which remained here over last Sunday, cannot be too highly com
 mended as gentlemen and ladies.
 Coming from different classes of society,
 all by their great affiction have become diyested of all seeming wrong or evil if
 ever any was cherished in the heart ot
 any of them and in several il stances,
 natural gentility and culture were plain
 ly shown. First by the leader or organ
 izer of the home st Hartford, MT C1eve-
 land, who 24 years ago was admitted to
 the Litchfield county bar, as pleader
 One short year after he was totally blind. With wife and child it was a most serious question for him to decide what his future was to be. Although strongly urged by influential friends tU give up practice, he felt there might be some good thing still in store for him by his profession and consequently follow
 ed it closely for years ana still does to certain extent. A few years ago, actu- ated by the situation Of others about him in the same condition, the plan of $ home for just such unfOrtunates entered his mind. where they could secure shelter and sympathy and could also be guided HI Lk4E cuOICS LII GiuSEGub bEhuCS TUT a livelihood. A home has been secured and is now occupied at Hartford for about 30 of both sexes, but to maintain it and improve it and add to it's usefulness, by MT Cleveland's own narrative, has not been or is an easy matter and by the action of the late State Assembly Of 1897, whereby the home had previously expected continued financial recognition, the task has been made harder to secure the requisite funds to carry on this most worthy enterprise. Thus it has given rise to action on the part of the inmates of the home to raise funds, sufficient to still further complete Mir Cleveland's plans for their comfort and improvement. ! The troupe who visited here is the re-
 suit of MT Clevelsnd'ss active brain and of the penuriousness of our Legislature. They rendered a good program of song and instrumental music on Saturday evening at Pavilion hall besides showing ] to many, unacquainted with the court room, fair representation of criminal trial and verdict. They received good patronage extending to Warren, Marble
 dale and Worthwhile, and the good order ! manifest in hall throughout the evening
 was a sure proof of sympathy felt by all towards those who entertained. MT Cleveland has received mary cempli- ! ments on the part of those who heard I him for his most gentlemanly bearing,
 his melodious voice, which carried truth and sincerity with every utterance, and his interest deep for others, afflicted like himself. The actors came from different
 stations in life. One from the store Of Rogers, Peet & Co.,, in New ork city, another from Massachusetts farm. MT Miles, who is fine pianist, has been blind from infancy and his entire life has been devoted to the finer arts, snd so with the l2 performers, the circum- stances of their past life have all been different. Some of them felt not the first sign of departing eyesignt till past 8 years of age. The history of the three blind ladies of the troupe your cor respondent failed to learn, but Miss Jones, the only lady of the troupe who
 can see all most exeellently cares for all. reads to them when convenient,
 writes their letter and solicits sub
 scriptions to the magazine published by
 members of the home at Hartford. Opl Sunday at the church, Miss Low, one of
 the troupe, sang beautifully solo pre-
 vioug to the sermon. MT Miles played
 the organ during the morning service.
 Sunday evening the people were favored
 with vocal and instrumental music at the church by members of the troupe and short speeches were made by several of the male members. WlGn IeeliDR akln to regret we bade the troupe adieu on Monday morning as they passed on by coach, drawn by four horses and driven by J. E. Granniss to Woodbnry and other places for the weeks engagement. Never have the people here felt more foreibly the condition of the blind than by this visiting troupe and God pity the man that cannot extend to them the hand Of sympathy. Your correspondent bids them God speed in all their laudaDle undertakings and hope the people may be favored again if deemed necessary, 1 by their presence, when they will be warmly received, for they are worthy.
 Mrs A. E. Corning passed three days of last week in Litchfield.
 RevsMr Hutchins of Litchfie1d is ex-l pected to occupy the pulpit, next Sunday morning, and Rev Mir Wood of Hartford on Sunday evening.
 rHsa Msnaiar WorExnrS fsnm New MiI-