Evening star., 1899-03-24
Movement to Provide Employment
for Sightless Persons.
PROPOSED MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL
The Project of Mr.. Frank E. Cieave-
land of Connecticut.
D ETAILS OF THE PLAN

A movement has been inaugurated in this
city for the purpose of establishing man.
ual training school for the blind, and to
provide means whereby any sightless per-
son may be ens bled to be self-supporting.
There are 30 blind people in the District,
and those who have informed themselves
in regard to them declare that not more
than eight of that number are self-sup
porting. The balance either live on in
comes from investments provided for them
on the bounty of their relatives and friends
or by begging.
Although there are remarkable instances
in which blind persons have been able to
do many things with all the skill and in
telligence that would be expected from any
seeing person. there is a general belief that
a loss of eyesight handicaps people in the
ordinary occupations of life to such an
extent as to make their employment by
any one a matter of charity, except in the
restricted field of music. Those who have
interested themselves in the subject declare
that such judgment is erroneous, and
that there are few fields of occupation,
whether in the professional industrial
world, in which the blind cannot compete
proftably if popular prejudice is once over
come so that they may be given chance to
demonstrate their abilities.
In parts of New England the movement
to provide labor for such unfortunateS has
progressed so far as to make it possible
for them to support themselves and men
and women who a few years ago were de-
pendents are today Independent members
of society, their days occupied by labor and
themselves enabled to pay all their ex-
penses and lay aside money for a rainy
day.
Practical Results.
Mr.. Frank Z. Cleaveland of Connecticut
is a leader in this movement and after
Tel ;,I, .tc;o for
the blind at Hartford, and organized a ma
tiona1 association with the object of eX
tending his labors to other parts of the
country, he has come to this city and will
be here from time to time until he has
succeeded in his purpose. Mr.. Cleaveland
has very definite idea regarding what he
wants to accomplish in the District of Co
lumbia. He is now engaged in making ar
rengements for the sale of brooms to be
made in factory he proposes starting for
the blind.
1t will be an easy thing for him to open
such business if he can be assured that
its product can be disposed of at current
prices. The necessary machinery is mex
pensive, and the labor is readily performed
by blind operatives after very short
Period Of instruction Such a factory would
allow any blind person to earn a living and
would take from the streets Of this city IL
number of mendicants who are said to be
anxious to earn a living, but who are .un-
able to do So
The case Of man who is well known to
people here is inStanced to show how the
friendless blind sink into beggary. although
well fitted for work. This man for several
years has begged on Pennsylvania avenue
near 9TH street. He is young and intelli-
gent. Five years ago he WAS graduated
from the Tennessee Institute for the Blind
and given certificate as an expert piano
tuner. When he attempted to make prac-
tiCal use of his knowledge he met d skep-
teal public. He found general impress
sion that man with his sight could better
be relied upon to tune piano, and even if
he secured work. those employing him
thought they were doing act of charity
and did not expect to pay as much they
would be obliged to eXpend ordinarily. He
drifted into beggary, but since Mr.. Cleave-
land has been here he has called on him
and expressed hope that he might be en-
abled to earn a living in the near future.
few years ago there was the same
prejudice in Boston, but today public SEN
timpnt has undergone a change. and the
blind are preferred for that class of work,
and are generally relied upon.
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