The evening times., 1900-01-27
AID FOR THE BLIND.
4 Letter From Major Sylvester OF
fCrfnE IIi- Assistance.


fcrfnEs Hi- Assistance.
Mrs. A. p. Bracket. President Of the Aid
Association for the Blind Of the District OF
Columbia, recently received the following
letter from Major Sylvester Chief Of Po-
lice, regarding the proposed project OF the
association OF finding indoor employment
and caring for the helpless blind Of this
city:
The law requires that the police shall
remove from the streets certain classes OF
dependents and prevent the occupancy of
public space for private purposes. and in
its enforcement those classes which are sub
ject to action should be dealt with in a
manner as public Interests require. and at
the same time as humaneIy as possible
Provision has been mad, for the sick
for the deaf and dumb. for homeless chill
drsn, for the aged and decrepid. for those
who may be mentally disordered. for those
about TO become charges on the District
who may have friends or relatives else
wherein fact every class excepting the
blind
The District OF Columbia is behind 9th
or communities with respect 10 the sight
less. who as class are far more capable
OF helping themselves. with proper encour-
agement, than any OF the others l have
named.
'Appreciating their general honesty. abiI-
lty. and Intelligence. ] have been slow in
removing them from public places. believ-
ing that some kind of shelter and employ
ment would sooner or later be established
which would save them from the bumiIi-
alton which would follow strict and i'm
partial action II driven from the streets
and corners where they sell pencils and
novelties they would have to take their
departure 10 other cities. appear in the
police court or suffer for the neccssaries
OF life
Your association OF benevolent men and
women is an effort for their care. pro-
lection. and indoor employment. and I am
IN thorough sympathy with the movement.
and viii be pleased TO act as your treasu-
rer until your Institution. which is TO in
clude home and workshops. is inaugurated
You have had given you. through the
generosity Of Stilson Hutchins. esq, a
magnificent building for the purposes l
have named. on which / am informed YOU
must defray mortgage in reasonable
time. You have thoroughly repaired and
partly furnished 10, at your own expense,
leasing an unfurnished floor to Mr. Cleve-
land 10 employ your capable subjects at
broom and mattress making Those who
are TOO aged or infrm 10 work YOU pro-
pose TO care for and entertain.
In order to provide for those who must
leave the streets it is first necessary that
your home should be put under way and
sustained. II should be your first aim 10
secure support for your building and
home. for without il there would be no
quarters for the proposed work in instruc-
tion. The employment Of the blind + con-
tingent on the success yOu have in main
tanning the building. The profits from the
workshop. as | understand Il. accrue not
TO you but to the person who conducts it.
You require funds for matrOn fuel. and
supplies, and furniture. and 1 have no
doubt our always literally disposed citi-
zens will gladly come to your rescue with
donations OF all kinds
Il wish you success with your project.
and trust that money and donations for
your home will be given literally and
promptly, 50 that you may first protect
those deserving and then advance TO their
proper training that they may become
self-suppOrting in a measure at least
Il will give you a substantial cOntribu-
tiOn toward the debt on your building. hone
that others will do likewise and that the
time is not far distant when Congress will
assist I'm the worthy cause"