The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

The reading room for the blind in the
Library Of Congress affords delight
full Illustration OF the humane scope which
modern progress has taken in ameliorat-
ing. 10 a wonderful extent what is com
monty considered the saddest affection Of
nature The unpretenuous vaulted
apartment in the basement Of the Library
building which forms she reading room
is often q scene of genuine pleasure man
ifested by those to whom the whole Wis
ihte world is but a darkened chamber;
filed however. with beautiful thoughts,
aud The most exquisite susceptibility to
every refinement Of sense save that of
sight
The blind who come TO the reading
room form a community devoted TO one
enother who are in sympathy and touch
with the whole world OF thought
and action. for the mere loss Of
sight docs not debar them from a full
realization Of an the questions and hap
peninrs 81 the present, as well as the
treasures of the past. The guiding
spirit in this happy community is Miss
Jossalyu Gifin who has been superin-
tendeut of the reading room since its cs-
enlistment In October 1897. and who. IN
the words Ct one Of the girls. as she
anectiouateiy calls her blind friends, Is
lust devoted to us heart and soul, and
docs everything in her power to make
MS happy.
Mis- Gifin is always glad TO welcome
an addition TO her girls and new
conner is speedily introduced to all the
members of the blind fraternity and made
perfectly at home.
How the Blind Read.
The methods which enable the blind not
ouiy to read and write but 20 play such
games as cards. chess. and checkers. are
admirable in simplicity and perfection
The written characters are raised and in
the more improved methods consist OF
dots or points forming a phonetic system,
which occupies much less space and is
easier TO read than the old raised letter.
The books when written in this character,
are much more bulky than those with 4
which people with eyesight are familiar, (
but he rapidity with which they are read 1
by an adept simply by touch almost rivals 1
that with which person gifted with sight 1
can read ordinary print.
The method for writing the point char
aclers compares even more fayorably with /
The longhand system. A perforated strip i
Of metal aud a hand punch are all the re-
quiremcnts needed. and as the positions
OF the various dots forming the charac-
tiers are in the angles Of squares, with
which the metal strip is perforated there
is uoi The slightest difficulty in writing
the system after having learned the al
phabef Several Of the books in the library
have been written in this way by The
blind women themselves and by persons
in this city who are familiar with the sys-
tenn The constituencies Of touch VITA
which blind people are gifted is truly mar
xel0us They Jypewrite with the greatest
facility. the rapidity with which they
translate the raised point characters into
ordinary type on the machine fully rival
ing the speed Of an expert transcribing
shorthand notes. and the result when
finished is marvel Of neatness. One OF
the girls learned 20 typewrite in half
an hour from first touching the machine.
having previously mastered the positions
o. the keys
In a room adjacent 10 the main reading
room is smaller apartment containing
raised maps games. and other means for
ministcring 10 the pleasure OF the blind.
The South African war has been followed
here on the map with the greatest inter
est and the positions OF the various stra-
tegic points and maneuyres OF the cam
ID determined 10 a nicely.
Expert Euchre Players.
The playing cards used are Of the usual
kind. merely being marked In the upper
Ilght-hand corner with the name Of the
card thus enabling a blind person to play
with those not understanding the raised
character system. In fact, one Of the
girls is an accomplished progressive
euehre player and yields no point in skill
10 her antagonist who can see.
The raised point system was originally
the invention OF Frenchmsn, by the name
OF Louis Braille. and has been used. with
certain notifications. up TO the present
time. Many OF the books ia the Library
are written in this system. and some are
Of the raised letter class. but the most
popular method is that known as the New
York point, which was the invention OF
Prof. William 3. Wright. OF that city. Miss
Gifin is now having a card index in this
system made for the Library.
The BIaiile and New York point systems
ere the only ones taught in the schools in
this country although several others are (
in use. By means OF specially constructed
tyreHIijeTs these point characters can be :
written with wonderful ease and despatch 4
The machine FOR writing the New York
point contains only six keys. the Braille
machine having dozen but both are OF
great simplicity OF construction Music IS J
also written and published in he point sys-
lens and newspaper is edited IN Nil
wsutee ia the same manner.
The establishment Of the reading room
is one of the Efforts CT Miss He-eu Mari
Campbell who. being herself blind. could q
so veil sympathize with others who suf- q
1errd from the affection. Miss Campbell q
thus describes. the manner in which she
Obtained this privilege for herself and her
blind friends.
Securing thc Reading Room.
II was just after the new Library had .
been completed that I called on a very ,
dear friend in the country. who had seen
The building and was very enthusiastic I :
over Its beauty. 7 mentioned to her what \
q pity ID was there was no place where q
blind people could read Ny friend sug- p
gested that [ present the matter 10 Mr.
John Russell Young then Librarian of d
'cngfe-s. ] went TO see Mr. Young and I
alted over he subject with him and rha F."
result was That De said we could hav. this v
room. Tn was opened uu October o. 1887 / y
End Nr. Airsworth SUoGord Assistant d
Librarian OF Congress gave as In thaf wear / .
The FIRST reading aloud. The second year d.
Fe commenced 70 have the musical per- e
'Crmances. which we enjoy So much Naur p
bind people avail themselves Of the read cd
Ing room and we have had as many as O
thirty boz one day" is
Miss Campbell Is On ACCOMPLISHED lU1sf b
ian and has written several compositions I ll
shich are highly priced Many distin- q
suised people have volunteered their sery- 20
ces ia reading and iecturiug 10 the blind :
md The register Of these events records r
.uch names as Thomas Nelson Page. WHO \
cad from his own works Anna Vernon I 4