The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11

clearly with the eye Of the mind? Did
you ever realize that it is TO the sense
of hearing and not to the sense OF sight
that we are indebted for the invention Of
the telegraph and telephone. and that a
seeing man when connected by telephone
with the business world in this relation
is no better of than a blind man would
be?
Blind men. as ciergymep. have attained
the greatest eminence. and as lawyers and
physicians have met with remarkable sue
cess. William E Cramer. of Milwaukee.
as a Journalist. and at one time editor of
the Albany Argus takes rank among the
distinguished men in that vocation in
this country. How many are aware that
Herreshof. the designer and builder OF the
Defender and Columbia, is a blind man ?
Blind men have successfully engaged in
printing book binding, telegraphy. farm
ing and mining typewriting, stenOgraphy.
crystal-cuIJing contracting and building,
to say nothing Of the well-knOwn avoca-
tions such as broom making, chair-cauing.
mattress making. and as musicians. who
stand higher than David Wood. and DR..
Bischoff. of this city?
With so many examples of achieve
ments of the blind and a thousand more
instances that might be cited, where Blind
men have overcome all obstacles and have
tdiNcu OUT LOT themselves Il ouC'eaN- VI
professional or business career. how IS i,
you ask. that ninety-nine out of every
hundred are dependent either upon friends
or the public and why is it that the blind
men most in evidence are mendicants or
tn. inmates Of almshouses2 Is it no: be
cause OF the vicious practice OF giving
aims
"Dr. M. an eminent divine. relates
that while standing on the sidewalk in
Philadelphia waiting for friend to join
him he took off his silk hat to cool his
head, and a passer-by, noticing that he
was blind. dropped a nickel into it. His
intellectual face and general appearance
of refinement and culture was no protec-
tion against his being taken for a street
beggar.
Mr. Fswcett. when a member of Glad
stones Cabinet, calling on an eminent
lawyer took il for granted that the law
yers CLERK knew him and neglected to
send in his card. He overheard the clerk
say TO his employer that a blind man
wished to see him The reply was. Give
him a shilling and tell him | am too busy
The embarrassment of the lawyer when
the clerk returned with the card of the
visitor moment later and the profusion
of apologies which followed may be read
lily imagined
TrainiBy schools Important.
1t is important that training schools
for the adult blind should be established
and an opportunity for employment af
fOrded. Let every blind child come to
know that he is expected by his parents.
his friends, and the public to prepare him
self TO take his place among the workers
in the world; let IL become so thoroughly
understood by the people everywhere that
blindness Is no excuse for a life of idle
ness and mendicancy. and that sef-re-
speet. independence of thought and ac-
ton may be preserved even though the
sight be lost. and you will make blindness
a thousand times easier to beear: empty
your almshouses of their blind inmates
and hand down to posterity a blessing
which viii make glad the lives OF those
whose fate il shall be to walk in darkness
in the centuries to come.
Il learn that over half a million dollars
have been expended in aid of the grand
and noble work for the deaf and dumb
that ;hey are leaving Gallaudet College to
take their places as respected and honored
citizens in all parts OF the land. l find no
leaf and dumb beggars on Ine streets o.
Washington, and yet | have only to GO
back to the time when the illustIious
father Of your honored citizens, Dr. -
ward Miner Galla-cst. began his work to
educate and eleyac. the deaf mutss t.
America. 10 find that their lot was as ur-
enviabe and t'.eir condition as pi;ilb IS
tina OF he majority OF the IL nj TO la. l.
it strange, thea ii:at l should Indulge the