The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-09
BLIND Roy CARPENTERS.
written by Anna :. Lagergren OF the
North Carolina school for DEAF
md Mind Children.

Written by Anna :. Lagcrgren OF the
Moth Carolina school for Deaf
aud blind Children.
Raleigh. y. c.. Dec THE system that
enables a blind boy 10 play with edgei
tools without the slightest danger Of his
doing himself harm IS known by the
name OF "sloyd," a word that had It's
birth in Sweden. where so many useful
systems Of the Kindergarten variety orig
mate The word can be Interpreted In
many ways but broadly Il means 20 be
skinful." Before explaining how the sys-
tenn IS applied 20 the blind boys Of the
institute at Ralcigh y. c.. in which
am instructor. q IS well to tell what II
has done.
Many OF the blind boys IN this insii-
tuition can DO as clever work with car
renters tools ais those wao can see. one
~ the puplls, wonderful a. u sounds,
learned IN six mouths 70 use the SOW
Dl4re and hammer. 90 do three KINDS or
iolrerv work. plan with compasses. WORK
OUT rt1metrlcal problems. sharpen IT'S
tools. plane ana cut ana nail and JON un-
tl he hal tu.t "a out aY neat piece OF
carpcn.f ~ a. any one with the normh
fora he IN school b, had completed
wardrobe IN which he kept his clo'hc'.
rms ,ourg man f. now e1rniEg his living
a. n nI4n3 tuner. ana not only can he
tune ptanos but he Is able q mend any
broken D. defertive part OF ne 'us'ri-
mont psno 'un'ug u should De explain
"a Is d .avo. to occupation foT the blind
as their re,t., Of hearing IL isdtly 80
| acute as TO enable them 10 secu4 the
| correct sound with little trouble some,
| hov,oyc~ fau OF complete succe's. not
| -, t,abfIi., 10 tune well. bgi from lack
! ., the mechanical training needed TO
| ,,.fc the delicate repairs and ADJUST
| ,nents 10 frequently required In eonnec-
/ ton with the tuning.
To see some OF the more accomplished
,,,nfls at work IL 20 make the spectator
marvel that o elghuess person can handle
with such skin and rspidlty tools that
mus Of necessity be sharpened 70 almost
| a r,zor edge. 4 boy who knows his work
| NIL mark on mis- design and then rapidly
sew the wood the right length. adjust u.
rou 10. plane 80 smooth round OF tho cor
| rcrs ana nrlsh it with as much care
and SKIN as though the blind eyes ao-
uiallv saw through the ends 81 the ncr-
| yous fingers. which IN effect they actually
40 n The tool b. lacking an edge or is
| 90. OF order the s.ghCess boy knows just
| how 20 put It right without asking ques-
| ton.
But thls result IL attained only after
persistent EFFORT for the blind boy 81 hrst
| sbrirkr from such unaccustomed tasks a.
the whlttling OF wood or the shaping u
| , plank with saw. Let the reader shut
his ewes Tor a moment and imagine how
| be- would fee. trying 10 plane q piece OF
wood OF use hammer ~ the sense Of
touch alone Yet during the time / have
Dsan swing instruction TO blind boys 10
carpentry work ! have not had ono cut
himself seriously.
The system is explained almost IN a
sentence. From thu known 20 the I'M
known from the simple 70 the more din
cult. from the simple 70 the more COM
pl.cated. IN . correct method!cal success
sion When some simple object has been
completed the pupil has learned the prin-
tiples which are involved ia something
more d.fficult. which require more tools
and other grips Of the hand. In the be-
ginning Il seems impossible 70 the nspir-
ing pupil. who really wants 10 learn but
breads the handing OF the tools. 20 shape
a spoon out OF a piece OF wood, q shut
tle out Of section OF deal or q shelf from
plank II the skilled but slghtless ar
Tran az the other end Of the table could
see what was going on he would proba-
bly, smile pltyingly q the clumsy efforts
% the new pupil. but he once went
through the same course himself.
The blind hoy, with his hand carefully
guided by che teacher. learns 20 fashion
rude spoon. He s. pleased. He has
accomplished something with hands that
he thought mus, always be idle He
turns the piece o. work over and over.
his sensitive Singers noting each rough
part and detecting even where che wood
Is dirty. Then he asks how he can make
the rough places smooth. Interest thus
awakened the teacher takes hirn In hand