The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-29

In the Congressional Library building a
separate room has been assigned for the
use of the blind. 1t is supplied with those
books constructed for the use OF blind
readers. Special entertainments for those
who are so afflicted are regularly held
there. These special entertainments held
almost daily, consist of readings. must
Gals, and other amusements
The daily attendance of blind visitors
is not large. barely eight OF ten daily,
which is to be aseribed to tie fortunate
condition that there are SO few in the
District of Columbia who are afflicted
| with the loss of sight. The greatest num-
Der of blind visitors to the room at one
time has heen twenty-five. and the total
number Of visitors from October q. 1899,
to the same date this year is 1880. OF
the regular visitors there about sixty
five
The small attendance is partly account
ed for by the fact that the Library in It's
desire to serve the needs of this class OF
, readers, permits the taking of books to
the homes of the blind, and in order to
serve the comfort of its proteges is max
ing deliveries of books to the residences
whenever desired. Many who would other
wise, by the complication of a.lmeEts
which frequently accompanies blindness
be prevented from sharing the benefits of
the Library, are in this wise acommodat-
ed, and the necessity for visiting the LII
brary for many who would otherwise do
so is obviated
Much interest IN the special entertain
ments is manifested by the blind. Some
OF the most talented authors and artists
and musicians have contributed On yari-
GUS occasions to these entertainments, and
the visitors book is filled with the auto
pf ind MI, b.r.
added their efforts to introduce a few mo-
neuts of pleasure into the lives of their
less fortunate fellow-men and women.
There are in the library $50 works of
fiction, history, poetry, drama. ETC., and
seveEty-five pieces of music, printed in
the method invented for the use of blind
readers. There are two systems in vogue.
| The older system consists OF the use of
! Roman letters, similar, but of larger type
than used in ordinary bookmaking for see
ing readers, embossed upon the paper in
such wise that the delicate sense of touch
/ IA the finger tips OF the blind readers. can
readily detect the significance Of each let
ter. The size of the font of lettering en-
ployed has been the chief disadvantage of
this system rendering the results of such
bookmaking ponderous unwieldy tones.
For the single book Of Robinson Crusoe,"
three great volumes, in size larger than the
largest family Bible, have been found nee
=
method
The newer method, which has practically
superseded the former, consists of an ar
rangement of dots. punctured in the sheet
upon which the text is written. Six dots,
in rectangular formation, two Iaterally and
three vertically, form the basis OF this sys-
tenn
The omission of certain of these dots,
varying in number and in location. admits
OF a great number OF changes. and In this
! wise letter code Is formed which is
readily recognized by the instructed blind
readers. This method is the invention OF
Frenchman, NJ Brailie but has been
considerably modified and simplihed as
used in the Congressional Library. and
generally in this country where books for
the blind are constructed.
Several machines for the production of
text by this method are in the reading
room, and by It's means letters are often
written and much other literature is re-
PRODUCED. In manipulating the machines,
:le writing is done on the reverse side of
the page The first letter of the first word
of a paragraph is written or punched at
the right-hand edge OF the page, and each
succeeding letter is transcribed to the left
Of it until the left hand is reached. This
| is continued throughout every line. In
reading the text, the sheet is reversed
again and read as ordinarily from left to
right. Many original poems. and such
othe- writings as II may be desired to
preserve, are reproduced in this wise at
the request of the blind habitues of the
reading room
An assistant librarian. Miss JoceIyn
Griffin, is in charge OF the reading room
It is her task to arrange the entertain
ments for the blind to select from the
numerous volunteers OF service those who
viii be best appreciated by those under her
charge Miss Griffin is deservedIy well
liked by her afflicted visitors. She mani
tests personal interest in their WELL be-
ing, and contributes to their enjoyment
and comfort with ccnsummate deIicacy
The word blind" is never mentioned in
the room, and the sightless visitors are
made to feel their deficiency as little as
possible