The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-15
NEW WORK FOR THE BLIND.
fhe weaving of Shoe Strings and
corset Laces Into Belts, Hat Bands
and Suspenders

and Suspenders.
Washington. Sept 10.-Through the
influence of Miss Eta Josselyn Griffin
OF Washington. D. G., who is one Of
them, 1t is highly probable that the
Daughters of the American Revolution
VIII, In the near future give their
patriotism a "lend-a hand" tint. that
SHAH tend to the profit of those who
are less fortunate, but not less patriotic
than themselves. Miss Griffin has
charge of the reading room for the
pllnd in the library of Congress, and
mas there learned to love many of those
VINO are obliged to read with their fin
gers, and this soon suggested the wish
10 help them. The stereotyped, old,
prosy occupations of om-making.
chair Gaming, bead weaving and the
| like, threw the work of the blind al
most entirely into the line of those
things that people bought out of SYM
pathy for the poor unfortunates. Miss
| Griffin cudgled her brains to think of
something that the blind could make,
absolutely unaided by a seeing person,
as otherwise it would be of no account
| One of the swell stores" brought out
white, washable belts; and Miss Griffin
began experimenting with cord, using
the same military knot that is en-
ployed for shoe string shopping bags
| but she soon found out that she could
| do nothing with cord Just at this in
slant there came to her mind the pic
| ture of the maiden of yore, and the
| pride she took in wearing her gorgeous
tresseS in wide braids, and it seemed
| possible to make that weave of COM
| mercial value to her friends, the blind
To think was to act. Alack a day!
| She had always braided her own hair
| behind her head, so to speak, and when
she came to try the same weave on
| cord, before her face-well, for the first
| time in her life she was in full sym
pathy with the man who attempted to
| tie the necktie of his little boy, but
/ found himself utterly confounded. Nor
! could he do single thing with the
contrary necktie, until he got around
I behind his son and tied it the same
| as he would if it were on his own neck
Miss Griffin was trying desperately
when a sister of one of the blind girls
| came into the room, and together they
| succeeded in weaving the belt
The next thing was to get inexpen-
sive material that could be laundried:
and, having used shoe strings, they
thought of corset laces, which lent
themselves beautifully to the work, but
still they were not yet at the top of
their mountain or difficulties, for there
was the finishing off of the ends
Bearing In mind that the entire belt
must be made without sight, after in
Vulnerable experiments, a simple knot
and fringed ends was evolved. Miss
Whelan very kindly furnishes the blind
with laces from her corset store, at
cost, and also sells the belts without
commission.
One of Miss Griffin's girls has
cleared SIS by belt making and many
others have in this new industry
earned their first money, so they all
feel well pleased. Belts are made OF
shoe strings also, and as soon as they
can obtain silk braid, they will weave
very handsome belts in black and col
ors. These belts are to be pinned with
pretty pins, and thus can be adjusted
to the long or short wasted effect, and,
an advantage with washable belts,
there is no buckle to remove.
Miss Griffin intends to take out a
patent of her invention for the pro-
lection of the blind. With the assist
ance of some of the leading milliners.
they expect to start the fashion of
weaving a silk braid band for the new
autumn walking hats. Watch fobs
and suspenders they are also making
with this weave.
An effort will be made to interest
the D. A. r. and get them to adopt this
braid for the "Forefathers Bands"
These ladies use heavy blue, gros-
grained ribbon, and Miss Griffin feels
sure that the braid of her girls, and
boys, too, for the later also do the
work, will be prettier and that the
ladies' will be glad to give their dis
tinguished assistance.
Ruth Everett.
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~ IT.