The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-09
FOR THE SIGHTLESS.
The "Blind Room" in the Library Of
Congress.
Copyright, 1901. the Christian Herald,

The "Blind Room" in the Library Of
Congress.
Copyright, 1901, the Christian Herald.
New York
In the Congressional library at Wash
ington, the large room is set aside for the
exclusive use of the blind. This is the
best equipped single gathering place for
the sightless in this country This boon
to the blind, provided by a thoughtful,
paternal government is called by those
vino use it the national headquarters Of
the unseeing"
The room is question is situated on the
first floor of the huge building, and as
near the entrance as possible. 1t was
opened about two years ago and was
instantly popular. All the blind folks Of
Washington caused themselves to be led
there, and from that day to this very
few OF the local "unseeing," who are able
to get about have missed their daily
hour in quarters of which they will never
know the real beauties They have been
told over and over again, how the walls
ana ceiling are covered with decorations
by FAMOUS American artists; of how the
color scheme is the outcome of good
the colors of the furniture and the hang
ings are in perfect harmony with the de-
coratlons. But these beauties they can
never enjoy through the sense of sight
The imaginations only can furnish them
pleasure in the art beauties of the room.
for many of them know not even what
red, or blue, or color of any sort is like
Said one of them to me: Il know a black
light and white light, that is ALL for I
hon
light and when | am in a darkened room,
But as for the rainbow and its colors.
what like may that be?'
In addition TO the local blind, the steady
patrons of the blind room, there come
yearly a thousand or more visitors from
all over the United States. Here they
know they will meet others afflicted like
themselves, and the natural sympathy Of
misery draws them here where Affections
can be understood by experience
During Inauguration week $4,000 per-
sons visited the Congressional library, but
not more than a score of these visitors
were blind. OF course, Washington at that
busy time was no place for the unseeing
The Inauguration ceremony is a specta-
Gle, and of what interest is a spectacle
to the unseeing, save in an intellectual
sense?
Three days after Inauguration 1 visited
the Blind Room. Instead of finding the
sightless, found an assemblage of peo-
pie, half of whom had two good, seeing
eyes. 1t seems that every Thursday after
noon musical is given in this room for
the pleasure of those who cannot see their
entertainers, but who can hear. On the
afternoon of my VISIT a lady possessing
a deep, rich contralto voice, sang for a
most appreciative audience They said
that she was the wife of a Representa-
tive, that her brother had lost his sight
in railway accident while on his way
to Washington, and that since then this
lady had gladly devoted several hours
each week to helping the blind enjoy
their dreary days. She was followed by
young violinist. Then came a pianist,
the organist of one of Washington's larg-
est churches. Then ali three, the sin
ger, the violinist, and the pianist, co.
operated, the lady's singing being ac-
companied by the other two on their in
struments.
All the rear seats were occupied by tho
seeing, all the front seats by the
seeing. OF the latter, about twenty were
present The sightless ones listened
with rapt attention, and applauded spon-
taneously.
On all other days in the week, except
Sunday, the hour between 2:3O and $3.50
is the entertainment hour for the blind.
In other words every working day, eX-
cept Thursday, the day of the musical,
there is given here a reading, or a talk,
on some subject of interest to the blind.
Authors, scientists, physicians, lecturers,
missionaries, ministers, and army and
navy chaplains are in turn asked to adj
dress the meetings.
In charge of the Blind Room Is Miss
Giffen, a gentlewoman of remarkable pa
thence, and endowed by nature with an
abundance of sympathy. To her kindly
offices and assistance, the popularity OF
the Blind Room is largely due. The room
over which she presides is equipped with
everything helpful in the intellectual de-
veopment of the blind. Here are spe-
cial typewriters, telegraph instruments,
a printing press, a typesetting case. be-
sides the usual books and pictures in re-
lief. After the musical on the day OF
my visit, blind lady kindly gave an eX-
hibition of proficiency in the use of the
typewriter. young man, unseeing, dis
played wonderful talent in the use of the
telegraph key. Another set up type, and
still another used the printing press.
It is these things and this room, put az
their disposal in this way, that helps
bring happiness to the blind Of Washing
ton. All state government should try
to provide similar rooms for unfortunate
ones, and all libraries could bring happl-
ness to the afflicted in their respective
cities by writing to the Librarian Of CON
gres for information concerning the estah-
lishment and conduct of room for the
blind. ellison Wilets'