New-York tribune., 1902-02-10
READING FOR THE BLIND
MANY WEARY HOURS ARE LIGHTENED
BY LIBRARY FOR THEIR
SPECIAL NEEDS.

SPECIAL NEEDS.
After fourteen years of enforced idleness without
d resource with which TO while the weary hours a
oiiiu ~ woman OF ninety is now passing happy days
reading with her fingers the pages of her Bible.
-, dAo'her part of the city of sixty. who
lost MS sight few years age is devouring eagerly
the books which are brought TO him from the
library Tor the blind. The man had been a COM
poSi'ol ana MS ringers caIlous with the work
y e'peSetIng' AS soon as he learned that it might
oe possible for him learn to read he was anxious
" uo So put MS fingers so hardened that he
coud hardly feel the raised characters Fv patence
however he finally able to read with his
'iuino. Ihis. Of course, slow. and by the ad-
vice ol ms teacher. Mrs. c. Frances Kellock he be
gan course Of treatment for the middle finger OF
MS rlght hand and tepid water CASTLE soap pumice
eIohe aho OIL patiently applied day after day. have
ieo'oFeo the member to its desired constituencies
AN ageo woman with basket of strings and
notions and her Bible open before her is familiar
spectacle In the shopping district Fourtaenth-st
0he sat there many years before she learned to
read After she acquired the accomplishment her
pastor gave her the big book which is her daily
companion.
IN humble home on the lower East Side a
oHhd youth and an aged grandfather both Hebrews
and strangers in this country are Willing time
that would otherwise be tedious with compara tive
STUDY or the English and the Hebrew Scriptures
"hlie the boy slowly traces his finger over the un-
familiar English words the old man reads the cor
responding passage in Hebrew. At present they
are reading the Book of Numbers The persons
mentioned and sixty others owo their ability to
READ raised type to the efforts of man. blind like
themselves Richard Randall Ferry, president and
founder of the New-York Free Circulating Library
for the Blind at No. 121 West Ninety-frst-st All
nave received ms uction from Mrs C. Frances
hellock. visitor of le library
SEVERAL SYSTEMS USED.
large proportion of the people who lose their
sight do so after adult or middle life and when they
nave passed the age limit of the Blind Institute To
such the library be benefit until they have
learned 10 read raised type. or the several systems
OF raised type in for the blind the library has
books in New-York point, Boston line" Noon
type. English Braille and American Brale. Those
printed In Moon type are easily read. as the let
ters are much like the ordinary English alphabet
and this system is quickly learned by most adults
At the outset Of the enterprise list Of the poor
blind of the city obtained from the Department
of Charities and every blind person in this city
Ceived a visit.
mo one can understand until they have seen it,
says Mrs. Kelock how delighted the blind are
when they learn that they may again be able
read. The moment speak OF reading express
sion ! can never describe comes into their faces.
Most of them have become accustomed TO the use
of their fingers IN decipherng raised letters on
milk bottles. tin cans, the various house,
hold utensils in which there are pressed letters.
Once they have learned TO read it is utterly i'm
possible to keep them supplied with all the reading
matter they want"
DELIVERS BOOKS TO RICH AND POOR.
Mrs. Keock delivers books TO patrons Of the
library who are too poor for any
unable to call for them and her circuit includes all
parts Of this city, as well as adjacent cities such
as Hoboken. Jersey City. Newark. etc, and luxur-
Gus homes, we'll those of the greatest poverty
Among her pupils and benefciares and
women who are keeping news stands, peddling
pencils and notions. and in way another
trying to keep from the almshouse Rich and poor
alike receive instruction and books free Of any
pense TO themselves Mrs. KeIock is always glad
to learn of blind people who wish instruction
books. Eight and in the aims
house on Backwells Island have learned TO read
raised type result OF her weekly visits. and
books arc taken them regularly.
The work Of the Library for the Blind started
from letter written by Mr.. Ferry and published in
The Tribune of November IL. 1894. II fol-
lows:
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: wish TO thank YOU for the Information
have received from an article in your sunday edi..
ton of The Tribune which gave description OF
at the h charSR Of The Messiah in BrooKn The
Information Is godsend 10 me snd d, assure b s yoS %
these books. l learned the New-York point system
there was no library for the blind in this city, and
no books were to be had except by buying them at
rule are not blessed with an overabundance OF this
worlds goods books at this PrlGe are inAuTy rev w
this city of New -York-oue of the largest in the
blind. with books religious and secular printed in
line letters and New-York point for free use by al
to lack of information and very many of our
charitable citizens would only be TOO glad 10 con-
brought TO their knowledge: Who will help to
each for this worthy object. which Will help to
tighten the pathway through life Of these people
New York. Nov u, 1894.
So prompt and generous were the replies to the
letter that in the following March the library was
established with sixty books for the blind and a
nucleus fund of about $500. It was Incorporated
the ensuing June. Quarters, free of rent, Of
fered by Trinity Corporation in the parish house
of ST Agnes's Chapel and have been occupied ever
since As soon the building OF the Public
Library is completed. the library will move into
permanent rooms, which to he fitted for it
there and will become a part of that institution.
With 546 books ard Az pieces of music. the library
is now said to be the largest free circulating Ii
brary for the blind in this country Besides a
blind department In the Public Library of Phila-
dephia and the Blind Pavilion in the Congressional
Library, of Washington. there are libraries for
the blind In eight other cities Of the Union. and all
have been organized since the establishment or the
New York enterprise.
Between go and 26O men. women and children are
taking books from the library in this city at the
present time and their number is fast outgrowing
the limitations of its Especially is more
light ii humorous reading needed for. while the
call for standard books is large sEhtess persons
as we'll as Others need variety and entertainment.
The Bible which is in the raised type fills eleven
large volumes.
Most of the patrons Of the library prefer to call
for their own books for visits there events in
their quiet lives. Most of the alone, but
only one woman ventures without an escort. Among |
the patrons are a number OF musicians, for whom |
there is variety of music for piano and violin |
Books may be kept three weeks. and renewed for |
two weeks longer. Under certain circumstances
longer time 6 allowed.