The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-19
- He Maryland school for the Blind
Vas just published the arst gen

'ra5 Just published the Grst gen
eral dictionary for the blind
ever issued in any language 1t contains
4o.ooo words and is in eighteen volumes
II IS complete with all djacFitical
marks and definitions usually found IN
general dictionaries. \ copy OF TINS
publication has not been secured as yet
by the Library OF Congress. but one
VIII sooa be placed in the reading room
fer the blind
Dictionaries and an encyclopedia TOT
the use Of the blind are available in the
Library Of Congress. but the dictionary
is small one and The new work will
he Of great value to readers who are
highly educated and find themselves in
need Of better definitions than can be
had IN an ordinary abridged dictionary.
E.eht hundred books and eight period
icafs are now open to patrons of the
reading room for the blind at the Lii
hrary of Congress. which is in charge
of Esta Josslyn Gifin- and as many as
thirty-fre blind people visit the room
daily. Many of the blind persons in the
city are unable 10 employ escorts. On
this account the attendance $ much
smaller than it would be if the afflicted
persons could go to the library unac-
companied. Charitable women provide
escorts for many Of the adult blind in
straitened circumstances.
The First Embossed Books.
1t is just 119 years since The first en-
bossed books for the use of the blind
were printed in Paris by Abbey Houay
and his pupils The publication of the
complete dictionary marks an important
epoch in the history of printing for per
sons who read by touch. Since the first
books were issued by Able Houay en-
bossed printing has mad an interesting
history When the Able Housy's pupils
were taken before the court and read
by the touch system, the new art ere
ated a great Juror, and several editions
of books for the blind were issued They
were so expensive that few could buy
them, and still fewer could read them
after they were bought.
These costly editions were sold for
waste paper, and the art fell into dis
use for forty years. 1t was then re-
vived by Gall. OF Edinburgh. and ran a
checkered course for many years, almost
nothing but the Bible being printed, be
cause money could be got to print the
Bible when it could not be bad for any
other book.
Rapid Increase in Late Years
In the last ten years more books have
been printed for the blind than in all
previous time. This is due largely TO the
rapid spread of the New York point sys-
IT,
dictionary, as well as all the books from
the Maryland school printery. is printed
in New York point
The American Printing House for the
Blind at Louisville, which has an an
nual subsidy of so, 600 from the Govern
nent for printing textbooks for the
blind, expends this sum entirely in New
York point printing. The annual appro-
priatfon of 81 900 by the State OF New
York for the publication Of general liter
ature for the blind department Of the
State Library at Albany goes into New
York point. The International Sunday
School Lessons 60 out weekly over the
United States in New York point.
The "New York Point"
Three periodicals are published IN it.
There is an excellent musical library ~
it, including a dictionary Of 5000 must
cal terms The Society of st. Francis
Xavier uses the system in its publish
ing house for the blind.
The literature for the blind was for
long years confined TO a first reader.
from which is skipped straight to the
Bible. Paradise Lost" Lardner's His
popular works The hiatus between was
left untitled, save as now and then a
religious book was cast into the aching
void. the blind. for some reason, be-
ing thought 20 be more devoted to reli-
gious literature than other classes Of the
population.
Many Books Now Available.
Within the past few years, since
the library OF embossed literature has
been growing by leaps and bounds a
world of delight has been laid beneath
the sensitive fingers Of the blind They
may now read for themselves Bob. Son
Of Battle Bonnie Brier Bush, Via
Crueis, 'Rab and HIS Friends" wild
Animals I Have Known How the
Other Half Lives. Two Little Confede-
rates" Shakespeare, Homer, Dante.
Schiller travels, adventure biography.
history, poetry. fiction. and juvenile lit
erature.
The reason for the previous paucity lay
primarily not IN lack Of interest or Of
funds, but IN the simple fact that the
blind did not 10 any extent read the
books they had. 1t is in the big brick