The Washington times., 1904-04-17
Talents Find Employ
ment in Many Varied
and Useful Fields.

sion to marvel ct this phenomenon;
here live some OF the most gifted and
Intelligent of the blind IN this country.
Their club and constant meeting
place is the pavilion and reading room
for the blind at the Congressional L.
brary. where each day the larger por-
ton OF them are gathered and where
the common interests that bind them
together are discussed. 1t is place
beautiful. made not less 80 by the
sweet spirit OF it's presiding genius. and
though the blind are not permitted TO
see all the beauties that surround them
they cannot remain unconscious OF
their influence. Indeed, they are not;
one has only to look upon their faces,
smiling and happy, suffused with
gentle rapture, to understand that they
appreciate TO the full the value Of The
esthetic influences that surround them
at the pavilion.
When the daily reading or musical
IS given at the pavilion most OF them
are present. To some It comes only as
the enjoyment OF a ions-continued
privilege, but to some Of the others,
whose mental vision has been more re-
Gently clarified. II is the very outpour-
ing OF heavenly light To all Of them
comes Miss Eta Jossellyn Giffin. su-
perintendent Of the pavilion, synpa-
thetic, understanding, helpful, bright
and CHEEKY as an April morn, so that
10 her the affections OF her charges go
out in generous response.
A Center of, Comfort.
The pavilion. familiar to many WASH
ingtonians. is furnished with desks and
chairs of old mahogany. one Of the for
rler being that at which books were
charged since the time of Lincoln. In
the old library at the Capitol. The
walls are softly tinted. the windows
give a glimpse Of green and shady trees.
and the vista OF Washington streets
and the constant inspiration Of the
Nationals Capital. All around are the
books. printed in raised characters. that
the blind read. A piano, cards. and
games. typeWriters OF strange. and I'M
familiar construction. music. written IN
characters only the blind or their In
Inmates can read. complete the furni-
ture OF the room.
Col Edward +, Jones, formerly oi
of Binghamton. and the man who paid
the freight" and formerly. also. lieu
tenant governor of the State Of New
York is one OF the pavilion's constant
visitors Colonel Jones lost his sight
a number of years ago and since that
time Il has required all OF his blitht
good nature 10 keep him out Of tn
shlough OF despOnd. lie has laughed and
5oked through il all, but it was not
hard 10 understand that under the vel
OF joIlity he assumed was concealed Z
tragic mask. II could not have beer
otherwise 10 a man Of his wide activi-
ties. training. and travel
An Elderly Enthusiast.
Now he has a new interest. which ht
pursues day by day with unhaggins
zeal. 1t is the study of point" the
system Of characters in which books
for the blind are printed. He pursues
It constantly under the direction of Miss
Ginen. with all the enthusiasm that be-
sets the boy who has been given his
first box of brushes and paint. The
colonel Is more than seventy years
young. and the study of this new art
IS sometimes a bit difficult. 1t means
practically the cultivation Of touch &c
an extent so unusual with the sighted
as 70 amount almost to the gain Of q
new sense.
The colonel keeps at it with dOggeC
and goOd-natured persistence. Miss
Giffen had made for him a number of
metal plates. on which were the raised
. characters Of the alphabet After day
or two he came back, profrertng the
plates and showing another.
The characters on these were too
thin ahe small for my old and clumsy
fingers, SC 1 have made another" said
the colonel. What do you think OF it2''
With chuckling glee he exhibited his
substitute, some feet across in extent
and with the characters indicated by
carpet tacks. Colonel jones does not
bank very heavily upon the esthetic
value OF his invention. but its use he
declares 20 be very pronounced.
when one is seventy" he declares
the colonel owns up 10 being that age In
moments Of extreme confidence; lone
needs something large and substantial.
There II Is.
The Blind Chaplain.
When one visits the House OF Repre-
sentatives at the hour of converting an,
hears the faI Of the saveI, the mos
striking and conspicuous figure. at leas
for the moment is not that Of tn
Speaker. but Of the blind chaplain O
the House, the Rev. Dr. II. y. Couden
His brief, simple, impressive invocation
falls on the ear in words Of singula
melody.
moment before The House has bee
IN a turmoil. the aisles filled with mem
bors and messengers and hurTyin.
pages: now al * still ana reverent, an
every member stands, with bowed head
The unseeiug eyes of the chaplain loOl
out upon a scene Of perfect reverence
Dr. COuden IS a striking example O
what is possible for q blind person L
achieve Re lost his sight while serv
ing with gaIlan;ry as volunteer in ia
Union army. during the civil war, an
for an unhappy moment thought he saw
blasted all the bright hopes life ha
held out TO him. Not. though, for long
u is said that while hc was beinl
borne from the fed. his sightless eye
covered by bandage, one Of his com
rades said. Poor fellow he had bet
ter be dead" Ills reply was the out
come of the CHEEKY spirit that has al
ways been his: Don't be- TOO sure %
that boys. You may hear from m