Evening star., 1905-11-11
I'm THE BLIND ROOM"


creation for the sightiess ones who visit
the library For the semi-weekly readings
for the blind she invokes the assistance OF
all the prominent literary people in and
around Washington. and she has keen eye
for visiting figurantes in the literary do
main. inviting many of them to read FOR
the pleasure of the clever and appreciative
blind men and women who are regular IN
their attendance at the hbrarys blind
ROOM Very few of the notables thus asked
to contribute to the pleasure of those who
dwell in the dark refuse to comply with the
requests, no matter how pressing their en-
gagements.
curious feature of these readings for
the delectation Of the blind is that not
few of the notables who read at the blind
room." persons of the most perfect com-
posure in ordinary circumstances, self
poised men and women, some of whom
have read before the most distinguished.
not to say blase audiences, suffer from
what is commonly known as stage fright
when they first attempt to read Tor the
sightless ones. Those who have oeen af-
ficted by this peculiar feeling have no way
of accounting for It, but they declare that,
at the outset, before they become used TO
the situation or gradually lose apprehension
of exterior surroundings through submerg-
ing themselves in their reading. their en-
barrassment is profoundly dseomposing
ing. they maintain, and there Is no recur-
renee of it at the second trial.
Quite recently distinguished young au-
thoress in the field of fiction, who was an
nounced to read from her own books in the
"blind ROOM found it quite out of the ques-
tion to proceed with her reading when she
reached the room and reviewed the stua M
ton. She was deeply chagrined over the
sudden sensation of fright which oVercame
her at the moment the reading was ABOUT
to begin, and went away promising that
H. IL n
ton and fulfill her promise of read ns at
a later date.
The sympathetic services of accomplished
musicians, living in and visiting Washing-
ton, are also easily obtained for the soiace
OF the blind who visit the reading room
One of the most generous contributors IN
this respect is Mr.. Hansen, secretary OF the
Russian embassy, a planoforte Vlrtuoso OF
considera pe reputation. This accomplished
member of the diplomatic corps is perhaps
the favorite performer of all lne musicians
who play for the blind who frequent the
library, and the Hansen afternoons are
looked forward TO by them with Keen an
ticipation.
There are times when Miss Giffn suffers
from an embarrassment of riches, so 10
speak in considering offers that are made
to her to help to entertain her slshtIess
charges. She speaks amusingly OF some OF
these cases.
tremely enthusiastic, not to say voclferous,
young woman clattered-I can use no other
word-into the reading room Ior tne pllIu,
and demanded that she be brought 10 me
forthwith.
said to me, breathlessly.
Yes l replied not. however, with any
great amount of confidence. for she really
did not have the appearance of SURPRISING
musician What instrument do you pIayT,
oh, pianner, course, she repiled: IL
play for 'cm any time. Be glad to- When
tn next afternoon that folks is going TO
read and play for 'em?
II was somewhat at loss. A number of
the blind men and wtomen. @ were cdiin,s ca I,s
was aIluding to them in that large, IN
elusive, sort of sweeping way as EN-.
Not only that but [ feared that the young
woman might not quite measure up 10 the
proficiency required of persons who play In
the blind reading room, for some OF the
blind men and women themselves are most
accomplished musicians, and the music OF
those who kindly aid US must De OF the
best If it is to really entertain them.
What class of music do you playT L
inquired of the young woman.
-;.tOh,' she replied off-hand L play lot
of pieces by Back
sYes. She pronounced 1t Back, quite as if
she We're alludng to her shoulder blades or
the portion" of her waist. And pieces
-'pieces'-by Bach. -'HH
II was OF course, compelled to tell the
young woman-not forgetting to thank her
for the kindly spirit which unquestionably
prompted her offer-that the musical pro-
gram was filled. not to say crowded, for
many weeks to come She received my ex-
planation with perfect good nature.
- All right she replied, as she started
to clatter out. but you can tell 'em that
I'll play Back for EN- any time that's
handy-you can just send for me, yknow.'
Another young woman, not long since,
came to me with an offer to donate the mu-
sical services of friend of her TO the en-
tertanment of the blind.
Does your friend sing or play?' asked
her
Sings was the reply. And fine, too
what Is her yoice?' I pursued
We'll she replied, hesitatingly, She's
a sort o. cross between-no, she isn't
she's a country Alto
Il was forced to tell the young woman
that I regarded this unfortunate. for the
reason that the list of contralto singers who
had volunteered to entertain the blind was
already more than filed.
Many Others" continued Miss Giffin,
come with offers to entertain the blind,
all of them actuated by the purest kind
illness of feeling, but, of course, not many
of these offers can be accepted.
This reading room for the blind Is Wis
tied by thousands of interested men and
women in the course of the year, the very
great majority of whom are discreet and
consderate enough to make no illusions
in the hearing OF the blind ones. in any
way bearing upon their affiiction. Blind
persons are keenly sensitive to their
aff1iction. They cannot help 1t. 1t is a
part of the psychology of blin4ness. Not
only do they dislike to have the matter of
sders possessed of sight, but they rarely
allude to their blindness even in conversa-
ton among themselves. And, considering
how unfortunate their state is, there is
no reason why they should not be INDUCED
in this feeling, even If 1t be supersenstiv-
ism. Some persons-wCmen, as a rule |
greye to admit-who visit the blind reading
room exhibit a decided inclination to tackle
and question the sightless ones with re-
gard to their loss of sight, asking them IL
they were born blind, If they ever expect
to recover their sight, and all that sort of
thing. They are instantly stopped when
they are caught at this. of course and
then some of them depart in high dudgeon
declaring that they have been insulted
when their motives were purely kindly and
benevolent.
"As to this. let me tell you Oh an almost
incredible lirtle incident that happened here
lately. A stout. pompous woman of mid
dle-age. followed by three or four smug-
looking young girls, stormed in upon me-
She gaZed around for bit, pereeiving moth
ing unusual, of course, except a number of
blind men and women at the tables reading
with the aid of their hands, and then she
looked disappointed.
'She marched over to where l stood In
the enibrasure of window, grabbed me by
the arm, wheeled me around to face her
and then, In grating, raucous tone that
could be heard not only all over the room
to,t 90, In tI,a I,alI lItxraxy cla