The Monticellonian., 1906-03-22
IN THE KNITTING CLASS.

It had not taken the European attf- tude that what work was done fo' these unfortunates was in the nature of charity. but has put them in position where they were equals with the other wards Of the state. the pub lie school children. The education oi the blind forms an integral part al our educational system, we hold 1t their right to be educated This pol! icy has brought beneficial results.
 In this country blind child re ceives the same instruction as is given in the best common schools They are taught the elements of yoea' and instrumental music They are trained in some simple handwork, the intention being that they may become self supporting. It is believed there is a larger proportion of self-support= ing blind persons in the United States than in any other country. While our system has no; proved perfect, an not a few of the students have failed to make the use of their handicrafa needed. vet on the whole the results have been very good, the blind beinS raised from the paHper class.
 Statistics show that scarcely two. tenths of the graduates from institu- tions for the blind practice the hanGi- crafts learned therein. Most of the graduates resort To various branches Of the musical profession, teaching the elements Of vocal and Instrumental music, playing upon organs, tuning pianos, or trading in musical instrl- ments. Some graduates take petty agencies. and with q guide go about the country, peddling on their owl account Others, favored by friends, find employment in some of the es- tablshments where hand-work. com. bined with certain amount of heaG- work is required. few work dili- gently at their trades and earn an honest and comfortable livelihood"
 In New York city education for the blind las made great progress. A re- cent article in the New York Worl calls attention 10 three graduates of the New York Institution for the Blind; one, Mir Eben Murford wko manages a factory in which only blind men are employed: Prof Carl, professor of mathematics al Columbia university, and Thomas Dasnia, ths organist
 A book whose aim is to direct tha blind how best to employ their time has appeared in France. the author. !. famous oeulist who at he age of G was suddenly stricken with blindness. The book is unique, deals with the heart of things, shows what are the daily frets of the blind man-which mount into so much of the tragedy of his life. One thing that specially im- pressed us was the evil accruing from telling a blind man lies. the admoni- ton always to be exact in statements made to the sightless. If man lack ing eyes cannot put trust in those with whom he holds converse. life is made very dark for him indeed. Two way1 of adding to the joys of the blind per sons life also were of much interest: one, taking him to the theater. good seat in the front near the middle hay ing been provided and the play pre- yiously explained, then, as the play progresses, the stage setting should be pictured. Another happy suggestion was the reading aloud of plays. the different parts taken by different indi- Yiduals. And one readily saw tha pathoS of the remark that the unfortu- nate blind have to listen to so much perfunctory reading.
 ELLEN THAYER