The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-16

Blind for years, yet playing, study
young man and accomplishing far
more than the average, such in brief
is the story Of Ray Dart, the univer-
sity Of Minnesota sightless student.
Dart is FL years Of age, is in his
third year at college and beside sue
cessfully carrying on a course of study
is earning considerable money by work
ing during his, spare hours. The world
has been dark to him ever since he was
q small child, but in spite of his at
Fiction he has made record of which
any boy might be proud. 1850.
Entering the school for the blind at
Faribault at the age of IL, he complet-
ed twelve-year course Of study in sew
en- years. After his graduation he came
to Minneapolis and began his college
career.
He cannot, Of course, study in the
usual way, but he manages to do all
his written work on a typewriter whose
keyboard he has memorized. He does
his studying by proxy, that is, someone
usually his mother, reads to him and
he listens and absorbs. In this way he
is able to make rapid progress, for the
faculties which he possesses are devel
oped to such a degree that no. matter
how difficult the lesson, it is seldom
that any portion of it has to be readsto
him more than once. 3" 4 '."2' >.''.~,~,
It would naturally be supposed that
blind student would attract much
attention at the university, but Ray
Dart goes about so easily and gets
along so we'll that comparatively few
know Of his affliction. He does not
carry cane, yet he is able to walk
about alone and even to get on the
streetcar and 60 downtown without
| trouble. g.. =. f,-..r<~.
= The daily routine Of this active but
Handicapped young man includes attend
ance upon his regular classes in the
morning, trip downtown in the after
noon, when he spends the time between
$3.50 and 6 clock clerking in book
store, and several hours Of study in thu
evening. ~
Ray is the son of Charles Dart, STATE
senator from Litchfeld, and he ant
his father and mother are now resid
ing at 500 Fifth avenue Sc, the famil.
having come here in order that Mrs
Dart might be with her son to assis
him in his studies.
Besides being a good student and
hard worker, young Dart has accom-
plishments. He plays the piano an
plays it we'll. Outdoor sports, particu
larly aquatic sports, have a great at
! traction for him. Every summer h
spends a part Of his vacation nea
some lake or river and enjoys himsel
. thoroly. He swims, dives, fishes an
4 even hunts. 49,
Without hesitation or reluctance b
tells the story of his life and how h
daily surmounts difficulties, and b
seems to enjoy telling it. - .
cit was thru an accident that I los
my sight, he sad. "When I was
small boy was playing one day wit
piece Of steel when it snapped bac
and struck me hard blow in the LEI
eve. Asa result Inflammation set i
and 1 soon lost the use Of that ey'
Then the Inflammation spread, to tn
other eye and I became totally blint
My folks did all they could to save m
. sight The best specialists treated m
but it was no use. ~.
VI course IL UOGuoIS ulo d SSOu ucs
to be blind but not as much as 70
might suppose. There are some sui
jects which I was unable to take up
school, particularly the sciences whe1
the use. of the microscope is require
I did study physics and chemistry {
Faribault, however, and since comir
to the university, I have taken a tw
, year course in geology
.. y "What do you do with your spa
time?o he was asked. -s
. ooh, I do almost anything TIL
J.. other people do" was his reply. "
!, ride bicycle, hunt, fish, swim al
Q play football"
4 elbow do you shoot anything wht
you 60 hunting?'
q II usually go duck hunting.
9 party of us go out every fall after Il
0 ducks and there is nothing 1 enjt
q more. I shoot by the sound Of t
d wings. A fellow can't do any shar
!. shooting that way he continu
naively, "but / blaze away and occ
9 sionally bring down bird.
!, The British Wesleyan Methods
i have a1rea6p sold more than a mill