The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-18
Ninety-five Pupils Under
 States Care.
ysstitutien is Conducted Separately Frsn other seheeis For Inarn --Musie is . Feature of
 the work.
Dy Bruce Kennedy.

Talladega, April 17.--(stan Corre- dence.)--Ninety-five blind boys and girls of Alabama are being educa- ted and cared for at the Alabama School for the Blind here in Talladega. They are educated and cared for who'll 1y without expense and they are going out from this institution an honor to the State which helped them: they are going from here equipped to help themselves despite the infirmities which nature laid heavily upon them.
 The literary and industrial training of ninety.flve blind boys and girls. many of whom are sightless forever. would seem to be an almost insur- mountable undertaking. It Is accom- plished here at this school and some of the pupils are doing work that ap- pears marvellous. work that would be a credit to young men and women of perfect sight and under normal condi- tions.
 In addition to literary and industrial training splendid musical department is maintained here where the blind pupils who develop a taste for music are afforded excellent opportunity for training Music seems to appeal to the blind and in every one of the live buildings occupied by the institution one hears the music of the piano, the Of8dn or 0tHeT luftTuIHeHt.
 All Are Not Sfghfless.
 It must not be understood that all of the pupils of this school are sightless. Indeed. there are many children here with beautiful and apparently perfect eyes. They have been sent here be- cause their eyes are too weak to per- init of training in the public schools. A commensurate examination by rep utable oculist Is all that is required to- admit child with weak eyes to this school.
 iterary classes instruction Is given in spelling and reading braille line letter, writing in braile. English grammar. English language and literature, arithmetic. algebra, ge- ometry, physiology, nature study, civil government, political economy, Latin grammar and general reading. Instru- mental and vocal music is taught as well as harmony and theory of music. Training is given in the tuning of pianos and reed organs. Some of the most skilled piano and organ tuners of the State are men who learned this branch of industry at this school for the blind.
 Tn the department of manual training the boys are instructed in cane-seat- ing, basket-making. and the manufac- ture of horse collars. mattresses, foot Ai0tS dbu HdiiiuuChS lnG slytS dIP taught bead-work, plain sewing knit ting. crocheting and hammock -mak- ing.
 This school for blind children was established by the Legislature in 1887 as an extension or enlargement of the work of the late Dr. J. H. Johnson, whose son J. H. Johnson. is continu> ing 1t in the same energetic, progress sive way as his distinguished father pr. Johnson organized a school for the deaf and blind children of the State at Talladega in 1858. He demonstrated the need of State institution of this character and in 1860 the Alabama Legislature made provision for the school.
 The habits and temperament of deaf and blind children are so different and the methods of instruction so different that it was found to be advantageous to separate them entirely. Out of this idea was born an independent school for the blind. Although it is half mile distant from the school for the deaf and under the direct charge of a resident superintendent, F. H. Manning, the executive management of the two schools, as well as the executive man agement of the Alabama School for the Negro Deaf and Blind, falls upon