The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-26
BLIND EARN
THEIR LIVING As
STEMOGRAP HERS

New York, Dec. ga new field OF en-
deavor has been opened to those men and
women whose misfortune It is to be b.eld,
a field which heretofore has been con-
trolled by men and women whose CHIEF
requisite has been keen eyesight The
new work is that OF shorthand and type
writing, and the first blind woman ex-
ponent TO enter the profession In New
York state, IL not In the entire country,
may be seen daily at her desk II. the Of
hces and salesrooms OF the Now York
Association for the Blind at lis East 5sth
street In addition To the large volume
OF office work correspondence. the stem
ographer has many outside customers
who come In during the day TO give her
dictation. With speed exceeding that
OF the average shorthand writer. and
with no other guide than a remarkable
mentality and amazing subtle sense Of
touch. the stenographer takes down the
dictation by means OF a shorthand ma
chine
The machine resembles a small type-
writer, with the exception that there are
only six. Each OF these KEYS when
struck produces on thin ribbon of pa-
per raised dot. One or more or even
All may be struck at once, and the va
rious combinations which NAV be obtain
ed give wide range OF symbols. The
system used Is what is known as the Eng
lish Braillc AN"s
When there is rush of work the stem
ograpner Will sometimes take down n
uoHen OF more letters as rapidly as the
average person can talk. and with a much
greater degree OF accuracy than The or.
binary stenographer. After the dictation
Is over the girl takes the long roll OF
paper covered with the raised symbols
turns 10 an ordinary typewriter and types
tne ietter with speed which Is seldom
attained by The average operator having
the full use OF his or her eyes.
10 iearn the system and TO be able TO
suin ou. rapid work requires painstakng
study, but TO those with whom dav is
night whose fingers must serve the pur
pose OF eyes. the study is pursued with
such earnestness and persistency that
many quarry as stenographers and type-
writer's with only six months instruction
Another system taught the blind by the
teachers OF the association is that of taxi
ing dictation from Photographic records.
Many blind men have been taught mas
saglng, and now the association has con-
stantly on hand a corps OF skilful mas
seurs who have been thoroughly trained
In swedish movements The blind are
pre-eminently fitted for this sort OF work
because OF their wonderful sense OF touch
and dexterity in the use OF their hands.
Among the members OF the association
are many skilled piano tuners. In the
factory toy makers turn out cleverly
made doll houses and doll furniture.
Brooms, baskets. hammocks, mattresses.
chairs and all manner OF worsted and
knit goods are made by the workmen.
One of the men, though blind is an ex-
pert barber.
For the amusement OF the blind, or
dinary games SUCH as chess and checkers
are specially made. In the leisure hours
four blind men may sit down to a game
of whist. The cards resemble the ordi-
nary deck. with the exception OF the tiny
raised points on the faces. These denote
the suits and denomination. Some OF the
blind have become skilful bridge whist
players.