New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-07
TIE BLIND NEED HELP.
UnsclGsb Women Who Work for
Sightless Plead for Funds.

II y Is true that the darkes: hour is just before
the dawn. the New York Association for the Blind
must be very near the dawn. for its affairs could
hardly be in a more discouraging condition There
isn't n cent I'm the treasury. and unless strenuous
pressure IS brought bear upon the Legislature II
viii probably refuse TO refund 5000 advanced 20
the blind commission appointed last spring to take
a census Of the blind in New York State. An
spuropriation Of e COO was made for this work but
in spite Of the fact that the director. Miss Edith
Holt. is serving without pay. and the commission
IS under no expense for Offices as Il uses the rooms
OF the blind association in Miss Holt's home NO
a East 18th street The has proved insuihclehl
I'VE are now asking for an extension OF ume ana
an additional appropriation of 5000 said MISS
Winifred Holt. secretary Of the assoclauoh' au-
dressing section meeting Of the state feoeTalloil
OF Women's Clubs at the Hotel Astor yesterday
morning The bill is now being held up in the
Finance Committee of the Senate" Miss Ho' con-
tinued.
THE present indications that ii viii remain
there. A representative Of the blind association
who 20 Albany to further the interests OF the
bill has 1ust telegraphed me 40 use and ne
told re previously that there seemed 20 be much
prejudice against the work Of the commlsslo"-
The members don't understand its importance ana
don't see why We can't take the figures Of Massa-
chusetts or Maryland. where censuses or the biihu
have been taken. and draw conclusions from tneiI
THE BLIND CENSUS.
Now II ought 10 be obvious that before we can
do anything for the blind We must find them, ana
no adequate census Of the blind has ever been
taken in New York State. The United states cen
sus gives a few figures. and we thought "hen Ihe
Blind Commission was appointed that Il would De
a help but il was not. That IS one reason Why
the work has been so expensive. Two hundred ana
fifty people listed in that census must have hFeu
in the East River FOR can find no trace OF them
Others we're dead. but their pensions OF 800 year
were being drawn by some one
The present commission IS endeavoring TO secure
accurate and detailed information about every blind
person in the state The visitors never accept thc
word Of any second nerson. but secure personal
interview with the blind person in every case.
THE blind censuses heretofore taken have
brought TO light some extremely important facts
They show that the blind belong. as a rule. to the
poorest classes Of The community. and that there
IS shocking amount Of preventable blindness. The
New York census has shown also thar the blind are
often treated with great unkndness. because their
af7iction IS regarded rs a punishment for sin.
found one blind woman locked I'D in cleset be-
cause her family considered her a disgrace. They
didn't want 10 know she was there.
GIVE THE BLIND A CHANCE TO WORK.
spealxng Of the other financial needs Of the blind
Miss Holt said that the workshop al No. ~ East
42d street has 10 turn away applicants for work
every day. and might easily triple its capacity II
Il had funds
Helen Keller has said. and all the blind say"
Miss Holt continued. that they do not want
charity They want opportunity 70 work and be
tndependent and i IS the hardest thing in'-the
world to tell blind man that We cannot give him
work. We have heard much lately Of suicide bu-
reau Our workshop for the blind and our teach
ers who visit and teach blind women in their
homes constitute suicide bureau. The people who
come 10 us are the last in the world TO go 10 a
place laHelEal FOR woulG-be suicides, but there IS
no doubt tlTat blindness and It's cOnsequen. help
lessness drive many brave souls 10 Desperation
blind man. who had been OF work for year
came 10 US not long ago in desperation. There was
absolutely no future before him. and his courage
his wife, who had an aged mother 10 support ana
earned only s. week. he IS now happily en-
pcyed and occasionally says, naIvely How strange
II IS how the complexion OF the world changes from
Zone of our blind home teachers called 10 see
blind woman but told at her home that she
stricken blind his young woman had faced the
coming OF poverty which must Ultimately pace
Her neighbor. who saw our teacher, said. oh; if
YOU na1 OILY ClliS -It1 a. 49, "a in
she would be alive now. That dead woman was
S41snl' w rar beaTd I'm, 90 ~ swell the list of
Ignorance and Indifference have long enough been
a wall shutting of the blind in their darkness and
piness which are righttully theirs; TO take ao~h
clpation We cannot give the blind their sight
civiligstions Iban ours 10 whom we have taught
lessons Of freedom have in their turn taught US
others believe the time has now come TO eman-
are ready and from all over the blind are stretch
ing out eager hands TO US Only money IS
AID FOR WORKSHOP.
MIS- Edward x. Hewitt, chairman Of the execu-
tive committee Of the Association for the Blind has
estimated that It needs 10000 just TO put il on its
feet and provide a proper building for offices and
workshop and then it wants $4,000 year for
running expenses. OF the first amount, $4,000 has
already been promised conditionally the raising
OF the rest Probably the most self acTincins OF
the present supporters Of the association are the
gives 10 the association one-fourth Of his income,
and q blind man whose income is only 500 year
recently sent a check for s. Miss Holt. Another
blind man brought her Sl2 largely raised in p cent
subscriptions from blind people.
these people give 50 much, she salu
surely those who have been more forum 1le can
afford give the association the support II needs.
Miss Holt stated that the state is doing absolutely
nothing those who became blind after they were
OF school age beyond offering them hospitality in
hospitals almshOuses. insane asyiums and prisons.
Yet these constitute threefOurths Of the blind pop
u.atiOn is this class primarily that the Associa-
fiOn for the Blind sc rs 10 aid
The State Federation OF Women's Clubs has In
lie Blind, and asked the federated clubs 10 CO.
Operate with IT, and il IN compliance with this
resolution that the chairman Of the New York sec
ton, Mrs. Helena Secor Tonnes asked Miss Holt
20 address yesterdays meeting me matter will
also be brought before a council OF presidents
which meets IN Albany to-day, with view to
bringing influence 10 bear on the obdUrate com
mittee