New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-16
BLIND WOMAN'S CLUB.
Just Like any Other Feminine
Society Typical Meeting.

..Afies T2og.re sneals' Then Miss Rogers. hay
sng announced herself, proceeds to speak clearly
and to the point and with due regard for par
liamentary law. It is at the regular meeting OF
,yoman's club But why does Miss Rogers men
ton her name before she speaks? All the other
speakers do il. too. The reason issinple II Is
meeting Of the Woman's Club OF the Ne" 1ork
Association for the Blind. and the members hav-
ing no eyes 10 see who Is speaking. they must be
told By way OF the
This club is the latest oTshoot Of the New York
Association for the Blind and has thirty ohnd
members There are about six members who are
sighted but ALI the officers are blind. The club
was formed first help forward the purposes OF
the association; second, for the social enjoym OF
the members. and third. 10 afford the members
opportunities for discussing ways in which those
who are anxious do may become independent
Miss Mary Shepard offered the use OF the parlor
IN her home. No 1903 West list street, and here the
club meets every other Thursday evening
1t may seem strange TO a person with eyes. but
the only difference that csan be detected between
this club and clubs Of sighed women is that these
women give their before speaking But
.a,L LAUGH have recita-
lions. move about with the greatest freedom, have
the best of times apparently 1t would take a
close observer that the presiding officer Is
blind, ard yet she is. totally so, and has been
for many years. When the SECRETARY calls the roll
she reads the names with her fingers. but other
wise she acts like any Secretary Of any ordinary
woman's club.
At the last meeting a hind girl from Brook
Ign sang Before the meeting came 10 order
though. the members stood around in groups and
talked about all kinds OF things Over in one cor
ner five six wondering when the Mrs
ZiegIer Magazine for the Blind would run a col
of recipes
You know girls" said one. whose eyerds closed
over her sightless eyes pathetcally. but whose
fece full of animation, you learn lots Of
things by experience. Why. l could fill such coli
umn myself, I've found how TODD so many things
IN my queer little blind way"
You ought 10 have seen my aunt, whom I've
been visiting. when I asked her ffor quart cup"
said another blind grl. laughing she asked me
what on earth wantSd quart cup for. I'm going
10 make some lemon jelly, told her, and l want
10 measure the boiling water But you can't
IT she said. and we haven't quart CUP
we've only PINT ons.' We'll. eaid. twice full
that's a quart isr't III Then she wondered how I
wes going 10 meazl-e k,oi!jrS Tyr.tsr IN the CUP
which Of glass without breaking II. Tn going
to measure Il twice full Of cold water into tea
kettle ard when that boS :: vii Re quart of
boiling water. Won't 1t" ls%.c- And think She
surprised that blrd pcrVon should know SO
much"
When the meeting ca-me 20 GREER the president
and the secretary sst together, facing the other,
who sat IN 6 large hA,f-oro.e. A lot Of business
was got through ezz~sdls3ously, and then the girl
from Brooklyn went the piano. She had bsen
teaching all cay-for she has a large class, though
she is hltnd-and she had sung at a concert TIE
might before. but her vCice showed signs Of
WEAKNESS
Nov. girls" she announced. I'm going to sing,
Tn going 20 sing a song from II TroYntore' that
aIelha sings bur not, allow 10 you. as
well she sings e."
She sang It eel:. though, and she put her whole
soul into After OF three operatic selections
she gave popular airs. By and b. some
one asked Cor Annie LasIrie," and she gave II.
America sung also hg request, came last.
Everybody jumped to her feet then and joined in
the chorus
There is one thing that Distinguishes the meet
fngs % this club from most social gatherings, and
that is the readiness with which the members
sing. recite DO whatever they that is asked
of them. There IS none Of that oh, I'm out Of
practice or I've such cold tonight" such as
springs the iips Of most people when asked TO
amuse the company Whether it comes from their
training at the Institutions for the bind-where.
of course, those vino sing and play we'll have been
trained-or whatever Il comes from. II IS a most
satisfactory quality.
After the club business and the singing. the
members became frivolous, and had lemonade and
cake end conundrJ.-ns. They seemed to have an
astcci5hg number OF The latter stored up IN theiE
memories. and most OF them quick at guess
ing. Altogether II lively meeting. An out
slcer, watching the facee. could not help wonder
ing, 'Ts Il real. the cheerfuness and good humor
IS Il jIst simply pluck|' But the faces would
not tell