The Washington herald., 1907-09-26
MEN AND THINGS.
How He Finds the Way.

HOW lie EEnus the way
Among the instructors at the West
Philadelphia Home for the Blind is a
blind man whose instinct for localities
is considered by those who know him to
be remarkable. The afflicted man lives
In Fairmount avenue, and each day, un-
attended. he makes his way from his
house to the institute. which is located at
Thirty-sixth street and Lancaster ave
nue.. and returns. without ever having 10
ask any one as 10 the direction or the
proper cars to take He invariably takes
Lancaster avenue car. getting off at
Thirteenth and Market streets. He knows
his corner even when the conductor fails
to notify him. On alighting al the south
east corner he makes his way 20 the
curb. mounts a Thirteenth street car, and
makes HIS way to a seat. On the return
trip he invariably leaves the car at Fair
mount avenue without advice from any
one. Persons who have seen him are Of
the opinion that he counts the number Of
times the cars cross tracks, and in that
way gets his location. The same wonder
ful sense was also manifest in Mr.. Luke
Walpole, of indianapolis, who died not
| long ago. He was a justice Of the peace.
and had been blind all his life. He
walked the streets without fear. wagging
his head from side TO side with a strange
rhythmic action, as if some sixth sense
was informing him Of his whereabouts
He. too, when he used the street cars
invariably stopped the car at his home
corner without advice from any one.
Some National Music.
In an unnamed grave on Boston Com
mon lies the first professional composer
Of America, William Billings. who was
| Boston born and bred. The glorious
Battle Hymn Of the Republic" or
| Glory. Hallelujah." had It's beginning
as a war song al Fort Warren. In Bos-
ton Harbor. in 1861. though Il was orig
| inally a hymn tune In Charleston, 5. G.
These facts were given in lecture by
| Prof. Louis c. Elson. OF the New Eng
land Conservatory Of Music He went
on TO say that the Puritans looked as
| kance AT music, but one Of the more
advanced men, Mr.. Brattle. actually
/ brought an organ to Boston as early as
! 1899. In 1913 he was daring enough 10
offer it 10 the Puritan Church though
with compuncuons, for he stipulated that
| in case Of refusal il should be given 70
the Church Of England. Thus Kings
Chapel won its first organ. the Puri-
tans preferring their bassOon and cello
as less sacrilegious. Il was in such an
atmosphere that American music de-
veloped William Billings. the first COM
poser, was the first man in America 10
make music his vocation, as well as
avocation, and he was evidently not ap-
preciated. It Is Of record that a neighb0r
Of the musician tied two cats together
| by the tails and dangled them. screech-
/ ing, over MS gate. writing below Bill
! lings' Music II was Billings who was
asked, also. whether be defined snoring
as instrumental or vocal music The
| first gathering OF the Handel and HAYDN
Society. Christmas Eve. 1915. was UNIQUE.
with ninety male and ten female voices.
accompanied by ten orchestral pieces.
Music had progressed so far in the gen
( eral esteem that IL was taught in the
Z public schools as early as 1S3S In 1881
came the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
founded by Maj Henry T. Higginson.