New-York tribune., 1907-12-17
WORK OF THE BLIND.
Exhibition and Sale at Ne1o Offices
of Nezo York Association.

The formal opening Of the offices of the New
York Association for the Blind at No. 1Is East
59th street, begins to-day. There was preliini-
nary opening yesterday, special reception for the
blind. Sighted people as well were there. and
many more expected before the end of the
opening. which will not be until Saturday night
Officers of the association and people interested in
its work will take turns in receiving. Among these
Will he Richard Watson Glider. president OF the
association. Mr. and Mrs. Seth Low. DR.. and Mrs
Felix Adler Mrs. Golden -Sanderson Dr. Hunting
ton and the Rev. Thomas Slicer. Governor Hughes
has written Miss Winifred Holt, the secretary,
promising 10 come to the opening II he possibly
The blind women came yesterday afternoon, the
blind men in the evening. They were supposed TO
TO be amused, but they showed a unanimous
tendency to take off their things and go 10 work.
OF course, there a hundred last things TO do
all the afternoon. Though downstairs a blind girl
with exquisite voice was singing for their en-
tertairmapt a groun of blind women sat in an
upper room, making hats for the exhibition one
dainty hat of white lace with bows OF pink ribbon,
was made. wire frame and all, by a woman who Is
entirely blind, and this woman proudly exhibited
the beginning of a hat she was making for Miss
Holt who means to wear it when she lectures
On this floor were two examples OF ~hat
employment does for the blind. In one room sat
an Italian girl-auite sightless-deftly threading
beads to fringe lovely white silk lamp shade she
had made. A few years ago this girl was idle,
miserable. The association took her in hand, and
now she is Of its best teachers for other blind
girls.
In another room a sat stamping circulars
This man appeared at the rooms of the association
Yesterday morning. just out of hospital One eye
was eouged out, the other practically sightlesS
He was desperate. the verge of committing SUI
eide They put him at work counting envelopes
and tying them up in packages of twenty-five
Then they gave him circulars to stamp. III ms
interest tagged they would urge him gently tel!lng
him how much those circulars were needed ana Dy
and by he grew quite busy and contented
What you making! some one asked d phho
girl who sat working =.
"This is my second piece OF neadWork, she saio
proudly 1t was a beautiful bead shade for an
electric candle. Many other specimens OF bead
work are here, too-bead chains, bead purses or
such elaborate patterns that II seems strange 10
think they were made by the blind. This is a sale
we'll as an exhibition, and reception, and peo-
Die who want to buy dolls and Teddy bears, al
ready dressed, for their children, surely be
suited here All the dolls were dressed by the
blind There are curtains and table covers, too.
most quaint and artistic; sofa pillows, aprons,
baby caps curious bath mats of corks, made and
patented by a blind man. and pieces of furniture
both pretty and solid One upstairs is fur
nished entirely with chairs table, cabinet ETC.,
all made by the blind
Among the articles offered for sale are
plauues made by Miss Holt, showing Helen
Keller's head in bass-reef. Miss Keller sat fot Vt
last summer. and with her own hand traced her
name at the side ITO be blind is to see the bright
side Of life" is lettered underneath.
This reception and fair given in the hope OF
raising the money much needed for the IN
creased expenses of the association For the asso-
hard by hard times. The blind there make, for
instance. excellent brooms, but the sale OF brooms
even has fallen off since the bad times 1t is diff
cult to raise thousands of dollars by small sales,
vet IL the association does not succeed in COM
pletns the S1O000 of which $4,000 is conditionaly
promised that $4,000 will be lost. That is why
the officers and members and friends of the asso-
citation straining every nerve.
The opening will last from December IL 10 De-
cember o. from to o'clock, and on the nth. 18th
and 21st, also from TO 10 o'clock in the evening
Number of fashions bic young women Will pour tea
in the Dutch tearoom, among them Miss Margaret
Sloane, the Misses Ripley Miss Rosaie jones'