New-York tribune., 1907-12-16
WORK OF THE BLIND.
Exhibition and Sale at NezC Offices
of Nez0 York Association.

The formal opening of the offices OF the New
York Association for the Blind. at No. ilS East
59th street, begins to-day. There was a prelini
nary opening yesterday. special reception for the
blind Sighted people well were there. and
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 be Richard Watson Glider. president of the
Felix Adler, Mrs. Golden -Sanderson DR.. Hunting
ton and the Rev. Thomas Scer. Governor Hughes
has written Miss Winifred Holt, the secretary.
promising to come TO the opening ii he possibly
The blind women came yesterday afternoon. the
blind men in the evening. They were supposed TO
come 10 be amused but they showed a unanimous
tendency to take off their things and go to work.
OF course, there were a hundred last things to do
all the afternoon. Though downstairs blind girl
with exquisite voice was singing for their en-
tertainment group 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 woman who Is
entirely blind. and this woman proudly exhibited
the beginning of a hat she was making Tor MISS
Holt who means to wear it when she lectures
On this floor were two examples or What
employment does for the blind. In one room sat
an Italian girl-quite sightess-defty threading
beads 10 fringe n 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 blnd
girls
In another room q man sat stamping circulars.
This man appeared the rooms of the association
Yesterday morning, just of hospital One eye
was gouged 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 'twehtyrhve. We
Then they gave him circulars to stamp II his
interest tagged they would urge him gently telling
him how much those circulars were needed ana by
and by he grew quite busy and contented
what are you making?' some one asked bind
girl who sat working.
This is my second piece Of beadwork she SAID
proudly. 1t was a beautiful bead shade for an
electric candle Many other specimens OF bead
work are here, too-beae chains, bead purses OF
such elaborate patterns nat ii seems strange 10
think they were made by the blind. This is a sale
as we'll exhibition, and a reception. and peo-
pie to buy dolls and Teddy bears, al
ready dressed for their children. can surely be
suited here. All the dolls were dressed py the
hind There are curtains and table covers. too.
most quaint and artistic sofa pillows, aprons.
baby caps, curious bath mats of eorks, made ana
both pretty and solid. One room upstairs IS fur
nshed entirely with chairs, a table, CABINET, etc.
all made by the blind
Among the articles offered for sale are some
PLAQUES made by Miss Holt, ano showing Helen
KeIiers head in bass-relief. Miss Keller sat for It
last summer. and with her own hand traced her
name al the side. ITO be blind Is TO see the Orisht
side of life is lettered underneath.
This reception and fair are given In the nope or
raising the money much needed TOR the m
creased expenses of the association For the asso-
ciation like many other organizations, mas oeeh MI
hard by hard times The blind there make, for
instance, excellent brooms but the sale OF broorns,
even, has fallen off since the bad times II is dif
cult to raise thousands of dollars by small sales
vet il the association does not succeed in com
peting 100000 of which $4,000 Is conditonaiiy
promised that $4,000 will be lost That Is why
the officers and members and frienos or the asSo-
citation straining every nerve.
The opening will last from Deceinoer ~ 10 De
cember q, to o'clock, and On the i1th 18th
and 2lst also from to 10 O'Clock IN the evening
n.mber of fashionable Young women will pour tea
in the Dutch tearoom, among them Miss Margaret
Sloane. the Misses Ripley. Miss Rosaue Jones.