The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

nish the market for his products, and see to 1t that he gets his fair share of patronage.
 A Great Practical Work,
 In Massachusetts. happily. opposition between the old order and the new has ceased. The Perkins Institution for the Blind and the Commission are working together. The shop where the Commission put on sale the work of the sightless in under the same roof with the safesroom of the Perkins In stitution. The school in changing its attitude has set an example which other institutions cannot afford to dis regard. For the new movement in behalf of the blind will not cease until every sightless person in our land has the chance to earn at least part of his support.
 Philanthopists and public spirited people all over the country have taken up the work. Business man are ad vocating 1t. Great men like Mark Twain and Mir. Choate have approved it. Governors and Legislatures have given 1t public sanction. Its complete success now depends on three classes of responsible persons: First, the directors of the institutions and other educators: second. the trustees of the institutions and the State Boards; third and ultimately. the public. of which the blind man Is one.
 We ask that the directors be culti- vated men, sincerely interested in the whole problem; that if they have not the initiative to lead the way to progress. they will accept and carry out intelligent suggestions We ask that the trustees of our institutions for the bling be chosen for the highest interest of the sightless. for their competency. and not merely for name. family or social eminence. We ask that they be men who can afford a little time to study the problems of the blind. We ask that the trustees be so qual- flied that no director or teacher or any other person can impose upon them as to the condition. work or efficiency of the school. or the accomplishments of it's graduates. We ask that the trustees build schools for the blind on land suited to the peculiar needs of the sightless.
 The Need of open Air Employment.
 The blind need to be placed '. nere they can have plenty of room for play grounds and learn a little of farming and gardening. Willow-work is one of the well known industries for the blind in Europe; but 1t has not been introduced here, except in Wisconsin, because of the 'ack of willow. Why not plant willow on land near the in-
 
 strim and care fo rthe willow groves Why not let the blind raise poultry? It has proved a profitable industry for them in England. If these suggestions do not porve practical, the fact re- mains that the sightless need large playgrounas-out-o ut-of-door life. Their inactivity and often the disease which caused their blindness keep them un- developed and anemic. If they are to become strog. healthy men and women. they must have a great deal of rnre- strained exercise in the open air. In the old days there was at least an ex- cuse for putting the institutions in the cities; but now. when the trolley makes the coutry accessible. every considera- tion of economy and well-being for the sightless cries out rainst the blasting of the rock of crowded Manhattan for the purpose of building a school for the blind Such costly building was, I am told. meditated by the trustees of the New York institution. and I am glad to learn that they have aband- oned the idea. shall be glad too. and all the friends of the blind will re- joice, If the trustees of the Perkins In- stitution succeed in their wise efforts to move the school out in the country.
 We ask the public to take all these matters to heart and understand the needs of the sightless The strangest ignorance exists in the minds of peo- pie as to what the blind can do. They are amazed when they hear that a blind man can write on the typewriter. dress himself without assistaice, go up and down stairs alone, eat with fork and know when the sun Is shining. But they are ready to believe that we have a special stocf1k of senses to replace those which we have lost! They be- Heve unquestioningly. for instance. that I can play the piano. distinguish colors and write fonnets in two or three languages. Yet they doubt that can write this article. or arrive at the simple facts and deductions 1t con- tains.
 The public st learn that the blind man Is neither genius nor freak nor an idiot. He has a mind which can be educated, a hand which can be trained. ambitions which it is right for him to strive to realize. and 1t Is the duty of the public to help him to make the best of himself. so that he can win light through work.