The Washington herald., 1907-05-12

Helen Keller. the most wonderful OF
deaf-hIind people. says in her beautiful
essay on Optimism" once I knew the
depth where no hope was. and darkness
lay on the face OF all things. Then love
came and set my soul free. Once / knew
only darkness and stiffness. Now know
hope and joy" She Is one Of over 65 900
blind people in the United States. OF
2,ooO,oo0 on the globe. and the hope and
Joy that are now hers are being tardily
brought to the others. With the passing
Of the years. points Of view are changing,
and where help was once meted out 10 tie
blind as a charity, modern civilization is
beginning TO give it as a just due, OF
the ca. 900 American blind. 1900 are IN
necessarily so. Had their eyes had early
care and treatment the sight could have
been saved. sixtg-hve hundred are blind
because their mothers and physicians did
not care properly for their eyes when
they were newborn.
Realizing what careIessness has done
in these pathetic cases. philanthropie men
and women are busiiy augmenting the
work OF the States in making the lives
of the blind happier and more useful.
Already % per cent OF the American blind
over ten years old are engaged IN some
kind Of gainful occupatlon-a greater per
cent than that shown by any other coun-
try in the world. and the present intent
OF those interested Is 10 give them a
wider and more remunerative field of
endeavor. They mean 10 have the word
blind no longer a synonym for depend
ence. They mean 20 train the hands and
the brain until these less fortunate peo-
pie become as independent and as happy
as those who do not sit IN physical dark
ness. The blind ask no charity and no
pity from the rest Of the world. All they
ask is a chance 10 develop whatever tai
ents that lie within them. and square
deal when they Try 10 earn their own
living.
Thity-six States and Territories now
have institutions for the education Of the
blind, the Southern States as a rule add
ing separate departments for the care Of
the negroes. Massachusetts was the
pioneer in this work. IN ls99 the first
school for the blind in the New World was
opened IN Boston. and from the first re-
ceived State aid. In 1881 active work was
begun, under the celebrated DR.. Samuel
g. Howe. who rescued Laura Br.dgman
from the eternal darkness and silence
that hang over the deaf-blind. Col
Thomas II. Perkins donated his home for
the use Of the students, and the institu-
tion was named for him IN 1881 New
York opened her first institution for the
blind in 1888 the Society of Friends
founded the world-famous one in Penn
syivania, and 10 1897 Ohio opened school
in Columbus. The next year, one in
Richmond. Va, and 10 1872 another in
Louisville. KY, marked the spread Of the
altTuistic idea. There are now forty-one
State educational institutions with about
1900 pupils supported at an expense of
over million dollars a year, and with
manual training in some form a part Of
the general curriculum.
The latest census report OF the blind.
prepared under the special direction Of
DIR. Alexander Graham Bell, showed that
S. out of every 10000 citizens were blind.
but that 81 per cent Of the totally blind
and a per cent Of the partially blind
were employed IN earning their own iiy-
ing. Five thousand or more over ten
years Old were engaged in agriculture.
one-ffth of the number being totally
blind. Professional services claimed nearly
20O9. domestic and personal service about
the same number. trade and transporta-
ton over L600. and manufacturing and
mechanics 1.375. There we're four totally
blind woodsmen and raftsmen. nine
totally blind Woodchoppers. 492 musicians
)r music teachers. and 543 brush and
broom makers. The list shows how varied
are the trades or professions they can |
EASILY follow If only given the training /
and an opportunity TO work
Blind babies are only recently coming /
n for their share of attention. 1t is too 1
ate to save some pitiful little fellows. but /
aaTly enough to save many thousands if /
he spirit Of justice and philanthropy I
spreads. Unless a blind baby is taught /
before it is six or eight years old. it /
becomes the most pathetic OF idiots. Bos- 1
on has established a nursery for these, /
hOugh she has had a kindergarten in /
he Perkins Institute since 1857. One
ourth Of the babies who come to the
nursery are restored either to ncrrnaI or
'artial sight through proper treatment.
nd the State now requires that physicians
nd nurses report all cases Of newborn
abies with weak eyes The Sunshine
society. Of New York, has a home and
kindergarten for these little creatures.
nd other cities are taking up the plan. !
Massachusetts, has four travelling teach
rs who 60 TO the homes of the blind,
nd an association that does much TO
elp and TO educate others. Rhode ISL
nd has two travelling teachers. and
pennsylvania has had home teaching
ince 1852. New York City has an asso-
iation for helping the blind of all ages
nd conditions, q workshop for blind men.
self-imprOvement club for them. and
light teachers. six Of whom are blind.
Minnesota has summer school for blind
len.
Il is the hope of the workers for the
lind 10 find out just how many there are
the whole country and interest the
tates and cities in them, to have in
ustrial as well as mental training for
hem, and so open the doors of hope by
laking them independent One great
roblem is that of teaching the adult
lind the blind who once had sight and
'st it only in later life. Hope departs
uickly when the sight is gone, and the
sed do not take eagerly TO the task of
arning new method Of reading. Once
ley get start in the alphabet, though, |
ley grow eager, learn quickly. and then ]
re anxious TO teach others. The glorious /
'nsciousness has come to them that they
IN be Of use by teaching what they have
armed ,
Books for the blind are a most i'm
,ttant feature in modern educational !
ovements. Far back in the sixteenth
injury Lucas OF Saragossa traced letters
the hollow OF a wooden block for blind
lends. In 1910 Moseau. of Paris. devised d,