Evening journal., 1908-11-21
HELPFUL WORK
AMONG THE BLIND
Report of Excellent Results
Accomplished by the Del
aware Committee

An interesting report Of work for the
past year has been made by the Della.
ware Committee on the Blind The
committee comprises c. r. Van Trump,
chairman; Arthur l.. Bailey. treasurer.
Miss Mary L. Maull. secretary; Mrs
Elizabeth 5. Robinson. Wilmington.
Mrs George w. Marshall. Milford; Mis-.
Beniah Watson. Dover: Mrs Lewis
Mustard. Lewes.
The committee was appointed by the
judges Of the Superior Court two
years ago to care for the blind Of the
State. After recounting the history OF
the beginning of the work-in which
the late Bishop Coleman had a large
part-the report gives the following sur
vev of the last two years in home
teaching work. the most valuable field
in which the committee has engaged.
Home teachers reports, summary of
records of blind-Total number. 1877.
children Of school age, 21; children Gu
pable of education. 10; children receiV-
ing education in school for the blind s;
adults capable of education, 90; litter
ates. 40; invalids. IS; failed TO interest,
%.
Total number having received visits,
135. BY towns. Wilmington 60. New
Castle 5. Dover 8. Blades J., Bridgeville,
4. Camden /. Cheswold 1, Concord J.,
Delaware CITY .. Glendale 2, Farming
ton /. Farnhurst 2, Georgetown A
Greenwood 5. Grubbs Corner 1, Gum.
boro /. Harbeson 1. Holly Oak ?. Laur-
el 4. Lewes 3. Milford 8, Millsboro .,
Millville >. Rehoboth 1. Seaford 2, Smyr-
ma ?. Selbyville 1. Townsend 1, Willow
Grove 1. Total making progress, 50.
lo5 Instructed.
1876 pupils of all ages have come under
the instruction Of the home teacher,
a majority of these have been adults,
many of whom are now earning some
thing toward a livelihood OF the 1875
26 are nowsreaders Of the embossed sys-
tem-readng with the fingers-and are
borrowers of books of the Free Library
for the Blind. whose books are sent free
through the mails TO distant parts OF
the State. or delivered to the homes OF
he readers in the city of Wilmington
by the library department for the blind,
shows an average circulation of 80 'nr
bossed books for the blind per month.
-Four of the pupis Of the home teachers
are expert chair Gamers, several arc
artists in the making Of baskets OF
fancy design. Rafiia and KIN tting Of
shawls and blankets are lucrative en-
ployments. To properly appreciate
what this means is to think of an old
lady reduced by the loss of sight with
nothing to do but TO rock herself in a
chair with folded hands bemoaning heI
misfortunes. restored to her beloved art
OF knitting. One woman after seven
teen wears of blindness is now able to
correspond with her friends; another
after forty wears of darkness has De
come ravenous reader and exhausts
supplied with books One has all her
time occupied in filing orders for fancy
baskets. Several men have as much
as they can do in re seating chairs. The
pupils are about equally distributed be-
tween the citv of Wilmington, New
Castle county. Kent and Sussex. Each
month the teacher makes a trip
throughout the entire State. making 4
mileage Of two hundred and fifty milcs
and visits each pupil. besides making
calls upon those too feeble or incap.
able to receive instruction but who re.
duire advice or directions as to their
care or encouragement. Finally instruc-
tion is given those in charge Of young
children and kindergarten is introduced
to the little ones to give them use OF
their hands and III them for their fu-
ture education.