Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29

persons then in London 200 were de-
pendent, on charitable relief.
Before l left the meeting said DR..
Campbell, the burden of the blind poor
in the great metropolis rested heavily
upon me-
The tea party led to a meeting next
day with DIR. Armitage. the founder OF
the British and Foreign Blind Associa-
ton. and the mafnstay of the INDECENT
Blind Visiting Association. The two
men put their heads together and dis
covered that they had the same notions
about the best way to deal with the
problem of the blind. The idea OF start
ing an institution which should ennbody
them. And the ship sailed from Liver
pool without DR.. Campbell. The man
and his work had met.
There is no space to tell the story OF
the seeming providential interventions
by which the money necessary 10 make
a start was obtained. The present mag
nifcent college at Norwood. near the
Crystal Palace. standing In sixteen
acres of beautiful grounds. was begun
with three small houses. One of the
pleasantest experiences of the writer's
life was the visit which he made to 1t
not long ago. But of such absorbing In
terest is the life story of the man to
"A
than Westminster Abbey could afford
that there is but little space in which
to describe it.
Dr. Campbell is a little man. now sew
entyfour years old. gray and grizzled.
but brimful of energy and vitality. In
his conversation there was never a note
of repining over the aff1iction which had
made his life one long night. He had
found abundant happiness in his work. II
would have been pardonable if he had
N
there was not a trace of IL. There was
only great joy that he had been able TO
do it. With such ease and CELEBRITY did he
move about from place to place that it
was difficult to believe the dark-colored
spectacles which he wore screened sight
less eyes.
One visits an institution for the blind
with the expectation of having feelings
of pity aroused for the inmates who are
laboring under such terrible affiction.
But it was impossible to feel that way AT
Norwood The master had impaired his
optimistic spirit to his pupils. They were
the embodiments of health and happiness.
A healthy mind in healthy body, IS
our motto" said the doctor. he bind
have greater need of physical vigor ana
vitality than those who enjoy the oless
ings of sight. because their alnlction
makes the struggle for existence and
living so much harder for them than Tor
normal persons.
x
AS one watched the pupils playing nine
pins in the bowling alley. performing dar-
ing acrobatic feats in the gymnasium
dashing around the rink on roller skates
or stroling about the grounds the DIM
! Guilty was to believe that they were really
| bereft OF sight. By some miracle they
seemed to have acquired sixth sense
which rendered sight superfluous. There
| were none of those timid footsteps and
| faltering movements which one naturally
associates with the blind Whatever they
did-at work or at play-they DID Win
confidence and cheerful alacrlty.
The gymnasium at Norwood Is one OF
the best equipped in London. whether
male or female. there is no inmate or the
college who does not spend portion Oh
every day in gymnastc exercises which
are so carefully graded to bring into
action every muscle of the body IN turn.
AS the result of the attention PAID 10
athletic exercise each pupil is said 10 de-
velop about two inches extra around the
waist in the first twelve months OF ms
sojourn at the college. That means ths
accumulation of a great reserve 1orce Oh
strength. energy and vitality IL accounts
for much of the rapid progress they make
in their studies ,,,
In MANY respects the teaching is like
that of an ordinary college. The curricu-
lum is a comprehensive one. ana lnciuues
English and general history. compoSltlon'
literature. natural history. potany. pns 81
oloey astronomy, physics. political econ
omy. etc But the beginning Of all sound
teachings of the blind is the kindergarten:
II is one of the most interesting sights OF
the college to see the young people nooe'
ing in clay learning to draw by the AID
of bent wires and taking their first lessons
in plating. The difference between the
children who have been taught in the
kindergarten and those who nave peen put
into the classes without having had these
ar m a yp great.
After the kindergarten the next stei
which gives manual dexterity and accu-
racv in the manipulation of tools Is the
Swedish Sloyd class. The proficienc--'
shown by the boys is amazing.
OF all the departments of the college thu
one which is of the greatest value In Mt
ting the blind to earn livelihood IS that
in which they are taught piano-tuning ana
music On this department Dr.. CampDeH
has lavished intinity of time and pa
thence 1t affords a striking contrast TO
the conditions under which he obtained
his musical education. To carry IL on are
needed four pipe organs, sixty pianos for
teaching and twenty six for instruction in
tuning.
The best testimony to the efficiency OF
DR. Campbels methods is the fact that
50 per cent of the graduates of the
Norwood College are self-supporting. ard
many of them earn an excellent livelihood.
When he began his work in England less
than 10 per cent Of the blind in this
country were earning their own living.
But the immediate work of the college al
fords only a small measure of the value Of
the work done by this outcast from Ten
nesSee 1t serves as the model for all
similar institutions in this country. Eng
lishmen believe IL is the best college for
the blind In the world. They have sub
scribed over Sl,oOoOO0 for its support.
King Edward is one of DIR. Campbelrs
warmest admirers. 1t has been rumored
that he intends to confer a knighthood
upon him But DR. Campbell has won In
this land a prouder title than any his
ma jesty could bestow upon him.
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