Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-05

recent mothers congress at
n session given over to the con-
sideration of the problem of the
blind Miss Winifred Holt of
New York. read a paper on New Oppor-
tunities for the Blind She said in part:
Though some blind people are pltiful
drags there has been a large number
of them whose blindness was merely an
incident and whose usefulness to the COM
munity is eternal. Among these are
Homer Milton. Valentin Hauy, Louis
Braille, Dr. Moon. Francois Huber. San
derson, Helen Keller and many others
whose writings inventions and scientific
revelations are our permanent heritage
of good. There is notable company OF
blind parliamentarians. statesmen, judges,
writer's, teachers. editors, captains of In
dustry musicians, a blind sculptor, an ar
chitect, etc, whose concentration and
observation seem to have been increased.
rather than diminished by their handl-
cap.
1--WE have crowd of industrious. hum
BILE blind toilers. who have Sravely sup
ported themselves and often their fami-
lies by massage. piano tuning. printing
carpentry. weaving. Recommending, bas-
ket-making. chair-caning. cobblfng, lace
making, knitting. sewing. etc. The work
of all these Is history for any one who
will take the trouble to read 1t, but there
is no question that In these humble ranks
have been confined many able blind
people whose abilities should have fitted
them for higher fields. 1t is the recog-
milton of this fact and the consequent IN
yestigation of new industries and the
invention of new appliances OF use to the
blind which has resulted in new move
ment for them, which has as its war-cry,
light through work. new work, work
suited to the individual and work calling
for the highest faculties which he can
use despite his handicap.
"A startling fact which We must not
overlook, and which cannot be too often
repeated. is that about one-half of the
blindness in the world is unnecessary.
Over 80 per cent of 1t Is caused by the
criminal neglect of the eye, or nlants.
OF course the stopping of this needless
suffering and waste Is the first consld-
Grafton of the problem, but our immediate
business is with those who have already
become blind.
"Our first duty in recognizing new OPP
portunities for the blind is the first action
in recognizing our duty to any other hui
man being Put him in healthful, happy
surroundings. Insist on his having plenty
of exercise, fresh air and fun. These
three rs are as essential for the we'll
being of the blind as for the seeing-free-
dom. fresh air and fun.
Some effort to help the blind has been
made in most parts Of the world. In
Jerusalem the blind girls have a roof
garden on which they play. In China
they make useful articles and are taught
music. but in Japan of all places In the
orient the blind. instead of being forgot
ten, as in some parts OF our own coun-
try, have been :" privileged class. well
coined and holding positions at court, re-
spected even as money lenders. teachers,
musicians, masseurs and in other occupa-
tions where they have shown their abil-
ity. OF the 1000 masseurs In Toxic, 800
are blind. and most o fthem make good
self-supporting wage. There are many
good blind music teachers. and for long in
Japan music was considered field which
belonged rightfully to the blind and
which should not be ransgressed upon
too much by the seeing.
LAS it is impossible in this paper COM
pletely to review the work Of the blind, I
will merely touch on certain opportuni-
ties for them, as exemplifed in a Jew
places. Perhaps the greatest work on the
continent of Europe for the blind has been
accomplished in France, which was the
pioneer European educator for them.
Apart from remarkably good schools for
them in Paris. the Valentin Hauy Asso-
citation has established beyond doubt the
as librarians for the blind. One Of its
seven blind librarians reads 300 Braille
raised-print words minute. The secre-
tary of this association, NJ. de la Sizer-
anne. himself without sight, is the sue
cessfuI architect of the beautiful building
which his organization now occupies.
was srprised to see him last year with a
carpenters rule directing the sighted
workmen in the details of finishing the
building which he, a totally blind man,
had himself designed. In France. blind
sighted. and the blind music teachers who
graduate with good diplomas from the
schools are in demand. There have been
no less than fifteen blind organiStS in the
great Paris churches.
~
Austria. the next country in Europe to
take up the education of the blind. has
made many efforts for them. History
records the remarkably beautiful dancing
our blind neighbors near Philadelphia is
also admiral BILE. and 1 myself have enor-
mously enjoyed dancing with the blind
teachers of the school at Overbrooke, on
one or its festive evenings. Dancing is
particularly good for the blind, as it is
healthy exercise. in which the music di-
verts. and the rhhthm helps to make 1t
pleasurable for those who do not have the
distraction of sight in mechanical and un-
accompanied exercise.
"In Sweden we find number of good
blind carpenters. Denmark has done es-
pecially good work for blind women
Throughout Europe the movement in be-