The sun., 1909-01-31

The blind men are Gaming obvirA for res
tauraDts aud clubs. whers ohttN get thu
hardest use. The brooms tbA1 make
are sold 10 hotels and faotoSivA.
They are not cheap In prize, but theJ
are hand made and they hsVs the vir.
tue Of endurance. The shan SnsnaEs.
msnt abidss by the aAsertiop tbst they
will last three times a. long "A tpS brooml
put together with machinery.
Blind men sort the corn for tbem. blind
men bind the corn to the handle. blind
men sew them, blind men hnpUh them
into dozens. and finally blind nan sells
them and makes = commisAJvn.
There used to bs In the shop = blind
veteran Of the German Wars With Austria
and France who had at home md might
have worn medals won on esttlefelds.
He was already old whom blind peAs over
came him, but when the AsAooia ton
found him he volunteered tgsin. this
time In the corps Of the broom noAksrs.
III one has courage he said, zone can
fight with his eyes shut Whjeh ~as the
braver fight. the soldiers or tne broom
makers?
woRt OF THE wohES
There are good soldiers IVA in the
women's workshop In East fjfty -ninth
street. but not so many Of thsp. One
OF them 10 a woman who has learned to
run powerful electric sewibk machine
Of the sort you see In factorivs. II ian't
every seeing woman who dArvs trust
her fingers near that lightning needle,
but the blind woman 10 its mivtrees. She
not only runs the machine AL DAY but
she makes her own clothing, and tou cant
give her needle 80 fine that she won't
put the eye OF II on her mouth ADD thread
IL with her tongue.
One Of the new industries for blind
women. new In this shop at Wy rate, is
the weaving Of pillow covers cut OF un-
spun Indian hemp. In which by a process
OF memory and counting diffsneht colors
are blended intD quaint. bsrInonious
designs. At another place ID the room
they are weaving table soarfs sbd auto
mobile scarfs Of linen and silly. and up
at one end Of the shop is loop op which
carpets and rugs are madA, Among
the products Of this little factory are
beautiful beaded electric la5nP sbades,
trimmed hats. dolls and maAS kinds Of
knitting and sewing.
Every article in the salesyoom came
from the hand Of blind man Of woman.
There Is the work OF genius al0o ksde the
work Of patient toll. A status Of a lion
by Vidal, the blind sculptor. stsods near
some simple toys manufactured by a
blind carpenter. There In q chair and q
table and beautiful shirt waist box In the
window and long linen curtaips.
There are games for the bltnd and de-
vices by which they may leaCo TO read.
One Of the exhibits ia a checkerboard
with depressed squares in which are
fitted square black pieces and eouud white
pieces. each with a different surface on
the bottom so that when one sen 10 the
enemys king row the player tnsy turn II
over and know II has been cr0Sned.
BLIND SCULPTOR AND THY 4os.
Almost everything in the ss(Aeroom has
its price. but there is a cabinet of photo
aphs illustrating the work ~ the blind
which is only to be seen. MT sold. II
you look through 1t you will fnd pic
ture that tells how Vidal learpyd TO model
his bronze lions II Ia lsIUe photo
graph Of an angry lion held in supjection
by his trainer while the blind sculptor
kneeling beside him feels the conformation
And then think Of nuaking an
object Of beauty. a work Of genius. and
never seeing 1t yourself!
Industries are the great purpOss OF the
New York Association for thA Blind, but
they are not it's only purpose, II sends
out blind teachers for the blind. who in
struct them in reading and se~ing. II
cheers the lives Of those who sre unified
for work II will take your old clothing
and give il to blind men and Noroen who
without il would not be able to make a
decent appearance in the streets. It will
take your money. too. and apply IL With
better effect than would be possible IL
you tried to give it individually.
1t picks up the blind in the 5sy ofship-
wreck and makes what salvase it can
n the regular occupations for the blind
are not suited to any man it tries TO fit
him into his place and is not eaAily
THE BLIND MEMS CInB.
The intelli gent blind man Ia ipVited to
he meetings OF the Blind Mems Improve
ment Club. and there is a similar organi-
zation for women. The ne~ guest OF
the mems club discovers that he isn't
alone in the dark. He takes peart when
he learns that many others have met bis
problem and solved il and ara Ready to
help him along.
ha Axto a III
gets is given by the members " this club.
They know. What one hasn't found out
another has. and they exchange the wis
dom OF experience. Among the sixty
or seventy members there are music
teachers. business men. INSTRUCTORS OF the
blind and superintendents Of ~orkshops
At their meetings you will hesr exquisite
singing and playing; the important top
les Of the day will be discussed with keen.
and every now aud then
q blind lecturer who makes his living
by his lectures will appear.
They have their share OF happiness
and know joke when they bvar 1t.
DO you blind men close your eyes
when you 60 to sleepl- asked an over
inquisitive woman.
Certainly not answered the vice.
president Of the club; we maze the jan
itor come around and close then.'
When the blind man 10 expecting some
thing he tells you with quiysioal smile
that he'll keep an eye out for st.
The New York Association for the Blind
began business with 500. tt thinks
It has used that one talent veil enough