Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-11-20

athletic meet of tha schools far the
blind. with the attendant excitement of
Other athletic meets are seemingly rc-
cent developments which have greatly
interested thr seeing world Hs novel;
tias. but che director of tho Perkins
Institution. Edward BE- Allen. says that
this development bias been coming on
for DO years. and though The annual
meet has been cclcbuted but twice. % is
che result OF the new spirit In the edu-
cation of the blind which has been
evolving for some time. and that IL Is
less new Boz Philadelphia. whore be- first
tried the Idea. than ia Boston
Athletics. oi outdoor competitive
sports Tor the blind might be- regarded
O. feature lf the new spirit in cduca-
tiou generally which has affected the
seeing youth also through the develop
meut of Fairgrounds and manual trains
ing Manual training however. was
not new feature Boo the education OF
the blind when it appeared as such iu
tho schools for seeing children. That
and music had all the time been the
'loug suit Of the blind though thn
emphasis OF this new feature in the
schools made for greater appreciation
OF The blind chlds dcxterty But
what the new psychology tfcr that o.
the core Of the new education) points
out as the greatest handicap Of the
blind child ls lack OF confidence lack
OF hope and herein lies the value of
sports, And when YOU stop TO think OF
&c. as MI Allen points out, there is no
reason why a boy built for a good run
per should not excel as runner.
though he be blind. provided De has
the assurance in running that there r.
no obstacle IN the way The director
OF sports sees Co that By the placing
OF wires % indicate the course. The boy
OF young man runs, and the blind fell
low may beat the record Of the seeing
fellow, 90 De is the better runner THAT
Hives him confidence" says MT Allen.
"and what he needs Is confidence if hC
is 10 make his way in the. world
People think Of the blind man. CON
tInues MI Allen. cas- the man they see
on the corner. but blind men have at
tainmcnts which can help them Co get
on in the world if they have confidence.
We done want he blind To- stay at
home. They must not stay at home
They must get out in the world and
confidence in themselves win make
them succeed there.
Another thing we want Of the blind
man D. that hc should learn 90 buy
something FOR one price the best price
he can and sell IL for a better one. The
business principle has not been strong
among the blind. but they must learn IL
if they are 20 be sclf-dcpendent and
succoed-and they can succeed IN COM
petition with seeing people as one o..
our graduates has proved, lie was
educated In our tuning department and
took up the business 81 buying and
selling pianos, He has succeeded. He
is said 20 be "a millionaire. He Is GER
tainly wealthy and enjoys the privileges
% wealth, with yachting and foreign
travel This case b. one Of many which
illustrate the possibilities OF a. business
career for the blind man.
Such possibilities are Increased by
competition al athletics and also by Dis
physical well-bcng which les promoted
through his sports
I'm the social life Of the blind student
the Improvement through athletics has
been most marked out door life. so
far as available. and play apparatus
have furnished a wholesome topic ~
conversation as well as a suitable pas
time. Such also has proved the in
novation Of game room open only
evenings, and hence always a fresh
source Of enjoyment while practical
value as we'll as a pastlmc has been
found Ina the opportunity Of Gaming
chairs Tor money. which the energetic
and thrifty students have used for
starting bank accounts In Mr. Aliens
name Thus has provision been made
under the new leadership for the re-
creation periods which before were Of
such melancholy sort that h seemed
advisable 20 shorten them. though the
time was needed FOR purposes II recrea-
ton that was really rccreative. But
TO stand around In tho house and talk
or 60 by themselves and brood. that
was and is." says Mr. Allen. "a situa-
ton that had 10 be- guarded against
most strictly In the life of the blind,
or any shut-in people, and wholesome
play has happily saved the young peo-
pie from this habit Of Interrogation.
and made desirable the periods Of rec
reation for the JOY that Stanley Han
talks about
The delight OF the blind youth. even
as bystanders at their gpOrtF is most