The Washington times., 1910-05-20
BLIND MADE HAPPY
WHEN BUSY AT WORK
Laugh and Chat Merrily
When Hands Are Kept
Busy.
ARE SOON TAUGHT
TO BE INDEPENDENT
Possess knowledge of How to
Avoid Obstacles In
Walking.

SAGINAW. Mich. May 20.-The blind
OF Michigan have for many years had
an association for the common good
among themselves It early began an
agitation for the establishment of an
industrial home for the blind which
should be a harbor of refuge 10 those
who might otherwise despair.
AS early as 1890 an attempt was made
by the Blind Peoples Welfare Associa-
ton TO establish an employment bureau
for the blind, but the enterprise failed
for lack of Funds.
The influential among the blind, how
ever; among whom were several alumni
OF the University OF Michigan, never
ceased their activities in benalf Of their
Fellow unfortunateS, with the result that
three years later a law was obtained
rounding the Michigan Employment In
stitution for the Blind Saginaw was
selected as the sea- of the Institution,
and $4,000 was appropriated for the
erection of buildingc-
Two things impress the visitor to the
institution at every tuTn-the resiliency
OF human nature, and the marvellous
adaptability of the human body. 1t
would be natural to expect that the
totally blind would become morOse and
sad Quite the contrary. The long line
OF sightless men viii march in to dinner
talking and laughing gayly. as would
any group of them In the possession of
all their senses and In the most favor
able circumstances.
knowledge Unexplained.
Ie marvellous II see with what free
dom they thread their way among
obstacles In rooms with which they are
familiar. Each man goes directly to his
place at the table without the least
hesitation or fumbling. One reaches
his chair by passing around an upright
post How he knows that It Is there
has never been explained.
Even the blind man himself cannot
tell more than that he seems 10 feel an
obstacle. The atmosphere near wall
seems different to him. 1t may be the
be the reflection of the sound Of his foot
falls; II may be some sixth sense not
yet explained, some attribute Of that
mysterious subconscious self of which
we hear so much and know so little,
but whatever Il is IL operates almost in
fallibly TO protect the blind.
The rapidity with which these men
and women learn TO do work requiring
considerable technical skill even IN those
who can see is another source Of Won
der TO all visitors to the Institution
on the upper floor Of the mems work
shop are the apprentices Watch the
young fellow who is beginning the max
ing OF a broom He is a new arrival,
and the consciousness OF his terrible
loss is still strong within him. his
sightless eyes are bent upon the work
through force of habit. and the tense
drawn muscles of the face show thai
the whole physical nature is straining
70 visualize.
Working Eyes in Finger Tips.
on the floor below man is working
who came to the institution several
years ago. quite as hopeless and bun
Cling. Now he Is making five or SIX
dozen brOOms q day. he no longer de-
meets his eyes to his work. His work
ing eyes are in the tips Of his fingers
Deity he catches the corn. the wire
WhirlS round and round, the product
grows clean and even and smooth. while
The workman with placid brow gaZes
away into those infinite vistas which
seem to open up to the blind. vision
uphampered by the sordid work of the
hands The man has been lifted up
from hopClessness and restitution to the
ability to support himself and his fam
lily.
This facility in work is the one thing
that impTesses the visitor most deeply.
The hands are trained TO act automatic
ally. The mind seems to be left free to
an extent hardly possible to those who
direct their activities by sight.
Here is a woman weaving The shut
tie fairly flies back and forth and the
web grows smooth and beautiful but
ali the time the workers real spirit
seems TO be unfettered by the exacting
details of her work. Another is sorting
broom corn: whole room fun Of
merry. chattering women are making
feather busters.
Cheerfulness and good humOr seem to
pervade the whole Institution. in marked
contrast TO the dolefuI expression assoc
clsted with the faces OF the solitary
blind occasionally seen on city streets
The secret seems to lie in the feeling Of
confidence and the sense Of usefulness
which the possession of skill brings TO
those who 3-s thus afflicted.
Old associations Cling.
There are occasional pathetic in
stances OF the clinging Of the blind to
the associations of life before their
affection came upon them. Every wo-
mans room is fitted up with all the
little bits Of ornamentation so dear to
the feminine heart. Tho walls must
have their pictures, though the ewes
can never again see them. Some subtle
satisfaction is found in passing the
smooth glass; some association which
reaches back into the glad sunlight be-
fore the long night closed in.
The chapel in the administration build
ing Is used as a place of entertainment
and frequent amateur concerts given bv
the blind, together with the long series
of rehearsals. help to relieve the monot-
ony of life outside Of working hours
In another part of the building is a
library of several thousand volumes IN
the curious raised letters which the
blind read; Among these books are
found large number of standard
works, including some of the best hc-
ton. To supplement this necessarily
restricted collection OF reading matter
an officer devOtes FIVE evening hours
week reading aloud from current news
papers and magazines to all who care
10 listen. Lectures. too. are frequently
given by outside talent. and religious
services are regularly held by pastors Of
the various city churches.
With head and hand thus occupied
the general cheerfulness and varied
daily experiences of the students tfOr
co they may he called in this inStitu-
ton so nearly approach those of the
average citizen in normal COMMUNE
ties as to render existence not merely
tolerable but rich an joyous apprecia-
ton Of life.
LITERARY CLUB
HOLDS MEETING