Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-06-16
SCHOOL FOR Blind
VERY Interesting
PLEASING PROGRAM GIVEN At
ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT
EXERCISES.
J. W. Foley Entertained Pupils for an
Hour Reading Selections From His
Various Works.

J. w. Foley of the Tribune, return.
| ed yesterday from Bathgate where he
| attended the commencement exercises
| of the state school for the blind, and
! read for IN hour or so of his verses
| to the pupils of the school, and to
several hundred guests from Bathgate
! and vicinity, who responded to a gen.
eral invitation.
There ere thirty people at the state
school, ranging in age from seven to
twenty, and all of them are making
splendid progress. The commence
ment program consisted of recitations,
instrumental and vocal selections, and
the remarkable progress of these
young people in music and general ed
ucation called forth genuine enthus-
iasm and applause. Some of the In
strumental selections, notably several
piano solos and a clarionet, would
have done credit to students in music
endowed with all of the faculties, and
having the blessed gift of eyesight.
The young people were self pos
sessed and their selections whether of
reading or music, were rendered with
expression and precision. At the close
of the program there were two Or
chestra selections, four of the men,
bers of the orchestra being blind child
rem, and they were assisted at the
piano by Miss Morgan, teacher of
music
Mr.. Foley was entertained by Supt
and Mrs. Chapple, of the state school
for the bind and was the guest at
dinner of Mr.. and Mrs. Chapple and
the five members of the board of trus-
tees of the institution. The pupils
at the institution are given a general
educational training fitted to their
years. Reading is done by the point"
method, letters being formed by rails !
ed characters on prepared paper, and
the sense of touch being employed |
to carry the impression. The pupils |
learn to read rapidly by this method,
and there is we'll selected library of
standard works, all printed by this
method and opening a field of reading
to the children even though they are
deprived of sight.
One boy who has been in the insti-
tuition but three months, has learned
to read readily by touch, and has read
Treasure 1sland,' Stevenson's fasci-
mating novel, the time employed in
finishing the book, being four weeks,
at leisure time out of school hours.
The book itself is about eight inches
thick, and about as large when OPEN
ed as a school geography.
The maps used in the study of geo.
graphy are in relief, and the young
people grow accustomed to the study
of it, and are able by simple touch
to trace rivers, mountains and the
various formations of land and water
identifying them accurately.
The exercises were interesting and
entertaining and credit is due the pu-
pills and their patient instructors for
the progress they have made. The in
stltution is substantially built, with
thirty two acres of land, a separate
power house, airy school rooms and
dormitories. The pupils have learned
the building so they go about the halls.
in and out, up and down stairs and ali
through the place, about as safely and
readily as though they could see their
way.
All of the pupils seem cheerful and
anxious to learn by the only method
open to them, and their application
and industry is especially praise