Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-09-24
NOBLE WORK BY
COMMISSION TO
INSTRUCT BLIND
Miss Hayes, in Charge of New
ark Branch, Tells of Aid
to Sightless.

oihAOt VI Tile DiiiQ VI IN0W OOIGSyB o.
10 Central avenue, and a talk with Miss
Lydia Hayes, whom the commission
has put in charge of the work being
one in The northern part of the State,
would convince anyone that the inter
est, in the shape of happiness, useful-
ness and independence, which the blind
row feel on the sums appropriated by
the Legislature to be used by the COM
mission is far beyond the expectation
of ever the most %sanguine friend of
the Institution.
For the first time in the history of
the State the blind are beginning 70
feel that they are a recognized part
of the community, and that they are
not objects of charity. The commission
has been in existence since last De-
cember, and has had the use of $1,000
with which to begin work. Miss Hayes
has been in the employ of the State
since March, coming from the Perkins
Institute at Boston. Mass, and the
present headquarters have been occu-
pied since June 20. 1t is the aim Of
the commission to aid the blind by
i%nstructing them in reading, writing,
~stenography, typewriting, telephone
switchboard operating, hand and ma
chine sewing, basket making, reed and
raha work, and loom weaving ana
various other kinds of work, which the
blind can learn to excel at. The COM
mission will also endeavor to secure
employment for those who have been
trained and who are competent to ac-
ceptably fill positions.
The work of Three Months.
During March, April and May Miss
Hayes familiarized herself with the
needs of about 200 blind persons, and
during those months taught about forty
of them In their homes. Since the
opening of the headquarters about
twenty persons have awaited them
selves of the educational and industrial
advantages offered them at the Central
avenue office.
Miss Hayes is assisted in the work of
instruction by Miss Mary A. Springer,
who also conducts the greater part of
the corresponding for the office and is
an expert In the various other branches
of the work.
A reporter for the EVENING STAR
was in the office while Miss Hayes die
tated a letter to Miss Springer. A
Stainsby-WaNne shorthand macnlne
was used. This machine has a narrow
tame running Through 1t which becomes
embossed as the machine is operated
and the operator after reading the
raised dots which denote the different
characters by their relative positions
transcribes the letter on the type
writer. :,
In readingathree systems are taught
the moon type to the aged blind
and the New York point and Aineri-
can Braille to younger persons Inc
New York point and the American
Rraiile are4 notifications of the origi-
nal Braillelsystem which was invented
by a blind man, Louis Braille.
The blind come here" said Miss
HAYES In speaking of her work, mot
only 10 learn, but to instruct others
We aim to teach h blind, procure
occupations for them and then have
them teach their comrades in afhic-
ton. At present we have not enough
Interested blind persons. l am certain
that there is a position open for every
blind man or woman who is well
trained, and itg is our hope that IN a
short while we will reach all the sight
less in this vicinity"
Work along similar lines is carried
IN bv Miss N. v. Ward at Camden,
N. ]. In southern Jersey, because of
the SCaIIcTeu 4pOpuldLiOAg lAAOOt VI 1H
instruction Is lone in the homes of
the blind. e. G. Baptist is employed
nv the commission two days q week to
teach reading and writing in Hudson
county N. G.. Gaylord. of Montclair,
with Henry Adicker, of Jersey City,
and Sylvester Nunot, are working hard
TO organize an association for the bet
+erment of thec condition of the blind in
Essex county. They have interested
about eighty other blind men in this
county, and will hold a meeting in the
Social Settlement building next sum
day afternoon forithe purpose of form
ing&a permanent organization.
Loan Fund from Lectures.
Besides a library and lectures on
such things as flying machines and
the like. the association hopes to loan
money at 2 per cent. to the worthy
hind SO that they may establish
themselves in some business.
Mr.. Gaylord said that $1,000 has
b~eentzromised the organization by pri-
vath individuals. If the blind have
tkeir shardships they have some pleas
IRE. too. A popular form of recrea-
Ftion is checker playing. The checker
board used is especially constructed
for the blind. The men" instead OF
differing in color differ in shape, half
square and half round. and fit into
grooves. The player can tell the posi-
ton of the linen" by running his
fingers over the board.
Separate and distinct from the work
done,a at headquarters is the work car
ried on by Miss Prout, of SO Burnet
street. Miss Prout is sighted" blu
has interested herself in the blind, and
has visited several manufacturers, and
with the aid of Miss Alice O'Neal, a
blind woman, has demonstrated to the
manufacturers that the blind car do
many kinds of work hitherto done only
by those possessed of sight. She has
placed a young in a talcum
powder factory, one in a candy store,
and has proved that the blind can do
book-folding and brush-mtking.
The last Legislature appropriated
s22,0 900 for the use of the commission.
$4,000 Of which will be used for the
advancement of adults.
One of the drawbacks connected with
Hhoorfrxlxaoec