The Washington herald., 1911-11-05

work-they are limited to few kinds
Of employment meant to break the
rule and, go ahead exactly as I would
have done had my sight been good. Ny
father thought of sending me to an in
stitution for the education of the blind,
but objected. I am thankful now that
I refused to go. '-
Blind Asylums Are Not Good.
Blind asylums belong to a past age,
and all Of them should be closed. Chill
dren are sent to such places and taught
music, broom making, or weaving. They
live a clustered life and associate al
together with persons who have the same
affliction as themselves. People come
and talk kindly and they get false
idea Of the state of things outside. They
are coddled and helped, but a rough
awakening comes when they go away
and begin their work Boys and girls
with eyes would be united for the
world II they were shut away for years
and restricted to weaving, broom making,
and music
Although I was only a youngster, I
had very decided views about such mat
ters- Then, too, I remembered the men
whom had seen in the Mississippi sem
ate, and I hoped to be a lawyer Right
after my second accident, 1 was taken
to New Orleans by my father for medi-
cal treatment. In some way ] got
book containing the biographies Of such
men as Calhoun. Clay, and Webster. Ny
father read the book aloud and, notwith-
standing my blindness, I was more de-
termined than ever to be United States
Senator. Back at home, the same boy
of whom I have spoken obtained a stray
copy Of the Congressional Record and
1N 90 fVH ha r0 TI1n a
the names of ali the Senators. From
that day to this have always known
the Senators from every State in the
Union.
Il had thought OF the Senate. as
said, even before I went to New Orleans.
The book Of biographies only fixed the
ambition more firmly in my mind. I
realized the disadvantages against which
should have to struggle, but felt that
1 might succeed II kept my object al
ways uppermost in my mind. since
then my life has been governed in every
respect by the decision I made at that
time. Relatives and friends thought l
ought to be a preacher. I liked to make
speeches, had Joined debating club, and
had taken part In a moot senate which I
organized, representing Ohio, as 1 re-
member, but the pulpit, as a career, even
though ] could sermoni5e twice on Sun
days and talk between times, had no
attraction for me, either spiritually or
intellectually"
Remembers How Flowers Looked.
What memories do you carry OF the
things you have SEEM" I asked.
TT has been a long. long night.
have been blind for thirty years. Nat
uralIy, have almost forgotten how the
world looks. Still, II I could open my
eyes right now, I think the sky. the trees,
and the sunbeams would seem like old
friends. I remember colors. and how the
flowers looked. I also vividIy recollect
my first sight of a railway train. 1t mys-
teriously swept across my vision when I
was eight years old. 1 can see the far
ing smokestack OF the engine, and the
little cars hitched on behind.
Going to Jackson, at the age Of
eleven, after a journey Of more than
thirty miles in a wagon, I actually rode
in a train. I had never thought of seats
being in tine cars. In the picture
imagined I saw a long narrow room on