The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-10-19
HELP THE BLIND TO
HELP THEMSELVES.

A little more than three-quarters OF
century ago the education of the
blind was begun in the United States
by DR. Samuel Howe. Since that time
more and more has been done each
year to dispel the cloud of ignorance,
eliminate idleness and beggary from
the lives of these unfortunates and to
fill the darkened days with intellectual
thoughts and employment which stim-
ulates their brains and hands to an ac-
tive realization of brighter hopes that
bring happy independent livelihood.
No man is blind by choice, and con-
sequently would better his condition if
it be possible to do so; for since God
told Adam, the first to make his own
living, that spirit of independence has
been so thoroughly instilled in the hu-
man race that, if it has fair showing,
will come out in some form.
DR.. f. p. Lewis, of Buffalo, former
chairman New York Commission for
the blind, and president of the board of
trustees of New York school for the
blind, says "that every case of blind
ness is an economic waste, and that
every citizen has an interest in STOP
ping it. Zach man withdrawn from
active participation in the worlds
work represents loss TO his commune
ty of the earning power of sl4, 600"
DR.. J. p. Crawford, occulist, connect
ed with the school for the blind at
Nashville, says "that twenty-five per
cent Of the blind children would have
their sight if proper attention had been
given them at birth.n The United
States census department tells US that
within the bounds of sunny Tennessee
among 2,l64,7S prosperous, happy
people, there are 2,1l2 totally blind
persons. Of these only about 225 under
nineteen years of age have provided for
them by the state splendid literary
and training school which fits many
for their life work and enables them to
feel and know what it means to earn
their own bread. Again statistics show
that three-fourths of all blind lose their
sight in adult life. The tragedy of
blidness is not so much or so often the
to see as il is the prospect of
id'eness and the humiliation of proba-
bic dependence. For one who has liv-
ed and worked in the world of light to
he forced To live and to be idle in the |
crypt which idleness too often is. This
is the cruelty of becoming blind in |
q iuIt life.
Few there are who, unai I'D, are able
to rise superior to the Affections. Strange
to say, hom. friends, with the best in |
often seem TO be peculiarly |
qualified to hinder and to make mat
ters worse; for these do not know how |
to help, and besides, their ignorance of
the blind have done and can do coupled |
with the conviction which nearly every |
one harbors that il blind he could do |
more; all this heaps humilia-
lion of helplessness upon the newly |
blinded member of the family and his
condition is indeed desperate. 1t is our
duty to our state and community and |
to our fellow man, to lend hand to
lift part at least of these unfortunate
adults in Tennessee, out of this humil-
Iation and idleness and give them new |
courage and an opportunity to become
self-supporting and happy.
To do this we need your assistance to |
enlarge the small workshop opened a
year ago in Memphis, where for lack
Of means, only six men are being
taught to make brooms, mops, mat
Lresses, etc, and who now enjoy the