New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-21
TAFT LAYS CORNERSTONE
Auain Manifests Interest in Work
to Aid Blind Folk.
BIG CROWD AT CEREMONY
President Makes Brief Speech,
Then Hurries Off to Do His
Christmas Shopping.


Christmas Shopping.
| Several hundred blind mon and womei
| felt the presence Of President Taft an'
cheered his remarks at the laying ~ th'
! cornerstone fer tho first settlement hous'
for the blind IN the world at 40 M Eas
5ath street YESTERDAY afternoon. rais"'
platform had been built over the eycavs
ton for the new lighthouse. and I'm ~
centre was placed tho great oak chan
which was especially made for Presiden
| TAFT hv Henry Psuman q blind cabinet
maker. and which the President occupied
for the first time when no formally opened
tho blind workers exhibition in the Metro
poitan Opera House Last April.
The President occupied the hig chan
again Yesterday Ranked on either side
by Joseph n Choate. former Amha ssado'
! 10 Great Britain. and Governor Dix. Or
John H. Finley, president of the New York
Association for the Blind: Miss Winifred
Holt. secretary NJ the association; rabbi
Judah Leon Nsgnes. Monsgnor NJ. J
Lavelle. the Right Rev. Charles Summer
Rurch, suTragan Bishop ~ New York, and
have been particularly interested I'm the
| movement IN provide a settlement house
for the blind. sat on the platform with
President Taft.
Every vantage point AZ the windows and
on the roofs NJ neighhoring buildings was
occupied Inspector Titus and score nj
pstrolmen found difficulty in clearing an
aisle Of approach for the Presidential
party through tho crowds In East 5ath
street blind boys hand played the ma
tional airs at the Presidents arrival and
departure.
The Suffrsean Bishop offered PRAYER
after which Mr.. Choate delivered a short
address. outlining the work among the
blind which the new lighthouse would
undertake.
1T will not he luxurious home for
idlers." he said. not place Of refuge
for tho blind men and women 10 cat and
sleep, but a workshop a beehive Of indus
try a typical settlement house. where the
blind can learn TO make themselves use
full"
Miss Grace Keator, president Of the Blind
Woman's club. OF New York. presented
the trowel 10 President Taft with which he
laid the cornerstone of the new building
The President dipped the trowel I'm tur
Of mortar with great industry as Mr.
Choate said afterward, and prepared the
base TO which the big stone was lowered
with true masonic skill. After he had re-
turned from the pit 10 which he and the
faithful Major Archibald Butt descended
I'm order to lay the stone. the President
said a few words 10 the blind people pres
ent.
II car1o here IN lay tho cornerstone. and
not 10 make an address," the President
said 81 sincerely hope. as we all do, that
on this cornerstone Will be reared 4
structure which will be most useful TO the
Hind ard typical Of the duty which We who
have our sight owe TO those who have a
more difficult journey to make in life.
Miss Holt delivered a graceful address
I'm which she thanked President Taft TOT
his generous interest In the work OF the
association
I'VE have proved that this is not a work
~ charity. but of Justice" she said, and
a pretty good business proposition for the
community As friend OF justice and
freedom YOU have come to us. Mr.. Presi-
dent. and we are grateful beyond words.
Miss Holt and DR.. Finley both referred
IN the $4,000 mortgage on the new prop
ertv. and said IT was their hope that II
would be lifted by friends of the insti-
tuition.
William l. Scandlen. OF the Blind Men +
self-Improvement Club Of New York, told
President Taft how grateful the blind felt
toward him for the interest he had shown
bv his presence on this and other occa-
sions. The blind man stood directly in
front OF the President rs he was speaking,
and Mr.. Taft gently turned him to face the
the audience.
The Presidents party. escorted by two
nolicemen on motorcycles, hurried away al
the end Of the exercises, and visited some
of the stores on Fifth avenue, where Mr..
Taft did some Christmas shopping.
After his trip to the First Blind Settle
ment cornerstone laying tho President went
an q short shopping tour down Fifth ave-
nue.. Crowds saluted him at various points
along the trip and then the President went
hack TO his brothers house, where he had
rest Of about two hours unoccupled 10y
callers or business.