The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-27
.LEDBY BL|ND,TAFT
HASSEATOF HONOR
Fc Occupies Great Chair Made
by Sightless Uphol-
stercr.
FORMALLY OPENS EXHIBITION
Hundreds Present to Hear
President Who Cannot
See Him.
FORMALLY OPENS EXHIBITION

New York, April 28.-The plight of
the sightless, his pride in the militia
and tho call of the Hungarian Repub-
lican Club. brought tho President Of
tho United States to New York to-
night; invitations from the Associated
the A~oronauticnl Society Will keep him
hero until midnight tomorrow busy
With formal and oxtemporaneous adj
dresses. =
Standing tonight on the stage of the
Metropolitan Opera House among q
group of distinguished guests. includ-
ing Associate Justice Hughes. OF the
United States Supreme Court, Cover
nor Dix and Mayor Gaynor. the Pres.
ident touched o button which flashed
a light from n large papier machc
lighthouse. opening what is said to
DO the largest exhibition OF tho work
OF the blind ever held.
Mr.. Tnft's arrival had been preceded
by an organ prelude by Miss Sophie
~Grabowski a blind musician, who oc-
cupies n front rank among tho or
ganists Of America. The applause for
her work and the ovation to the Pres
ident kept the great audience ~clappipe
and cheering for several minutes.
Denied Circuit spectacIe.
Among tho 5000 persons at the meet
Ing were hundreds of sightless TO
whom was denied the spectacle which
tho great gathering Afforded Ind tho
marvels of their own handicratt which
were placed on public Xhibi
Tho President occupied u chair
which wae made by a blind upholsterer.
and to which a eiegation OF hind
people led him. Joseph III. Choate read
q letter from United States Senator
Gore, the blind statesman of Oklohamo
expressing regrc ut not being able
to attend. and praising the work which
the association for the blind is doing.
inc Presidents address was n warm
tribute to the Now York Association
Tor the Blind and a hearty apprecia-
ton OF the work 1t is doing for those
whose loss of TINT sense which en-
abies us TO see. to read. TO rejoice In
the rising sun and marvel in the
beauty OF the setting sun. is a depriva-
ton, the very thought of which nelts
our hearts and brings tears to our eyes
for those thus afflicted"
He reviewed the history of the move
ment TO Introduce light into the life
of the Blind and commended the
campaign for proper treatment at
birth 10 ~ophthalmia neonu-
forum.
The President declared also that the
kindergarten for the blind should he
encouraged. as at rescucs the poor
blind children under school ago from
imbccile and idiotic asylums. and gives
them the opportunity to show that
their minds are not defective, thus
saving a lumber who would otherwise
seem hopelessly deficient to become
fully developed by the influences OF
primary II secondary education"
President Taft also spoke II word IN
favor OF more vocational schools for
the blind.
Letter From Miss Keller.
Miss Winifred Holt. secretary of the
New York Association for the Blind, and
moving spirit of the exhibititn. with
whom President Taft had dir-,d car
ilier In the evening. read Z letter from
Helen Keller, "thc foremost blind wo-
man in the world" saying that the
work OF the New York Association in
turning blind people 10 profitable en-
pioYnent had opened up what might
DC termed a new era for the blind.
Miss Holt sail that the association
had come in contact with more than
i,OuO blind persons and had helped
hundreds of them 10 become %Jelcphonc
operators. BARRIERS, stenographers, COOKS
aud laundrcsscs, wireless Telegraph
operators. ~carpentcrs and statesmen,
while many had risen 10 professional
life.
At the exhibition ~to-nigli, a spccial
demonstration of athictics was given
by the boys from the Pennsylvania IN
stitution for tho Instruction Of the
Blind. President Taft was so much
interested in this that he waited afte-
his speech to sec what the boys could
do.
The President then went to the sew
cnty-nrst Regiment Armory. New York
National Guard, where he reviewed the
men.
Shortly after II o'clock the President
reached the Cafe Boulevard. where the
Hungarian Republican Club dinner was
held. and as fo was thoroughly hungry,
nc sat down at once to dinner, amid
a deafcning ovation.
An incident i'll connection with the
Presidents visit was the presentation
to him ut = reception or the Military
Order Of Foreign Wars OF a gold. Jew
eled badge. representing honorary
membership in the order.