New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-17
BLIND TO HAVE BIG DAY
Taft Will Open New Lighthouse
on February p.

Washinston's Birthday will be mem
orable day for the blind people OF this
city. On that day President Taft Will
formally open the new Lighthouse when
the New York Association for the Blind
has just completed at No. III East 5sth
street. at cost of $4,000.
There is no other building in the world
Just like the new Lighthouse. for it IS
both clubhouse. where blind men.
women. bows and girls may meet socially.
and a settlement house. where the blind
will be taught reading. sewing. weaving,
stenography. dancing. gymnastics and
score of other Things that help 10 make
them useful citizens.
Every floor has its special purpose ac-
commodating among other things. IL
orary OF books I'm raised type. gym
nasium swimming pool and bowling al
leys. a restaurant, salesroom and an
application bureau museum containing
the history Of the emancipation Of the
blind" a roof garden. an outdoor running
track and numerous c!assrooms. where
instruction is to be given both DAYTIME
and evenings.
Joseph ii. Choate will preside al the
exercises. which Will be opened with
prayer by Monsignor NJ J. i.syelle. rec
tor of -. Patrck's Cathedral Rabbi
Judah l.. Magnes will read from the
Psalms. and Bishop David II. Greer will
offer the benediction. Besides President
Taft. the other speakers will be DIR. John
II. Finley. president OF the College OF the
city of New York who is also presIden:
A. N. al, no - a
vice-president OF the association: DR..
William II. Maxwell. City Superintendent
OF Schools: Miss Winifred Holt founder
and secretary OF the association ESen i.
Morford. blind man. who IS president OF
the American Association Of Workers for
the Blind. and w. !. Scandin. president
OF the Blind Mems Club.
Upon President Tafts arrival al the
Lighthouse. al o'clock p. NJ. lie viii oe
met by squad OF blind Boy Scouts. who
will escort him TO his seat on the plat
form. Following the speeches. group
of Olind boys and girls will present a
miracle play. The Blind Cnchained.
written for the occasion BY Miss Ilol,
and Miss Carolyn. Wells. The children
who will appear in this play have been
tOdCn6O ana Nilitu " RUIN W ihc
Mathieson the actress.
There will also be an exhibition mir
tary drill by blind Boy Scouts from the
public schools. followed by an inspection
OF the building by President Taft end the
other guests OF honor. General T.. p.
Rowe is chairman Of the committee on
ARRANGEMENTS while the reception com
mittee, composed entirely Of blind men. is
headed by Charles Bowman, d blind up
| holsterer.
| One of the many unusual features OF
| the Lighthouse is that its halls stair
cases and meeting rooms are free from
| sharp angles and corners that might in
terfere with the goings and cominss OF
the blind folk as they move about. This
| innovation Is the result Of ideas which
Miss Holt has gathered in the course OF
! her long study Of conditions among the
blind here and abroad. The bowling al
leys in the basement were modelled after
! bowling alleys for the blind which Miss
Holt found in use in Vienna, while the
swimming pool was suggested by a pool
! In Prague.
A home for blind girls in Jerusalem
supplied the idea of the roof garden and
"cloister" fire escape. while the business
classrooms are patterned after those in d
similar establishment at Halifax.