The Washington times., 1914-05-22

willing He could meet all his needs.
Then, almost without warning, he
ceased TO see.
Besides all the terrible loneliness
of 1t all. besides the sorrow Of never
again beholding this beautiful earth,
with all natures wonders and with
the faces of loved ones blotted out
forever. he was now without means
OF support He did not know how to
work without his sight.
There were only two courses open
to him: to depend upon the gener-
osity of relatives to support him IL
he had any, or to live upon charity.
Perhaps he might barely keep body
and soul together by selling pencils
or shoestrings on some street corner.
The same conditions present them
selves to the adult blind who were
born so. There are no schools in the
District of Columbia which give the
blind a. vocational training or any
sort of an education so that he may
be self-supporting. The number OF
means by which the sightless can
earn a good living is surprising to
the uninitiated
Why Organized.
II was to take the blind of the
streets of Washington that a group
OF women organized IN 1897 the Aid
Association for the Blind. No more
worthy charity exists In the Dis
trict Of Columbia than this society
which endeavors to give to those who
are unable to support themselves q
home where they might be cared for,
and. II possible. taught to do some
kind of work which would help them
to earn their daily bread.
In 1899. 1t was decided to incorpo-
rate the association, so the necessary
articles were signed by the following
seven ladies: May d. Russell Young,
Catherine NJ. Keith, Henriette C.
Metzerott, Kitty Rose Pepper, Alice
U. Hunt, Laura V. Sylvester, and
Marguerite Dickens. Then, through
the kindness of Stilson Hutchins,
VINO was in sympathy with this WORK,
they were given an equity in the
house at 915 z street, which they &C.
cupied until November. 1913, when
they moved into their new home,
$3.50 r street f-
Speaking OF this new building, c. c.
Campbell, of the Ohio commission
for the blind. said that 1t is the most
beautiful home for the blind In the
United States.
Until this association was organized
hnUna Tor he nd IN
the city. There was some provision
for almost every other class of af-
fiicted and needy, but none at all for
those who walk in darkness. Many
children between the ages of seven
teen and eighteen years have been
sent to the Maryland School for the
Blind, in Baltimore. where they are
educated at the expense of the Gov
ernment. but pupils returning here.
who had acquired a certain pro-
fciency at trades and work of various
kinds. have no opportunity to benefit
by their training.
Need for Home.
Furthermore, general statistics
show that only 10 per cent of the
blind can enjoy the advantages af-
forded by such institutions as the
disability comes TO the remaining 90
per cent too late In life, hence the
crying need for a home and work
shops where those who have had no
opportunity to learn to read or TO do
any kind of work can be taught.
In the basement of the Home for
the Blind work shops have been
fitted up where the men make
brooms, cane chairs, and remake
mattresses. The rooms are large and
airy. and open upon a court where
the men can work in summer. They
do the most intricate chair Gaming OF
large and odd shaped chairs.
A new broom machine OF the most
modern type has just been installed,
a gift OF a good friend of the asso-
ciation- The women do all kinds
of knitting. such as shawls. baby
sacuues, slippers and lace. make
many kinds of baskets, and do plain
sewing. We have one expert piano
tuner, and he is teaching one of our
Young men to do the same work.
The Necessary funds for the support
Of the home are received from the
dues of the 100 active members Of
the association, from the donations
OF our regular sustaining members
and those who are temporarily inter-
ested in our work In addition to
this. we have held baZaars, and
lunches and owing to the kindness
Of the managers of the Columbia
Theater, We have had a benefit per-
formance each year which has added
considerably TO our income.
ThC Board of Charities allows us
$50 monthly in part payment for fve
inmates who are wards Of the Dis
trict and who otherwise would be In
the Washington Asylum. The amount
received from the work of the in
mates. after all supplies and wages
are paid, is very small, as each one
is given one-half the net proceeds
OF any work which they do, thus
giving them a feeling of independ,
ence which otherwise they would moi
have.
From time to time legacies havt
come to us from friends interested
in our work. among them being Still
son Hutchins. Theodore 4. Mayer
and Mrs. z. c. deQ. Woodbury.. A
tablet in memory to these three vii
be placed in the main hall OF the
building. II Will be seen that VIC arr
entirely dependent upon .he bene
factions OF our friends as no appro,
priation has ever been given US BY
Congress.
Besides the good work done by
the members OF the association
there are at least three others who
help TO make the paths of these un.
fortunates easier.
DR. Louis AIaCkall serves as Z
visiting physician to the home, and
Dr. Mary Parsons gives her services
10 the women.
Then there is Mrs. Cuttings. this
matron. a woman providentially sen'
to do 4 work of love to the afflicted
"A work requiring traits of charaC.
ter seldom found in any one person
To her wise and judicious manage
ment is largely due the success!
which has come to US during thes'
fourteen years. With untiring yea
she has not only attended to tn,
house, but to all the work OF tn,