The Washington times., 1914-03-09
School for Unfortunates

The Argentine Republic recently
appropriated funds for building
workshop and school for the blind.
Educators cast about for the most
authoritative source Of information
for plans for such an institution.
On all sides they were referred to
the reading room for the blind at
the Congressional Library.
Full information about SUCH in
stitutions in this country, and the
latest methods employed in indus
trial schools for the blind, were
forwarded. The building near
Buenos Aires, now is in course Of
construction along the lines thus
laid down.
One Poem In Ten Years.
An aged woman confined to
South Carolina home for the blind,
an institution of the type now pass
ing, where Il was thought all the
blind need is three meals q day and
shelter, wrote pathetic letter, say
ing that, for ten wears, she had
been given nothing to read hut one
poem.
Mrs. Rider saw the letter and
got busy. She forwarded books tC
the woman and the grateful let
ters she dictated show her to be q
lady of gentle breeding and keen
mind.
These are examples Of the routine
work done by Mrs. Rider through
the reading room for the blind. SIT
uated in the southwest corner of
Uncle Sans great library up on
Capitol Hill.
Most persons conception of the
room is a place where Few blind
persons are led daily to finger over
the worn pages of the raised let
ter books found there.
For Blind Stenographsrs.
One visit to the room would dis
pei that idea. On one table there
is a curious little machine that
looks like a stock ticker, with tape"
unrolling from one end. That is a
machine for blind stenngra piers.
and dozens of the blind have ex-
amined the invention at the Ii
brary and then arranged for the
use of one To prepare themselves
for an occupation in which they are
said to be rs efficient as sighted per-
sons.
Another instrument, at first glance.
looks to be a typewriter l. Is, but
instead OF printed letters, Taper
comes forth with curious dots be-
sprinkliDg II. That is a typewriter
for the blind, on which Ihev can
write letters either in the raised
characters for other blind persons.
or III the regular type for sighted
readers.
on Mrs. Riders table The visitor
might spy exquisite samples Of loom
work. baskctry done in quaint and
ORIGINAL designs. jars of preserved
fruit and jellies.
These are early specimens of work
done by the blind, submitted for a
permanent exhibit, with the articles
changed frequently. to be set up
in the reading room for the blind
beginning April l.
But nowhere would he see any Of
the strung beads, or the knitted
work. which was formerly thought
to be the only sort Of UtGI:ual effort
the blind could perform-pretty but
useless things folk would buy out Of
charity.
Wonderful Progress Made.
This exhibit is not to be orna-
mental" said Mrs. Rider 1T is
intended to- prove that the blind can
do practically all the useful work
a sighted person can accomplish.
We hope to demonstrate to the hum
dreds who daily pass through the
library the wonderful progress
made in training the blind in the
last quarter of a century.
You know Helen Keller has said
the only duty We owe the blind Is
to give them work. Idleness is the
bane and sorrow of their lives"
The great blind French writer.
Maurice de la Sizeranne, Mrs. Rider
thinks. has put his finger on the
real defect Of the schools for the
blind in America. In his famous
book. Through Blind Eyes" he