New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-02
By BELLE MOSES

was this intimate knowledge Of the blind and their needs
that gave the first impetus toward a work that VIII
forever remain an enduring monument to these noble
women
They found that the majority Of sightcss people
intelligent and well read, and these they formed
into a subcommittee which helped them in their work
of investigation searching for the many less fortunate
blind, doomed to lives Of poverty and chccrcssncss
because in their ignorance they knew way out ot
it. Many had the erroneous idea that it was cruel
to add to their infrmily by making them labor; but
the Misses Holt contcndcd that through labor alone
could the blind reach the light Thus originated the
motto Light through Work. inscribed upon the seal
OF the association and of the Lighthouse
The sisters went mcthodicaly to work to study the
subject Miss Edith Holt undertook a census OF the
blind in Greater New York. and Miss Winiircd Holt
went to Norwood the Normal College for the Blind in
England to study English methods From there she
wrote to her sister that they must found an association
for the practical education OF the blind, to make them
wage carncrs. The first meeting Of the new associa-
ton was held in their own home November b. 1905.
The work Of the society was begun with capital 81
four hundred dollars During those first hampcrcd years
the Misses Holt gave much Of their own money to sup
ply pressing needs.
SHOULD you be so fortunate to find the Lighthouse
keeper off duty in her home, perhaps She might
give a more intimate knowledge OF her and Of tie
work she is doing.
81 am the proud owner Of seventy elephants, eX-
plains Miss Holt when she has greeted you, and she
takes huge bronze beast in her hands But III show
YOU piece OF my own work of which | am quite
fond, and picking up a baby's head in bronze she
passes loving fingers 1.-THE long, capable fingers
of the artist; for Miss Holt is a sculptor Of conSdor
able talent and enthusiastic about her art as she
is about the Lighthouse There is bias relief Of Carl
Schurz green bronze, framed, on the wall just over
the piano and at the top Of the house is her studio,
full of her work. One Of her most sympathetic studies
is bas relief Of Helen Keller which hangs in her Light
house sanctum
81 am trying to do Gods work." she tells you, "rc-
gardcss Of race or creed My only inquiries are Are
YOU blind? Do you need help? and ! open the doors
OF the Lighthouse. ! am only the keeper, you know.
depend upon my crew, and believe the work has
taken hold. Already we have three buildings Light
house No. is at III East 18th street. Lighthouse No.
is in Buffalo, and the River Lighthouse, roomy
building with beautiful grounds at Cornwall-on-thc-
Hudson, is the haven for vacations. What we need is
money to keep up the good work. Our president,
Joseph H. Choatc is forming a committee OF one hun
dred for the purpose Of soliciting funds We want to
perfect the equipment Of our sightseeing clinic We
need a loan fund to help blind people in commercial
enterprises to provide our struggling pupils with means
of livelihood until they independent and to pro-
vide for our many poor and helpless.
MISS Hollis chief assistant is the blind leader Of the
l'A mems club man whose sight left him eight years
ago mountaineering blindness which gave him time to
prepare for the day Of darkness. So much genuine
philosophy was brought to bear upon this period OF
transition that when the trial came he was ready to
meet it smingly and there is nothing about this
CHEEKY, optimistic to indicate the fire through
which he has passed. He is always busy in his club,
which boasts of one hundred and twenty men. Most
of these are independent wage carncrs many working
in the clubs special building, the Bourne Workshop
for Men, on East Both street.
The Lighthouse supplies teachers for both men and
,,,o-,o,. hut fbov are scDaratcd for intcrmarrage