Evening star., 1915-10-26
CARING FOR THE BLIND
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

uniform type system is one of the
results of the National Congress for
the Blind, which has just been held IN
San Francisco. For ten years a COM
nittee, composed chiefly of blind per-
sons. has been engaged in the work OF
con. .binlng the best features OF the hve
distinct kinds of type heretofore IN
use. The completion of this task, ana
the final adoption of the new system,
will prove a great boon to the $4,000
blind persons in the United States
Primers and other books in the new
type are now being made and will soon
be available. Those who are able to
read either Braille or point readily will
find no difficulty with the new type,
and it will be more simple for begin
ners than any now in use.
No division in the Library of Con-
gress is accomplishing greater good
than that devoted to the interests of
the blind. 1t has been reorganized and
greatly extended under the admfnis-
tration of Mrs. Gertrude Ryder. the
little woman whose skill and ready
sympathy have cheered the darkened
lives of SO many unfortunate people
in all parts of the country.
The books for the blind are bulky
volumes, an ordinary novel being fire.
Quently the size of three large family
Bibles. These great books are carried
postage free in the United States mail
in order that all the blind of the nation
may have reading matter within their
reach. The resources of the great ma
tional library for the blind are as ac-
cessible to the poor sightless woman on
a remote ranch in Wyoming as if she
could visit the building in person The
personal interest and sympathy ex-
pressed in the kindly little notes which
go out with the books are source of
comfort to the lonely recipients
The Lady of the Library as Mrs
Ryder is called by the blind people, is
in close personal touch with Individual
cases all over the country, giving sug-
gest!ons and aid frequently outside the
limits of ordinary Institutional work.
She takes delight in securing employ
ment suited to personal qualifications.
One of her special charges at present is
a young man under life sentence in the
Wyoming oenitert .ry. Tie is man Of
education. speaking eight languages
fiuently- He had been the honor man
in his class during his first year in col
lege. The next year his work fell be-
hind. His uncle, who was educating
him. reproached him bitterly for his
supposed lack of zeal. A quarrel en-
sued. and the boy picked up a stick
and struck his uncle. The blow was
harder than he intended and his bene-
factor was killed. Shortly after he re-
ceived his long sentence blindness came
upon him The prison physicians GER
tifed that II had been developing for
months. that the disease which pro-
duced 1t was responsible for his fall
ing back In his work and for the trri-
liability which caused the fatal quar-
rel.
He has been a model prisoner for
years He would be pardoned but for
the fact that he
farQ0n awaits has no one to
Means of Living. ana ana na care ooouna oo MN
tion has yet been found by which his
talents can be made to support him.
ested senators. representatives and 9th
er public men in his behalf. Some
where a place is going to be made
which he can fill In the meantime, he
has learned to read the type for the
blind and enjoys the books which are
supplied him in generous numbers from
III library of Congress
h.aE:ng thoroughly studied the work
beng done for the blind in the leading
institutions of Europe. Mrs. Ryder
went TO Japan this summer and stud
led the different methods in use there
Under the old form of family govern
ment which prevailed in Japan for cen.
turtles, all massage work had been re.
served entirely for the blind No see.
ing person was permitted to engage ir
It Recently, however, the profession
has been invaded by seeing persons
and as compensation the blind stu.
dents In the schools are being taueh,
an operation which for centuries ha.
beer known in Japan as marvelou,
means of relieving pain from rheuma
tism, neuralgia or other suffering due
to diseased or irritated nerves.
This operation is known as hart n,
acu-puncture. and is performed with .
silver instrument of hairlike fneness
The operator first messages the painfu
part until the surface is slightly be.
numbed. and then begins to insert tn.
needle He gently pushes 1t deep into
the flesh until 1t reaches and puncture,
the diseased nerve. Relief is instan.
taneous. On account of the pliab!lit,
of the needle and the dexterity of tn,
blind operator. this operation is accom-
plished without the slightest pain L
the patient. The students in the schoo
gain dexterity by practicing upon on,
another and upon the poor patients VIII,
come in for free treatment, after tn,
custom Of clinics in this country
1t IL encouraging to know that :
large part of the worlds best litera
ture IL now being issued in type capa
BILE ef being read by the finger tips o.