The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-10

ago and the bright philosophy Of life
which he has developed for himself
pervades the place. Mr.. Pearson's
theory of conducting st. Dunstand's
was expressed by him to represent
alive OF the Associated Press thus:
handicapped, Not Afflicted.
The main endeavor here is to get
into the minds OF the blinded men
the root principle that they are
handicapped. not afflicted. The lat
ter word is used far too freely in
connection with blinded folk. Tell a
man that he is afflicted and his mem
tai outlook on life will bear the
stamp. But tell him he is handicap
ped and II he is good fellow at
heart his sporting spirit will assert
itself and he will adopt the means
that are shown him to enable him TO
catch up with the fellows to whom
circumstances have given a start"
Since the school work ut st. Dun
STAINS began thirty-five men have
been graduated. having learned one
or more occupations. such as boot
repairing, massage, Matchmaking,
5oinery, poultry farming and market
gardening. Virtually all Of these
men read and write Braille and type
write with the ordinary machine. All
are now said to be earning good in
comes.
There are seventy-two teachers.
all but twelve OF them voluntary,
and each pupil has individual In
struction. Many of the instructors
themselves are blind. "The feeling
Of helplessness which overwhelms a
strong, healthy, newly-blinded man. -
said Mr.. Pearson, lis incredibly re-
lieved when he finds that he who
is to instruct him in some profitable
employment Is suffering from the
same handicap as himself"
The working day Is divided be-
tween the class rooms, workshops
and training schools 10 that each
man acquires an all round education.
All the students learn to read and
write Braille, and some Of them are
studying music. A number of men
have learned the difficult art of read
ing with finger tips in two weeks
Seventy-three have passed the type
writing test. which means that they
can write a letter without mistake
at fair rate Of speed. When man
passes this position he receives a
price of a stypewriter.
Ono Of the most remarkable fea-
lures Of the school Is the progress
being made by some Of the men in
learning Braille shorthand. They
operate on little machine of seven
keyes which punches the characters
on strip OF paper. These characters
later can be read with the finger tips
and transcribed on the typewriter.
Several OF the men who were secre-
taries before joining the army are
learning shorthand and tipping for
the purpose of resuming their former
work.
| In the shops men who have never
handled tools become adept quickly.
A few weeks practice enables many
OF them to acquire such skill that the
articles they produce are salable.
Door-mats. baskets Of eveyy shap and
size. bookcases, picture frames and
many other things are turned out in
the workrooms with accuracy and
finish.
Taught Poultry Keeping.
Near the workshops Is the poultry
farm where those men who desire to
live in the country are taught poultry
keeping. and simple market garden
ing. The men quickly become pro-
ficient, learning to distinguish the
different breeds Of fowl, to tell the
weight of bird. to manage incuba-
tors. and all the rest that goes with
poultry raising.
Mr.. Pearson believes that the
massage business is likely to prove
the most lucrative Of the occupations
taught at st. Dunstan's. Primary
instruction in anatomy and physlol-
ogy is given at the hotel, and when
the primary stage is passed tuition Ia
continued In the massage department
at the National Institute for the
Blind.
Among the students in the mas
sage department is Clutha Macken-
zie, son of Sir Thomas Mackenzie,
high commissioner of New Zealand.
Clutha Mackenzie Ia hardly more
than boy, but he has accepted the
inevitable cheerfully and Is studying
assiduously to master the ways OF the
kingdom Of darkness. He is but one
OF many interesting young men
among the students.
The average duration Of training
at st. Dunstan's is probably about six
months. When the men leave the
hostel great care is taken to see that
they settle in suitable localities
where the work they have selected
can be pursued. Their training
places them In q position OF compar-
alive independence for In addition to
what they can earn they receive PEN
sions Of about Sc o week, and more
in the case OF non-commissioned Of
ficers.
After-Care Object,
Mr.. Pearson state dthat the Ma
tional Institute for the Blind has
started special branch which has
for its object the after care Of blind
ed soldiers and sailors. It Is plan
ned to erect q largo building to be
devoted principally to this use. There
raw material will be supplied to the
men at cost price, and difhculties
with regard to selling goods made
will be smoothed over. In such work
as boot repairing. where NO articles
are produced, every effort will be
made to secure steady employment.
It Is not all work and NO nay Mt