Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-11-08
BLIND MUSICIANS
MANAGE Farm

Couple Spent Years Travelling THRU
Country and Saved Earnings
Jet, Okla.-Despite the fact that
both are totally blind, Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry A. Hubbard successfully oper-
ate the farming part Of half section
Of land they own just west OF Jet, In
Alfalfa county. Both are retired mu-
sicians and expect to spend the rest
Of their days ON the farm enjoying
life. They have travelled extensively
all over the United States giving con-
certs with various sorts Of musical
instruments. but three years ago set
tied down to the rural life near here.
Mrs. Hubbard was blind at birth
and her husband was made SO pre-
vious to their marriage. Curiously
enough they use different systems Of
reading, and each reads O great deal,
them on the round robin plan from the
blind schools. Mrs. Hubbard is an
adept at reading by the raised letter
system and has read many standard
works during the past three years. She
has just finished Hawthorne's MAR.
BILE Faun.' Her husband uses a more
modern way Of reading and one con
sidered by those who know 1t to be
faster than the raised letter system.
It Is a series of holes cut in the pa
per at intervals. They are located,
from one to six, both above and be-
low standard line, designating a
character. Reading occupies a great
part of their time when they are not
at work doing one of the many chores
about the farm.
To the casual observer the farm is
no different from the usual well ar
ranged farm in the community. It Is
a noticeable fact that all of the ma
chinery and implements used are kept
In sheds and out Of the way, and that
there are none of the small pieces ly-
Ing around, however, and one in pass
Ing the place would be led to remark
There is a capable farmer, who is
able to keep everything in condition
and does So"
A niece and nephew live with Mr..
and Mrs. Hubbard, but Mr.. Hubbard
does practically all of the outdoor
work. He knows every horse, mule,
hog, cow and even chicken he has on
the place and last winter broke two
Young mares to do farm work. He
milks three cows, feeds the hogs him
self and apparently has no trouble
keeping up the work of the usual
farmer. Mrs. Hubbard is equally as
useful with her homework and there
IS not a heater home In the county
than that of the Hubbards.
Time was when these two people
were on the road all of the time.
Blind musicians with the ability they
are able to show, are in demand In the
musical circles of the country and
they found no trouble In getting all
Of the engagements they could fill
Playing practically every instrument
made, the two of them composed an
orchestra, one of their program num-
bcrs being a duet in which seven in
struments were played at the same
time.
They were able to save a good part
Of their earnings, which were quite
large in the course of few years and
three years ago, they became the own
ors of the half section of land west of
Jet in Alfalfa county. Then they de.
cided to forsake the road and settle
down on the farm and there to spend
the rest of their lives.
Sometimes an evening Is spent at
The old home in talking of the many
pleasant days spent while the two
we're journeying together as must
clans and the talk drifts to possibility
of going back again some time for a
single season, just for a sort of re-
membrance. The old instruments are
brought out and the natives around
ore treated to some music they sell
dom hear elsewhere. It sounds so
much better to the blind musicians,
however, in their own home than 1t
did on the concert stage that after a
little while all thought OF another
tour Is given up and the rest of the
evening is given over to playing all Of
the old tunes again.
So these two people will continue
to enjoy life on their farm near this
place, giving over an evening occas-
ionally to their music, and despite
the fact that neither is able to see ma.
lures beauty and the development Of
the natural resources on their home
place, will continue to get the best
there is out of the farm and at the
same time continue to get the best
there is out of life.