The sun., 1919-02-15
COLLEGE FOR BLIND
GIRLS, PEARSON AIM
British Publisher Announces
lie Will Establish One in
England.
SAILS FOR HOME TO-DAY
He Expresses Appreciation to
American Public for Kind
ness Shown Him.

In Offering higher education" TO
women America was the pioneer. but
England Is going to beat us In offering 1t
to blind women. Sir Arthur Pearson,
who will sail for home to-day, said yes
terday that the first thing he would turn
his hand TO when he reached the other
side would be the establishment Of col
lege for blind girls.
The National Institute for the Blind.
Of which he is president. has its plans
for this institution all prepared and
site selected near Stroud. In Gloucester
shire. At first It will have accommoda-
tons for forty students. some OF whom.
Sir Arthur hopes. will go from the United
States A college for blind young men
is already organized. and II will be I'M
proved.
The British publisher. who deems HIM
self fortunate in having been able TO be-
come the helper and champion of the
blind since his own sun went out nve
years ago, has spent six weeks In the
United States and Canada. What with
much travel, speech making. investiga-
ion and correspondence he confesses that
his great store OF energy has been Sc
vereIy taxed and that he will be grateful
for the brief rest afforded by the voyage.
But he will take no vacation.
Enough to Keep Him Busy.
"I have virtually rid myself Of all my
business affairs" he said TO THE Sun
reporter at the Plaza Hotel yesterday
but the work I have laid out for my
SELF In relation to the betterment OF the
condition OF the blind will easily take
eynArf to
live and I must be busy all the time.
IT WISH" he added. that you would
express TO the American public my APP
probation OF the kindness shown me
here and the interest that has been
taken In the matter that / have talked
about have been receiving an enor-
nous number OF letters-so many thar
I could not answer all of them. l be-
lieve that in my room here at the hotel
l have dictated about as many letters
as I would dictate at homo in the same
period.
II have received suggestions. advice
and words OF announcement. and also
nave received many letters from blind
persons or their relatives seeking coun-
sci. I have been asked 10 speak In all
the larger American cities as far west
az San Francisco and am heartily sorry
that l cannot extend my visit
II have far exceeded my programme
as It Is. for my objects in coming to
America were simply to confer with Col
soldiers at the United States Government
Hospital. Evergreen. near Baltimore;
and to be in Canada long enough to meet
our soldiers who have gone home to the
Dominion after a period at st. Dunstans
Hostel In London. and TO meet the rela-
tives OF those still at ST. Dunstan's and
tell them how their boys are getting on"
Thirteen Speeches in SIX Days.
The fact is that Sir Arthur spent n
week IN Canada and made thirteen
speeches in six days-a record for him
which he hopes never will be broken.
He has also addressed meetings In Phil
adelphia. Baltimore and Chicago in ad-
ditlon to making several public appear
ances here. to say nothing of no end Of
private dinners at which New Workers.
specially interested in his life work
made him tell over and over the story
OF st. Dunstans and the emancipation
of the blinded soldiers that Is In pro-
gress there. After his talks In Chicago
an association was formed which he be-
llcves will do a great deal toward i'm
proving the condition OF the blind In the
Middle West.
considering the enormous wealth of
this country and its interest in all &C
tivities in aid OF the disabled" Sir Ar
thur said yesterday: II have found that,
generally speaking-he sure and empha-
size the word generally--blind civilians
are not at all adequately cared for.
Generally speaking the whole subject
simply has been neglected.
There are about 100000 blind per-
sons in the United States. ! suppose.
and very little attention has been paid
10 them. A very large number OF them
are leading useless, productive lives,
when they might easily be made useful
and productive. The fact that there is
useful. practical, skilful work that the
blind may do in factories is just begin
ming to be realized. l say this in no
spirit OF fault finding, for the whole
world has been backward in this re-
spect
New Interest Evoked.