Evening star., 1921-06-19
PLEA FOR $4,000
BY BLIND WORKERS
Columbia Polytechnic Insti-
tute Plans an Enlargement
of Facilities.

Columbia Polytechnic Institute for
the Blind is planning to raise fund
of $4,000 for increasing facilities of
, the Blind Adult Workshop. 1908 H
street northwest. and to pay OFF the
mortgage Indebtedness that each year
requires the payment of several hun
dred dollars in interest charges.
The Polytechnic Institute occupies
a unique place among the District
institutions in that its province Is
not to dispense charity but to provide
for self-respecting blind adults who
desire to retain their independence
by earning their own liveiihood.
The institute was established IN 1888
by the late F. E. Cleveland. onnd d
attorney. who saw the need ana
rallied to his support a number OF
influential men and women. who aided
him greatly in placing the work upon
a sound and practical basis.
The institute has for years oeen
making life more worth the living for
. these afflicted ones by conducting
practical workshop and providing
employment in chair caneing, broom
making, hammock making. piano and
typewriting instruction and similar
branches.
Rules for Admission.
All blind adults applying for EN-.
ployment are received to the limit OF
the workshops capacity and funds
When applicants are not familiar
with broom making they are taught
how to do the work and while they
are being taught they receive the
same salary as later. when they are
proficient workers.
The salary paid is not large, seven
dollars a week to each employe. but
il is sufficient to assure the workers
being able to pay their board in their
own homes, and to have the content
ment and joy of home life with their
own families rather than being Obliged
to enter homes or institutions.
The institute employs no high
salaried workers and no sight work
ers except the accountant, VINO acts
also as bookkeeper, housekeeper ana
general superintendent, and who re-
ceives her lodging and merely NOM
inal sum for remuneration.
The directors. H. r. w. Miles. presi-
dent; r. W. Swan, Prof. j. F. Ger
muiller.-B:- Franklin Parker, Edward
blind.
Acting Ms "Big Brothers."
The formation of a committee of one
hundred of Washington'S most prom
inent 20men is now under way. and
the lfsk Will be ready for publication
soon. A number of leading govern
ment officials. business and profess
brothers of the blind in this move
ment, and present indications are that
that project will be successful.
---fm response to a crying need the in
stitute recently established a colored
blind workers department. and in this
shop blind colored men to whom 10
other means of livelihood is open have
been instructed in the various
branches and are now regularly en-
ployed.
Many and tragic are the stories that
could be told of these blind workers,
one of whom. fighting in the Argonne.
looked out one instant upon the
awfulness of war and the next in
stant had the beauty of the world
biotted out forever. He prayed for
death through long. sleepless nights.
because death seemed preferable to
lifelong darkness. but somehow out
Of somewhere there came voice that
bade him carry on" Finally he
found his way to the workshop. and,
naturally bright and adaptable. he
soon became proficient in chair cane
ing. broom making and typewriting
The. institute shows remarkable
record of great work. but even if it
could show nothing accomplished
aside from this. just what it has done
for this soldier would Justify it's ex-
istence.
Office headquarters for the raising
of the institute fund have been .es-
tablished at No. 724 Albee building.
and printed matter and other fnforma-
tfon will be sent to interested persons
upon application to Franklin 7049.