The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1921-09-21
CONCERT FOR
BLIND PEOPLE

EcQOOl a. concert Will De SASS11 Iva 'AAo
benefit of the South Carolina Assocl-
alton for the Blind. Lovers of music
and fun will find a rare treat await
ing them. There will be vocal and IN
strumental music, jokes, n1imlcs ana
artistic paper tearing. The concert
will be given under the auspices OF
the School Improvement League
which will receive part Of the re-
ceipts. An admission fee will be
charged.
The South Carolina Association OF
the blind is said to be doing a splen-
did work in the cause Of making the
sufferers self supporting and giving
them something useful to do. A
circular letter, printed below gives
some details of the work:
Dear Friend:
Believing that you are sufficiently
interested as to be willing to render
assistance for the promotion Of the
cause of the blind Of the State, am
hereby calling your attention to the
noble work being done by the blind
people in South Carolina.
In South Carolina there are be-
tween 100 and 1,1o0 blind people, by
far the majority Of whom are unem-
ployed, which means that these un-
fortunate individuals are receiving
their support from parents, relatives
or friends. The idleness and inert
ness which are so often thought by
many sighted people to be charac-
teristics of the blind as a class is an
unjust accusation. The unemployed
blind Of South Carolina are yearning
for an opportunity by which they may
become independent and self-sup-
porting citizens. It is only the lack
Of opportunity that is responsible for
the helplessness Of the blind as "a
class. Blind people are absolutely
normal except for the lack Of their
physical sight. The blind, like their
sighted friends and relatives, are not
gifted alike. 1t is unreasonable to
believe that any blind man can be-
come a John Milton. It IS equally
absurd to think that every sighted
man should possess the talents Of
William Shakespeare, therefore, the
blind citizens Of South Carolina, like
their sighted friends, must have var
ious ways provided by which they can
make their support.
Last July the blind people of the
State held a convention at the Pres
byterian Theological Seminary in Co.
lumbia. We organized what is
. known as the Columbia Association
for the Blind Of South Carolina. The
purpose Of this Association is to pro-
mote the general welfare of the blind
in the State.
On September 9th the Columbia
Association for the Blind Of South
Carolina opened the doors Of its
workshop with a class Of four pupils.
In this workshop, the blind men and
women are taught to make baskets
and fiber furniture Of every descrip-
ton. It is a course Of six months
training, which is given free Of charge
ITO any white blind man or woman Of
good moral standing, residing in
South Carolina. After completing the
course in the shop, the pupil is then
made self-supporting, independent
citizen. We are dismissing class Of
twelve pupils on the first of July, an
other class of fifteen will take their
places and still it leaves US with a
long waiting list Of men and women,
longing to become Independent. The
men and women are now earning
from $1,000 to $500 per week,
which brightens their lives and makes
them feel as if they were worth a
little something in the world.
This work needs your attention and
cooperation. Please give this your
immediate consideration as our treas
'ury is very low.
The Columbia Association for the
blind Of South Carolina cordially in
vites visitors to it's workshop at No.
1431 Calhoun ST., Columbia, S. c.,
at all times. If any contribution is
raised, please make check payab BILE to
c.. A. B. Of S. c., and forward same
to E. r. Murray, 33S West Hamp-
ton Ave-, Sumter, S. c..
Yours truly,
E. R. MURRAY.