The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1921-12-10

AWNAN ttcghn "aAeNe AJPS
age NovsI Is Done In BraIlle for
Stc--f,1oo Active Readers Use One
Library for the Blind In New York.
All over the country an amazing In
crease Is noted by librarians In the
demand for books for the blind, ac-
COrtliug 20 recent statement Of the
secretary OF the Committee for Men
blinded IN Battle, which makes Its
headquarters at Ill East Flfty-ninth
street. New York, which is making an
appeal for the publication Of more
hooks la raised type. This, II Is
goinied out Is not only due to the fact
Ehat the United States now has scores
of wRr blind, but also to the growing
Tiesire Of the blind to make the widest
possible use of the public libraries
where such books are obtalnable free.
The revised Braille, says the com
nittee. generally adopted as a stand
ard two years ago, Is beginning to be
mofe widely studied and used by the
sightless Textbooks and educational
matter no longer I'LL almost the entire
field of books offered for the blind
reader, which was the case at one
time. The blind reader now has be
fore him an ever-lncreaslng number
of story books Of all kinds. The total
figure of raised letter books published
yearly Is placed at approximately $50, /
and OF this number large percentage
now cater to the entertainment Of the
reader.
Emboldened by the increasing num-
Der of titles in the field Of modern
fiction and verse, appeals have now
been made, says the secretary, not
only for more Dickens and Walter
Scott and Daudet, but also for more
Charles NJ. Schwab and ii. @. Witwer.
The last named, whose books are re-
plete with modern slang, received
letter the other day written In revised
Brallle by n blind girl, asking for the
early publication In raised letter of his
new book, 1.-THE Leather Pushers." Mr.
witwer was very much interested and
caused his answer to be done into
Braille also. 1.-THE Mirrors Of Wash
Ington" has recently been asked for
by some who are interested In political
gossip, who have read the London
prototype Of the book.
Revised BralIle Widely Used.
1t is the opinion of the Committee
Tor Men Blinded In Battle that re-
vised Braille viii probably in time
supersede all other fopahs Of hand read
hng In this country, with the excep-
dion of one other sort of raised print,
which Is formed In Imitation of the
actual English alphabet. For those
who lose their sight after they have
learned to read this last is, In many
cases, the easiest kind Of touch letter
10 learn.
''The blind have greater interest
In libraries than any other class be-
cause the distribution of raised letter
books is of necessity In most cases
free. They are quite costly TO make
and their circulation is not large. The
average popular novel costs about $40
10 produce In Braille, and yet one Gay
recently three Of the four copies of
popular novel were out when request
was made for II at the library here"
said the secretary.
Miss Lucille Goldthwalte, In charge
OF the Library for the Blind In the
New York Public library, which has
the largest collection of works in the
Branle system In the United States,
says that there is tremendous need
for more books In raised type for
blind readers.
At the Library for the Blind In the
big Central building on Fifth avenue,
New York, II was said that blind per-
sons read the same kind Of books that
seeing people read-that is, speaking
In quantity, fiction first and other
classes following. A popular book, II
non-fiction class, like James "Psy-
chology," is popular, likewise, with
blind readers. In the early days OF
books for the blind the prevalent idea
was TO try to give them none but reli-
glous works, TO the exclusion of all
other literature, However, as the IT,
brarian pointed out, naturally, "they
like religious books no more and no
less than the rest Of u.s."
The material which the library can
buy is very limited. That Is TO say,
She actual amount of material avail
able In Braille is limited. Blind read
ers are greatly In need of more books
OF all sorts. II takes three or four
big volumes to make one novel the way
these raised-type books are printed.
which accounts for the high cost, It
was pointed out.
100 Blind Used Library.
Active readers to the number Of
1,lCO used the Library for the Blind
In the Central building during 1920,
the circulation of books for the year
being 35,S07 volumes. The collection
con.alns more than 10000 volumes
printed in the American BrallIe, Moon.
New York point, line letter. revised
BIAille, grade one and half, and re.