Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-13
BOOKS FOR THE BLIND

practically the eame ~ English Braine
was officially adopted in this country.
This meant that new books must be
made for those who would learn only
tho new system. When the veterAnA
first came to Evergreen there were
only six books. all childrcn'e books.
available in the new type. In tho long
run, the uniform system will mean
more books for the blind reader. In
the first few years. however. mueh
volunteer work is needed TO build up
Libraries for those who arc just begin
ming to study Braille.
MAKING BRAILLE BOOKS
Tho hand made Braille books arc OF
heavy manila paper. Each page is
shellacked after the writing Is done 20
make II stand repeated lingering. To
ono who does not understand, Brallio'
tho large sheets with their even rows
of raised dot characters carry no clue
as to tho story written there. There Is
no resemblance to English print.
Moon type. one Of the older systems,
Ia very much like print. The letters.
slightly altered In somc instances. wero
raised. and the hand travelled over the
page to spell out the words. This sys-
tenn still II used TO quite an extent
Old persons who lose their sight can
learn to read Moon type with compare
. tive ease. whereas Braillc, being en-
, tirely different from print, sometimes
discouraEes them.
Tho the Moon print is easy TO read
with tho fingers. It IS less practical
than the dot system because 1. takes
book requires moro volumes. and so
comparatively few arc printed. David
Coppcrfield." which requires five vol
umcs in Braille. takes % In Moon
tyne.
tOld
The basic form for the letters is a
double row Of dots. three high. like the
six spot on a domino. Each letter ie
composed OF part OF this patterns To
make the letter q. for instance. only
the dot in the lower right hand corner
Is omitted. To make the letter a, which
Is much more used. only one dot. tina
at the upper right hand corner. Is
made.
Getting the dots even IL made easy
by q metal slate which has rows o'
oblong holes, or cells, one for each
across the page. Tho position of dots
within the cell II guided by !ndcnta
tions along the edge OF the cell. so that
in a practical hand the blunt stylus
punches the dots quickly and easily;
| When the page Is turned over to be
read. the punched spots on the work
ing side become raised dots about ono
4 .ixty-fourth OF an inch high. Slight as
the raised points are-to make them
higher would make tho book more
buiky-the sensitive forefinger OF the
blind reader can quickly distinguish
the difference in the combination oil
| dots. Because the page has to be writ
ten on the back, the words aud sen
tences are built by the copyist from
right to left, In looking glass fash
ion"
WRITING BY MACHINERY
The Rraille typewriter is another o'
the three means OF making books for
the blind. The typewriter has only sis
keys, one for each dot that may b'
used In a letter. To make letter. ths
proper keys are struck simultaneously
like chord. Tho typewriter is a more
speedy instrument than the slate, but
IT is considerably more expensive. cost.
ing about 332.
The third and quickest method o'
Braillc printing is on a printing press
There are several publishers and print
ers who make Brai1le books. Most o'
their time is used in making textbook.
for schools for the blind and standard
works in wide demand. Tho American
Printing House for the Blind at Louis.
Vile. Kentucky. receives a Fedora
subsidy OF $50 900 year with which tC
print textbooks and collateral read
ing for children In schools for the blind
Thi. allows about $3.50 worth oi
Braille reading for each blind pupil