Evening star., 1936-03-08
Society Aids
LibraryFund
For the Blind
Presidents S Mother to
Attend Fashion Show
Wednesday.

Where is the Library for the Blind?
That is a question that would stump
many, for unless you already know,
you would never, never guess. It Is
in the White House garage. Tucked
away on the second floor Of 1925 First
street, up over the Presidents many
cars there, are to be found some 1900
or more Braille books.
Finding itself obliged to move to
make way for the erecting of new
governmental buildings, the library,
national institution and so entitled to
national quarters, has temporarily
taken refuge in its present national
abode.
Founded nearly 40 years ago, in 1911
to be exact. it now for the first time asks
for financial help, and society in the
generous manner that characterizes
the fashionable set in Washington is
responding with enthusiasm.
The Presidents mother, Mrs. James
Roosevelt, is coming to Washington
next Wednesday for the day. when
fashion show is to be given at the
Willard, to show her interest and to
aid her great friend, Mrs. Charles w.
Short, who with Mrs. Walter Tucker
mans assistance, is engineering the
event.
Many smart young married women
and maids of Capital society will step
before the audience in the latest of
Spring models and every hour of the
day will have its dress, suit or negligee
with appropriate accessories.
There will be two showings of
tableaux. with intermissions of fine
music, under the direction of Nine.
Elena de Sayne, and some lighter mu-
sical diversions, with tea, in the ad-
joining rooms. Mrs. James Roosevelt
will preside at the tea table with Mrs.
Elihu Root, jr., and it all promises to
be an afternoon of unusual attraction.
Under the direction of Mrs. Eugene
Roberts, the former Countess Gladys
Szechenyi, daughter of the former
Hungarian Minister in Washington,
the young matrons will be marshalled
for the tableaux and, under the cap
taincy of Miss Beatrice Phillips.
daughter of the Undersecretary Of
State and Mrs. William Phillips, the
debutantes of this and season or
two back will parade for the delecta-
ton of those who come to see what
will be in vogue this Spring.
Mile. Marie Therese de Laboulaye,
daughter of the French Ambassador,
will be there. as will also Senorita
Alfaro, daughter of the Minister of
Panama; Miss Christine Ekengren,
daughter of former Swedish Min
lister here; Miss Eleanor Flood, daugh-
ter of the late Representative from
Virginia, Mr.. Henry D. Flood; Mrs.
Charles Bohlen, Mrs. George Ray
Burgess. Mrs. Edward B. Burling, Mrs.
Vinton Chaplin. Mrs. James Mcmillan
Gibson. Mrs. Reginald S. Carey, Mrs.
Herbert r. Stratford, Mrs. Lucus Will
inerding, Mrs. Walter White, Mrs Will
liam T. Mann, Mrs. Morris R. Clark,
Mrs. George Howe, Miss Alice Tucker
man, Miss Yolande de Maudit, Miss
Elsie Quinby, Miss Cornelia johnson,
Miss Miriam Scott, Miss Anne Perrin
and many others.
The library is under the direction
Of the Rev. Paul Sperry. the only
member Of the personnel who can see.
All the other attaches are sightless
The institution besides giving the
books in braille and moon script, thus
transporting them ito the world of
mind. where we are free from all limi-
tations,' as Helen Keller so aptly puts
1t, also offers work to the blind tre-
mendous boon to those suffering from
the most cruel of all life's sentences.
Forty blind transcribers on full or
part time work are employed by the Ma
tional Library. the only library giving
employment to the blind in the making
OF braille books. These highly trained
men and women are paid at the rate
of only cents per braille page for
this exacting work and unfortunately
owing to insufficient funds, only Is are
at present employed.
The Library for the Blind was
founded under the leadership of the
late Thomas Nelson Page, its first
president, and group of illustrious
men and women, including Mrs Wood
row Wilson and DR.. William H. Will
:aer- Among its present officers are
eenator Thomas Pryor Gore. president,
and Mrs. Winifred Holt Mather, "the
Lighthouse Lady," vice president.