Evening star., 1938-01-01
WELCOME
1888 At PARTY
Happy Guests "See" New
Year Born in Din of Their
Own Making.
By JOHN ]. DAILY.

Walled in by their affliction, half
= hundred graduates Of the Maryland
School for the Blind gathered last
night at the Columbia Polytechnic In
stitute Tor the Blind and had their
New Year eve party.
1t was the first gathering Of the
blind for such a celebration. They
saw" the old year go out and
watched" the new year come in
glory.
with blaze Of glory.
for the blind" Roy Bradley, chairman
Of the Entertainment Committee, re-
marked at the heighth Of the fes-
tivities.
All See on Such . Night.
"All blind people can see on a night
like this" said Mr. Bradley, who con-
ducts the news stand in the District
Building. And he was right. They
even saw the Christmas tree ablaze
in corner of the reception hall.
Il never saw finer tree French
S. Hufty, president OF the WASH
ington Chapter Of the Alumni Associa-
ton, said. mo, sir, never saw
more beautiful spectacle" Mr.. Hufty,
totally blind, tunes pianos and gives
music lessons.
Strangest of all watch parties, the
co-mingling of the blind last night
at the old headquarters-l808 H
street-proved to be one of the hap
piest evenings In many lives. No one
could see, but all sensed joy in the
air-and when an improvised or
chestra OF three blind men struck
into syncopated spasm of mirth all
hands joined in the Big Apple
Jazz Music Conta gious.
Paul Radman cut loose on the piano
and went back to the days Of Alex
ander's Ragtime Band" 1t started
the jazz. To tone it down. John Paul
Jones sWayed his violin into sweeter
realms. but when Robert Price took
out his saxophone the lid was off
again.
Next, the youngest blind person at
the party was given the limelight.
This little girl OF only years, Bette
Holder. sang Jolly, jolly Santa Claus"
Since the party was made up Of all
ages some of the old timers struck
off few barber shop chords and
brought back memories Of the Gay
Nineties
At the stroke of IL that real old
timer. Pandemonium. broke loose-and
almost broke up the party.
Up around the hotel district the
night clubbers thought they made
some noise. Their party sounded like
Silent Night compared to what the
blind produced.
Equipped for Noise.
I'VE might not have eyes" Mrs.
Ruth Scott remarked. but we've got
lungs and mouths ="
They had happiness too. in their
hearts-and when asked to explain
why all the blind seem to be so cheer
ful and have such wonderful smiles
on their lips. Roy Bradley ventured
the opinion that 'it's because We can
not see all the ugliness in this old
world That remark brought forth
peals OF laughter. The blind, you see,
learn to live in their own inclosure
and see things with their minds eyes.
While the world is being made safe
for democracy-or is it?-the blind
strive to make the mind a pleasant
place in which to live.
Assisting Mr. Bradley with the ar
rangements were Miss Cora A. Fit
ton. Miss Grace Thompson. Mrs
Ruth Scott and Miss Mary Collins
H, r. w. Miles. president OF the Co.
lumbia Polytechnic Institute for the
Blind. received the guests. At
O'Clock this morning the party still
went at a lively rate, with refresh
ments served at what the blind call
the witching hour.
And so they welcomed the new
year.