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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME V. NO. 2. DECEMBER 15. 1935

Greetings to New Friends

THE LANTERN appears in a new dress and in its new attire hopes to make new friends. This issue is being sent to many who have not received it before and it is our hope that it will find favor. Many names have come to us of people who are in- terested in Perkins and what is being done for those with impaired vision. To inform them of our activities, we have decided to send The Lantern to all people on our lists.

The Lantern is now in its fifth year. Originally intended for members of our Staff it was simply mimeographed. Requests from former students for copies so that they could keep abreast with the march of events in their Alma Mater lead to its publication in braille. Few things have brought us greater satisfaction than the appreciation of those who have received the embossed edition.

A third step has now been taken. Put into ink print, it is our hope that The Lantern will reach all friends of Perkins. Its mission remains unaltered — to tell of our activities, to relate stories of human interest that take place in this century-old school and to register our attitude on the great cause which Perkins represents.

The lantern on top of our lovely Gothic tower is its most dis- tinctive feature and from it we have taken the name of this publi- cation. Architecturally the lantern indicates that the building which it surmounts is dedicated to education. Likewise the purpose of The Lantern is to educate and it is our hope that through the extension of its rays to new readers it will bring enlightenment.

^aJhu^f 7?aAfu*£(?

Perkins Institution

and Massachusetts

School for the Blind.

Watertown, Massachusetts GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

// ]/ XT 7/

NOVEMBER MEMORIALS

The Howe Memorial Exercises and the observance of Anagnos Day are two memorable events in the month of No- vember. On Thursday, November 7, the pupils of the Lower School enacted scenes from the life of Mr. Anagnos. As usual the Anagnos Song was sung while the children of the kindergarten placed flowers before the bust of its Founder.

The following letter poem sent by Miss Poulsson was read: "Dear Children, I've often been with you on Founder's

Day . And this year, .altho I must stay away I can .imagine I hear you singing And see the pretty flowers you're bring- ing In memory of your friend so kind Of heart, so wise of mind Who planned for you this happy place Where you can romp, and run, and race And learn as other children do To read and write and cipher too And many a useful thing That books and work and music bring. I do not need his name to tell For I am sure you know it well Michael Anagnos — that is the name He chose to use when here he came For he used to say with his jolly laugh "O yes— I had to cut it in half For busy Americans never would choose A name six syllables long to use So three syllables shorter my name is

now And that is long enough anyhow". No wonder, children that you hold him dear And keep his birthday every year."

On the afternoon of the day of the Anagnos Exercises the cowboy quartet from the Rodeo came out to sing for the pupils of the Lower School. So impressed was a little girl by one of the cowboys that she asked, "Is he Mr. Anagnos?"

FROM OUR MAIL

Akola, India.

Dear Brethren:

I know you would be greatly sur- prised to see me writing this letter. I desire to approach you with the peti- tion for the removal of my pitiable, sorrowful situation as stated below. My grievances are indescribable. They worry me day and night. Dear blind friends, I trust you to do something for me on reading this letter. Your assistance is needed in supporting my son for his schooling. He would be a great help to me in the future. At present I find it so hard to pull on, you can hardly imagine. I have no house so I wish to set up a small hut. It is far better to have a hut than pay the rent when you have no money. I have a large family depending on me, but I have no means of earning any money. So we have to starve. Therefore, kind- ly help me out from being starved. We are greatly troubled with poverty so request each of you to do your level best for my poor family. The children are in the minor age so they will need schooling. I know music, but have no organ whereby I can take tuitions and earn something. Can the blind help the blind. I have all abilities, but they are all in vain. India is such a country wherein the blind are not treated as well as they are in civilized countries. Dear, I expect great and deep sympathy and also love from you all for we are having a hard time. Finally I say speak to your friends, relations and neighbors to assist me in these hard days. God will reward you amply for helping the poor and needy like me. A couple of hundred of dollars are needed to re- move these difficulties..

Thanking you in advance, Yours ever lovingly helpless

blind friend.

JOHN DIX FISHER

Early Advocate for the Blind By Anna Gardner Fish

While studying medicine in Paris Dr. John Dix Fisher, a young1 physician from Boston, became interested in the work being done for the blind in that city and he determined that similar opportunity should be given to the sightless youth of America — and especially of Massachusetts — for whom nothing had at that time been done.

Dr. Fisher returned home in 1826, fired with enthusiasm for his new project. It was at just about that time that Charles Barbier was introducing the dot system which, improved and perfected by Louis Braille, was eventually to revolutionize the education of the blind, although it was many years before that method of writing and printing became really effective and was endorsed by this country. Indeed, the aids to teaching in those early days must have been crude and elementary, but they were sufficient to impress Dr. Fisher with their value, and he proceeded to infuse others with his zeal and deter- mination.

Fortunately, he possessed influential friends, and through them the seed was planted in fertile soil, but it required much careful hus- bandry to establish and foster its growth. The records of the early meetings of these interested gentlemen, held frequently, often at the Exchange Coffee House in Boston, paint a picture of earnest but per- plexed gropings toward the embodiment of an ideal; but Dr. Fisher kept their interest aglow, and little by little definite plans took shape and headway was made. The act establishing the school was passed by the Massachusetts Legislature March 2, 1829.

In all this Dr. Fisher was the leader, even though his lifework lay elsewhere. Medical science was his profession, and nowhere is the suggestion expressed that he should give up his particular field of action to assume charge of the work for the blind. He is shown in a picture of young surgeons (drawn by his brother, Alvan Fisher) , observing with interest the accomplishment of an operation under anaesthetics; and everything indicates that this chief interest in de- velopments along medical and surgical lines was not to be diverted wholly to another channel.

Finding a leader to carry on the actual work presented great difficulties. Although Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, another young physi-

Continued on Page 8 — 3 —

p

PATRICIA PROGRESSES

ATRICIA HOMANS, the little six-year- old deaf -blind child admitted in Septem- ber, is making progress. This is good news because Patricia is the first pupil born deaf and blind that we have received and there has been considerable speculation as to whether she would be able to develop as have the other children. After two months of in- struction, Miss Hall now reports that Patri- cia understands and executes seven com- mands. For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the work of the Deaf-Blind Department, it may be stated that the first effort to reach the mind of a triply handi- capped child consists of the repetition of a definite command like bow, walk or jump, making the child perform the action indicated until it learns to associate the word with the act. Patricia's accomplishments give evidence of definite progress.

THE CORPORATION MEETING

AT THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Corporation held in the Board Room, Monday, November 4, Leonard Dowdy became the chief center of interest. The children of the Deaf-blind Department gave a demonstration under the leadership of Miss Hall and her assistants. Leonard immediately took charge of the demon- stration and insisted upon being Miss Hall. To make the impersona- tion more realistic he demanded Miss Hall's comb and earrings. Adorned with these he took Carmella and, removing his coat put it upon her and announced "Miss Hall is teaching Leonard" ! A most enlivening program of instruction went out under Leonard's active leadership. Officers elected at the meeting were: President — Robert H. Hallowell, Vice-President — G. Peabody Gardner, Jr., Treasurer — Roger Amory, Secretary — Gabriel Farrell.

CHRISTMAS AT PERKINS

THE OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS at Perkins begins about the middle of December and lasts until the pupils go home for the holiday vacation. On the ten days before vacation carols are sung at the chapel exercises with appropriate readings and sea-

— 4 —

sonal talks. Wreathes and decorations made by the pupils create the proper setting for this festive season. During the last week of school parties are held in the cottages with programs differing with the in- terests and talents of each household. Some give rather elaborate pageants or plays, others are more informal, but everywhere the Christmas spirit abounds. The annual Boston concert will be held this year on Sunday afternoon, December 15, in Jordan Hall. With the repetition of the program in Dwight Hall the following Friday evening school will close for the Christmas holidays, reopening on Monday, January 6.

ANOTHER SEMI-CENTENNIAL

A HALF CENTURY of service is a long record in these days, but our chief engineer has just attained it. Fifty years ago this fall John Carroll came to work at the Institution in South Boston. He was the first member of the staff to come to Watertown, and under his direction all heat, light and power have been provided here since the opening in 1912. In appreciation of his devoted service a bronze clock suitably inscribed has been presented to Mr. Carroll by the members of the staff and the Trustees.

SHORTHAND BY BRAILLE

THE MODERN dictating machine made it possible for blind typists to find success in office work. Now the introduction of a new shorthand machine has widened opportunity in this field. Dorothy Ingersoll in this picture is working on the new short- hand machine produced for blind typists by the Howe Memorial Press. Her fingers are resting upon the six keys that control the points of the braille system. In taking dictation a much contracted form of braille is used, and by that means dictation can be taken with a speed parallel to a shorthand system. The dictation is recorded on a narrow paper tape. For transcription the tape is unrolled across the front of the desk where the fingers read the message to be typed. This ma- chine is an adaptation of an English machine and its use is now taught in the Commercial Department of Per- kins. Miss Ingersoll, a graduate of Perkins, is secretary of the Depart- ment of Personnel and Research. — 5 —

THE BROOM SELLERS

SALESMANSHIP is a course which is growing in popularity. Under the leadership of Mr. Don Donaldson, a graduate of the Washington State School for the Blind and the University of Washington, a new venture in practical sales has been started. Se- curing brooms and mops from the state workshop for the blind, mem- bers of the class have gone out on Saturday afternoons canvassing sales. The selling is done by totally blind boys who are permitted to take partially seeing boys as guides. At first there was some reluc- tance to do this but success in selling and attractive profits have made these trips one of the most desired week-end diversions.

In their approach the young men are not permitted to associate the name of Perkins with the making of a sale, nor are they allowed to receive contributions. We are strict about this because Perkins wants it understood that as an institution we have nothing to sell and never solicit funds from house to house. It might be well to advise that at no time should money be given to solicitors or purchases made with the idea of helping Perkins. Especially beware at this time of men selling rugs which they imply are made here. A more recent fraud is the solicitation of funds to buy dogs as guides for our pupils. A man working this racket was recently arrested by officers of the Watertown police named Perkins and Farrell.

FALL SPORTS

TOMPKINS COTTAGE was the host to the four cottage football teams as it won the series of fall games. Taking advantage of the school ball tickets offered by the Harvard Athletic Associa- tion a number of Perkins boys attended two of the games in the sta- dium. The girls concluded their fall sports with Fisher Cottage gaining possession of the silver cup presented each year to the win- ning house.

FINGER READING THE STARS

A RECENT SPEAKER at Perkins told of her first talk at the school which she introduced by asking what the pupils would ask for if the fairy god-mother would grant any wish. Think- ing they would ask for sight she was astonished when a boy responded, "I am interested in astronomy and I would wish for arms long enough to touch the stars."

— 6 —

INTRAMURAL NOTES

As required by recent legislation all teachers have taken the oath of alle- giance and the pledge to the flag is given each Saturday morning when the school is assembled for the chapel exer- cises.

Classes from Harvard, Radcliffe. other colleges and nearby schools have been visiting Perkins this fall. As each group is taken about the school our methods of education are explained.

Among: our guests this fall have been Mrs. Vita Stein of the School for the Blind in Vienna, Austria; Miss Lillian Russell, formerly head of the Connecti- cut Nursery, now with the Connecticut School for the Blind at Hartford; Mrs. Winifred Hathaway of the National So- ciety for the Prevention of Blindness.

Miss Portia Pittenger and Miss Mar- guerite Manley, teachers of the deaf- blind at the Ohio School for the Deaf and the West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind respectively, complete their study of our methods at Christ- mas time and thereafter will take up duties at their own schools. Our two exchange teachers have been carrying on the work in their schools.

A new braille writer has been re- ceived from England. Its distinctive feature is that both sides of the paper can be used interpoint or interline. The machine is compact and light and embosses clearly.

Sir Herbert B. Ames, former treas- urer of the League of Nations, visited the school on Friday, November 22, and gave a most valuable talk on the League and the present situation in Ethiopia.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

At a recent conference on Vocational Guidance at Overbrook, Dr. Samual P. Hayes our Consultant in Psychology, read a paper on the "Development of a Research Program".

Mrs. Grace C. Hamman, a member of the Harvard Class of 1933-34 has been appointed by the Governor of Hawaii, Territorial Director of the newly created Commission for the Con- servation of Sight and Work with the Blind.

A most attractive and interesting re- port is that of the National Institute for the Blind in England. Beautifully illustrated it tells of the excellent work done in that country for those without sight.

A new book of interest is "The Light That Did Not Fail", an autobiographi- cal story by Clarence Hawkes. This is the forty-second book by our distin- guished graduate.

James E. Hannon, graduate of Per- kins, Boston University and highest ranking scholar in the B. U. School of Law, has opened a law office in Lee. Massachusetts.

Miss Rose L. Berman of the Harvard Class of 1933-34 has been appointed teacher of the braille and sight-saving classes in the public schools of Hacken- sack, New Jersey.

Mr. Chinniah Doraiswamy, who at- tended the Harvard Class after com- pleting the work of the Normal Course at the Clarke School for the Deaf and who was given the degree of M. A. in Education at Boston University, has returned to India where he is to train teachers for the blind and deaf.

— 7 —

JOHN DIX FISHER

Continued from Page 3

cian of Boston, who became the first director, was not the first approached with a definite offer, his choice was without doubt the right one. One may sense the relief expressed in the simple words : "Here is Howe, the very man we have been looking for all this time," as this solution of their quandary was visualized by Dr. Fisher and two companions on Boylston Street, Boston.

In an account of Perkins Institution by its president, Dr. Samuel Eliot (1897) the later connections of Dr. Fisher with the school are thus summarized:

"Dr. Fisher must have been content. He was a trustee . . . from 1830, and continued such for twenty years. During a year when Dr. Howe was absent, he took charge, and wrote the twelfth annual re- port, in which 'its present condition' is described to be 'such as to carry out in all respects the desires of its benevolent founders.' He died in 1850; and though the nearly half a century intervening has blanched his memory into a shade, it is one which every member of the school should continue to cherish."

The portrait of Dr. Fisher, hanging on a wall of Perkins Institu- tion, shows a refined face with sharp features and alert eyes behind spectacles. Save for side whiskers, he is clean-shaven, and his hair has a reddish tint. He belonged to a well-known Boston family, in- cluding some distingushed members among whom he must be counted. At his death, March 3, 1850, he was buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, where his grave may be found through the monument, placed there by a number of his associates, including Dr. Howe, and bearing the inscription "The Early and Efficient Advocate for the Education of the Blind."

	Notice to Superintendents
STANFORD ACHIEVEMENT	TESTS
	IN BRAILLE
Forms V,	Tests 1-8; W, Tests 1-8; X,	Tests 1-10
PRICES	REDUCED TO FIFTY HOWE MEMORIAL PRESS	CENTS

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME V. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1936

Messages from Old Friends

SPEAKING before the Alumnae Association at the Semi-Cen- tennial Meeting last June I raised certain questions and stated that I wished I might have the advice of former pupils re- garding them. In the half century's service of the Alumnae Asso- ciation the mere expression by Perkins of a wish has meant a response from the former students. In due time the answers poured in so that I have before me advice enough for another half century. I am grateful, and want to express my thanks.

A summary of the replies is included in this issue. I would like, however, to explain that my meaning in the first question was misinterpreted by many. When I referred to training pupils in the wise use of their leisure time, I had in mind the leisure that would come after graduation. I can well appreciate the frequent reply "in my day we had no leisure time in the Girls' School!" There is little free time now, but we are trying to provide more because we believe that in addition to training skills and developing interests which may be used later we have a responsibility to foster the habit of using free time profitably. Without this habit and desire, training and facilities are of little use.

Reading was most frequently recommended as a leisure time activity. All of our former pupils know how to read ! Our library is overflowing with books which will be mailed free. Why do many graduates fail to avail themselves of this privilege? Is it because the taste for reading was not developed during school years ?

^ctso^f -y&uvi*££

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

ALUMNAE REPORT

The Committee appointed by the Perkins Institution Alumnae Associa- tion to secure answers to questions raised by Dr. Farrell at the semi-cen- tennial meeting in June sent a letter to each member of the Association containing the following questions:

1. How can we best train our pupils to use their leisure time wisely?

2. How far shall we go in the study of household economics?

3. How far shall we go in the study of music with pupils who are not par- ticularly talented?

Forty-four replies were received from twelve different states, some as far away as California and Texas. A sum- mary of replies follows:

Question 1. Many interpreted this question as referring to leisure hours in school, rather than training in school for leisure time in later life.

The answers which applied to the question as it was meant may be sum- marized as follows: to enjoy good read- ing— 29; handwork — 20; games — 15; music — 11; to make and enjoy social contacts— 11; walking out-of-doors — ■ 10; letter writing — 10; hobbies (not otherwise designated) — 7; outdoor sports — 5; unguided activity to develop initiative — 5; gardening — 2; care of an- imals— 1.

Question 2. A number seemed to in- terpret this question as applying to a purely vocational course or something theoretical apart from practical home- making. In counting the replies for this question the spirit of the letter was interpreted liberally, and all who seemed to favor home-making instruc- tion were listed as on the affirmative side. Only three expressed no definite preference. Thirty-seven favored in- struction in practical domestic science for all girls. Four were definitely against it, and three suggested includ- ing the boys.

Question 3. In answering this ques- tion, a good deal of emotional reaction

FROM OUR MAIL

Duluth, Minnesota

I want to thank you for sending me "The Lantern" which I enjoy every quarter. It is so good to get news of dear old Perkins from which I gradu- ated in June 1895. I was delighted when I learned last June, just after the Alumnae meeting, that those ugly stone posts in the girls' cloister were to disappear. You have made some fine improvements in your short term of four years, and the desks are a boon to the girls I think.

Sr. Marie Therese, Ord. Carm.

Turkey

I cannot express to you how thankful I am for having sent me the braille typewriter and slates. I am writing this to you on it and am learning to write on the slate. I shall copy stories in Turkish for the Turkish School for the Blind. My brother also writes on the typewriter quite well. God bless you for your kindness to us.

Nesimi Alpagut.

was expressed, ranging from the girl who craved music but was denied it be- cause of "supposed lack of ability" to those who wanted only enough musical knowledge to enjoy listening to good programs but who had been subjected to years of drudgery at the piano. Seven advocated a full program of mu- sical training for all, irrespective of tastes and ability. Five said no music for those without talent, but do not explain how to discover the lack of the necessary talent. Seventeen said to teach everyone enough for his own en- joyment and that of his friends and family. Six wanted appreciation courses for all. Four suggested the use of more informal instruments such as harmonicas, and three would have only chorus for the ungifted.

SAMUEL GRIDLEY HOWE

The First Director By Anna Gardner Fish

WHAT can we note of Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe which has not already many times been stated? His is a remark- able instance of how, in spite of Shakespeare's assertion, the good that a man does may live long after him, but especially so when his activities have been so widespread and many-sided as to catch the imagination of his compeers and serve

as a torch on their on-

his own gifted wife

have been able to

sonality and the

achieveme n t s t

inspiring Mr. A n a g-

law and our

tor, who paid

u t e to Dr.

did work for

followed closely 1

was intensely '

in connection with

t e n a r y, in 1901,

bration in Tremont Association of Perkins Day of Remembrance,

ward march and when and daughters keep alive his per- knowledge of his through their chronicles, nos, his son-in- second direc- constant trib- Howe's splen- the blind and in his footsteps, gratified when, Dr. Howe's cen- with its fine cele- Temple, the Alumnae Institution established a which has been annually

observed ever since at about the time of Dr. Howe's anniversary, November 10. Similar action had long since been taken by the deaf in memory of Dr. Gallaudet, their leader, and Mr. Anagnos felt it most appropriate that such commemoration of Dr. Howe should become a yearly custom. At the same time a club com- posed of the older boys of the school was re-christened the Howe Memorial Club, to Mr. Anagnos' great satisfaction, and it has func- tioned from that day to this as a helpful and uplifting influence in the school. Mr. Anagnos himself had assigned the name Howe Memorial Press to the printing fund which he created in 1880; the name "Howe Building" was bestowed upon the brick school building in the girls' department at South Boston, before removal

Continued on Page 8 — 3 —

W. P. A. MAP PROJECT

TO PROVIDE EMBOSSED MAPS for all schools for the blind in this country W P A was asked for an appropriation which has just been approved by the authorities at Washington. Earlier in the year a Boston newspaper proposed that maps of Bos- ton be made for the blind as a W PA project. When our advice was asked we sought the opinions of blind friends and found that the proposed maps would be of little use and the expenditure of the money involved hardly justified. As a counter proposal we suggested that a few maps of Boston be made but that the main work be the embossing of maps of all states and countries. For some years Perkins, through the Home Memorial Press, has pro- vided such maps, but the present plates are small and still have the notations in American braille. The new plates will be 22 x 28 inches and will have notations and directions in revised braille.

The plan as approved at Washington calls for the making of atlases consisting of ten volumes containing about three hundred maps, geographical and historical, with a page of notes for each map. Separate sheets of all maps will be run off so that they will be available for class use.

While officially sponsored by the Massachusetts Division of the Blind, the entire project will be under the technical direction of the Howe Memorial Press, and the work will be done at Perkins. The project as it develops will give employment to from fifteen to twenty men for several months. Under the present appropriation it will be possible to present a complete set of maps to each school for the blind. The maps will not be available until next fall. Schools wishing more than one set of maps may have extra copies made for the cost of the materials if application is made at this time.

CHAPEL SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS for the chapel exercises on Monday mornings of this term have been provided by the Girls' and Boys' Councils. Interesting talks have been given on such varied subjects as : Edward VIII, A Visit to a Police Station, The History of the Cal- endar, Maple Sugar-Making and Boy Scouts. On the six Wednes- day mornings preceding the Easter vacation the heads of all the churches in Watertown come in turn to speak to the pupils at the chapel exercises. The readiness of these busy clergymen to make this annual visit is greatly appreciated.

— 4 —

SWIMMING AT PERKINS

SWIMMING has long been enjoyed by the boys and girls of Perkins and the pool in Howe Building gives opportunity for this fine form of exercise throughout the school year. Recently two improvements ^^^^^^^^ have been made to

the pool which , v> t^^. make it more de-

sirable. A new ^A II |^^ cleaning system

has been in- JB^^AL *MUk ^^ stalled where-

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is run over ^wJ/L ^HHHtf^ *^k ^e D0^om

sucking up Ay^H ■ any dirt

which fljifeh^ m H may have

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the pool fl -'^ W T^^m^^l JP H anc* se^~

tied to m K, "^^Jr ^L*JP HI the bot-

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night. A ^^^ ^'$feT JP$" %^» c^v* n *u '

boar d, nLi| Ik.1 guarded

by brass ^HL? fc^"" ra^s an(^

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been erect- ^^WML | W JK&k r\ ^* e<^ a^ ^ne

deep end. ^M ^▼^B Sk ^ *^ffll w ^ h e new

board has ere- ^H W M^ M. W^ JfflB ^^ a^€<^ a ^resn

interest in the ^^M &TJI ^^ s^^ °^ living.

Competitive meets ^^^ WL ^^r held throughout

the year add zest to ^^^^^^^ the sport of swim-

ming. From time to time our Boy Scouts invite brother troops to meet with them and the chance for a swim in the pool is a great lure to bring other boys to Perkins. The pool is also used by the physiotherapists for corrective exercises needed by some of the pupils. Indeed the swimming pool is one of our greatest assets and most appreciated.

THE BOYS ANNUAL PLAY

(CT^HE MUSIC MASTER", the famous play by Charles Klein, immortalized through the brilliant acting of David War- field, has been selected as the boys' play for this year.

Three members of the Harvard Class will assist the boys by taking

— 5 —

the female parts. The principal male characters will be acted by William Neuwirth, John di Francesco and Bertrand Chombeau. Eleven other boys will complete the cast.

Other boys are engaged in selling tickets and in other duties connected with so large a project. The play will be presented in Dwight Hall on Friday evening, April 3 and Saturday afternoon, April 4. The school will close for the Easter Vacation late Friday afternoon and it is hoped that many parents and friends will come to the play on Friday night taking their boys and girls home with them after the performance.

THE MAY MEETINGS

MEETINGS held in May last year for the members of the Corporation and for the state officials responsible for the blind were so appreciated that it is planned to repeat them this year. Instead of duplicating the program for the various states' officials, however, we are going to have a special group whose coming will be of unusual importance.

On Wednesday, May 27, the members of the New England Ophthalmological Society are to be our guests. A program of in- terest to "eye specialists" is being prepared, and Dr. Lewis H. Carris, Managing Director of the National Society for the Preven- tion of Blindness is to be the speaker.

On Thursday, the special spring meeting of the Corporation will be held, with a program showing the activities of the Boys' Upper School.

WALK OF FAME

A WALK OF FAME is one of the interesting features of Rol- lins College in Florida. Each stone in the walk comes from the home of a famous person. Two people whose names are intimately associated with Perkins Institution are to be com- memorated in this walk. A granite stone taken from the old building in South Boston, inscribed with the names of Samuel Grid- ley Howe and Julia Ward Howe, has been sent to Rollins College to be placed in the walk. The placing of this stone has been ar- ranged through the interest of Mrs. Cora L. Gleason, our former school visitor.

— 6 —

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Spring: Concert of the Chorus is to be held this year on Sunday after- noon, May 17, in the Auditorium at Wellesley College, under the auspices of the music department of the col- lege.

Two articles recently written by the Director are now available in reprint form: "The Blind Mentally Retarded in America" from the English paper The New Beacon; and "Hereditary Blindness" from The Sight-Saving; Re-

The annual report has recently been printed and copies may be obtained by any who are interested. A smaller edi- tion containing the Trustees' and the Director's reports and all the illustra- tions used in the Report has also been printed.

Joseph Iannace, a deaf -blind pupil of the School for the Blind in Over brook, Pennsylvania, and his teacher Mrs. Keene are the guests of the Deaf -Blind Department until the Easter Vacation. Joseph has come to Perkins to take ad- vantage of our methods of speech training.

A new deaf-blind pupil, five-year-old Patrick Quealy of Lowell, Massachu- setts has been admitted to the depart- ment.

Recent visitors at the school have been: Col. Morris Frank of the Seeing Eye at Morristown, New Jersey; Mr. H. J. Vallentyne, the new head of the School for the Blind at Brantford, Ontario; Mr. Frederick Fraser, son of the late Sir Frederick Fraser, head of the School for the Blind in Halifax; Mrs. G. Ross Thomas of the School for the Blind in Bombay, India; and groups of teachers from Overbrook and Con- necticut.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Mrs. Cora L. Gleason, our retired home visitor, broke her ankle while vis- iting in Florida. She is making a good recovery and by warm weather ought to be able to return home.

A Letter from Montevideo brought the sad news of the death of Tateos Mukhdjian. Tateos was an Armenian boy who came here from Greece, grad- uated and then took the Harvard Course. Unable to return to Greece, he went to South America where his family now lives, and set up a poultry farm. On January 6, a hurricane de- molished a chicken house burying Ta- teos in the wreckage. He was so seri- ously injured that he died on January 16.

Harvard University has just received a collection of unusual playing cards consisting of nearly four thousand dif- ferent decks. They were collected by Mr. Albert Thorndike, our late Treas- urer and bequeathed by him to the University.

Mrs. Marjorie F. Piatt, leader of Troop 8 of the Watertown Girl Scouts, which is the Perkins troop, sails on March 18 for England to attend the International Training Course at Bed- ford College, Regents Park, London. Mrs. Piatt was selected by the scout authorities to represent blind Girl Scouts of this country. She expects to return April 20.

Miss Alice M. Carpenter, teacher in the Ming Sum School for the Blind, Canton, China, has joined the Harvard Class, planning to continue through the first half of next year before re- turning to her work in China.

Perkins boys, in the recent confirma- tion class at St. Patrick's Church, were presented with confirmation medals by Bishop Spellman. They prize the beau- tiful silver medals greatly. 7 —

SAMUEL GRIDLEY HOWE

Continued from Page 3

to Watertown made it fitting to give that name to the adminis- tration building here; and the Howe Reading Club has long flour- ished in the girls' department on a high plane of thought and achievement. A school in South Boston bore the same honored name, and a Howe Memorial Committee has sought to connect this designation with a park or playground development in the same suburb.

It seems safe to affirm that Dr. Howe's name will never be lost to fame or dissociated from our school. Many are the biog- raphies and other literary works which add to our information in regard to this remarkable man, but we like best the intimate touches, the personal anecdotes, which his daughters have pre- served for us in their genial, witty books and in the talks which they, as well as their mother, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, and the doc- tor's staunch friend and biographer, Mr. Frank B. Sanborn, have given to us so delightfully through many years' observances of Dr. Howe's birthday.

The way in which he flung his young manhood into the Gre- cian struggle for independence and, later, his mission in distrib- uting relief to the Cretan refugees ; his pre-eminent labors in the education of the blind, and his efforts in behalf of the deaf and of the feeble-minded, in whose betterment he was a pioneer worker, and of public school advancement; his interest in the insane, in prison reform and in the anti-slavery cause; his service on the Sanitary Commission at the time of the Civil War, to the Massa- chusetts Board of State Charities, and as a trustee of the Massa- chusetts General Hospital, — all these concerns picture for us a vivid character, a leader possessing both "the seeing eye and the helping hand," unstinting in his service to his fellow-beings and intensely alive to all forward movements. His lifework has been said to have been the laying of foundations, and upon them what edifices of beneficence have been built and are still building! "Men had to follow where such a man directed," said one of his eulogists. Indeed, in many a diversified field of endeavor must have arisen the same sigh of relief with which Dr. Fisher hailed the dawning upon his inner and outer vision of this man as destined educator of the blind, — "Here is Howe, the very man we have been looking for all this time."

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME V. NO. 4 JUNE 15. 1936

The Peril of Pensions

THE PRESIDENT has requested $8,000,000 to be expended for the blind next year under the Social Security Act. This sum will be doubled by contributions from the states. Accompany- ing the request was a statement that of the 100,000 blind persons in this country 32,000 are now receiving aid and that next year 64,000 will receive pensions averaging $20 a month. This means that two- thirds of the blind will become beneficiaries of the government.

Some people hail this as a great boon but others look upon it with grave misgivings. At Perkins we are deeply concerned, for we fear that acceptance of the principle, that because a person is blind he is therefore entitled to governmental aid, undermines the status of the blind which we have been building up for a century. Based on the conviction that the handicap of blindness can be overcome through education our constant goal has been to prepare our pupils to take a contributory place in life. This conviction raised the status of the blind from the level of charity to a position of economic self-respect and achievement.

It is because of our faith in blind people that we feel impelled to point out the peril which we foresee. With pensions as a legal right when sight is gone, is there not danger of reverting from con- tributory citizens to a class receiving special privilege? Above all else, we fear that the social security sought may demand the high price of economic self-respect. There is peril in this!

^clJhuJ ^aA/rj^

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT

( The Director received one of the letters sent by the President to a group of clergymen. At the request of several people, parts of his reply are printed here.)

Dear Mr. President:

Even though I fall outside of the parish clergy for whom your letter of Septem- ber 23 was intended, I feel impelled to reply to the letter which I received because I am in a position to speak for a group in which I know you are interested and which is deeply concerned over the successful workings of the Social Security Legis- lation. As you know, this Legislation calls for $3,000,000.00* to be available annually for the blind to augment appropriations made by the different states. This large provision for a distinct class presents problems which are perplexing those responsible for the blind. . . . One hundred years ago this school was founded on a new principle — that the blind through education, could take a contributory place in our social and economic life. This principle transformed the status of those without sight from the recipients of charity to that of self-respecting citizens.

Along with the building up of a program of education that would sustain the blind in this status we have labored to make the seeing world accept a man without sight and his work not because of his handicap but because of the good quality of his handicraft. . . . Temporary relief may be necessary now as it is for so many non- handicapped people, but I am concerned over the provision for money payments for the blind as assured by this legislation as a permanent right provided by law. . . . Acceptance of the pension as a right established by law for all without sight upsets the principles for which schools like Perkins have fought for over a century. It may assure the sightless of security but it robs them of their self-respect.

The problem affects educators of the blind because if this new attitude is to prevail, we may have to change our goal from equipping for contributory service to one which provides the mere rudiments of learning with emphasis on avocations to while away leisure hours, days, and lives. For such preparation we are not justi- fied in continuing our course in special methods and appliances and a program of study which bears comparison with the best school systems. But, over and above equipment and costs is the undermining of ambition and the frustration of the desire of blind people to make places for themselves in the seeing world. Those of us who are charged with the responsibility of maintaining the educational principle of contribution and of building up a right attitude on the part of the seeing world toward the blind will not lightly suffer this change which would bring the plight of the blind back to where it was a century ago. . . .

I am aware that you can say that the first thought in providing "money pay- ments to permanently blind individuals" is to alleviate conditions among the adult blind. With sixty-five per cent of those without sight over fifty years- of age there is unquestioned need for financial aid in many cases. But second thought reveals the temptation to seek security without struggle and the opening of the door for special privilege to a group, appealing to the public, but who in accord with ability and training ought to be enabled to retain their self-respect by finding opportunity to render their share of service, which through education generously provided they have proved able to do. . . .

One more point I beg to stress. If the blind are driven to this last resort it will be because the seeing world is evading a responsibility. Blindness is a blot that can be effaced and the conscience of any nation because of its presence cannot be salved by the most generous pensions. Those now without sight must be judged not by what they have lost but by what they can do, and self-respecting opportunity must be provided for them to take a contributory place in our social and economic life.

Yours respectfully,

Gabriel Farrell, Director.

*For 1937 this sum has been increased to eight million dollars.

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THE WHEELWRIGHT BELLS

By Anna Gardner Fish

ONE of the delightful and unexpected gifts which have come to Perkins is a set of eight English bells, presented in memory of her husband by Mrs. Andrew C. Wheelwright, granddaughter of Col. Thomas Handasyd Perkins for whom our institution is named.

They were cast by the London firm of Mears and Stainbank and are arranged both for chiming, which produces the sound by the blow of an exterior hammer and which can be well done by one of our own pupils, and for pealing, which involves the use of the interior clappers and which is often performed in some of the 40,320 possible changes by eight English bell-ringers, who keep alive through their own interested efforts this special art, almost unknown in this country.

The bells arrived here December 11, 1912, and for a few days, before being hoisted to the tower, they remained in the museum, where they were examined in detail by our pupils, older and younger, and their inscriptions, carefully chosen by Mrs. Wheelwright and the architect of our buildings, Mr. R. Clipston Sturgis, and embossed in Roman letters, were traced by exploring fingers. The bells vary in weight from 700 to 2200 pounds ; they are in the pitch of E and in the natural scale. A friend of Mrs. Wheelwright, an expert and enthu- siast on the subject of bells, Dr. Arthur H. Nichols of Boston, gave personal attention to all details connected with the chimes and put us in touch with the bell-ringers, who were frequent visitors in the first few years but are less so now that several other carillons have been installed in different towns of Massachusetts.

Every Sunday morning during the school year one of our boys plays hymn-tunes for a half -hour on the bells ; they are chimed while audiences are assembling for public concerts ; they are sometimes used as a prelude to a concert number ; and they herald the assembling for morning chapel exercises during the Christmas season. Once they were pealed half-muffled, in a strangely beautiful poignancy of wind-blown rhythm, in memory of a pupil who had died; and once in a summer month we were asked to have them chimed during the funeral services for a neighbor across the Charles River, who had long enjoyed their musical tones, and we were glad to have this done.

Thus, the Wheelwright bells fill an important niche among our treasured possessions, and their clear tones would be greatly missed if they should be silenced.

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At this table

in the

Board Room

every problem pertaining-

to a pupil, whether about admission,

correction, adjustment,

placement, or dismissal, is

carefully considered at

regular meetings

by these members of the

Department of Personnel

THE HARVARD CLASS

FOR fifteen years the Harvard Course has grown under the leader- ship of Dr. Allen and Miss Langworthy. During that time two

hundred and nineteen persons from seventeen different countries and thirty-one states have been trained for work with the blind. This year will mark the close of the active service of Miss Langworthy. She is to retire at the end of the present school year after forty-four years of association with Perkins Institution.

Miss Langworthy's duties as tutorial guide for the Harvard Class and leader of the Special Methods Class will be assumed by Miss Genevieve M. Haven. For thirteen years Miss Haven has been a teacher in the Girls' Upper School. She is a graduate of Tufts College and, starting with the Harvard Course, has earned the degree of Master of Education at Harvard University. With this training and experience she is unusually well-qualified for her new duties, which she will take up in September. We are indeed happy and fortunate to have Dr. Allen continue in charge of the Harvard Course.

SS LANGWORTHY

W

OTHER STAFF RETIREMENTS

ITH a record of service almost as long as that of Miss Langworthy, Miss Wilhelmina R. Humbert is to retire as the kindergartner in Bradlee Cottage. For thirty-six years Miss Humbert has had charge of the youngest girls. Many of her children are now grown up. In the Upper School are

— 4 —

Left to right are:

Francis M. Andrews, Jr., Principal

Dr. Elizabeth M. Hincks, Psychologist

Sina V. Waterhouse, Speech Correction

Ruth E. Douglass, Home Visitor

Charlotte A. Healy, Physiotherapist

Ruth Holt, Resident Nurse

Elsie H. Simonds, Supervisor of Girls

M. Albertina Eastman, Speech Correction

Thelma E. Peirce, Physiotherapist

Janet H. Cairns, Psychometrist and

Secretary of the Department

and Dr. Gabriel Farrell, Director.

five girls who have been together ever since they were in the kinder- garten with Miss Humbert, in 1922. At the end of this school year the group will be broken because one girl is graduating and Miss Hum- bert is retiring.

After twelve years of faithful service as physiotherapist, Miss Charlotte A. Healy is retiring from her work. Other resignations at the close of this year are : Miss Miriam F. Hoard of the Upper School, Miss Fleda F. Chamberlain of the Lower School, Miss Katherine M. Lowe, Matron of May Cottage, and Miss Mary E. Stevens, House Mother of Anagnos Cottage.

THE HERB GARDEN

A GARDEN of sweet smelling herbs has been laid out at the upper end of the Girls' Close in front of Bennett Cottage. Two areas on either side of the front door have been prettily ar- ranged and herbs of some fifty varieties are being planted there. This garden has been made possible by a gift which has come to us through Miss Eleanor H. Lovett. Mrs. Herbert G. Low, who was widely known through her establishment of the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture for Women at Groton, directed in her will that her engage- ment ring be sold and the proceeds used to benefit the blind. Miss Lovett, in consultation with us, felt that this garden would be a beautiful form of memorial for Mrs. Low and one which our pupils would especially enjoy.

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MISS HUMBERT

O

SPRING SPORTS

THE BOYS' TRACK TEAM has had a most successful season, winning every meet. The intercottage meet on Saturday, May 2, was won by Moulton Cottage. On Saturday, May 9, the Baltimore Team went down to defeat and on the following Saturday the New York School Team did likewise. On Saturday, May 30, our team went to Overbrook, winning over Philadelphia and Connecticut. Perhaps the most interesting meet this year was with the Watertown High School when our track team won a victory with 39 V2 points against 15!/2 points for the seeing boys.

"BETTER THAN BOONDOGGLING"

THIS is the headline of an editorial in the "Philadelphia Bulletin" describing the WPA project of map making which is actively going on in the Howe Building. Between forty and fifty per- sons, about twelve of whom are blind, are busily employed making these embossed maps. As stated in the last issue of "The Lantern", the project calls for the making of about four hundred and fifty plates including geographical, historical, and economic maps of the world. The maps are to be bound in ten volumes, one set of which will be distributed to every school for the blind.

An exhibit showing the types of maps and how they are made was sent to an exhibition of WPA projects in Washington last month. This exhibit proved to be one of the most unique of the large number displayed and the Washington authorities have asked to hold it over to send it through the country.

The Philadelphia editorial also states, "There has never been money enough in all the funds devoted to the welfare of the blind to afford all the things needed. The problem of WPA has been to find something worthy of its funds. In this case the WPA expenditure has been joined to a worthy cause and the money will be well spent. . . . The Perkins Institution WPA project is one that will never be called 'boondoggling'."

LOWER SCHOOL SUPERIORITY

A BOY in the Primary Department knows that the Lower School is superior to any other school, and recently told why in these words: "You know in public schools they don't take up with units. They don't have Greeks, and Romans and Vitamins !"

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

At the National Convention of the Teachers of Penmanship held in Bos- ton in March, Miss Woodworth ar- ranged an exhibit of squarehand writ- ing by our pupils. This exhibit at- tracted wide attention.

Miss Alice Stewart, a graduate of Perkins who is now in charge of the library in the Lower School has many engagements for story-telling. Recent- ly she gave a puppet show at the Boys' and Girls' Bookshop in Boston.

A Western Electric Audiometer has

been purchased and set up in the Eye Clinic Room. It is to be used in test- ing the hearing of all pupils, and to check progress being made with hard- of-hearing children through stimula- tion by methods used in the Deaf- Blind Department.

Helen Siefert, the little deaf-blind girl who came to Perkins from Nebras- ka two years ago, returned home in May with her teacher, Miss Margaret Hosher. During her stay here Helen was taught through vibration to under- stand speech and to speak. She will enter the Nebraska School for the Blind next year.

Among- recent visitors have been: The Reverend Brother Theodose of Ghent, Belgium; Dr. S. P. Chang of the Peiping Union Medical College; Dr. C. C. Yen of the National Medical Col- lege of Peiping, China; Dr. J. Mizuno of the Japanese Mission at Steveston, B.C.; Mr. Wilson, Head of the Train- ing School for Leaders of the Boy Scouts in England; Dr. and Mrs. Ernest Whitfield, Hon. Treasurer of the Na- tional Institute in London; Mr. Nissan Mekler of The Lighthouse in Palestine; Dr. Lewis B. Carris of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, and Miss Josephine B. Timberlake of the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

"Current History", a magazine which has been published by the New York Times has been purchased by Merle C. Tracy who will publish it hereafter. Mr. Tracy was graduated from Perkins in 1896.

The Boston Nursery for Blind Babies has published an attractive and com- prehensive booklet entitled "The Pre- school Blind Child". This is a guide to the care and training of little blind children. It is admirably compiled and beautifully illustrated.

The Arthur Sunshine Home and Nur- sery at Summit, New Jersey has an- nounced its intention to raise $125,000.00 to carry on its program of research in the field of the pre-school blind child.

"The Teacher of the Blind", a maga- zine published in England, has a long review of the recent Annual Report of Perkins which states: "This Annual Report contains some very interesting reading, as one would expect from this famous institution. The distinguishing feature throughout is the spirit of in- quiry, new ideas, and the record of progress. . . . Perkins has a great tradi- tion and is living up to it."

Education of the Handicapped is the

title of an attractive booklet which bears the imprint of Teachers' College, Columbia University. The booklet lists courses for the training of teachers for special fields including the blind, the partially sighted, the deaf, the hard of hearing, the crippled, the mentally handicapped, the handicapped in speech, and the socially handicapped. These courses constitute a new depart- ment which has been established by Columbia and is under the direction of Dr. Merle E. Frampton, Principal of the New York Institute for the Educa- tion of the Blind.

— 7 —

GRADUATION, JUNE 16

GRADUATION takes place on Tuesday, June 16. The Lower School promotion exercises will be held at 11.00 o'clock. The Upper School graduation exercises will be at 2.00 o'clock. At the graduation exercises the diplomas and certificates will be awarded by Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation. The com- mencement address will be given by The Rev'd. George P. O'Conor, Pastor of St. Mary's Church, West Dedham, and a Trustee of Perkins. The invocation will be offered by The Rev'd. F. King Singiser, Minis- ter of the Baptist Church in Watertown.

Eight boys and eleven girls will receive certificates marking the completion of their work in the Lower School and transfer to the Upper School. Seven young women and nine young men who have completed the requirements in the Upper School will receive diplomas. Certificates will also be given to four young men; two who have finished the Normal Course in the Music Department and two who have completed the work in the Tuning Department. Three girls will receive manual training certificates.

Martha Wolfson, who has been attending the Watertown High School while living at Perkins, has been accepted for admission to Radcliffe College in September. Helen Reese, who is graduating this year, has been admitted to the four-year course of the New England Conservatory of Music. Norman Case of the graduating class plans to enter Amherst College, while William Johnson will go to Gettysburg College.

The New England Conservatory of Music on June 23 will grant diplomas to three of our former pupils: Bertrand Chombeau, Alfred Cormier and Hervey Rainville. Peter F. Campbell, a graduate of four years ago, will receive his diploma from the Boston University School of Business Administration. John Despres will be graduated from Brown University.

Members of the staff remaining for the summer and boys taking the farming course will live in Fisher Cottage. Teachers are to return Tuesday, September 15, and pupils the following day. School will reopen with chapel on Thursday morning, September 17.

The motto of the graduates is "Wie die Arbeit, so der Lohn."

— 8 —

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME VI. NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 15. 1936

Handicap School or Life?

AN ENGLISH educator of the blind with whom I was talking this summer expressed in a striking way the difference be- tween the English attitude toward those without sight and our own and at the same time implied a criticism of our system which must be weighed with searching care. He said: "The trouble with your program for the blind is that you look upon blindness as a school handicap and not as a life handicap. You feel that if you help sightless youth overcome this handicap in acquiring an adequate education that he can then find himself in the economic world which is designed for seeing people. In England we know that this cannot be done and our program spans the life of a person without sight."

It was an interesting and valuable experience to be able to ob- serve the English program for the blind this summer, and one cannot fail to be impressed by the thoroughness of the care provided and by the high type of men and women engaged in this field. While the English leaders would be the first to admit that our schools are superior both in equipment and in educational standards the question must arise as to whether or not the blind would not be better off in the long run if the concentration on the school age could be extended so as to provide a well co-ordinated program from birth or time of loss of sight through life. Hasn't the blind person as much right to demand from society the same assurance of life work as he now has of a good education?

^O^i^f ^OA/XJ^

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Francis M. Andrews, Principal of Perkins, has been elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Amer- ican Association of Instructors of the Blind.

Maurine Nilsson, a member of last year's Harvard Class, has entered the training class at the Clarke School for the Deaf to prepare for future work with the deaf-blind.

The Harvard Class for this year will consist of eight young women and five men. Two of the men are from Turk- ey. Miss Haven, who will assist Dr. Allen this year, has been a teacher at Perkins twenty-four years and not thirteen as stated in the last issue of The Lantern.

Foreign travellers this summer were Dr. and Mrs. Parrell to the British Isles; Miss Ruth Holt to England, Donald Morgan to England and France and Miss Ruth Douglass to the West Indies.

Congratulations to Miriam F. Hoard on her marriage to Mr. Arthur R. Knox, Jr.; to Charlotte A. Healy who became Mrs. William C. Rendall, and to Esther G. Herfurth who married Bertrand Chombeau, Perkins '33.

With deep regret we record the death during the summer of Miss Hel- en M. Abbott, a retired music teacher; Mrs. Minnie E. White, nutritionist at the Lower School; Miss Nettie Caro- line Gray, Perkins '15, teacher of mu- sic at the colored departmet of the Arkansas School for the Blind; Harry B. Hodsdon, Perkins '92, a successful piano tuner in Yarmouth, Maine, Dr. Francis I. Proctor, ophthalmologist from 1893 to 1910 and a friend of Mr. Anagnos and John Small, who for thirty-eight years served the school faithfully.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Perkins Corporation, has been elected an Overseer of Harvard University.

Dr. Edward E. Allen, Director Emer- itus, is to address the New Hampshire Association for the Blind in Manches- ter on September 22, 1936.

Camp Allen girls won first prize ($100) for their "stunt" at the Inter- national Lions Convocation in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, and were enter- tained at the Hotel Touraine, Boston, by its manager on their trips to and from Providence.

William E. Powers, Perkins '32, Bos- ton University Law School '35, is run- ning for the office of senator in his home state, Rhode Island.

James E. Hannon, Perkins '29, Bos- ton University Law School '35, has just won a notable case in the Massachu- setts Superior Court.

Roger Walker, Perkins '19, has been honored by being invited to attend and take part in the Second North Ameri- can Congress of Carillonneurs to be held at The Peace Tower, Houses of Parliament. Ottawa, Canada. Caril- lonneurs from all over the world will be present. Mr. Walker is, in so far as we know, the only blind man qual- ified to play a carillon.

Mrs. Winifred Holt Mather, founder of Lighthouses all over the world, has written that she has shown the film depicting school life at Perkins in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, Japan, and has interested the leaders of The New Life Movement of China in prevention.

An exhibit of books and appliances has been requested for the conference of the Library Association of China to be held at the National Library of Pei- ping.

— 2 —

THOMAS H. PERKINS

Whose Name We Bear

By Anna Gardner Fish

c

L0L. THOMAS HANDASYD PERKINS' inter- est in the institution which was later to bear his name was undoubtedly quickened, if not initiated, by the overwhelming- tide of public en- thusiasm which had inundated Boston and its en- virons about 1833. In that year the women of Salem, Marblehead and Newburyport managed a fair which netted $3000 and, not to be outdone, Boston women fol- lowed with a fair in Faneuil Hall which produced $11,000. These were large amounts for that day and for such an infant enterprise as a school for the blind, lusty though it was to prove itself.

It was just previous to the latter fair that Col. Perkins made his magnificent offer of his mansion on Pearl Street, Boston, to house the growing school, more than doubling his gift by the proviso that it must be accompanied by the sum of $50,000, to be raised by sub- scription before the end of May. This condition was promptly met, and the school was soon able to establish itself anew and expand its work and service.

Up to this time, or since August, 1832, the few pupils had been gathered in the home of Dr. Howe's parents on Pleasant Street, Boston, but the move to the commodious dwelling, given by Col. Perkins, gave it an assured position among educational institutions. Undoubtedy it was Col. Perkins' plan that this should be a permanent location for the school, but within the next few years it seemed al- ready outgrown. It did not lend itself to the separation and classifi- cation of the pupils, and a temporary stay in Cohasset, while repairs were made in the Pearl Street house, showed the desirability of an out-of-town site, if possible near the sea.

Attention was drawn to the large and substantial Mount Wash- ington Hotel which then came into the market. This commanding edifice stood high on Washington Heights, South Boston, isolated from any near neighbors and enjoying to the full the salt breezes that swept over the peninsula; but it had failed as a hotel. The opportunity thus afforded to provide ample quarters for the expansion was indeed a godsend, and it is to Col. Perkins' everlasting credit

Continued on Page 8 — 3 —

ENGLAND'S BLIND

LEAVING the day after graduation the Director spent nearly two months in England with short visits to Scotland and Ireland observing work for the blind. Three kindergartens, ten ele- mentary schools, three secondary schools, six training schools, eleven shops and nine special groups were visited in eighteen different cities. In every place he was received with the utmost courtesy and each activity had some special interest which made the visit quite worth while.

The day after his arrival in London (June 25) the Director was invited to lunch and attend the afternoon session of a meeting of the National Committee on Prevention of Blindness at which a final report on this problem was presented. He spoke briefly at the luncheon. On the following day he attended the semi-annual meeting of a national committee on work with the deaf -blind and was asked to outline our work for doubly-handicapped children. On July 2 he had lunch and a conference with the government official in charge of special schools and on July 6 he attended an all-day conference on massage as a profession for the blind attended by the officers of the National Institute for the Blind of London and the leaders of the Association Valentin Hauy, who came from Paris for this conference. In between, Dr. Farrell visited schools for the blind in and near Lon- don, and on July 7 started on a three-week motor trip which covered the leading schools and shops in England. Later he visited leaders of the work in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin and Liverpool.

England has an extensive program for the blind which extends from birth to death. After elementary school education which ends at sixteen practically all pupils pass directly to training schools for four years of trade instruction. A few selected pupils go to the secondary schools and thence to the university. Upon completing the training school course most of the trainees enter sheltered work- shops while a few take up work at home under the direction of the shops. Under this system every employable blind person is assured of work, the amount earned by piece work being supplemented by a governmental grant to the shop for each blind person employed. At the age of fifty a blind person becomes eligible for an old age pension which begins for seeing people at sixty-five. England realizes that the blind cannot support themselves in the economic world and through long experience has built up this system for the care of those without sight.

— 4 —

THE GARDENING COURSE

j^OUR boys, one totally blind, remained at the school all summer to carry out the practical part of the course on Gardening. Of their work Mr. Coon, the instructor, writes:

"As soon as possible the boys were given their garden plots where they were to attain their practical experience. The boys planned their own gardens and the crops as they now stand are the result of their planning and work. During the summer each boy helped as much as possible in the main school garden and considerable assistance was given. The one totally blind boy had some difficulty at first in getting about in his garden but his work improved considerably as he learned to identify the various vege- tables and his garden will stand comparison with the others, although of course it required more than double the time for the achievement of this result."

71

The Four

Summer

Farmers

SUMMER BETTERMENTS

OUTSTANDING in the summer program of betterments is the installation of air conditioning in the two main blocks of class- rooms in Howe Building. For some time the ventilation of these sixteen rooms has been troublesome and after careful study a system which washes, heats and circulates the air under thermostatic control has been installed. In this building a new room for typewrit- ing has been equipped with acoustical ceiling and special wiring for ediphones. In the Lower School new desks have been built after extensive research and their installation completes the program of entirely new class-room equipment throughout the Upper and Lower Schools.

Outdoors there is a broad new walk paralleling the main drive from the Stickney Gate to the approach to the girls' close. This has

— 5 —

been built to eliminate the hazards of walking on the driveway. An- other new walk leads from the boys' close to Beechwood Avenue. A new macadam sidewalk has been laid the entire length of the North Beacon Street front as a W P A project. Considerable work has been done repointing walls and repairing roofs. Some new playground equipment including a lage set of swings for Anagnos Cottage has been set up. The herb garden mentioned in the last issue is now complete and all of the gardens will bespeak a colorful and fragrant welcome to the returning pupils.

NEW STAFF MEMBERS

SEVEN PERSONS will be welcomed as teachers and two as ma- trons when our large family of workers assemble on Tuesday evening, September 15, at 7.30 o'clock for the opening meeting of another year. This is an unusually small number and is in itself, perhaps, the best commentary upon the stability which our school enjoys.

Edward J. Waterhouse, a graduate of the University of Cambridge and a former teacher, returns to the Upper School after an absence of two years. Mrs. Waterhouse, who resumed her work of speech correction on a part-time basis last year, will give full time this year. Armand J. Michaud, graduate of Perkins and Boston University and of last year's Harvard Class, will teach in the Upper School; while Marguerite L. Manley, graduate of the Wheelock School and for some time with the Boston Nursery for Blind Babies, will take up duties as kindergartner. Josephine L. Taylor, graduate of Western College for Women, and formerly with the Arthur Sunshine Home and Nursery School, has been engaged to do remedial work in the Lower School. Marion L. Damren, trained at the Boston School of Occupa- tional Therapy and of last year's Harvard Class, will serve in the Girls' Manual Training Department, and Miriam A. Phipps, graduate of the Massachusetts School of Art, will assist in the same department on the boys' side. Albert R. Raymond is to serve as vocal teacher on part time. Mrs. Jane G. Hancock will be the new matron in Anagnos Cottage and Miss F. Ethel Elliott will fill the same position in May Cottage.

The transfer of Don Donaldson from the Lower School to be master of Tompkins Cottage frees Mr. Di Martino to give his whole time to the promotion of outdoor sports and recreation. Of the thirty-eight teachers now on the Upper School staff sixteen are men, of whom ten live at the school.

The staff of Perkins is to be augmented this year by the pres- ence of three Seeing Eye Dogs. "Peppy" is to guide Mrs. Edward J. Waterhouse. "Jigs" is to be the companion of Donald Morgan. "Pal" will lead Miss Alice L. Stewart as she comes each day from her

— 6 —

home to her work in the Lower School Library. "Peppy" and "Jigs" will live in the school. All attended the training school at Morristown, New Jersey this summer.

HARVARD CELEBRATES

AS OUR NEIGHBOR, Harvard University, is observing its Ter- centenary it may be of interest to know that the first college degree ever awarded to a blind man in this country was granted by Harvard in 1844 to Joseph Brown Smith. Smith entered Perkins in 1832 remaining until June, 1840. In September of that year he was admitted to Harvard and earned his degree in the regular four years. Until his death in 1855 he was professor of music at the Kentucky School for the Blind. Recently his granddaughter sent to our historical museum a lustre ware cup and saucer used by Mr. Smith and a daguerreotype which shows him as a pleasant, serious-faced gentleman with an Irish necktie beard.

Primary boys have gardens, too

S^*^ i

*^*$*:.<&['H:

PAGE CHARLIE CHAN!

WHEN DONALD MORGAN, a blind teacher at Perkins, re- turned after a visit in England he was minus the braille maps of London and England which had been carefully made for him by the map makers at Perkins and which had been of great help to him while in England. He left them one day by mis- take in a taxi and arousing suspicion they were sent to Scotland Yard. Morgan called there, identified the maps but was refused them because, the officials said, "these maps may be a new code for spies and they are going to remain in our files!"

— 7 —

THOMAS H. PERKINS

Continued from Page 3

that he allowed a transfer to be made, the exchange of his fine resi- dence for this suburban property. It was then, in 1839, that, in grati- tude for Col. Perkins' generosity, the trustees introduced his name into the title of the well-established institution. It seemed to them then, and perhaps justifiably, that no greater gift could ever be ex- pected to come to the school, and this may be conceded in the light of its timeliness, quite aside from consideration of the large amounts which have since come to the school through gift or legacy.

Col. Thomas Handasyd Perkins was a merchant prince, an emi- nent man of affairs whose business interests encircled the globe. Born in Boston, December 15, 1764, he lost his father at the age of six years, and thereafter his education, pursuits and position in life reflected the poise and character of his very remarkable and sagacious mother. Although prepared for college, he chose a mercantile career in preference and administered the business of his importing firm so successfully as to amass a fortune during fifty years of participa- tion. His connections with other lands led him to travel extensively in England, France, Holland, Germany, China and Java, and every- where he was an apt and shrewd observer, his letters and diaries re- vealing a full comprehension of the manners and customs he encoun- tered and appreciation of their merits and demerits.

In addition to his own business interests he shared in all the public movements of his day, which extended all the way from raising funds for completing the Washington monument to building the first real railroad in this country, a track two miles long for transporting granite from the Quincy quarries to the water's edge. They included the presidency of the Boston Atheneum (to which he gave generously and repeatedly), the establishment of the Massachusetts General Hospital, and many governmental activities. His title of Colonel, by which he was known throughout his later years, was due to his posi- tion as commander of a battalion which acted as guard and escort to the governor of Massachusetts on public occasions; his right to the title of Honorable rested upon his election to the Senate of this Com- monwealth. He might have gone to Congress but did not care to accept the nomination.

His services in public affairs won him recognition from President Washington who invited him to Mount Vernon and entertained him with real cordiality.

Continued on Page 10

Presented by Former Students At the Centennial Exercises — 1932

Attached to Organ Console

The Edwin L. Gardiner

Music Library

Director of Music

1895-1933

In the Music Library

In Grateful Appreciation of wllhelmina r. humbert

KlNDERGARTNER, 1901-1936

This Room is Dedicated To

Jessica L. Langworthy

In Grateful Recognition of

Forty-Four Years of Service

1892-1936

In Girls' Kindergarten Room

In Harvard Class Room

BRONZE TABLETS PLACED IN JUNE, 1936

Each Tells Its Own Story

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Gardening Instruction at Perkins by Nelson Coon, OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND, April, 1936.

Massage as a Profession for the Blind by Thelma Peirce, PHYSIO- THERAPY REVIEW, May-June, 1936.

Luetic Treatment at Perkins Insti- tution by Janet H. Cairns, OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND, June, 1936.

How The Blind See — What is this "sixth sense"? by Gabriel Farrell, THE FORUM, August, 1936.

Pensions for the Blind by Gabriel Farrell, CURRENT HISTORY, Oc- tober, 1936.

FROM OUR MAIL

From head of a school — Yokohama, Japan

"Our little school is doing good work and the two girls (at Perkins for three years) are working hard at the teach- ing. They always seem to enjoy their work. Our graduation comes in March and this year we had one boy go on to college in Kobe."

From a Harvard Class student — Egypt

"I feel very proud of the advance- ment of work for the blind in Egypt. We have now about twelve centers at- tached to the elementary schools . . . I am hoping to establish a medical so- cial work center in one of the eye clinics this summer."

9 —

THOMAS H. PERKINS

Continued from Page 8

Col. Perkins had great personal strength and entire self-reliance, and he was quick and far-sighted in his decisions. His advice could be accepted with confidence, and he was regarded by all his business associates and by the young men who grew up around him as a tower of dependability and a guiding star. It was said that the foundations of wealth and position might be traced by many a young aspirant to civic honors to Col. Perkins' first voyage to China, in 1789.

Upon his retirement from business in 1838, with a large fortune, he devoted himself to the cultivation of his estate in Brookline, the introduction of rare and beautiful trees and shrubs, and the assem- bling in his residence of art treasures, brought back from the many voyages overseas, which he continued to make. Of all things of beauty he was a true connoisseur.

"One of the noblest specimens of humanity to which our city has ever given birth" was said of him by the Hon. Robert C. Win- throp in a eulogy after his death, January 11, 1854. He was a sincere friend of the school throughout his life, and at his funeral the par- ticipation of our choir in the services indicated the esteem and appre- ciation in which he was held at Perkins Institution.

NETTIE CAROLINE GRAY

THE DEATH of Nettie C. Gray (August 2, 1936) deserves more than passing attention or the tribute of a sigh, for she exempli- fied in her personality the sound principles, the regard for law and order, the steadfast purpose, the ability to achieve through hard work, which we would fain inculcate in all our boys and girls.

Nettie was born March 15, 1893, in Cambridge, Mass., which ever remained her home town. Having been totally blind from birth, she entered the kindergarten April 6, 1898, a chubby, happy little girl, quite ready to share in all the activities of the school.

After receiving her academic diploma in 1915 and a certificate from the Pianoforte Normal Department in 1918, she taught music successfully one year in the school for colored deaf, blind and orphan children in Taft, Okla., and seventeen years in the colored department of the Arkansas School for the Blind, where she had been reappointed. She has left a lasting impression of worth, progress and stead- fast purpose upon her pupils, fellow workers and associates at her home, at her school and at Perkins.

Anna G. Fish

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME VI. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 1 936

1937 . — ■ A Year of Anniversaries

THE COMING year gives promise of being one of the most mem- orable in the history of Perkins. An unusual number of anni- versaries, all worthy of observance, fall in 1937. Already plans are being made for their celebration, but as the year approaches we want to bring to the attention of our readers the events that are to be commemorated.

The twenty- fifth anniversary of the opening of the present school build- ings in Watertown, the most complete and beautiful plant ever erected lor the use of the blind.

The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Kindergarten. On May 2, 1887, seven boys and three girls formed the first school for little blind chil- dren in the world.

The fiftieth anniversary of the admission of Edith M. Thomas to the Kindergarten. Entering in October, 1887, she was the first deaf-blind pupil at that school and the first doubly-handicapped child to master speech.

The one hundredth anniversary of the coming of Laura D. Bridgman to Perkins. Admitted in October, 1837, she was the first deaf -blind mute ever to be educated.

The one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Michael Anagnos, second director of the Institution and the founder of the Kindergarten. He was born in Papingo, Greece, November 7, 1837.

The one hundredth anniversary of the large relief globe now standing in the lobby of Howe Building. Made during the year of 1837 by S. P. Rug- gles through funds given by John Preston, it was the first globe for the blind ever devised.

These are notable events and their passing must be a means of marking our progress and occasion for initiating new works which will be the contribution of our day and generation to the onward march of Perkins. Let us, therefore, welcome 1937 as a year replete with opportunities. In the meantime, we heartily wish to all

A Mnrg (Elinatmaa nnb a Happy Npui f par

Perkins Institution and Massa- ^^s ff^/rl*4jLS\ *~~/^t A A m^fl

chusetts School for the Blind. * CC*T/ /«/*'t*^

Watertown, Massachusetts

Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Eliot Cottage, as winner of the Fall Football Series, entertained the mem- bers of the cottage teams at a banquet on Monday evening, November 16.

The Girls' Victory Supper, celebrating the various achievements of the past year in the Girls' Upper School was held at Fisher Cottage Wednesday eve- ning, October 7.

An herb dinner composed largely of the herbs grown in the garden outside of Bennett Cottage was held in that cottage on Wednesday evening, October 14. Evelyn Crossman, a senior, gave an interesting account of the dinner and the garden at Chapel on the following Monday.

Founders' Day Exercises, at the

Lower School, were held on Novem- ber 6, and were marked by an interest- ing play given by the pupils. The Howe Memorial Exercises were held on No- vember 12, with Mr. H. H. Richards, grandson of Dr. Howe, as the speaker.

Mrs. Helen Smith Brown, formerly a teacher of the Lower School, has re- turned to take up the duties of Miss Beatrice M. Green who was obliged to return home because of illness.

Mr. Donald B. MacMillan, famous Arctic explorer, came to the School on Monday afternoon, November 23, and thrilled the pupils with his accounts of the far North.

The Director broadcast over Station WPRO at Providence on Saturday. October 10, telling of the maps being made at Perkins. On Thursday, Octo- ber 8, he was interviewed in a broad- cast over Station WORL.

The Boston Committee for the Blind have given sociables for the Lower School and for the Boys' Upper School and soon will have one for the Girls' Upper School. All at Perkins are grate- ful for the many courtesies and kind- nesses rendered by the Boston Com- mittee.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Hervey Rainville, a Perkins graduate who in June received his diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music, is to be the guest piano soloist at the concert of the Apollo Club in Boston on the evening of December 8. He is, also, to be the soloist at the con- cert to be given by the Watertown Civic Orchestra on the evening of De- cember 18.

The Hellenic Association of Boston held commemorative exercises on the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Michael Anagnos on October 23, at their Temple in Boston. Miss Anna G. Fish of Perkins, spoke at the evening meeting.

Over fifty pupils had the opportunity to see "Midsummer Night's Dream" at the motion picture theatre in Arlington through the kindness of Miss Harriet A. Ellis.

The Girls' Glee Club have given con- certs for the Stitch and Story Club, Natick, the Junior Woman's Club, Wo- burn, and the Daughters of Colonial Wars Society, Boston.

"The Master of Millshaven", a novel by Clarence Hawkes, and the forty- second book by this graduate of Per- kins, will soon be available in braille.

"Smith Women at Perkins Institu- tion", by Eleanor W. Thayer of the Lower School appeared in the Smith Alumnae Quarterly, November, 1936.

"The City of Unending Night", is a

year book of unusual attractiveness issued by the Industrial Home for the Blind, of which Peter J. Salmon, a Per- kins graduate, is secretary and assistant director.

Cardinal O'Connell, in an interview on his twenty-fifth anniversary as Car- dinal, told of the Formation of the Catholic Guild for the Blind. Perkins welcomes the Guild and looks forward to co-operation with its members.

STEPHEN PRESTON RUGGLES

An Early Co-worker

By Anna Gardner Fish

IT WAS a new field of endeavor into which Dr. Howe ventured when he opened his school for the blind in 1832 ; for a hasty tour of in- spection of institutions of the kind in Europe, previously made, had yielded more points of departure than features to be incorporated in his new undertaking. Untried methods and knotty problems must have confronted him at every turn, and his own ingenuity must have been sorely taxed in meeting them.

How fortunate indeed was he to find at his right hand a helper of understanding mind, or inventive skill and of mechanical knowledge and precision. This man was Stephen Preston Ruggles, whose labors for Dr. Howe and in behalf of the blind were of inestimable value, giving the needed start in appliances for that day and paving the way for modern devices of the present time.

He, it was, who built the first printing press for this school, in 1835, from his own design, and two years later he manufactured a similar one for the school for the blind in Philadelphia. In this latter year (1837) he made the big globe which is one of our unique and priceless possessions and which, in its prominent position in the lobby,' meets the eye of every one who steps within the portals of the Howe Building.

This globe, so far as can be ascertained the only one of its kind in the world, was made by Mr. Ruggles with an exactitude which calls forth admiration. It is thir- teen feet in circumference and is com- posed of 700 cross pieces of wood, so ar- ranged that the only effect of contraction would be to flatten the poles. Its wooden horizon bears the signs of the Zodiac, and there are movable meridian lines which may be used in connection with astronom- ical facts. Its proportions are true and accurate, and its general outlines, in spite of a shifting world, are still dependable.

Mr. Ruggles' work in furtherance of

(Continued on Page 8)

— 3 —

"■*&

• INTRODUCING JIMMY

TIMMY is a new boy. Sixteen other il boys and fifteen girls also began their schooling at Perkins this year. In the early days of the year each new pupil is photographed front and side-view, like these pictures of Jimmy. When Jimmy leaves, similar pictures will be taken. These record his development, and provide a means of recalling Jimmy when future inquiries are made regarding him. Be- tween these two sets of pictures, many others are taken, snapshots at work and play, silhouettes for guidance in posture, to say nothing of x-ray pictures of lungs suspected or bones broken and, of course, at the long last a graduation picture. A composite picture of our new pupils would be difficult to make because of the wide age range during which pupils are admitted. In this year's group our youngest pupil was five and our oldest twenty-three. Three have never been to school before, while the others have attended schools elsewhere, several being mem- bers of sight-saving classes. All the New England states except Connecticut are represented.

HELEN KELLER'S TEACHER

THE death of Anne Sullivan Macy on October 20, takes from our special field of education one of its most notable characters, and removes from the Perkins roll one of its outstanding graduates. While the greatness of Mrs. Macy has always been obscured by the brilliance of her pupil, she will long be remembered because of the ingenuity of her methods of teaching and her integrity of purpose. What Michael Anagnos said of Anne Sullivan two years after he had appointed her as Helen Keller's teacher remained true until the end : "What the little pupil has thus far accomplished is widely known and her wonderful attainments command general admiration; but only those, who are familiar with the particulars of the grand achievement, know that the credit for it is largely due to the intelligence, wisdom, sagacity, unremitting perseverance, and unbending will of the instructress who rescued the child from the depths of ever-enduring night and stillness and watched over the different phases of her mental and moral develop- ment with maternal solicitude and enthusiastic devotion."

— 4 —

DEAF-BLIND IN THIS COUNTRY

MANY who have been attracted by the unique work which Perkins is doing for deaf -blind children have raised the ques- tion as to how many doubly-handicapped people there are in this country. Miss Rebecca Mack, who with Miss Corinne Roche- leau wrote in 1930 the book entitled, "Those in the Dark Silence", has compiled case histories of over a thousand deaf-blind people in this country and has estimated the total number as over two thousand. Miss Mack has recently sent us histories of fifty doubly-handicapped children who need opportunity for release from the dark silence. The American Foundation for the Blind has records of eighty-three deaf- blind under the age of twenty and we have in our files several other cases not included on either list. From these facts it would seem safe to assume that there are at the present time nearly one hundred doubly-handicapped children for whom more adequate educational opportunity ought to be created.

FROM MAPS TO MODELS

THE fifty men and women who have been engaged for nearly a year here at Perkins on the W P A project, making embossed maps for the blind, have now shifted their activities to the creation and production of models for use in schools for the blind. The three hundred and fifty maps which have been punched out on brass plates are now being run through the press. They are being assembled in ten folders, each containing thirty-five maps, and early

Model of an ocean liner made by John Sargent of Littleton, Mass., and his two sons, and recently exhibited at the school.

?» '■■■• 'M< In

LITTHTMUW

in the new year a complete set of these maps will be sent to each school for the blind in this country.

The Model Project is expected to be as interesting and valuable as the Map Project. Already plans are being drawn for a group of architectural models which will show in proper scale the various types of dwellings. Designs are being made for types of bridges, locks for canals, and a number of other models which will have educa- tional value. The aim before the designers is to produce models of things which are too large to be fully comprehended by blind persons and, therefore, must be brought within finger range.

NOW HE'S A JUDGE

EARLY in his administration the present director had a conference with one of the pupils. He came to ask for permission to enter law school and, as the Director was new, the young man told his story. He had always wanted to study law but at fourteen his father died and, as the eldest, he had to go to work to support the family. Later, he was able to enter high school but, while working on a radio, a wire pentrated his eye, and he lost his sight. This brought him to Perkins from which he was graduated in 1932. Per- mission was given to enter law school and he received his diploma and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1935. Returning to Rhode Island, he immediately entered private practice and now he's a judge!

This is the story of William E. Powers who has just been elected probate judge of Cumberland County, Rhode Island. All Perkins friends will want to congratulate Judge Powers and while we know that he is deserving of this honor, we cannot help adding a word of commendation for Mrs. Powers. During law school days, she read over three thousand cases to her husband.

WINTER SUNDAY EVENINGS

BEGINNING Sunday evening, January 17, the Director and Mrs. Farrell plan to entertain each cottage in turn at the Director's house. This has been one of the interesting features of the winter term during the past five years but was omitted last year. A schedule of the dates for the various cottages will be posted on the bulletin board. Instead of outside speakers for each meeting, Dr. and Mrs. Farrell plan to talk to the various groups on their experi- ences in England this summer.

— 6 —

THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING

WE WANT to thank many friends for making- Thanksgiving a home festival for practically all of our children. While many of our boys and girls were able to go to their own homes, there were quite a number who live too far away. Miss Douglass, our untiring home visitor, in co-operation with Miss Thorn- dike of the Trustees, asked friends of the School if they would be willing to entertain a boy or a girl for Thanksgiving dinner. Because of this all but twenty-three of our two hundred and seventy sat at a family table on Thanksgiving Day. We want to express our thanks to the friends who were willing to entertain our children in this way and to assure them of our appreciation. We might also venture the hope that some may be willing to have children for Christmas Day.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

CHRISTMAS comes early at Perkins because for ten days before the holiday recess the chapel exercises center around the Christ- mas Story. Even before this the chorus has been busily en- gaged preparing the annual concerts of Christmas carols. The concerts this year are to be given in Jordan Hall, Boston, on the afternoon of Sunday, December 20 ; in Dwight Hall, at the School, on Monday afternoon, December 21, for the Watertown Woman's Club; and on Tuesday evening, December 22, in Dwight Hall, primarily for the parents and other friends who wish to come to the school. School closes after the concert on this evening, reopening with chapel on Tuesday morning, January 5, 1937.

An interesting program of traditional and modern carols is being prepared. A new feature will be the appearance for the first time in Boston of the chorus wearing the new deep red gowns. Tickets for these concerts may be obtained by applying to the School.

LETTERS TO SANTA CLAUS

WRITING letters to Santa Claus is taken for granted by all boys and girls regardless of what language they speak or write. But one of our Kindergarten boys had some mis- givings regarding the omniscience of the Christmas Saint. With tears in his eyes he came to his teacher and asked "Can Santa Claus read Braille?" The teacher was wise enough to assure him that he had interpreters for all languages, including Braille.

— 7 —

STEPHEN PRESTON RUGGLES

(Continued from Page 3)

the education of the blind was not limited to these major achievements but covered a wide field of lesser accessories which have none the less helped to make smooth the paths of both the teachers and the taught. Dr. Howe, in his seventh report of the school (1838) gave credit to Mr. Ruggles for his zeal, interest and ability.

An excellent oil portrait of Mr. Ruggles hangs in the historic museum, the gift of his grandniece, Mrs. A. F. Batchelder of Lancas- ter, New Hampshire, in 1929. It portrays a genial countenance, with fine features, keen eyes and intent gaze. It is well that the memory of this valuable assistant to Perkins Institution should be preserved for us in so vivid and pleasing a manner.

A MOTHER'S DAY OFFERING, 1932

To Miss Nettie B. Vose By Vinnie F. Forbush

For forty-six years Miss Vose was associated with the Boys' Kindergarten. On November 17th, 1936, she quietly passed away.

So quietly she wends unnumbered ways; Through years unnumbered to her loving thought, Through countless anxious nights and care-filled days, Her sweet compassion, joy and solace brought.

Year after year, a barbarous young brood Would storm the fort and set the world on fire; And she who mothers us is understood Best, when we are of age and sane desire.

Through years unnumbered, to our destinies,

Some walk through gardens; some through deserts go;

The memory of her loving ministries

Refreshes us, and sets our hearts aglow.

— 8 —

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME VI. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1937

Placement Prospects

TWENTY PUPILS will leave Perkins in June because they will have completed their schooling. Two will graduate from Bos- ton University, one from the Law School and one from the College of Education, and another from the New England Conserva- tory of Music. The remainder will receive diplomas from Perkins. Of these, three or four will proceed to higher education, but the others must leave our sheltered cloisters and enter a skeptical world. What will they find to do?

All of these graduates have received a well-rounded and thorough education, and those with outstanding aptitudes have been given opportunity to develop along their special lines. One girl is a well- qualified Ediphone operator, a boy is a good salesman, and others are equally competent in their own fields. At this time of year mem- bers of the personnel department are meeting with the officers of the school to consider reports on each pupil leaving. Careful records have been made of their achievements and interests. All have been individually interviewed. Consultation has been held with the state workers in charge of placement. But the question still stands : What will they find to do?

The answer depends not on the pupils, nor on the school, but upon the public. Will you, Mr. Seeing Man, or you, Mrs. Lady with Vision, employ our well-trained and eager young men and women, or will your own apprehension of blindness make you shrink from giving them a chance? In the last analysis the success of our edu- cational program rises and falls with your readiness to employ per- sons with impaired sight.

^Ct^cc-/ J&AA**£?

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Two new teachers have joined the staff: Miss Marjorie E. Beal has taken the place of Miss Jean M. Parks as teacher of grade six, and Miss Frances Roots has succeeded Miss Martha P. Adams as recreational leader in the Lower School.

The Student Councils have again as- signed pupils to speak at the chapel exercises on Monday mornings and some interesting talks have been heard.

Choral Speaking has been introduced into the school and a group under the direction of Miss Potter gave a demon- stration at chapel recently.

The Girls' Senior Class has given two plays, "Peggy" and "Suppressed De- sires", before interested audiences in Dwight Hall.

The cottage families are visiting the Director's house in turn on Sunday eve- nings. Instead of outside speakers, Dr. and Mrs. Farrell are telling of their experiences in England.

Wednesday teas for the members of the staff and Harvard Class are being held at the Director's house from Christmas until Easter.

With deep regret we announce the death of Miss Alice L. Stewart on Feb- ruary 21. Miss Stewart was a graduate of Perkins and for several years had served as Librarian in the Lower School. In this position she made a place for herself which will be difficult. if not impossible, to fill. Through her gift of story-telling she inspired the children to read. Recently she gained considerable skill and fame through puppet shows and frequently was in- vited to speak in the interest of Perkins and of the blind. All at Perkins feel her loss deeply.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Dr. Edward E. Allen, Director Emeri- tus, and Mrs. Allen sailed March 2 on a steamer of the American Export Line for Italy. After visiting in Italy, they will proceed to their summer home in England.

The Catholic Guild for the Blind re- cently presented Father Hubbard, the Glacier Priest, in Symphony Hall and our chorus had a part in the program.

Mr. A. G. Cowgill, for several years head teacher at the Pennylsvania In- stitution for the Instruction of the Blind, has been elected Principal. We extend our congratulations to Mr. Cow- gill and, also, to the school.

Mrs. Winifred Holt Mather, founder of the Lighthouses for the Blind, starts again in April on another world-wide journey. She has shown the movies of Perkins in thirty-four countries and will take with her this year a new film which is being prepared by the Photog- raphy Department of the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology.

The Clergy of Watertown have once again come to Perkins on Wednesday mornings during Lent to give chapel talks which have been an inspiration to the pupils.

The Girls' Glee Club has sung at the Boston Seamen's Friend Society, at Dana Hall in Wellesley and also, before a large group in Milford.

Recent Visitors have been: Mr. Alex- ander Woollcott of New York; Miss J. M. Wetlesen of Norway; Miss Matie M. Carter and Miss Olga Lommen of the New York State Department of Education; Dr. Luther Fowle of Istan- bul, Turkey; and The Rev'd. Merrill Isely of Aintab, Turkey, who is staying for two weeks.

WHAT I HAVE GAINED FROM SELLING Lewis Brothers, '37

As the school year closes and as I look back on what I have done in Salesmanship, I realize that I have gained much practical experience along two lines: house-to-house selling and store management. I shall point out in this paper just what benefits I have gained from these activities.

First, of all, I have overcome an intense nervousness which I always used to ex- perience whenever I met a stranger or en- countered a new situation. Because of this nervousness, I at first found it difficult in my selling to approach even a house, to say noth- ing of how my knees shook when I spoke to a prospect. But as time passed I became more and more confident in myself, until now I feel that I have almost entirely mastered fear, not only in speaking to a prospective customer or a stranger, but even before an audience.

By keeping myself neatly dressed — my hair combed, shoes shined, clothes clean and pressed — I am able to make a pleasing presentation to the prospective buyer. Prospects undoubtedly check the appearance of the salesman, and often use this as a basis for estimating the worth of his goods ; if the salesman is neat, then the prospect is likely to give him an audience, which may result finally in a sale. That is why I make it a point to look well-groomed whenever I go out to sell.

In addition to being neat, the salesman must have personality, tact, a pleasant word of greeting, alertness, an understanding of human nature, and a complete knowledge of his goods. I have reason to believe that I have achieved most of these qualifications, for I have had marked success in my selling. I have also found it worth while to keep the prospect in an affirmative frame of mind, always shaping my questions in such a way as to bring a "yes" reply. This is called the "yes" attitude, and is very useful to the salesman.

As a result of my house-to-house selling, I have become familiar

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

LEGISLATION AND THE BLIND

LEGISLATION pertaining to the blind is occupying the attention of leaders in this field more intensely than in many years. Four different bills are now before the Congress. Two affect schools and two are for the benefit of the adult blind. A fifth bill, making provision for blind persons to operate stands in Federal buildings, has already been enacted. A bill has been introduced in the Massachu- setts legislature asking that special consideration be given to blind dictaphone operators in filling state positions of that type.

Of the two bills before the Congress which affect schools for the blind, one calls for an increase of the appropriation for embossed books for schools from $75,000 a year to $125,000, and the other allocates over $11,000,000 of Federal funds annually to reimburse states for the additional expense of educating physically handicapped children over the cost of normal schooling. One of the bills con- cerned with the adult blind provides for an additional $100,000 a year for talking book records, making the annual appropriation $175,000, and retaining the present sum of $100,000 for embossed books for the regional libraries. The other bill seeks to amend the Social Security Act which now provides pensions only for the needy blind so that Federal funds will be available for the fully rounded programs of state commissions and allocates nearly $2,000,000 a year for that purpose.

MORE ANNIVERSARIES

ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT, the familiar "Town Crier" of the radio, recently visited Perkins and brought to our attention an anniversary which we overlooked when presenting our list in the last issue of THE LANTERN. Fifty years ago March 3, Anne Sullivan met Helen Keller for the first time. Mr. Woollcott in his broadcast the night before told feelingly the story which began on that day. He made appreciative references to Perkins, speaking of his visit here, and pointing out that we are keeping alight the torch started by Dr. Howe.

A second anniversary overlooked was brought to our attention by representatives of the Perkins Alumni Association. This association warrants a half century celebration and it will be held in June.

The exercises marking the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Michael Anagnos and the fiftieth birthday of the Kinder- garten will be held on the afternoon of Thursday, May 27.

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"ALL ABOARD"

THIS CALL took on new meaning for the boys and girls of the fourth, fifth and sixth grades who on Thursday, February 25th, were the guests of the officers of the New Haven Rail- road. Busses took the children to the South Station in Boston where they were shown how the constant flow of messages over the teletype tells of the arrival and departure of trains. They visited the ancient coach and explored "The Senator", crack New Haven train.

Plans had been made to travel on the "Comet" the streamlined train, but that modern vehicle was indisposed, so an ordinary coach carried them to Readville where the New Haven shops were visited and a locomotive was "finger seen" from stem to stern.

SUCCESS NOTES

RUTH COX of the Upper School entered "The News Come to Life" contest sponsored by Remington Rand, Inc. and her ninety-nine word letter won the prize — a noiseless, portable typewriter. . . . Paul Giuliano, a senior at the New England Conservatory, had the distinction of conducting the Conservatory Orchestra at a recent con- cert. . . . The Grade 8 girls entered a dental contest and for their summary of a broadcast won a beautiful radio. . . . The Special Class in the Primary and the girls of the sixth grade entered a similar contest and also received radios.

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BOY SCOUT BRAILLERS

OUR Boy Scout Troop has recently enjoyed the experience of carrying on a correspondence in braille with Troop 11 at Erie, Pennsylvania. Begun through the interest aroused in the scout master, Rev. William E. Heilman, when he undertook to learn braille so that he might write to a blind parishioner it has now reached a point where his troop is trying to have braille writing ac- cepted as a scout project for merit badges. After corresponding with our boys, members of the Erie Troop feel that this is a skill which brings compensations, and they have resolved "to be the first seeing troop to write to every English-speaking blind troop under the shin- ing sun."

THE BELL RINGERS

GROUPS of pupils have become interested in the ringing of hand bells. They are now using a set of bells which has been loaned to the School, but we have under consideration the purchase of twenty-seven bells for this purpose. Tune playing upon hand bells has become a popular form of entertainment, especially in England, and it has been thought that it would become especially popular with our boys and girls. Instruction is being given by Roger Walker who is the only blind carillonneur in this country.

THE HARVARD CLASS

THIRTEEN young men and women make up the Harvard Class for this year and are following the usual course of instruction under the leadership of Director Emeritus Edward E. Allen with the assistance of Miss Genevieve Haven. The class has its usual wide representation with members from the state of Washington to Massachusetts, while one member is an American worker in China and another is a native of Turkey.

"OUR DAILY BRAILLE"

THE DAUGHTER of a member of the staff has recently learned the Lord's Prayer and, while listening to her prayers one night recently, the parent thought that a clause sounded a little strange. Asking her to repeat it, the child said clearly: "Give us this day our daily braille!"

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. RECENT PUBLICATIONS

"A Radio Interview", is a leaflet con- taining questions asked the Director over Station WORL on October 8, and the answers which he gave.

"The Flowering of New England" by

Van Wyck Brooks containing refer- ences to Perkins and Dr. Howe has been embossed in braille by Howe Me- morial Press.

"Twenty Years of Research" is the

title of a new leaflet available to all interested in psychological work for the blind. This is a reprint from the paper which Dr. Samuel P. Hayes read at the last meeting of the A. A. I. B. and con- tains an account of the aims and achievements in this special field. A full bibliography of all articles by Dr. Hayes is included.

From England comes a volume en- titled "The Education of the Blind" which is one of the best surveys of this special field that has yet been printed. It is the report of a joint committee of The College of Teachers of the Blind and The National Institute for the Blind. The report covers in a compre- hensive way the pattern of education for the blind in England, and sets forth standards and ideals which schools in America might well study and emulate.

"Six Dots" is the name of an inter- esting one-act play written by Ruth M. Rosenthal of the Wisconsin School and presented there last month. The play depicts the beginning of the instruc- tion of the blind in this country and Perkins figures rather prominently through the interesting place which Dr. Howe holds in the play. It is a com- mendable piece of work and other schools might do well to secure copies to understand the origin of our work.

FROM OUR MAIL

From Eklutna, Alaska:

"Many, many times do I think of you and the household members of May Cottage. How I did enjoy my two years with you. . . . For the last two and a half years I have been where the natives do not have any special trade. It has been within a year that the big, older boys rather, have been carving ivory. . . . The ivory is a native product. ... As a token of friendship and gratitude I send these knives." (carved from ivory)

From Faure, South Africa:

"I have always known that sooner or later we would have the challenge of educating a deaf -blind child. We have now been asked to admit a totally blind, deaf-and-dumb Zulu of 11 years. . . . Will you ask the head of your special department for the deaf-blind to let me have a letter about teaching speech-reading and articulation by tac- tual methods?"

From a hospital in Vermont, acknoiv- ledging a book made by Lower School pupils :

"I am writing to thank you and your clever pupils for the delightful result of their work, and enthusiasm, that you sent this hospital. The book is very, very interesting . . . The information about automobiles, ships and airplanes is splendid.

From an English Firm:

"We are much obliged for your inter- esting letter . . . The extraordinary fea- ture about your letter,— Transcribed by a blind Ediphone operator — , is that there is not a single mistake." From an Educational Publisher:

"Permit us also to make an appreci- ative comment on the perfection of the transcription of your letter by a blind operator." From Mrs. Winnifred Holt Mather,

Founder of the Lighthouse:

I am interested that your letter was transcribed by a blind Ediphone oper- ator."

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WHAT I HAVE GAINED FROM SELLING

(Continued from Page 3)

with the various sections of Watertown and surrounding cities. Be- fore becoming a salesman, I knew very little of the geography of Watertown or other neighboring communities; but now when con- versation arises concerning any one of these localities, I am able to contribute my part.

A great asset to both blind and seeing salesmen is the ability to make change rapidly and accurately. At first finding it difficult to make change, I finally developed a satisfactory method, which I now use. By keeping nickels and dimes in one pocket, quarters and half dollars in another pocket, and bills in my wallet, I am able to change money quickly without trouble.

Besides being helped in the ways already mentioned, I have bene- fited financially from my house-to-house selling. In the fifteen times that I have gone out canvassing, I have made a total profit of $63.22, one third of which was shared with my guide in payment for his services. By earning this money, I have not had to send home in times of need, and it has given me added confidence in myself. I know now that I can stand on my own feet, that I can earn money if necessary.

A minor activity of our Salesmanship course this year was the managing of the Perkins school store. Here during recess periods we sold candy and student supplies. I was in charge of this store for two months, during which time I had ample practice in keeping cash accounts and in making the credit and debit sides of our books balance.

I wish to say in conclusion that I have gained much this year from my selling. My experience in the work has inspired me to such an extent that I am now planning to sell brooms throughout the summer vacation, rather than to stay home and do nothing.

			TheP	evkins Players present
		"THE FOOL	by Channing Pollock
Friday,	March 19,	8.15 P. M. Saturday, March 20, 2.30 P. M.
		DWIQHT	HALL,	PERKINS INSTITUTION

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME VI. NO. 4 JUNE 15, 1937

The Discipline of Learning

THE many anniversaries observed this year by the educational world have focused attention upon the processes of learning. We have been especially interested in the celebration of Fred- erick Froebel's founding of the kindergarten because that centennial coincided with the semi-centennial of our kindergarten. Froebel's great contribution was to center the interest of education upon the in- dividual and to emphasize guidance of growth.

If, as Miss Lucy Wheelock has said, in celebrating the founding of the kindergarten we are honoring the beginning of progressive education, it would seem as if the pendulum has completed the full swing. With the inevitable swing back there must come an increasing stress upon group interests and upon fundamental skills. There are many today who feel that in emphasizing individuality we have sacri- ficed social responsibility. And there is dire need for this quality in life today. The time has come when the many strands of opportunity for individual learning must be pulled together if education is to pro- vide a rope strong enough to hold the weight of present civilization.

The world's greatest need is not more learning but better learn- ing, and perhaps above all else what the founder of Phillips Andover stressed as the most important, the "discipline of learning." We feel that youth is eager for discipline and stands ready to respond to a strong call. This is not without its implications of danger because it offers a fruitful field for regimentation under dictatorship. Democ- racy can be saved only through a sense of social responsibility which overrides individual self-expression. This means discipline, and edu- cation must make that adjustment the primary function of learning.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

^a^ti/ -y&AAj*^

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Girls' Glee Club has sung dur- ing the past month at: Auburn, Maine; Belmont; Sherborn Reforma- tory; West Newton; and before the Boston Lions' Club.

Miss Florence Chapin, of the Bos- ton Center for Adult Education, gave a most interesting talk on etiquette be- fore members of the Girls' School on the evening of April 29.

A style show was conducted on the evening of May 4, in Dwight Hall, by Miss Beatrice Bowry, Stylist at Fi- lene's, Boston. Moderate priced gowns for girls of high school age were mod- eled.

Fisher Cottage was judged winner of the girls' annual Stunt Night on May 17. This event concluded inter-cot- tage competition for the year, and Fisher Cottage was awarded the cup for the third successive time thus be- coming its permanent possessor.

Boys of the Upper School have en- joyed two week-end Retreats at Vallar- mine House, Cohasset, May 22-23, and May 29-30. The Retreats were con- ducted by the Rev'd Patrick J. Nolan, F. J., Dean of Men at Boston College.

A Stop- Go signal light has been in- stalled just outside of the main gate at the corner of Beechwood Avenue and North Beacon Street. It has a button attachment which when pressed stops traffic long enough for a person to cross the street. As a special arrange- ment for our pupils a bell will sound while the lights are set for crossing. Perkins is grateful to the town of Wa- tertown for this provision for the safe- ty of our pupils.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Director spoke recently at the Groton School, where Mr. Henry H. Richards, grandson of Dr. Howe, is a teacher. A group of boys is planning to visit Perkins.

Miss Alice M. Carpenter, who has

been attending the Harvard Class and who is associated with work for the blind in China, has remained for the second half-year to do special work in the Deaf-Blind Department.

Richard Hull, who went from Per- kins in 1933 to enter the Rockport High School, is graduating from that school in June with honors and has been accepted for admission to Clark University.

Helen J. Goodwin, who attended Perkins from 1921 to 1931, was gradu- ated from Northfield Seminary in 1934, and has just completed her junior year at Radcliffe College, was married June 12, to Carl Hopkins, a Dartmouth graduate now teaching at Tufts Col- lege.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Waterhouse

of the Perkins staff have adopted a baby girl, Mary Ingaborg, who is at the Boston Nursery for Blind Babies but will spend the summer with the Wa- terhouses at their home in Hollis, N. H.

Among recent visitors to Perkins have been: Mr. Subodh Chandra Roy of India who is studying at Columbia and the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind; Mrs. Shiori Maeno from the Kinkwa School for the Deaf and Blind in Japan; and Mrs. Mary Grace Knap Burtt a graduate of Perkins and Wellesley College who has for many years been at the Sun Laap School for the Blind in Shiu Hing, South China.

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MICHAEL ANAGNOS The Second Director By Anna Gardner Fish

COME of those who have builded their lives into

I ['H ^ the school, giving unstinted and valuable service

^ t8 anc* ^elpin^ to establish its pre-eminence, yet remain

/icS shadowy figures of the past, whose claims upon our

*wl remembrance are recognized only in a general way

A ll^fej in the achievements of the school towards which

jA they contributed.

Not so is that commanding personality Michael ^^^M^^^^H Anagnos, who is felt as a living force in our midst. His founding of the Kindergarten is celebrated annually on his birth- day, when his early struggles for an education and, later, for a univer- sity course are recounted, and the subsequent steps which led him to our shores through the philanthropy of Dr. Howe and to the work of Perkins Institution to which all his mature manhood was given.

In addition to his incessant efforts to raise the standard of Per- kins and to keep abreast of the forward movements in education, the outstanding fruits of his energies are to be found in the Kinder- garten for the Blind, already mentioned, the Howe Memorial Press fund, and the special collection of Blindiana.

Mr. Anagnos was the embodiment of integrity. To him a law was a law, to be obeyed unquestioningly. He had the utmost regard for human rights, but he believed that the will of the individual should yield to what had been accepted as the greatest good to the greatest number. His respect for law and order led him to prompt but well-founded decisions, which were fair and final. To him yes was yes, no was no; white was white and black, black.

Because of his absolute honesty and strict adherence to promises, contributions to the Kindergarten and to Thomas Stringer, our deaf- blind ward, and subscriptions in furtherance of whatever was set forth by Mr. Anagnos as the existing need, came freely to the aid of his projects, with the full conviction that every cent would be expended as designated and that the work to which he had devoted heart and hand was indeed well worth while.

The central court of the Lower School group is honored by bear- ing the name of Michael Anagnos.

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"I

THE KINDERGARTEN CELEBRATION

WAS never so proud of Perkins in all my life!", was the exclamation of one of our oldest graduates, as she left the exer- cises marking the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the kindergarten and the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Michael Anagnos, held on Thursday, May 20.

Despite the inclement weather which made it necessary to hold the afternoon program in Dwight Hall, rather than in the close of the Lower School, the occasion was considered a great success by the several hundred people present. Eighty guests had luncheon in the Lower School hall, and the afternoon program presented in a vivid way the many activities of the children of the Lower School. The occasion was honored by the presence of Mrs. Charles W. Hurley, the wife of the Governor, Mr. P. G. Dascalopoulo, the Greek Consul in Boston, and several members of the Howe family.

A MAGAZINE AGENCY

ANEW form of employment for blind persons who are qualified in salesmanship is provided in the establishment of the New England Magazine Agency of the Blind. This project is the outcome of an extensive study made by the sales class of the Boys' School and has the endorsement of publishers and editors throughout

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the country. The plan is to train students who will continue after graduation to solicit magazine subscriptions. Practically all of the standard magazines will be carried and sold at established prices, and the solicitors will be paid on a commission basis.

Under the auspices of the Pennsylvania School for the Blind in Philadelphia a similar agency has operated successfully for twenty- four years, and we have every reason to believe that we can secure the cooperation which will bring this remunerative opportunity to blind people throughout the New England States. Already publishers have sent us lists of expirations and the subscribers have been quite ready to renew their subscriptions through the solicitors of our agency.

PERKINS BOY SCOUTS

UNDER the leadership of Mr. Ben Smith, a member of the Har- vard Class, the Perkins Boy Scout Troop has had an unusually active year. Every Friday evening a local Boy Scout Troop has been invited to meet with our troop. The activity has been based on reciprocation. The seeing Scouts have given individual assistance to our boys in various fields of Scout endeavor and have discussed the varied activities of Scout troops, and our boys have demonstrated some of the special methods they have mastered showing how the braille system is used in reading and writing. These joint meetings have been attended with enthusiasm and from the point of view of socialization have been of inestimable value.

13 " ->^_-

SPRING SPORTS

AS SOON AS warm weather made it possible, the boys' track team was out on the field. Fifty students participated in the inter-cottage meet held on Friday, May 21, and won by Tomp- kins Cottage. On Saturday, May 29, the Perkins team journeyed to Hartford to participate in the annual triangular meet at Hartford, with the Overbrook School as the third team. This meet closed with the following scores: Perkins 28, Hartford 20, and Overbrook 15. On Saturday, June 5, our boys went to New York to compete with the New York School in a series of events which closed with Perkins winning over New York, the score being 43 for Perkins and 20 for New York.

ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY

ON FRIDAY and Saturday, June 4 and 5, the Ohio State School for the Blind observed its one hundredth anniversary. The Director of Perkins was one of the speakers at this notable occasion. Perkins feels a special interest in this, the first state school for the blind in the country, because at the time of its founding Samuel Gridley Howe and a group of Perkins pupils appeared before the legis- lature of Ohio to help secure the appropriation which made possible its establishment.

NEW DIPLOMAS

FOR the first time since the Senior High School has been organized in five departments, pupils are to graduate from departments other than the literary. This has necessitated a change in the old style of diplomas and, after careful consideration, it has been de- cided to have an entirely new diploma. The new diploma is an em- bossed sheet 6x8 inches, which fits into a beautifully marked blue leather case. This change in size and style conforms to the pre- vailing practise in most modern high schools.

TALKING BOOK COMPLAINT

ONE of our pupils recently failed in a competitive examination and blamed his failure on the talking book. Said he, "It's just too bad that the talking book does not spell for us. If it had, I probably would not have failed this examination."

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RECENT PUBLICATIONS

"Children of the Silent Night" is an

interesting booklet, published to tell of the work being done for deaf-blind children at Perkins. It sets forth a program for a national center which could offer wide opportunity for triply - handicapped children.

"Michael Anagnos" is the story of the life of the Second Director of Per- kins and has been published in con- nection with the recent exercises. It has been prepared by Miss Anna Gard- ner Fish, Registrar of the School.

A ten-year review of American in- vestigations pertaining to blind chil- dren has been compiled by Kathryn E. Maxfield, Director of the Arthur Sun- shine Home, Summit, New Jersey. It is an excellent survey of studies which have constructive classroom value.

In the annual Lighthouse competi- tion for the best essay, James Delaney. of the Sophomore Class, received first honorable mention and Mary Jane Youngblood's paper was included among the seven highest to be consid- ered for the final honors.

A complete set of the embossed maps made under the W P A project has been sent to the Library of Congress, Department of Maps, to add to their collection of maps of every possible kind.

CUTTING THE TREES

There's something very sad to me About the cutting of a tree.

A tree that stands so straight and tall. With boughs to swing on, shade for all.

And when men came on yesterday To cut two trees across the way,

I had to hide myself and cry. It hurt me so to see them die.

Alice L. Stewart.

BROADCASTS

John DiFrancesco, of the Music De- partment, participated in a broadcast over Station WNAC, on April 3.

The Lower School pupils sang folk songs as a feature of Aunt Harriet's Broadcast, over Station WEEI, April 10.

A part of the Upper School Chorus gave a brief program and the Director spoke on the importance of the semi- centennial exercises of the Kindergar- ten, over Station WEEI, May 18.

The full Upper School Chorus gave a half-hour program over Station WBZ, May 23.

Septimus Fraser, one of the early pupils of Perkins Institution, died in Montreal on May 21, at the age of eighty-one years. Not many who have attended Perkins in recent years will remember Mr. Fraser, who was a suc- cessful music teacher, but all will re- call the frequent singing of the hymn which bore his name, at our chapel ex- ercises.

With deep regret we learned of the death on Friday, May 21, of Dr. Ed- ward M. Van Cleve, for twenty-one years, until 1935, Principal of the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind. Dr. Van Cleve was a de- voted friend of all blind people and was well-known here at Perkins through his frequent visits. Dr. Van Cleve was one of the founders of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness and his death is a great loss to the cause.

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GRADUATION JUNE 18

GRADUATION takes place on Friday, June 18. The Lower School promotion exercises will be held at 11:00 o'clock and two of the events on the program of the semi-centennial celebration will be repeated. The Upper School graduation will be at 2:00 o'clock. At the graduation exercises the diplomas and certificates will be awarded by Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation. The commencement address will be given by the Hon. Leverett Salton- stall, a trustee of Perkins Institution. The invocation will be offered by the Rev'd. Marshall S. Jenkins, Minister of the Union Church of Watertown.

Seven boys and girls will receive certificates marking the com- pletion of their work in the Lower School and transfer to the Upper School. Seventeen young men and women who have completed the requirements in the Upper School will receive diplomas, and three girls will receive manual training certificates.

Perkins graduates who are to complete studies which they have pursued elsewhere include: Charles Eaton and Neal Pike who will graduate from Boston University School of Law, Lester Stott who will graduate from Boston University School of Liberal Arts, Guido Marchisio who will graduate from Boston University School of Educa- tion, Paul Giuliano who will receive his degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, Virginia Dean who finishes her work at the Nursery Training School of Boston, and Fannie Libbey who completes her course at the Swedish Institute of Physiotherapy in New York.

Fifty years of service are to be commemorated by the Perkins Alumni Association at its annual meeting to be held at the school on Saturday, June 19. For half a century graduates of our school have been strengthened through association one with another in this or- ganization. Many of our graduates have been helped along their way by the Association and each year a goodly number of members has returned for the reunion.

Members of the staff remaining for the summer and boys taking the farming course will live in Fisher Cottage. Teachers are to return Monday, September 13, and pupils the following day. School will reopen with chapel on Wednesday morning, September 15.

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME VII. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 1937

GUjrtHtmaa at fferktna

CHRISTMAS begins early at Perkins because we must have our festivities before we disperse for the holiday recess. When Christmas Day arrives there will be but a handful here at the school, only those who live too far away to return home, but a happy Christmas will be provided for them. All others will be in their homes where Christmas really ought to be spent, as it is primarily a family festival.

We have our families here for each cottage, as its members live and grow together, achieves the spirit of a home. To strengthen that homelike atmosphere we center our Christmas observance in the cot- tages which are gaily decorated with greens and garlands. Parties, with trees and gifts, are held and the mere mention of them will arouse nostalgic yearnings among former students reading this page.

Our festivities, however, are not all self-centered. Through our public concerts we give Yuletide joy to many. The Boston concert has become one of the traditions of the season. At the concert at the school pupils share with their parents the atmosphere of joy and forthgiving which in a mysterious way makes itself very real at Christmas time.

Ten days before school closes we start our Christmas observance. (The choirs, of course, begin with rehearsals weeks before). At morning assemblies on these days staff and students gather to sing the old familiar carols which bind together all hearts and creeds and races. Perhaps it is this losing of ourselves in self-giving which makes the Christmas spirit so real.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

^cu&^i^ ' 7&uVi*££

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Founder's Day was observed at the Lower School on November 8, and the Howe Memorial Exercises at the Upper School on November 12. Mr. H. H. Richards, grandson of Dr. Howe, and Dr. J. Thayer Addison spoke at the latter exercises.

Eliot Cottage had the honor of hold- ing the victory supper as the winner of the fall football series of inter- cottage games. This was held on No- vember 15.

White Magic was the name of a fas- cinating play presented at the Lower School by members of the Junior League of Boston on November 9, 1937.

George Hossfield, the champion speed typist of the world, gave a demonstra- tion of skill and speed at the Upper School on the afternoon of November 17, 1937.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Dry, of the

Oregon School for the Blind, spent two or three days at Perkins in November. In a chapel talk Mr. Dry left this help- ful message, "Get thy spindle and thy distaff ready and God will send the flax."

The boys of the Primary Department have acquired two goats and are adding the task of producing goat's milk to their egg-raising business.

The Perkins Troop's exhibit at the Scoutorama held in Concord by the Boy Scouts on Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27, attracted wide attention.

Canon Bridgeman of St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem, made the Holy Land and especially Bethlehem very real in a chapel talk. December 3.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Van Cleve Hall is to be the name of the beautiful building which houses the lower school at the New York Institute for the Blind. It is a fitting tribute tG the late Edward M. Van Cleve under whose direction the building was erected and who for a quarter of a century was principal of the Institute.

Miss Elizabeth Caulfield, who began her schooling at Perkins, completed it at Overbrook and later went to the Orient, spoke Tuesday evening, Novem- ber 16, at the Copley Plaza for the benefit of the Catholic Guild for the Blind. On the following Friday Miss Caulfield visited Perkins and gave an inspiring talk to the Upper School.

Congratulations to Charles Eaton. Perkins '30, and Neal Pike, Perkins '34, both graduates of Boston University and Boston University School of Law. who successfully passed the Massachu- setts Bar Examination and are now ready to practise law.

The Vocational Guidance Committee

of the A. A. W. B. held a meeting at Perkins on Wednesday, December 1. under the chairmanship of Mr. Benja- min Berinstein. Mr. Cowgill, of the Overbrook School, and Mr. Ryan, of the Connecticut Committee for the Blind, were present. Representatives of the Massachusetts Division for the Blind attended the afternoon meeting.

The wire sculptures of Berthold Ord- ner, of Vienna, were on exhibition dur- ing October at the Newhouse Galleries, New York City. A specimen of this unique medium of artistic expression is in the Perkins Museum.

A Committee made up of representa- tives of the A. A. I. B. and the A. A W. B. has been appointed to make a national survey of work for the blind.

2 —

RECOLLECTIONS OF LAURA BRIDGMAN

Related at Chapel, October 4, 1037 By Mrs. Cora L. Gleason

MY memories of Laura Bridgman extend back more than fifty years. During the greater part of the years between 1882 and 1888, I knew her not only as a neighbor, when she lived in Fisher Cottage, her room adjoining mine, but in the school, where we spent much time together in the work school. We accepted Laura as a pleasant member of the family. She lived in each one of the four cottages in the Girls' Department in rotation. Laura occu- pied the corresponding room in each house, and her own furniture was moved from house to house.

She was gentle, kind, helpful, always ready to do little kind- nesses for people, and, indeed, had her share in the household duties. I remember her feeling of great responsibility that I should not be late for breakfast. She was an early riser, and I never was. Some- times she would come into my room and bring her music box, which would play perhaps one or two tunes. She would wind the music box, place it on my pillow, and, then, put her hand gently on my face to see if I was waking. If so, she would smile and look very happy. She used to rise early mornings and go downstairs and do a certain amount of dusting. The dusting was not, perhaps, low down on the rungs of the chairs, but was applied, particularly, to the bric-a-brac. She was very careful and never broke anything.

She loved fun and social life, enjoyed a party, and very often she would have a party Sunday night, if the family was not too large. She would get her choice dishes and put them around for special visitors and then, afterwards, would wash the dishes and put them away. She never left them for others to do. The party would some- times consist of peeling an apple. These apples would generally come from a barrel behind the door in the dining-room and were given by some generous friend who sent them for the pleasure of the family. Laura would go and take an apple and peel it for her companion. Then, she would slip away and get a bowl of water, sometimes a little warm water, and she always had a nice towel or napkin and she would say: "We are going to be stylish. We are going to have a finger bowl." This was merely for the benefit of her work to keep it from becoming soiled. Laura was immaculate with her work. She would not think of handling it unless her hands were very, very clean.

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

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THE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

THE Christmas concerts are to be held this year in Jordan Hall on Sunday afternoon, December 19, and in Dwight Hall at the School, on Tuesday evening, December 21. These concerts will be dedicated to the "Children of the Silent Night", as part of our observance of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission to Perkins of Laura Bridgman, the first blind deaf-mute to be taught the use of language whose birthday is December 21. At both concerts Miss Hall and Leonard will demonstrate our work with the deaf -blind, and Winthrop Chapman, our oldest deaf-blind pupil, will play the piano. The choirs of the Upper and Lower Schools will render the usual Christmas Carols, which have become one of the traditions of the season in Boston. Tickets for the concerts may be obtained by writing to the school.

BELLS AND BELL-RINGING

THE ringing of hand bells, introduced into the school about a year ago, under the leadership of Roger Walker, a Perkins graduate and the only blind carillonneur in the world, has been found so valuable that a permanent set of bells was desired. Through the generosity of the Boston Committee for the Blind a set of twenty- seven bells is to be presented to the school as a memorial in honor of Mrs. Louis Rosenbaum, its founder. The bells are being cast in England and should arrive before the Christmas holidays.

The eight large bells in our tower, presented in memory of her husband, by Mrs. Andrew C. Wheelwright, granddaughter of Colonel Perkins, were installed twenty-five years ago. To mark this anniversary they will be played for half an hour preceding the concert

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on December 21. During the Christmas season these bells play- Christmas Carols as the pupils assemble for morning chapel.

THE BRIDGMAN TABLET

THE bronze tablet placed on a boulder in front of the home of Laura Bridgman in Etna, New Hampshire, was dedicated on Wednesday afternoon, October 20. A large delegation from Per- kins was met by an assemblage of people from Etna and neighboring communities. Despite the heavy rain, the exercises were carried out with dignity. After the unveiling the exercises were continued in the nearby church. Greetings were presented by members of the Bridg- man family and representatives of Dartmouth College, and messages were read from Mrs. Laura E. Richards and Miss Helen Keller. A delightful feature of the program was the singing of The Battle Hymn of the Republic by the school children of Etna and Hanover Center.

On the same afternoon, at Dartmouth College, under the auspices of the Department of Education, the Director gave an address on the education of the deaf-blind with a demonstration by Leonard Dowdy. Our plan of observing this centenary by retelling the story of Laura Bridgman has succeeded beyond our expectations. A full report of the celebration and of the funds received in response to the appeal will be made in the March 15 issue of THE LANTERN.

(Hhriatmaa ICraaona

By Emilie Poulsson

Again the loved old stories

We read at Christmas tide, Oh, may their blessed teachings

Within our hearts abide!

Be ours the choice to follow,

Some heaven-enkindled star, Even though its rays point forward

Through lonely ways and far.

And like the simple shepherds,

As swift and glad as they, May we our heavenly visions

In joyful awe obey.

The inn no room afforded;

Oh! may our hearts ne'er be So crowded that they have no place

Sacred, dear God, to Thee.

"THROUGH WORK"

AN ATTRACTIVE brochure bearing the title HANDS THAT SEE, published by the Maryland Workshop for the Blind, tells what is being done to fulfill its motto "Help the Blind to Help Themselves THROUGH WORK". A statement made therein bears repeating at this time.

"The greatest menace to the blind and the work for them is the flaunting of the handicap by sensational appeals, house to house canvassing, telephone solicita- tion and the like, all of which leave the public unprotected and seldom benefit the blind at all, after the cost of such operations has been deducted. Reputable agen- cies engaged in the work for them do not resort to these methods, but choose as their main objective the broadening of the scope of work the blind can be taught to do."

THE "ISMS"

ON NOVEMBER 15 the "Isms" held a luncheon meeting at the Director's House where five of the eight living members assembled with three teachers of the early days. The "Isms" is a club organized in the girls' department of Perkins fifty-five years ago. The secret name, indicated by the letters I. S. M. will be revealed, it was said, at a meeting fifty years hence. Leader in founding the club was Miss Emilie Poulsson, who had to be carried to this meeting in a chair. She is widely known for her writings, particularly the Finger Plays which have given joy to several generations of children. One of her poems is published in this issue with her permission.

MAP OF THE MONTH

A "MAP OF THE MONTH" is to be produced by the WPA Project which for two years has carried on its work at Perkins and has moved lately to quarters outside of the school. These maps are designed to bring the geographical location of historic events to schools for the blind, braille classes, and adult individuals. The maps will be similar to those in the WPA atlas recently compiled. The first map deals with the Sino-Japanese conflict and the second will probably be the Civil War in Spain.

DEFINITIONS

The need for tangible instruction when sight is gone is often revealed by the definitions given by pupils. The other day one of the boys in the Lower School defined an island as "a place with cottages all around it".

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PUBLICATIONS

A series of small leaflets, three and one-half by six and one-quarter inches, have been printed in uniform style for general distribution. They are all radio talks, or reprints of articles, by the Director. The titles follow:

1. EDUCATION OF THE BLIND

CHILD— A radio talk.

2. "WHEN EYES TAKE HOLIDAY"

— Illustrated. Reprinted from the New York Herald-Tribune.

3. THE DEAF-BLIND AT PERKINS

— A radio talk.

4. PERKINS INSTITUTION—

A radio interview made up of questions and answers about Perkins.

5. KNOTS AND NOTCHES— The

story of mattress-making. Re- printed from The Town Crier, Newton, Massachusetts.

6.

THE STATE AND THE BLIND— One of a series of radio talks under the auspices of the Mas- sachusetts League of Women Voters.

THE MAGIC OF GOOD SPEECH, a play by Miss Albertena Eastman, speech correction teacher in the Lower School, was published in the September issue of The Grade Teacher.

IT IS FUN FOR THESE BOYS is the appealing title of an article by Francis M. Andrews, appearing in the TEACHER'S FORUM for September, 1937, and describing the projects of the special class of the Lower School.

THE GOAT, the braille monthly magazine published by the pupils of Perkins, is to issue an ink-print edition three times a year for non-finger readers who may be interested.

FROM OUR MAIL

Miss Alice M. Carpenter, who spent last year at Perkins and has returned to her work at the Ming Sum School for the Blind in Canton, China, writes:

"Yesterday was strange as we lis- tened to bombs and machine guns near Shanghai, and watched the refugees come aboard after the horrible experi- ences in Shanghai. War is so pitifully useless, and this one involves far more than China and Japan. . . .

"I arrived in Canton August 22 and have not been away since then. . . . Dr. Wong, the woman who has been in charge during my absence, has done a marvelous work.

"Canton suffered three days of severe bombing. We have had twenty air-raid signals in less than a week. Between air-raids, work and life go on; and then another signal and we all come to the bomb shelter to wait for the all- clear signal. China is standing up to it all in a most courageous way. Our teachers and children stay calm through all this strain." . . .

"Our children, over seventy of them, are here and cannot go home. We carry on classes between air-raids, and try to live as normally as possible. I am impressed as never before with what the Christian enterprise means here. . . . Since I have returned, I have been astounded at China's prog- ress. She has developed schools, hospi- tals and colleges; she has built miles of railroad and developed rural programs that have been far-reaching. . . .

"During these days of stress, I find myself back at Perkins so often. I truly loved it there!"

Perkins pupils are collecting money among themselves to send to Miss Car- penter for her blind pupils.

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RECOLLECTIONS OF LAURA BRIDGMAN

(Continued from Page i)

Laura made a good deal of work that was sold. She crocheted articles, especially pansy mats. These were made of bright pansy colors of wool. Laura also made money selling her photographs. I was asked to take her in town to have a new sitting, and Laura per- sisted in having a picture taken showing her in the act of threading a needle. She twisted the thread and put it on the point of her tongue, put the eye of the needle to the point of the thread, and by drawing in her breath slightly, would help to pull it through the eye of the needle, which she would then draw through with her teeth. Laura was very helpful with sewing and looked over the girls' work. The girls were all fond of her, but they would rather have their teacher inspect their work because if the sewing was not quite right, Laura would ques- tion it and if anything was not just as she thought it ought to be, out it must come.

There were many, many occasions when it seemed to be my duty to interpret because I understood the manual alphabet which she used. Once a gentleman from England came and I introduced him to Laura. I do not know just what it was about him that Laura did not like, but she drew her hand away and said : "He is not a gentleman." This was very embarrassing to me. Another embar- rassing situation that I recall to mind happened when Laura and I were invited to dinner at the fashionable Gilman School for young ladies. While being served to strawberries, Laura said, most em- phatically: "These strawberries have not been properly sieved." Whereupon Miss Hannah Gilman asked: "And what is Laura saying?" Then, what could I say but to explain that she was fond of straw- berries and was commenting upon them.

I suppose you all know this story, but I should like to speak of it. On occasions people used to come to the school to see Laura and among them was the attractive Julia Ward, from New York, in com- pany with Charles Sumner and Longfellow. She came because she had read and heard of Laura's remarkable achievements. After that she came several times and it was through these visits that the romance between Julia Ward and Dr. Howe started.

It seems to me that it is most suitable and, indeed, most proper for Perkins to carry on work for the deaf-blind because it was founded here on such a splendid foundation a century ago by Dr. Howe and his faithful helpers, setting such a fine example in opening the door of Laura's mind.

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The Lantern

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MAR 2 1 1938 Library

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME VII. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1938

Our Appeal for the Deaf- Blind

THIS ISSUE of THE LANTERN is being sent to all who received "Children of the Silent Night" as well as to our regular readers. To those who contributed to our fund for the deaf- blind, we want to express again our thanks for their help. To those who have not responded we might say that it is not too late, and con- tributions sent now will be received gladly. The general purpose of this issue, however, is to make a report of the response which came to our appeal for funds for our program for the doubly handicapped.

In our booklet we told of the needs of these children and of our plan to extend this work. In our appeal we did not state the full sum needed to implement our full program. We were confident that when the story was told its appeal would not go unheeded. We felt, also, that the cause was so direct that its simple statement need not be supplemented by professional money-raising methods with quotas, goals and high pressure. In addition, it meant that every cent re- ceived would be used for deaf-blind children and not for campaign expenses.

Our appeal was planned to coincide with the period set for the observance of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission to Perkins of Laura Bridgman. This began October 4, the anniversary date and closed December 21, Laura Bridgman's birthday. At the close of this period we had received for our deaf-blind work approxi- mately $100,000. We are deeply grateful to all who have shared in this achievement, and this issue of THE LANTERN is planned pri- marily to make a report and to say "thank you".

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

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To The Sunshine o£ Human Intercourse

IT is a bright note in my rather wearisome hospital exper- ience— the news that the 100th anniversary of Laura Bridgman's introduction to language is soon to be cele- brated in her home town, Hanover, New Hampshire. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be present on that appealing occasion, but since I cannot, I send this word of greeting.

With ever new gratitude I bless Dr. Samuel G. Howe who believed, and therefore was able to raise that child soul from a death-in-life existence to knowledge and joy. The remem- brance thrills me afresh of the first deaf-blind person in the world to be taught whom I met in the first glad days of my own awakening. Again I feel the dainty lace lengthen as her lovely hands ply the needles. I dwell on her deliver- ance so radiant with Christ's Teaching that faith is might to save and to bless. Sadly I wonder why since that inspir- ing event so few doubly handicapped children have been sought out and led back to the sunshine of human inter- course.

It is well for us to rejoice together in Laura Bridgman's triumph over a cruel fate, but in a true sense her anniver- sary cannot be celebrated until the hundreds of beseeching, broken lives of which hers was one are healed with renew- ing love and power of the mind. Each one rescued is a witness to truth, justice and fair dealing. Each one neglected is a denial of the right of every human being to education and opportunity.

But a work with the shining resources of God and the wealth of a great country behind it will surely grow. Laura Bridgman's 100th anniversary will stir others to labor, to counsel, to gather means of reaching all the teachable deaf- blind and making their dark silence blossom with friendship and content.

Full of an unceasing prayer for those whose limitations I bear, I lay my hand in spirit upon this memorial tablet, and await a yet greater miracle.

Sincerely yours.

HELEN KELLER.

ANNE SULLIVAN MACY

Helen Keller's Teacher by Anna Gardner Fish

AMONG Perkins graduates who have attained world-wide recog- nition is one whose career stands out in bold relief, in un- rivalled distinction. This was Anne Sullivan Macy, lifelong companion of Helen Keller and affectionately known to the latter as "Teacher."

To appreciate her accomplishment it is necessary to go far back of the span of her service. It began with the widespread wonderment over Dr. Howe's success in teaching the use of language to Laura Bridgman, the first deaf-blind person to gain that knowledge. As the news of this victory spread throughout this country and Europe, the Perkins Institution in South Boston became a Mecca for the intel- ligentsia of the civilized world among them Charles Dickens who, visiting the school in 1843, "did not deign to notice anything or any- body except Laura," according to a diarist of that day. Later he gave expression to his admiration for the achievement in his "Ameri- can Notes," and eventually his account caught the attention of the mother of another doubly-handicapped child, Helen Adams Keller of Tuscumbia, Ala.

Acting at once on the suggestion it conveyed, Mrs. Keller wrote to Dr. Alexander Graham Bell in Washington, known advocate of the interests of the deaf, and he led them to enlist the attention of Mr. Michael Anagnos, director of Perkins Institution, who sought at once to find the right person to undertake the important work of Helen's instruction. This was in 1886; Annie Mansfield Sullivan was a graduate of that year; and Mr. An- agnos chose her as the one best fitted by resourcefulness, adaptability and will-power to cope with the arduous task proposed. Her unhappy childhood, from which she had emerged through

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(Continued on Page 8)

THE FIRST FIFTY THOUSAND

WHEN the needs of deaf-blind children in this country began to press upon us it seemed necessary for Perkins to make every effort to meet them. All work for the doubly-handi- capped originated here with Laura Bridgman. Continuous service to such children through the century and constant improvement in methods make us the logical school to carry on such a program. Plans were, therefore, made for a national center and set forth in the booklet "Children of the Silent Night."

To establish this new branch of work called for new funds. Present funds were given for blind children of New England and our present program taxes our income. After consideration the Trustees felt justified in making an appeal for contributions to establish a separate fund for the deaf-blind. A fund of a half million dollars was felt to be needed for this purpose. Various methods of raising this sum were considered. Some thought that a "drive" should be put on to raise it all at once. Others hesitated to do this partly because it was contrary to our tradition, but chiefly because it was felt that the cause was so compelling that with the story told help would come.

Acting on this principle we sent to several thousand people the story of this need and our program to meet it. Returns have proved that our confidence in this respect was well founded. From thirty- eight states and from eleven foreign countries nearly a thousand contributions rolled up a total of over $50,000.

While a personal letter was sent to each contributor we want to take this occasion to say "thank you" collectively and to let all know how grateful we are for what has been received and for what we know will come later as we approach the attainment of our goal.

THE HENRY CLAY JACKSON FUND

THE contributions received through the appeal were considerably augmented, in fact, practically doubled, when late in December we received close to $50,000 from a trust established in 1922 by Paul Wilde Jackson. Under the deed of gift this contribution is to be a permanent fund to be known as the Henry Clay Jackson Fund. The income is to be used for deaf -blind children at Perkins as long as our Trustees feel that it can be wisely so applied. For this generous gift Perkins is deeply grateful to the trustees who have displayed this interest and confidence in our deaf-blind program.

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THE HELEN KELLER TRIBUTE

TO HONOR Helen Keller and her teacher, the late Anne Sullivan Macy, the American Foundation for the Blind organized a tribute in the form of a nation-wide celebration. Inaugurated by a concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra in New York City, on the evening of November 23, it culminated on March 3, which Miss Keller calls "the most important day I remember in all my life." This was the fifty-first anniversary of the meeting of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. As the school, which made this meeting possible, Perkins is glad to add its tribute to the acclaim of others.

When the appeal came from Alabama for someone to care for the doubly-handicapped child of Captain and Mrs. Keller, Anne Sulli- van, who had just graduated from Perkins, as the valedictorian of her class, was sent by Mr. Anagnos to Alabama. Two years later, Miss Sullivan brought Helen Keller to Perkins Institution where "her ambitions were intensified and her progress was rapid and assured." In recognition of their achievements, we are, in this issue, telling the story of Mrs. Macy and are, also, printing the tribute to Laura Bridg- man, which Miss Keller wrote for the recent anniversary exercises.

A CALL FROM SOUTH AFRICA

ALL at Perkins are tremendously interested in the possibility of "Tad" Chapman's sailing for South Africa immediately after his graduation in June. The invitation for this trip has come from The Reverend A. W. Blaxall, head of the Transvaal Society for the Care of Non-European Blind at Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr. Blaxall visited Per- kins in 1931 and be- " "* ' * m fe ~ came acquainted with "Tad" at that time and they have carried on a corre- spondence ever since. This invita- tion is but another indication of the far-reaching influ- ence of Perkins.

Mr. Blaxall feels that "Tad's" pres-

(Continued on Page 8)

Notes from Th

Ralph, four years old, our youngest and newest pupil, is making good progress in taking commands, the first steps in instruction, but the lure of riding an aeroplane-tricycle, which the Department has, makes it difficult for him to keep at his lessons. . . . Margaret, one of the seven-year old twins, is beginning to experience the hardship of having a brother, because James takes great delight in teasing her. The twins are developing physically and have learned to speak a few words. . . . Carmela has taken upon herself the mothering of Ralph. With quiet patience she puts away his toys, when he is finished with them and, sometimes, indulges him to the point of making his bed. . . . Gloria, nine years old, one of the new pupils this year, has made remarkable progress in speaking. She is already able to form sen- tences. She has a strong domestic sense and helps in the cottage by setting the table. . . . Dovie, fifteen years old, finds her greatest inter- est in handwork. She has knitted scarves to send home and weaves small mats and rugs. Dovie retained her speech when she lost her sight and hearing at eleven. She is now beginning to hear speech through vibration. . . . Patricia, ten years old, is, at the present time, at St. Mary's School for the Deaf, in Buffalo, New York, where she has gone to be the companion of Margaret, a deaf -blind child at that school. Margaret and her teacher spent a month at Perkins, studying our methods and Patricia is now returning the visit. . . . John, eigh- teen years old, who has been at Perkins only a year, is a wonderful

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!nd Department

example of the progress that can be made under our special training, even at his age. His family are delighted with the letters, which he writes to them on the typewriter. . . . Leonard, now grown to be ten, is still the delight of the Department. As all who know him realize he has a wonderful disposition. At the present time he is disconso- late over the death of the Institution horse, "Mickey Mouse," who, ac- cording to Leonard, has gone to the "Horse Heaven. '' Leonard is de- veloping a strong interest in religious matters and is rather fervent in his prayers, which he closes with "Okay God, good night!" . . . Tad, twenty-two years old, is, perhaps, best remembered by readers of "Children of the Silent Night" because of his beautiful essay on "What God Means to Me." Tad graduates from Perkins this year and returns to his home in South Dakota in June. He has been invited by authorities in South Africa to visit that country and it is hoped that this plan will materialize so that he will have the rich experience of travel to add to the memories which will be his greatest resource in the years to come. . . . Other pupils in the Department are not com- pletely deaf, but because of their defective hearing are benefiting by the special methods. . . . All in all, the Department is a very active and a very happy place these days. Visitors come and go and all are inspired by the work that is being done and the fine spirit that can prevail, when senses considered essential to happiness and success are absent.

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A CALL FROM SOUTH AFRICA

(Continued from Page 5)

ence in South Africa will do a great deal to stimulate work for the blind, and also will help him with some deaf-blind children that he has. For about a year Perkins has been advising" him regarding the educa- tion of an eleven-year-old deaf and blind Zulu boy. Miss Hall will accompany "Tad" and will be of immeasurable help in establishing work for the deaf blind in South Africa. Mr. Blaxall is anxious to organize a tour for them and promises them trips into Zululand, Pondoland and the Great Game Reserve.

ANNE SULLIVAN MACY

(Continued from Page 3) her own efforts, has been described in detail by Miss Nella Braddy in her absorbing biography, "Anne Sullivan Macy : the story behind Helen Keller." Finding at Perkins Institution the chance for expansion and the needed impetus, she gained that coveted prize, a Perkins diploma.

But that precious document did not entitle her to embark with- out special preparation on such an enterprise as that which Mr. Anag- nos urged upon her, the instruction of a little deaf-blind girl, and her post-graduate work at the school consisted of familiarizing herself with all that Dr. Howe had attained with Laura Bridgman and all subsequent work of the kind.

When in March, 1887, she was considered by Mr. Anagnos to be ready for her work, she set out on her new and untried mission in Alabama. She found there a six-year-old, deaf-blind child, wholly untaught, self-willed and rebellious against the limitations which she sensed. But with the first word that awakened her to that all-impor- tant realization that objects have names, "water," spelled into her hand as it gushed from the pump, progress was assured. She became avid for new words and never forgot one that she had once acquired.

Helen's mind was an open receptacle for information, and Miss Sullivan fed her thirsty spirit untiringly. She devised ways and means of her own, finding real satisfaction in her pupil's advance and in the joy that the child gained through knowledge. She attributed her success in no small degree to her own plan of presenting whole sentences to Helen instead of disjointed words, — that is, talking to her in the manual alphabet as she would converse with a normal person. Helen's remarkably rich vocabulary may be the result of this method of acquainting her with language as the expression of abstract thought as well as concrete subject.

In the succeeding years of study Miss Sullivan was at Helen's right hand, — four years spent at Perkins Institution, a course of oral instruction at the Wright-Humason school for the deaf in New- York, private tutoring, the Cambridge School, and Radcliffe College, from which Helen was graduated in 1904 with "Teacher" still her inseparable companion. Then came some happy years of wedded life for Miss Sullivan, spent in their home in Wrentham, Mass., she having married Mr. John Macy, writer and lecturer. But this union of two ambitious beings was destined not to be lasting; the home in Wrentham was broken up, and thereafter the two women were all in all to each other until they were joined by a valued friend and secre- tary, Miss Polly Thomson.

Their united activities were endless, including the lecture plat- form, appearance on the theatre stage, speeches before many organi- zations, the writing of many books, a share in the efforts of many committees in behalf of the blind, in all of which Mrs. Macy was the helpful and tireless coadjutor of Helen Keller, whose name was one to conjure with. Many honors were showered upon them both, cul- minating in the bestowal of the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters upon each in separate recognition of their attainments.

The last years of this devoted woman's life, which ended October 20, 1936, were spent in a constant struggle against increasing weak- ness, suffering and oncoming blindness ; for in all her long ministra- tion in Helen's public life she had not spared her health or her pre- carious eyesight, always so deficient as to be included within the defi- nition of blindness. Helen's brave acceptance of her desolating loss found expression in a beautiful tribute, from which the following quotation is taken: "I pray for strength that I may endure the silent dark until she shall smile on me again.''

In his eighty-sixth year Frederick A. Flan- ders passed away on January 13, 1938. Forty years associated with Perkins, he was always helpful and eager to serve. Steward until 1922. he became Super- intendent of Buildings until his retirement in 1932. All who knew him mourn his loss.

THE DEAF-BLIND CHRISTMAS PARTY

SCHOOL NOTES

The Trustees have created the new office of bursar. Mr. J. Stephenson Hemphill has been selected to fill the position and took office March 1. The bursar will represent the Treasurer in all finan- cial disbursements and will relieve the Director of many details in connection with the business management of the School. He is, also, to give time to the development of a sales program in connection with the Workshop in South Boston. A graduate of the School of Business Administration of Harvard University, Mr. Hemphill brings a broad training and wide business experience to his new duties.

After presenting modern plays for a number of years, the Boys' Dramatic Club has returned to Shakespeare, in which field Perkins had notable successes nearly a generation ago. On Wednesday and Friday evenings, April 6 and 8, The Merchant of Venice will be produced, under the direction of Miss Claudia Potter, teacher of dramatics.

After spending half a year working in the laboratory the boys' cooking class is now putting its instruction to the test. On Thurs- day nights, the cook's night off, the cooking class is preparing the supper in the boys' cottages in turn. This plan seems to be working satisfactorily for all concerned, including the boys who eat the meals. Up to the present, however, no cooks have been permanently dis- placed.

Mary Munn, distinguished blind pianist of Montreal, gave a recital at the School Monday, February 28, prior to sailing to Europe on a concert tour. Her brother is a graduate of Perkins. At chapel on Thursday Miss Munn told of the Royal Normal College in London and Miss Mann, her companion, sang.

The Fourth Grade boys and girls, who were working on a Norse project, took advantage of the snow to make a great Viking ship, which they equipped and manned.

Jules Charbneau, possessor of the world's largest collection of smallest curiosities, brought many of his interesting objects to the School and gave a talk, which the pupils enjoyed greatly.

The faculty held a "Big Apple" Dance on Thursday, January 27.

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FROM OUR MAIL

"On behalf of the staff of the "Stu- dent" <a newspaper published outside of school by eighth-graders), I am en- closing a check for twenty -two dollars which we would like to give to bring happiness to the children of the Per- kins Institute."

"Enclosed please find a small con- tribution, and may God bless and pros- per you in your wonderful work."

"The work of the Perkins Institution certainly deserves adequate support and I very much regret that I am not able to make such a contribution as you desire. . . . The best that I can do is to enclose this very modest check.

"I certainly do think your work is splendid but I cannot give."

"The twins do certainly reach my heart as I am a twin; . . . The only way that I can do even a little is due to the fact that we have decided not to give each other gifts."

"I am enclosing a check to help with your work for the deaf and blind. My own little boy is partially deafened".

"I am enclosing a check for ten dol- lars to help in your marvelous work with the hope that at some future date I may be able to do more."

"We are sending this dollar for the

twins we saw in the picture. We are

interested in them because we are

twins ourselves".

"If I were able to contribute accord- ing to my wishes to the beautiful char- ity of which you have written to me, it would be a large sum. As it is I am forced to send a very small sum in- stead."

"I think your Children of the Silent Night is one of the finest pieces of charitable publicity I've ever seen. The cover alone is a masterpiece — in color and restrained design: and the title is a phrase from Heaven."

"This hastily written note is to tell you of the deep interest I have had in going through your booklet, Children of the Silent Night. It is admirably designed to arouse interest in your work and I hope that it proves effective in major degree".

"I think this Children of the Silent Night is a wonderfully affecting piece of publicity. I am sure that it will do Perkins a lot of good."

"I want to congratulate you on the beautiful brochure which you have issued relating to your present and proposed work for the deaf blind. Every one I have shown it to has re- marked on what a beautifully gotten up pamphlet it is."

"We should be only too pleased to distribute copies of Children of the Silent Night among the principal British Institutions for the Deaf, if you would care for us to do so."

"May we extend congratulations upon the vision, and foresight, which prompts your plan for a national center. . . . We wish, for you, a most generous sup- port."

"This council's vice-chairman sent me a copy of Children of the Silent Night ... I was very much pleased to have it, as it is a beautiful and inter- esting booklet. Mr. Moore spoke also of entering Children of the Silent Night for consideration of our awards committee for 1937-38."

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— Courtesy of Acme Newspicti

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

are now taught to speak and to understand speech without the use of sign language or the manual alphabet. Sensitive fingers placed on the face muscles "hear" the vibrations of words spoken. Steps in the progress of learning are illustrated here.

CARMELA HOLDING LEFT HAND ON MISS HALL'S FACE (Upper left) Miss Hall, head teacher of the deaf -blind commands Carmela to bow. At first Carmela is pushed over until she associates the muscular action with the vibrations felt by the fingers. Endless repetition is required to make a child understand the first command.

CARMELA BOWING TO MISS HALL (Upper right) It took nearly three months for Carmela to respond to the first command. Now she can understand all commands readily and carries on regular school work. She has also learned to speak. Speech is taught by drill in the elements such as "o", "ar", etc., and then by constant word building.

CARMELA HOLDING RIGHT HAND ON MISS HALL'S FACE (Lower left) When single commands have been mastered, more complicated commands in- volving sentence structure and selection of objects are given. Here Miss Hall says, "Give me a dog."

CARMELA HOLDING A DOG AND SMILING (Lower right) From the group of toys Carmela has selected the dog and seems pleased at her success. Unexpected to many is the happiness of these Children of the Silent Night.

— Courtesy of Acme Newspictu

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The sLantern

THE PERKINS

VOLUME VII. NO. 4

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ELMcK.

INSTITUTION

JUNE 15. 1938

The Importance of Good Teaching

A SCHOOL is as strong as its teachers. If teaching is the pur- pose of a school then the fulfillment of that purpose is meas- ured by the teachers. In no field of education is this more true than in that of the blind. Here the normal avenues of instruc- tion are closed; pictures, with all of their vividness, blackboards, so typical of the classroom, pen and pencil, the first tools of learning, are all eliminated when sight is gone. Other mediums and other methods must be called into service.

Over and above mediums and methods we must have teachers pos- sessing a mingling of patience and persistence. Perkins is interested not only in securing such teachers but in providing teachers for other schools. The Harvard Course offered by the Graduate School of Edu- cation of Harvard University, is our way of training teachers for our special field.

From the present class we are taking only one member. This represents a change in policy that seems advisable for two reasons: it means that other schools will have first choice of the whole class; and we hope it will make the members of the class more ready to accept positions in smaller schools and in more distant places. This will become more effective if the larger schools will then call to their staffs persons who have worked hard in smaller places and have, thereby, earned promotion. We invite consideration and discussion of this policy to the end that all schools may be strengthened by a stronger teaching body.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President.

Gabriel Farrell, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Director has talked to classes in education at Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Wellesley.

Nelson Coon, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, spent the month of May abroad, travelling chief- ly in Germany and England.

Miss Virginia Cole, of the Upper School, is the District Leader of the Massachusetts Association for Occupa- tional Therapy.

The entire training class of the Clarke School for the Deaf at North- ampton spent a day at Perkins recent- ly, observing our work.

Plans are now complete for Win- throp Chapman, his mother, and Miss Hall to visit South Africa. They sail from New York on June 22 as the guests of The Transvaal Association for the Blind.

New England District of the Ameri- can Association of Medical Social Workers met at the school on Wed- nesday, June 1, 1938. After visiting the school they were addressed by the Social Worker and the Director. A picnic supper was enjoyed on the grounds.

The Girls' Field Meet on May 26 was

won by Brooks with 27 points. The other scores were: Oliver 21%; May 17%; Fisher 14. The girls' inter-cot- tage swimming meet on March 31 re- sulted in the following scores: May 100; Brooks 99; Oliver 45; and Fisher 39.

Recent visitors at the School have been: Dr. and Mrs. Gilbert Bowes. Quaker missionaries to Tokyo; Com- mander and Mrs. R. Gunderson, of Oslo, Norway, where Mr. Gunderson is head of the work for the Salvation Army; Miss Lois Armentrout and Miss Lillian C. Manahan. of Canton. China.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Alumni Club of Massachusetts State College each year selects two or three graduates who have distinguished themselves to receive honorary medals. Included in the group this year was Francis M. Andrews, principal of Per- kins, who received this distinction on June 12 at the annual breakfast.

Nursery School for Visually Defective Children is the new name appearing on the literature of the Boston Nurs- j ery for Blind Babies.

Summer Courses for teachers of the blind are to be given at Wayne University, Detroit, by Miss Margaret M. Soares, Harvard Class '29 now with the Detroit Public Schools.

The New York Institute for the Ed- ucation of the Blind has opened its new building for the instruction of deaf -blind children. It has many mod- ern facilities, including a "floating floor."

The American Printing House for

the Blind, in Louisville, Kentucky, has made an appeal for money to erect a new building. Besides textbooks for all schools for the blind in the country, the braille edition of The Readers' Di- gest, is embossed by the Printing House.

The Governor of Massachusetts has signed a bill, which requires all persons selling articles made by the blind, or tickets for performances by blind per- sons to secure a license from the Di- rector of the Division for the Blind be- fore solicitation is made. This law was planned to eliminate the "rackets" which have been carried on in Boston and which have resulted, according to the Chamber of Commerce, in collec- tions of about $250,000.00 a year in this state with a very small part of the money going to the blind.

JESSICA L. LANGWORTHY

By Anna G. Fish

PERKINS Institution is proud to have retained through many years the loyal assistance and co-operation of skilled workers on its staff, and it will not permit such faithful helpers to pass away without special recognition of services rendered and heartfelt grati- tude. Such was Miss Jessica L. Langworthy, whose death in Florida occurred March 28, 1938. For forty-four years she filled an important place in this school with distinction and efficiency.

Coming to the work of teaching blind boys in 1892, with a Smith College diploma recently bestowed upon her, and imbued with the spirit of keeping bright the light of learning, she took up her labors with unquenchable zeal and indomitable will. She proved herself an excellent teacher, with English as her special field, and she won the respect and devotion of her pupils.

In 1918, when the boys' principal was called to war work, Miss Langworthy became principal in his stead and governed her charges with impartial wisdom and justice and clarity of understanding. Every boy had his definite assignments of work in the lines best suited to him, and every boy was in his allotted place at a designated time. The school was run smoothly and competently. "When she speaks, we step," was the complimentary declaration of their attitude.

In the fall of 1925 Miss Langworthy, released from the onerous position of principal, took up the work of assisting Dr. Allen in his Harvard course on the Education of the Blind, and from that date to June, 1936, she was his able and devoted assistant, planning all the multitudinous details with such admirable system that, like a well- oiled machine, all friction was eliminated. Beginning in February, 1926, she developed her own course in "special methods" of teaching the blind, supplementing the Harvard course and supplying the prac- tice to match its theory and background. It has been a marvelously successful course, brimful of interest and inducive of enthusiasm in all of the 233 students who have followed it.

Miss Langworthy's influence for the betterment of the blind is far-reaching and of lasting value. To it may be traced pioneer or revivified efforts in all parts of the world. And, like the steady beam from a distant star, even though extinguished it will long continue to illumine the lives of innumerable little ones of many races and in many climes, who are yet to share in its beneficence.

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SUMMER SCHOOL FOR TUNERS

PIANO tuners who are graduates of Perkins, or of other schools for the blind, are to be offered an opportunity to improve their

skill and to become acquainted with new factors in their pro- fession through a series of twelve sessions to be offered at Perkins on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from July 18 through August 12. The course will be under the general direction of Mr. Elwyn H. Fowler, for many years head of our Tuning Department.

The recent legislation, regarding the tuning of publicly owned pianos, opens up a large amount of new business, which the tuners must be prepared to meet adequately. The new small pianos, which are becoming so popular, offer many difficulties to the blind tuner and special attention will be given to them in this course. A minipiano will be available for demonstration purposes and an expert in this field will be prepared to give instruction.

THE LANGWORTHY THEATRE FUND

(CT^HE MERCHANT OF VENICE" was presented this winter by the boys in the Upper School. A sum of money which re- mained after expenses were paid was presented to the Cor- rective Speech Department to be used in taking pupils to worthwhile theatrical productions. Recalling the series of Shakespeare plays which Miss Jessica L. Langworthy had directed, when she was head of the Boys' School, it was decided to add this sum to others which had been received for this purpose and to establish a fund in her name. The first use of the money was to take twenty-eight pupils to see the film version of "Romeo and Juliet."

THE SPRING CIRCUS

ALTHOUGH the real circus was in Boston during the first week in May, THE CIRCUS, from our point of view, was the one held on our grounds on Wednesday afternoon of that week. Planned by Miss Thelma E. Peirce as the culminating feature of Posture Week, it proved one of the most entertaining events of many years. Words are not adequate to describe the circus, but the pic- tures on the opposite page tell the story. (Apologies to our braille readers, but we are confident that they can glimpse the happy occa- sion through imagination.)

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ACHIEVEMENT

John Morrison, a Junior, won a five-dollar prize in a National Life Insurance Essay Contest with a paper entitled "Life Insurance Con- quers the Fear That You Will Live Too Long or Die Too Soon". The award was given at a luncheon of the Boston Underwriters' Asso- ciation, held on May 26. . . . Norman S. Case, Jr., Perkins '36, was one of the eight sophomores elected to the Sphinx Club at Brown University, a student-faculty discussion group. . . . Fannie Libbey, Perkins '36, has been awarded the Captain Brown Medal, given each year by Mr. M. C. Migel, President of the American Foundation for the Blind, to the holder of a Foundation scholarship who has made the most outstanding academic record. . . . Edward W. Jenkins, Perkins '22, now a teacher in the Music Department, has received the degree, L. T. C. L. from Trinity College, London. In the final examina- tion for this degree he received an honor grade and gave a recital in Boston before the College Examiner, Sir Granville Bantock. . . . Maurice I. Tynan, Perkins '14, for many years active in work for the blind, has been appointed Field Agent for the Blind in the Voca- tional Rehabilitation Division, United States Office of Education. . . . Clarence Hawkes, Perkins '90, author of forty-eight books, received the high distinction of being awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters by the American International College on June 7.

SPRING SPORTS

FOR the first time in six years the boys' track team met defeat in a dual meet with the New York Institute on Saturday, May 14, with a closing score of 32-31. More decisive was the defeat on Saturday, May 28 when the final score was Overbrook, 33^2 5 Con- necticut, 20; and Perkins 9i/2 points. Somewhat compensating for these defeats was the victory over the Baltimore School on Saturday, May 21, when the score was Maryland 8; and Perkins, 55. This meet was held at the Baltimore School, while the other two were at Perkins.

LEONARD'S PROGRESS

THE PROGRESS of Leonard Dowdy, one of our deaf-blind boys, is now reaching out into social niceties. Recently, when intro- duced to a young woman, he turned to his teacher and ex- claimed, "A tall lady!" Then, in an inquiring tone asked, "It would not be nice to ask 'how old are you,' would it?"

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PUBLICATIONS

Notes From Italy is the title of an article by Dr. E. E. Allen, Director Emeritus of Perkins, appearing in the April number of the OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND.

How The Newly Blind May Be Helped

is an interesting bulletin recently pub- lished by the National Institute for the Blind in London.

Helen Keller's Journal, a daily record of her life after the death of her teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy, Perkins '86, has been published by Doubleday, Doran and Company.

Geographical and Historical Maps of the World, published by the Howe Me- morial Press, is a numerical and alpha- betical index of the many maps now available for the use of the blind.

Our Country, Our People, and Theirs.

by Merle E. Tracy, a Perkins graduate has just been published by MacMillan & Company. This book is a compara- tive study of Italy, Germany, Russia, and the United States.

Odors of an Afternoon is the title of an article by Nelson Coon in the De- cember issue of the OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND, which tells how the sense of smell may be used to apprehend beauty.

The Torch is the name of a new paper to be started by the Ming Sum School for the Blind in Canton, China, taking its name from the only means of light that the founder of that school had fifty years ago, as she went out on her night calls to find the blind girls singing in the dark lanes.

FROM OUR MAIL

"I was most interested in the whole School for I had never visited there before, although I have known some- thing of the work all my life. To a teacher of the deaf the work you are doing in your department is deeply interesting. I marvel at the splendid voices and the speech of your chil- dren." (From a teacher of the deaf after visiting the Deaf-Blind Depart- ment.)

"I wish you could see what the stu- dents are doing. From all over China they have gone out into the interior, where the bombs cannot reach. Great universities have been transplanted . . . Even though we are here in the midst of a strange period, we do not want anyone to think that all of our thoughts center on China. The teach- ers have asked that I write and thank you for giving us the set of maps. They have proved most stimulating and helpful." From a worker for the blind in China.

"As I have appreciated the garden odors and all the smells of the country ever since I was a child, I certainly think that more should be done to cul- tivate the noses of the blind. . . With a keen nose one can often make deci- sions which would not otherwise be made without assistance.

"Your contention that everything possible should be done to make the blind, and especially the deaf-blind, odor -conscious is, of course, in the right direction. This does not mean that the blind should be left unaware of what visually apprehended beauty means to the sighted. Though shut out from the first-hand contacts with visual beauty, the blind may still be made keenly to enjoy what their sighted friends find in the fair vistas of the outdoor world." (From letters in regard to Mr. Coon's article.}

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GRADUATION JUNE 17

DIPLOMAS will be awarded on Friday, June 17, to fourteen boys and seven girls. This is the largest graduating class in the history of the school. Two special certificates will be awarded, one to a young man who has completed the course in pianoforte tuning and the other to a young woman who has met the requirements of the Manual Training Department in the Girls' Upper School.

The graduation exercises will be held in Dwight Hall at 2:00 o'clock. Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation, will preside and present the diplomas. The Commencement address will be given by Dr. Frederick M. Eliot, President of the American Uni- tarian Association and a former member of the Perkins Corporation. The invocation will be offered by Rev'd. Father Connolly, of the Catholic Guild for the Blind.

At exercises to be held at 11:00 o'clock on June 17, four boys and two girl will receive certificates marking completion of their work in the Lower School and transfer to the Upper School.

Perkins graduates who will receive distinction this June in the field of higher education are: Eileen McNamara. who completes her work at the Boston School of Occupational Therapy ; Annie Rose Moses, who will be graduated from Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia ; and Lawrence Thompson, who will receive an A. B. degree from Harvard University. Lawrence Thompson is one of the few graduates of Perkins to receive a degree from Harvard University. The first was Joseph Brown Smith, who received his degree in 1844, the first college degree ever awarded to a blind man in this country.

Two events closely associated with graduation are the annual meetings of the Alumnae and Alumni Associations. The former graduates of the Girls' School held an all-day meeting at the School on Saturday, June 4 ; while the graduates of the Boys' School will hold their annual exercises on Saturday, June 18.

Fisher Cottage will be open for the members of the staff who are remaining through the summer. School reopens in the fall with chapel exercises on Wednesday morning, September 14. Members of the staff return Monday, September 12, and the pupils on the following day.

The motto adopted by the graduating class this year is: IT SHALL BE DONE.

.

The lantern ®

| I LIU 338 [

THE PERKINS INSTITUTIQN^c j

VOLUME VIII. NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 15. 1938

Home Teachers

BEYOND the teaching- provided for the blind in special schools is home teaching. Most of this is with people who have lost their sight after school age, and much of it involves adjustment to newly acquired blindness. Because of the psychological effect blind persons are generally chosen for this important work. To hear the sure tread of the home teacher's approach, to share his confidence in a darkened world, and to acquire from him skills which conquer sightlessness, all are factors in a successful adjustment when sight is gone. Home teachers play an important role in the struggle to over- come the results of blindness.

Perkins, which provides education for those of school age, gladly pays its tribute to those who bring the potent force of teaching into the homes of blind adults. Although our people differ in age, our objectives are the same, and we share in common many methods. Indeed one is the outgrowth of the other. The impetus for home teaching in New England began at Perkins. Two Perkins graduates started the work under the leadership of Mr. Anagnos, director of Perkins Institution, in furtherance of the request of the State Board of Education of Massachusetts.

Perkins welcomes this month the convention of the Eastern Con- ference of Home Teachers. We are glad to tell in this issue of The Lantern something of their work, so that friends of the school may know of this effective teaching beyond its borders.

^Ospl+if ^oA/lmJ^

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Director, after attending the convention of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind at Lansing. Michigan, went tto Louisville, Ken- tucky, for the annual meeting of the trustees of the American Printing House for the Blind on Saturday, July 3. Later he visited the Virginia and Maryland schools for the blind.

In a questionnaire broadcast on the first of July last, over Station WAAB. Miss Douglass gave some interesting facts about Perkins and its work. Miss Douglass spent most of July visiting pupils' homes throughout northern New England.

-/ Five boys enjoyed camping this sum- mer as the guests of the Boston Com- mittee for the Blind. Three went to the Boy Scout camp at Antrim, N. H.. and two went to Camp Massapoag at Dunstable, Mass. Several girls attend- ed Camp Allen at Reeds Ferry, N. H.

A Talking Book room has been equipped with records and reproducer to facilitate the use of this new medi- um in our educational program.

Our foreign traveler this summer has been Miss Mary H. Ferguson who went to England and the continent.

Helen Reese, Perkins '36, special stu- dent in the music department, has been awarded by the Longy School of Music in Cambridge a scholarship to study under Mile. Nadia Boulanger, noted French musician visiting in this coun- try. In June last Miss Reese was one of two persons to be awarded prizes by the New England Conservatory of Mu- sic for compositions, hers taking the form of a chorus.

University Extension courses may now, through a special act of the Massachu- setts legislature, be taken by blind per- sons without payment of the usual fees.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Pennsylvania Institution for the Education of the Blind is offering this year a course for the training of home teachers in cooperation with the Penn- sylvania School of Social Work. Only two years of college training are re- quired for admission.

Dog Accessories have been selected by the American Foundation for the Blind as a suitable field for blind pro- duction and advertising. Beginning with the making of leashes they plan to expand to other essentials of dog- dom and through national advertising hope to open a new market for blind industry.

Sixteen from Perkins attended the convention of the American Associa- tion of the Instructors of the Blind, held at the State School in Lansing, Michigan. The program showed that eleven papers were prepared by mem- bers of the Perkins staff.

President Roosevelt in his recent Fireside Chat said that through the Social Security Act "about 40,000 blind people are assured of peace and secur- ity among familiar voices." A report of the first three years of the Social Security Act reveals that over $11,000,- 000 were allotted for the blind under Section 10. Under the provisions of the Act this sum had to be doubled by the states receiving allotments.

Several Perkins ex-pupils have taken advantage of the Government permis- sion to conduct stands in public build- ings and have met with success.

Miss Marion Lerner, one of our girls, is giving good service in the Children's Centre of the New Haven Hospital.

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HOME TEACHING: ITS BEGINNING IN MASSACHUSETTS By Anna Gardner Fish

THE initial impulse towards Home Teaching in Massachusetts came through the suggestion of Mr. Anagnos, second director of Perkins Institution, in 1898, to the Alumnae Association, an organization of fine young women who stood ever ready to cooperate with him and to carry out his wishes. He advised these graduates to seek out those who had not shared their opportunities of instruction and who would be glad to have help in learning to read and to engage in handicrafts at their homes.

The movement for a State sponsorship in such a field of labor, fostered by a blind man, J. Newton Breed, followed in 1900, and the task of ascertaining how welcome such an enterprise might prove to be was relegated to Mr. Frank A. Hill, secretary of the State Board of Education. As a result of this investigation through questionnaire and personal contact, the work was established by Act of Legislature and placed in the hands of the educational board, which in turn passed it over to Perkins Institution, the only agency for the blind then in existence in Massachusetts.

The first teachers, Miss Lillian R. Garside and Miss Lydia Y. Hayes, were appointed by Mr. Anagnos in November, 1900, and plans were immediately formulated for carrying out the purpose of the Act. As a beginning a list was made up of those adults who had applied to Perkins for assistance in learning to read, and a printed leaflet, which set forth the aims of the new movement, was disseminated widely through schools and churches, newspapers, clubs and physicians, and by word of mouth. Mr. Anagnos had declared the object of the under- taking to be the bringing of "comfort and solace" to their pupils, and to his two appointees he said: "You know what is expected of you. Now go out and find your pupils."

Mr. John Vars, who joined the group of teachers January 1, 1901, and became the leader of the work under Mr. Anag- nos, has told us that in all his experi- ence only one person, an editor, ever refused to give publicity to the cause.

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT e beg to announce that, through the ac- of the legislature of the State of Mas- lusetts, a plan has been perfected by :h the adult blind may receive instruction heir homes in reading, writing and such mal occupation as they may be capable of ertaking, and which may prove a solace hem for many weary hours which must Twise pass in idleness. Competent teach- have been selected to furnish all the as- ince in their power for the successful per- lance of this work.

nee it is very desirable to reach as many possible of those who may be waiting in cness for the intellectual light to shine a them through this means, it is earnestly ed that all those to whom this notice ' come will co-operate in the work by iing the name and address of any such d person to the Perkins Institution for Blind, South Boston, Massachusetts.

M. ANAGNOS. ember 1, 1900.

HOME TEACHERS CONFERENCE

THE eighth convention of the Eastern Conference of Home Teach- ers was held at Perkins Institution from Wednesday, September 7, through Saturday, September 10. Nearly one hundred teach- ers, their guides and interested friends came from all the New England states (except Maine and Vermont), New York, New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina. All were housed in the cottages surrounding the Girls' Close. Meetings were held in Dwight Hall, Howe Building. Appearing on the well- arranged program were the following from Perkins : Paper on poultry raising for the blind, by Chester A. Gibson ; one on gardening, by Nel- son Coon; a talk on "Standards of Workmanship," by Mrs. Cora L. Gleason, former home visitor ; and a word of welcome, by the Director. It was appropriate to have this conference again at Perkins be- cause the association was formed at a gathering of home teachers held here in 1926. Many of the members are former Perkins pupils, and all the presidents have been graduates of this school. The presi- dent for the past year was Miss Mary E. French of Providence, R. I. The secretary of the conference is Stetson K. Ryan of the State Board of Education of the Blind in Connecticut. Effective exhibits were displayed in the museum. On Thursday afternoon visits were made to several institutions for the blind about Boston.

SUMMER SCHOOL FOR TUNERS

THIRTEEN men, who earn their livelihood by pianoforte tuning, took advantage of the summer course for tuners, offered on Mon- day, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, July 18-August 12. The course was planned to give tuners an opportunity to brush up on the

technique of their pro- fession and especially to acquaint them also with the tuning and servicing of the new small pianos. To help in this latter purpose a small piano was lent by the M. Steinert and Sons Company, and Mr. Walter Sandberg of their staff came out — 4 —

on July 27 and 29 and gave effective demonstrations. Other official talks were by Mr. George Schwendeman, for- mer president of the Piano Tuners' As- sociation, and Mr. Oscar Melin.

Two men, both trained at Perkins, contributed largely to the success of the summer school. When the plan was an- nounced Sir Charles W. Lindsay, until his retirement head of the largest piano business in Canada, who began as a tuner after studying at Perkins, sent a check for $50 to help the project. This gift was used to defray the traveling ex- penses of men who came from a distance and who would otherwise have found it difficult to attend. The other person to whom credit is due is Mr. Elwyn H. Fowler, veteran tuner and for twenty- seven years head of the department at Perkins. Through his careful planning and his own instruction the men who highly beneficial.

attended found the sessions

SUMMER IMPROVEMENTS

THE program of summer improvements was not very large this year because of the financial situation. The largest item was the resetting of the boilers in the power plant, required after twenty-five years of service. Within the buildings there has been the usual painting, papering and other necessary rehabilitation to keep up the plant and to make school and living quarters clean and attractive. Outdoors the most apparent changes are on the play- grounds. The area between Anagnos and Potter cottages, a large area adjoining Potter Cottage and a smaller area adjacent to Glover Cottage have been paved with cork asphalt. Resilient and especially designed for playgrounds, it provides space for playing when snow and spring thawing render the ground too damp for the children. The giant swing replaced on a concrete foundation, a new jungle gym and more swings will help in the program of outdoor activities. The main drive from the North Beacon Street gate to Howe Building has been resurfaced.

THE REGIONAL BRAILLE LIBRARY

ONE of the most effective aids of home teachers is the reading matter for the blind, now available in large measure without cost to the readers. Increasingly generous grants by Congress have made possible the embossing of many books for distribution in the homes of those without sight. Embossed books come in the stan- dard braille and in the Moon type which older people find easier to master. Talking books may also be obtained, and a large assortment of book records is available for distribution by mail. Perkins serves as the regional library for most of New England, and over 2000 vol- umes a month pass between our library and nearly 1500 homes.

THE MODEL-MAKING PROJECT

THE W. P. A. project which, since the completion of map-making, has been engaged in making models for school use as well as producing the Map-of-the-Month, has had another allotment of funds and will carry on through the coming winter. In order to meet the more stringent requirements for the receiving of Federal funds, Perkins, as acting sponsor, has had to increase its contribution to the project. This contribution takes the form of money for materials, the designation of one of our machinists at the workshop for project work and the assignment of Mr. Edward J. Waterhouse for increased super- vision. Mr. Waterhouse has been relieved of half of his teaching, so that he may give half time to the work of the project.

THE HARVARD CLASS

FOURTEEN young men and women will make up the Harvard Class for the coming year. It is interesting to observe the widening college representation. Radcliffe, Wellesley, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Harvard, and Princeton and several state universities are among the colleges listed as educational backgrounds of this year's students. Four men make a somewhat larger proportion than usual, but there is only one foreigner, a young blind man from Japan who is a teacher in the government school for the blind in Tokyo. Dr. Allen is expected back early in October to give his eighteenth successive year of leadership to the class.

A NEW CARPET

The June graduates in the Class Will bequeathed to the Director a new, green carpet for his office. Reason: so many were "put on the carpet" last year it was surmised that a new one was needed.

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NEW STAFF MEMBERS

FLORENCE E. MARSHALL, after several years of work in hospitals, en- tered Simmons School of Social Work, graduating in June, to become home visitor.

DOROTHY L. MISBACH, graduate of an Iowa State Teachers College and of last year's Harvard Class, to be teacher in the Lower School.

JANE MURDOCK, Wellesley '37, Hickox Commercial School '38, secre- tary of the Cambridge Girl Scout Camp, to be teacher in the commercial department of the Upper School.

JEAN H. DODDS, graduate of Goucher College and of the Harvard Class of 1934-5, to teach English in the Upper School.

DOROTHY HUSET, formerly teacher in the Idaho School for the Deaf, to teach in the deaf-blind de- partment.

DOUGLAS COOKE, graduate of the Wentworth Institute, to be teacher in the manual training department of the Upper School.

BRADFORD J. REED, Davidson Col- lege and Harvard University, to act as master of Eliot Cottage while taking the Harvard Course.

NEVART NAJARIAN, Perkins '23 and graduate of Boston University, on one year's appointment to take work in the Upper School relinquished by Mr. Waterhouse.

Mrs. PEARL GOSLING of Holyoke, Mass., to be matron of Bridgman Cot- tage, succeeding Mrs. Chester A. Gib- son.

PROFESSIONAL NOTES

Two men, leaders in the field of ophthalmology, died on the same day (August 22, 1938). Each was awarded the Leslie Dana medal for '"outstand- ing achievements in the prevention of blindness and the conservation of vi- sion,"— Dr. George Edmund de Schwei- nitz of Philadelphia in 1930 and Dr. John Martin Wheeler of New York in 1936.

Both men, highly skilled in technical aspects of visual impairment, possessed an unusual understanding of and faith in the blind. Their attitude toward the blind and their advice to them are illustrated by the following extracts from their obituaries in the New York Herald-Tribune :

In 1930, in recognition of the "most outstanding work in behalf of pre- vention of blindness," Dr. de Schwei- nitz received the Leslie Dana medal of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness. In his opinion, blind- ness was not an affliction but "a handi- cap that can be diminished."

In an address at the fall meeting of the School of Medicine at the Colum- bia-Presbyterian Medical Center in 1934, Dr. Wheeler remarked that many of the blind find a deep spiritual con- tentment in their physical darkness. He cautioned his listeners against pampering the blind too much.

"The blind man should be allowed to do everything possible for himself," Dr. Wheeler said, at that time, "and he should not be waited on in any un- necessary particular. With physical and mental activity and with practice and training he will become self-reliant and skillful beyond ordinary belief. In fact, blindness sometimes leads one to draw from a great bank of potential mental possibility riches not dreamed of in sight.

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HOME TEACHING: ITS BEGINNING IN MASSACHUSETTS

(Continued from Page 3)

Mr. Vars not only maintained a general oversight of the work but kept full records and expense accounts, the latter being met by Perkins which was reimbursed at the end of the year through the State Board of Education. He rendered a yearly report to Mr. Anagnos who in turn sent a detailed account of the work annually to the educational board. "I am not a man of deficits," was Mr. Anagnos' proud asser- tion, and he kept expenditures strictly within the prescribed limits of $1000 during the first year, $3600 for the second, and $5000 for each succeeding year.

Returns in the way of letters of appreciation and expressions of gratitude were swift in coming in. Tidings of this new form of help for the adult blind in their homes spread rapidly, and soon it was nec- essary to employ another teacher, and Mr. Edward Schuerer began the work in the fall of 1902. Later additions to the staff, after the resignation of Miss Hayes, were Mrs. Mary E. Roberts and Miss Mary F. Grieve, each on half time. The state was mapped out, and the sev- eral sections allotted to the respective teachers. The work was sys- tematic and effective, and when earning capacity was attained by some of the pupils through the instruction thus received Mr. Anagnos as well as the home teachers felt real satisfaction.

In 1907 the Massachusetts Commission (now Division) for the Blind began to function, and as it was particularly fitted to help solve the problems of the adult blind it became apparent, in the course of its expansion, that it was the proper agency for carrying on Home Teaching. Thus in 1916 the work was turned over to that Board, in whose hands it has made steady and gratifying progress, now utiliz- ing the services of seven teachers and meeting all demands upon it in an effectual manner.

Throughout the history of the Home Teaching movement the Perkins officials and the Perkins Library have stood by, giving all possible aid and advice and continuing the beneficence of its constant supply of reading matter when the teachers' instructions have ceased. The library circulates books embossed in braille and Moon type, as well as Talking Book records, while the Howe Memorial Press meets many individual needs through the appliances which it produces and sells at cost or less.

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME VIII. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 1938

dining Mmxu

AT Christmas time all of our pupils go home. By Wednesday of next week Perkins will be an empty shell because practically all pupils and staff members will have departed for their various homes. Many people may be surprised at this because the old idea that Perkins is an asylum, affording continuous shelter when sight is gone, still lingers. Perkins is a residential school both in content of instruction and in calendar. As in other schools, our pupils go home at Christmas time.

We believe in this because it helps keep alive home ties. All children need the security which only home can give, and for blind boys and girls this is even more imperative. Parents of handicapped children owe them the protection of home as well as the facilities of a special school. And on their return home at Christmas time the children should find a happy welcome and a large place in the family festivities.

Going home during vacations has the additional value of strength- ening community contacts. It is our conviction that the best possi- bility of placement upon graduation is in the home community, and our boys and girls ought to begin early to make friends among those from whom they expect and hope to find work. Educating a community to receive blind workers is as important as training the workers. Going home, therefore, has vocational as well as vacational possibilities.

To the pupils and staff going home, as well as to our readers, we wish

A Urmj (Elirtatmas mb A Bappjj N?ut frar

Perkins Institution and Massa- ^7*+ Jv\ ** J ---5»L A A* ^0

chusetts School for the Blind. *"V^ C€S\s»'***/\ /aSl/\A*Z-i£

Watertown, Massachusetts

Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Founder's Day exercises were held at the Lower School on the afternoon of November 7, following the annual meet- ing of the Corporation, and many who attended that meeting came to the exercises. Incidents in the life of Michael Anagnos were portrayed under the title. Turning Pages of an Old Family Album.

The Howe Memorial Club held its annual memorial exercises in honor of Samuel Gridley-Howe, on the afternoon of November 10. Clifton Sears, presi- dent of the Club and a member of the Deaf-Blind Department, introduced Mr. Henry H. Richards, grandson of Dr. Howe, and Mr. S. Warren Sturgis, who gave an interesting talk on bell-ringing with a demonstration by a group of bell-ringers.

The Boy Scouts gave a demonstra- tion of basketry, caning, and leather work at the Scoutorama held in West Watertown on Friday and Saturday. November 25 and 26. The boys say they drew the largest crowd. The Girl Scouts gave a dance in Dwight Hall on November 19 which was largely at- tended by other scout troops.

Roller-skates, rubber-tired for in- door use, have been added to the ath- letic equipment and will be used by both boys and girls in the gymnasium during the winter months. Roller- skating outdoors on the large concrete rinks has long been a favorite form of exercise.

A shuffle-board design has been painted on the floor of the gymnasium for the use of pupils who need a less active form of exercise than the regu- lar gymnasium classes provide. An out- door concrete board to be marked with grooved rulings is being built for use in the spring.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Hon, Leverett Saltonstall, for

many years a Trustee of Perkins and actively interested in its welfare, has been elected Governor of Massachu- setts.

Some of the girls in the Glee Club took part in an Historical Survey of Boston presented by WPA in a broad- cast on November 15. The girls sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic" while the story of its connection with Boston was related.

Upper School girls, led by Roger Walker, Perkins 1919, played the Rosen- baum Memorial Hand Bells on Tuesday afternoon, December 13, at the sale of articles made by the blind held at Jay's store, Boston.

The Braille Service Department of the Boston Chapter of the American Red Cross has enlarged quarters in the new building recently opened. Braille is now being taught to groups, rather than to individuals, and one of the two classes is under the leadership of Miss Edith De Dominicis, Perkins 1932. An- other Perkins graduate, Charles Casella, 1935. who is also deaf, has been engaged to assist with proof-reading.

Recent speaking engagements of the

Director have been: A paper on the education of the deaf-blind at the Annual Conference of the Western Pennsylvania Educational Association in Pittsburgh. October 15; an address at the annual meeting of the Worcester Association for the Blind, November 3; moving pictures and talk. Salem Nurses' Club, November 8; a talk before the Zonta Club, Auburn, Maine, December 9; and a lecture before the Department of Education at Bates College on De- cember 10.

_2 —

EDWIN L. GARDINER

Music Lover and Exponent By Anna Gardner Fish

AS the Christmas Carols are heard at this Yuletide, our thoughts go back to Edwin L. Gardiner, under whose direction the Christ- mas concerts began. Music lover and exponent, Mr. Gardiner had given the span of two generations to the musical education of the pupils of Perkins Institution, when his death, resulting from an auto- mobile accident, occurred March 8, 1933. After graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, he gained some teaching experience in the south before accepting the position in Perkins which was to round out his career of devotion and enthusiasm in the promotion of his beloved art. He was himself an all-around musician, a lover of the best and highest type of musical expression and anxious to impart to his pupils his own appreciation.

Although musical training at Perkins Institution had long been well established at the school, the coming of Mr. Gardiner to the work brought a fresh and uplifting impulse to the training of the pupils. He found there an excellent military band, but this was soon replaced by a full orchestra, and this in turn gave way to a fine chorus of melodious young voices, still a valued feature of the school. m

The military band had served well on public occasions of all kinds, from graduation exercises in Boston Theatre to flag-raisings in the open; the or- chestra gave delightful concerts of classical music, even including movements from Schubert's Un- finished Symphony; the chorus has been able to give great pleasure through its rendition of Christmas carols, its participation in Boston Music Weeks, its annual spring concerts and its radio presentations.

In all of this Mr. Gardiner was the actuating power. The growth and success of the music depart- ment may well be attributed to his plans and in- fluence, and his zeal and untiring efforts are reflected in the achievements of his pupils. The tablet dedi- cating the Music Library to his memory, is a con- stant and pleasing reminder of his value to the school and of the determination of his associates to "carry on."

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.*-

p

'HE FIRST SCHOOL

lERKINS has received an un- expected but pleasing piece of publicity through its in- clusion in a series of "firsts", being publicized by the First Na- tional Bank of Boston. Each month the bank issues a beauti- ful colored blotter with a picture of some "first" in Boston. The blotter for December has a pic- ture of the home of Col. Perkins, where the first classes of what is now Perkins Institution were held. Underneath the picture is the caption:

"The first school for the blind in Amer- ica was incorporated in Boston in 1829 by the Legislature. Two years later it opened with six pupils. Col. Thomas H. Perkins then gave his Boston resi- dence on Pearl Street for a school building. The institution was renamed in his honor."

THE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

THE Christmas concerts to which the public is invited are to be held at the school on Thursday evening, December 15, at 8:00 o'clock, and in Jordan Hall, Boston, Sunday afternoon, Decem- ber 18, at 3:30 o'clock. Invitations to these concerts have been sent out, and tickets have been issued for admission. Because so many parents would like to hear their children sing, a third concert is to be held this year on Tuesday evening, December 20, especially for them. Immediately after the program pupils may meet their families and friends and leave with them for the Christmas holidays.

Traditional and modern carols, including some familiar to those who attend the concert each year, will be heard. Some of the numbers will be sung antiphonally by the choir of the Lower School made up of seventy children and the Upper School chorus of eighty voices. Two new features will be a group of hand bell ringers playing the Rosen- baum Memorial Bells, and the rendition of a selection, THE CHRIST- MAS CfHORUS, by the Verse Speaking Choir.

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THE BLIND ARTISANS

A PLAN to relieve the blind of idleness, which Helen Keller says is their heaviest burden, and to give wider opportunity for the former students of Perkins to use the skills acquired while at school is being prepared by Perkins Institution with the guidance and the counsel of prominent Boston business men. Lack of oppor- tunity to use their training and ability through creative and con- structive work is the greatest problem before the blind today. Al- though a school, Perkins is vitally interested in this problem because we believe that the value of our training is proportionate to the extent of its use and that the time has come when we must come to grips with this problem if we are to justify our program of advanced education. The plan proposed is to build up a list of competent blind people throughout New England who are prepared to make articles which are salable, or to render services for which there is a demand. This list will be cross-indexed according to the residence of the workers, and the articles that they are prepared to make. An office has been established at the Perkins Salesroom, 133 Newbury Street, with an executive secretary in charge. An active promotional program will be instituted, using modern methods, especially the radio. The first broadcast announcing the plan was given over Station WBZ on Tues- day evening, December 6, from eight to eight-thirty.

HA GLEN AH BAH

MADELINE BEYAL is the name which ap- pears on the list of new pupils who entered in September, but in her native Navajo lan- guage the name is the caption above. Madeline is an Indian who has come from Arizona to do graduate work to prepare herself as an Ediphone operator which will make her eligible for a government posi- tion on the reservation. Madeline lost her sight through trachoma, which, until mission and govern- ment hospitals began the present campaign against it, was the scourge of the Navajo Indians. In the schoolroom she is proving a diligent pupil, and it is hoped that at the end of her year's stay Madeline will have become proficient in her special field. She is one of five Indian children adopted by Miss Anne Cady of the Mission of the Good Shepherd, Fort Defiance, Arizona.

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MORE MODELS

MORE and more models are coming to Perkins from the WPA Project and each one adds to the effectiveness of our teaching. Mr. Waterhouse, who represents Perkins in the making of the models, writes: "There can be no doubt that instruc- tion in certain subjects is being definitely improved and the general background of our pupils widened as a result of the models. . . . Their value will be greatly enhanced when suitable space is provided for handling and storage." This pressure for space, added to the growing need for more room for braille books, indicates that the only solution will be the construction of a building to be used as a library and center for models. What an opportunity for a beautiful and serviceable memorial !

THE GIRLS' PLAY DAY

FIVE Upper School girls and two teachers, Miss Nass and Miss Cole, received a glorious send-off, Thursday morning, October 27, as they headed for Baltimore in the Perkins beach-wagon. In Baltimore they joined representatives from four other schools and had a glorious week-end as guests of the Maryland School for the Blind. Our girls extended the trip to take in Washington, including Mt. Vernon and all the "sights", returning to Perkins on Tuesday night, November 1. It was a broadening and enjoyable expedition and all are indebted to Mr. John F. Bledsoe, of the Maryland School, for his gracious hospitality.

SPECIAL ORDER MUSIC

ANEW catalog of braille music announces the establishment of a Special Order Music Department under the joint supervision of the Music Department and the Howe Memorial Press. This department stands ready to braille music on order. Prices for brailled music will be the same as the cost of ink print copies. Blind musicians are frequently hampered by difficulty in securing music in braille. Perkins is extending this service to help meet this need.

"KEEN-EYED FACULTY"

TOMPKINS Cottage won the autumn series of football games and served the defeated teams a sumptuous banquet on the evening of November 16. The most exciting game of this season was the one between a student team and a faculty team. According to a news- paper, "the pupils beat the keen-eyed faculty 6-0." As a matter of fact three of the teachers on the team are graduates of schools for the blind!

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PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Clarence Hawkes, Perkins 1890, has published a book of poems entitled CHRISTMAS ALL THE YEAR. This is Dr. Hawkes' fiftieth book. It is dedi- cated to the Lions Clubs of America.

The Music Department has published a new catalog of all music now in braille. It contains titles of about 1,300 pieces, which are available for sale or for loan.

A Survey of Pupils at Perkins, by

Janet H. Cairns, Secertary of the De- partment of Personnel, appeared in THE TEACHERS FORUM, September, 1938.

The Deaf-Blind of Nebraska and Helen Siefert is the title of an article by N.C. Abbott, of the Nebraska School for the Blind, appearing in — AND THERE WAS LIGHT, September, 1938.

Educational Models at Perkins, by

Edward J. Waterhouse, of the WPA Project and the Howe Memorial Press, appeared in THE OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND, October, 1938.

The Home Teacher is a new publica- tion in braille, written especially for home teachers. Edited by Charles W. Holmes, Perkins 1890, this new maga- zine is published by the National Braille Press.

The Howe Memorial Press is issuing two new catalogs: 1. Geographical and Historical Maps of the World. 2. Models-Maps-Diagrams. The first lists the maps made on the WPA Project and the second the models, diagrams and additional maps made by the con- tinuing project, which is still actively at work.

PROFESSIONAL NOTES

Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada, paid tribute to one of Per- kins' distinguished former students at the recent dedication of the new wing of the Montreal Convalescent Hospital saying, "Much has been due to Sir Charles Lindsay whose work for hospi- tals is famous throughout Canada."

The National Conference of Social Work has given a place in its annual program to consideration of prevention and social treatment of blindness. This is in charge of a committee of which Mr. William A. Bartram, of the Ohio Commission for the Blind, is chairman and the Director of Perkins is a mem- ber.

Chapter News, the house organ of the Boston Chapter of the American Red Cross, contains an interesting story of the life and activities of Mr. Ralph Lowell who served as chairman of the Boston Chapter's 1938 Roll Call. It is hard for people at Perkins to believe that Mr. Lowell has the many outside activities which the article relates be- cause of the unstinted amount of time that he gives to Perkins as a Trustee and member of the Executive Com- mittee.

George Hagopian, Perkins 1909, was recently described as follows in a Bos- ton paper: "From the little flock of forty-eight hens he bought back in 1910, after his graduation from the Perkins Institution for the Blind, he has risen to the position of being the largest breeder of chickens in the world. At his Redbird Farm he has hatched more than 18,000,000 baby chicks. He now produces them at the rate of better than 1,500,000 a year. He has 65,000 breeding hens and gets about 40,000 eggs a day."

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Olhil&nm of tltr ^tbttt Night

ANEW booklet, bearing the same title as the booklet of last year, CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT, has been printed to tell of the activities of the Deaf-Blind Department this year. Over four thousand copies have been mailed to friends of the school, soliciting contributions to extend the work. . . . Pupils in the depart- ment with some residual hearing are now able to hear the chapel exercises. A system of earphones has been installed, which is proving most effective. It is planned to have the service transferable to Dwight Hall so that plays and concerts may also be heard. . . . The new pupil this year, Harley Chatterton, from Vermont, is proving to be a promising boy and is already making good progress. . . .

Perhaps the most interesting incidents of the department this fall were the return of "Tad" Chapman from a summer spent in South Africa, and the excellent talk, describing his trip, which he gave in chapel on Monday morning, November 7. To hear him speak so effectively was an inspiration to carry on in this most difficult area in the field of education.

A (£i?U& of % Stlntt Ntgltt

(So (Cannula)

She walks in paths of silence

Where Darkness reigns supreme.

She has never heard a bird's sweet song Nor a beauteous sunset seen.

She runs and plays like the others

And I've seen her face shining bright;

I wonder what gay dreams she's dreaming, This Child Of The Silent Night.

Perhaps her world is a lovely one;

With the eyes of her Soul she may see Myriads of stars in her Heaven,

Or the moon's golden strands on her sea.

Perhaps she hears wondrous music

In the depths of her sweet little heart.

Who knows what sweet flow'r-like thoughts God to this dear child imparts?

The soft wind kisses her hair;

The warm sun caresses her cheeks. The lips of her teachers and friends

Her small hand questingly seeks.

To all she's a shining example

Of patience and cheerfulness, bright.

Oh, what joy to bring the world

To A Child Of The Silent Night.

Hariri}

Written by Barbara E. Farnham, a former student at Perkins and present assistant at the cottage where Carmela lives.

UJarutrla

The Lantern

THE PERKINS

VOLUME VIII. NO. 3

INSTITUTION

MARCH 15. 1939

BLINDNESS

PROVISION for financial aid to the needy blind under Article X of the Social Security Act has fixed attention on what constitutes blindness, how many people are blind, and who are the needy. The United Pub- lic Health Service has recently published a study entitled "Blindness — Amount, Causes and Relation to Certain Social Factors". The problem of "caring for the blind," the report states, "is not one purely of compassion — it is increasingly one of state and national importance".

The study attributes 72% of blindness to disease, 21% to accidents and 7% to congenital or early infancy causes. The average age of the blind is twice that of the general population. ThreeTfifths are over fifty- five years of age. Sixty-eight per cent are in families reporting incomes less than $1000. Only 11% are employed. Blindness thrives among the poor. Is it cause or effect? Blindness abounds among the aged and the report states "that the magnitude of this problem will increase is inher- 2nt in the fact of the increasing proportion of persons in the higher age groups."

The exact extent of blindness is hard to determine. The 1930 census gives a ratio of 52 to 100,000 of the general population. Best, leading au- thority on the blind, estimates 80 to 100,000. This survey sets 90 to 100,000 as the ratio and 117,000 as the total number. State ratios range from 146 per 100,000 in Maine to 12 in Michigan. The only certain fact is that the number grows as pensions increase.

But whatever the extent there is too much blindness! Nearly 75% is preventable. Solution of the problem is not to be found in more pen- sions but in more prevention!

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallo well, President.

Gabriel Farrell, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Governor Saltonstall visited the school on Tuesday, February 7, and spoke to the assembled Upper and Lower Schools at chapel exercises.

An English castle and a typical dock with ships floating in water alongside are two new models which have come from the WPA Project.

A model of a Massachusetts jail, finely executed in cardboard by an in- mate, has been presented to the school by the State Commissioner of Correc- tion.

Open House, held annually on Washington's Birthday, again brought over a thousand people to see the dem- onstrations of the work of the school.

Three hundred Boy Scouts, repre- senting all of the troops in Watertown, met at Perkins on February 3, for a district get-together and show with our Scout Troop acting as host.

Four pupils in the Commercial De- partment have received certificates of proficiency in Ediphone work. To qualify they had to write twenty -five words a minute for fifteen minutes.

The Governor has appointed as Trustees representing the Common- wealth Dr. Henry H. Faxon, of Brook- line, and Miss Ellen H. Gleason, of Jamaica Plain. He reappointed Mr. Daniel J. Lyne and Rev. George P. O'Conor.

The Perkins Chorus has been invited to sing on Thursday afternoon, March 16, at the Hotel Statler before the members of the Eastern Music Educa- tors' Conference. Leading college groups have been invited to participate, and Perkins feels honored by this op- portunity to demonstrate its artistic achievement in music.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Norman S. Case, Jr., '36, has been placed on the Dean's list for high aca- demic standing at Brown University.

Leroy B. MacLaughlin, '36, is Super- visor of the WPA Braille Project in Providence, Rhode Island.

Charles P. Eaton, '30, graduate of the Boston University School of Law, was elected to the Town Planning Board of Watertown.

Francis Soutier, '37, has qualified for a Seeing Eye dog. Friends in his home city, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, are rais- ing money to set up a stand for him in the local Post Office.

William E. Powers, '32, of Valley Falls, graduate of the Boston Univer- sity School of Law, has been elected to the House of Representatives in Rhode Island.

Betty Nye, who took special work at Perkins last year and is now attending the Wheelock Kindergarten Training School, shares with another girl high- est honor in academic achievement.

Lewis Brothers, '37, has, through the generous help of Miss Mabel C. Gage, acquired a stand in the Worcester City Hall. He writes: "Things at the stand concession are running along very nicely. There is a gradual increase in business at the close of each week."

Clyde Richardson, '37, has opened a stand in the Concord, New Hampshire. Post Office. This has been financed by the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, and Clyde reports increas- ing business. He is also an agent for the New England Magazine Agency of the Blind and has recently secured the contract to supply all the magazines at the Concord State Hospital.

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PETER C. and EDWARD BROOKS

Early Benefactors of Perkins By Anna Gardner Fish

THE NAME assigned to Brooks Cottage commemorates two mem- bers of that family who espoused the cause of the blind and of this school in its early days. The name itself may be traced back to Watertown, Mass., where Captain Thomas Brooks was admitted as a free- man in 1636. A son married a daughter of another first settler of this town, Thomas Boylston, and Phillips Brooks is mentioned as a descendant. This branch took up its residence in Medford, and it is with that place that Peter Chardon Brooks is principally associated, with his fine estate there and the mansion house which was greatly admired.

Born in North Yarmouth, Maine, January 11, 1767, son of the Rev. Edward Brooks, noted minister of the First Parish Church of Boston, Peter saw many evidences of the fickleness of fortune. The family was left destitute by the father's death in 1789; yet the son Peter retired with a competence in 1803, and at his death, January 1, 1849, he was re- puted to be the wealthiest man in New England. He served as President of our Corporation from 1840 to 1847.

His business was that of importer in the East Indian trade, and he acted also as an underwriter of vessels and insurance broker, with offices at

(Continued on Page 8)

GIRLS' CLOSE— BROOKS COTTAGE ON THE LEFT — 3 —

AID TO THE BLIND

A CAREFUL SURVEY of the incidence of aid to the blind in four New England States, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont has been made by the Social Security Board and its find- ings have been published in the Social Security Bulletin. As Perkins educates the children of these states and its former students repre- sent many of the blind in this area, the study is of direct interest. All four states receive Federal aid for the blind and in administering this type of public assistance the Social Security Board finds that "even within the New England area variation is great."

After eliminating variable factors, such as the transfer of blind over 65 years of age to old age assistance, which is the practice in Massachu- setts ; extent of medical tests ; and differing interpretations of need, there is still a wide difference in the number receiving blind aid. "In the group under 65 years of age the rate in Maine is 93 per 100,000 population, 16- 64 years of age. This is more than twice the corresponding New Hamp- shire rate (44) and nearly three times the comparable Vermont rate (35)." The rate in Massachusetts is 27. It must be understood that the aim of well-directed work for the blind is to keep financial aid to the minimum. On this basis Massachusetts has the best record, which should be so because this State has had the longest fully organized program for the blind; whereas Maine is only now considering in its Legislature the establishment of a division of services for the blind.

THE SPRING MEETINGS

IN ADDITION to the public agencies there are over one hundred volun- teer private organizations serving the blind in New England. These private organizations, many of which antedate the public groups, range from the Massachusetts Association for the Adult Blind, which was instrumental in starting the State Division of the Blind, to informal groups which hold meetings for friendly intercourse and encouragement. Many active workers in these various groups are unaware of the programs of the other organizations. In order to gain the strength which comes through mutual understanding, Perkins Institution has called an all-day conference of representatives of all volunteer organizations of New Eng- land interested in the blind to be held at the school on Thursday, May 25. On Wednesday, the preceding day, the Corporation will hold its spring meeting. Demonstrations of school work will be the main feature of this meeting and will provide opportunity to see the varied activities of the school. After the demonstrations members of the Corporation will be served tea and refreshments.

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THE MAGAZINE AGENCY

CHECKS TOTALING fifty dollars will be distributed this spring among all active agents of the New England Magazine Agency of the Blind. This good news was announced recently by letter to twenty-three men and women, mostly graduates of Perkins, who are engaged in the new and growing enterprise of magazine subscription work. The money, constituting a surplus beyond operating costs of the agency, will be dis- tributed to the producing agents in the form of a bonus above and beyond the regular commissions received from subscription sales.

The New England Magazine Agency of the Blind was established in the fall of 1937 by Perkins to aid former students who wish to enter magazine subscription work. On its publication list are hundreds of periodicals, ranging from all the popular magazines to newspapers and technical journals. And on its growing list of subscribers are the names of men and women from all walks in life, as well as the names of hospitals, schools and colleges which are buying their magazines either directly from the Agency or through its representatives.

THE BLIND ARTISANS

THE BLIND ARTISANS of New England are still wrestling with the problem of securing for our well-trained workers the opportunity to use their skills. Further study has revealed the necessity of concen- trating on fewer services or articles, than was at first proposed. This decision was based upon the advice of the following men who are serving

— 5 —

as an advisory council : — Robert Amory, President, Nashua Manufacturing Company; Paul E. Fitzpatrick, President, Brown, Durrell Company and Trustee of Perkins ; Dr. Edmund P. Learned, Professor of Marketing, Har- vard Graduate School of Business Administration ; James A. Nelson, Vice- President and Merchandise Manager, R. H. Stearns Company; Arthur F. Sullivan, Attorney, a graduate of Perkins, and a member of the Board of the Massachusetts Division for the Blind; Mr. Edmund S. Whitten, Presi- dent, Edmund S. Whitten, Inc., advertising.

At the present time effort is being carried on in three lines :

1. Piano tuning and servicing will be stressed. At a meeting of tuners a plan of co-operative effort was planned. An attractive booklet advertising tuning has been prepared for distribution by the tuners to their clients and prospects. Radio broadcasts are being arranged.

2. Approaches have been made to the chain stores to see what articles they will purchase. Orders for brooms in large quantity seem to be a pos- sibility. Shops now making brooms are arranging to meet the specifications required.

3. Studies are being made of new articles that can be made by the blind.

THE BOYS' PLAY

FOR THEIR ANNUAL presentation the Perkins Players, made up of boys of the Upper School, are to present on Thursday and Friday evenings, March 30 and 31, CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA by Bernard Shaw. Twenty-eight boys, assisted by two or three women of the staff, will make up the cast. Other boys will have a part in the production and in the management of the play. The proceeds are divided between the Howe Memorial Club, which assists graduates in getting a footing in busi- ness, and the Perkins Athletic Association, which finances trips to other schools for track meets. School closes for the Easter Vacation after the second presentation and resumes for the spring term on Tuesday, April 11.

THE 107th ANNUAL REPORT, which will soon be off the press, is being printed this year at the Industrial School for Crippled and Deformed Children, in Boston. For many years the Industrial School has printed the programs and invitations to our various concerts. Last year it printed the several small booklets which Perkins has for general distribution. The school has been selected for printing the report, not only because of the quality of its work, but because we think it is inter- esting and helpful to have handicapped groups help one another.

A

BLIND TUNER, while tuning the piano in a home for old people, was greeted by one of the ladies in this way : "You are doing a great work — bringing harmony into the world."

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PUBLICATIONS

EDUCATION OF THE HANDI- CAPPED, the first of two volumes on this subject has been published by The World Book Company, edited by Dr. Merle E. Frampton, Principal of the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, and Dr. Hugh G. Rowell, his associate in the Department of the Education of the Handicapped, Teach- ers' College, Columbia University. This book covers in a comprehensive and interesting way the educational pro- grams of the several areas of the physically handicapped.

"INTRYKK FRA MIN Forste Dag Ved Perkins" is the title of an article appearing in the January, 1939, number of BLINDESAKEN, of Norway. It is an account by Mildred H. Store, a for- mer member of the Harvard Class, telling of life at Perkins and giving a full outline of a day's work in the school. It also speaks of Mr. Karterud, of Trondheim, a member of the Har- vard Class six years ago.

"ALTERNATIVE" AND SQUARE- HAND WRITING, written by Miss Marion A. Woodworth, teacher of squarehand at Perkins, appears in the New Beacon published in London for February. The writer concludes that the suggested alternative to square- hand offers no improvements over the latter older system.

FROM OUR MAIL

THE DEAF-BLIND AT PERKINS, an article by the Director of Perkins, has been translated into Spanish and appears in the February, 1939, number of Desde Las Sombras, published in Mexico.

ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT pays an appreciative tribute to Anne Sulli- van Macy in the February Atlantic Monthly in an article entitled "In Memoriam".

"MY MOST INTERESTING adven- ture in Siam is not a cause for tears, nor have I the slightest inclination in that direction, but when I opened the box of equipment so thoughtfully and carefully prepared for me at Perkins, my heart was simply too full to re- strain the tears of real appreciation. Thank you more than I can tell you for this and for the future help that I know you and Perkins will give to our infant work in Siam". — Genevieve Caulfield, Bangkok, Siam.

"MAY I CONGRATULATE you on the program you put on tonight in connection with the Blind Artisans of New England .... The subject was treated with dignity and the plea made with restraint. I thought it beautifully presented and feel you have given this extremely worth while venture a real start by your friendly helping hand." — From a Trustee of Perkins.

"I WAS GOING UPSTAIRS with THE READERS DIGEST under my arm when a neighbor called up and told me to watch for WBZ and you can bet I did. The program came in splendidly, fine and clear, and I got every word of the singing and speak- ing."— From "one of the very old ladies who once graduated from Perkins, I don't dare tell you how long ago."

"MY SECRETARY was so impressed with your letter that she has shown it to the girls throughout the office as a model of perfection with the hope that we may be able to raise our own standards thereby." — Arthur P. Lyman, Commissioner of Correction, State House, Boston.

"I AM ONE of the old pupils of Per- kins and am totally blind from birth. I always enjoy reading the Perkins' LANTERN, so please continue to send it to me as its pages are always very interesting." — From a former student.

— 7 —

PETER C. and EDWARD BROOKS

(Continued from Page 3)

the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston. Having the title of Honorable, it may be supposed that he served in positions of honor. His stalwart princi- ples are portrayed in his response to a friend, seeking a watchword for a young man on the threshold of life: "Let him mind his own business."

He married Nancy Gorham, and of their thirteen children it is re- corded that one of the four sons became a prosperous merchant in New York and that three daughters married prominent Boston men, — Dr. Frothingham, pastor of the Chauncey Street Church, Edward Everett, and Charles Francis Adams, only son of John Quincy Adams.

Mrs. Peter C. Brooks' name appears in Perkins records as the source of many beneficient acts and as the one who had the bust of Laura Bridg- man, the work of Sophia Peabody (later the wife of Nathaniel Haw- thorne), reproduced and given to leading schools for the deaf and the blind throughout the country.

Without direct evidence of the fact, it seems safe to assume that the Edward Brooks also linked to Brooks Cottage was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Brooks, the span of his life extending from 1793 to 1878 ; but any account of him must be a thing of shreds and patches, made up of different items concerning him which crop up in divers places.

We know that he was one of the founders of this school, his name appearing among others in the Act of Incorporation in 1829, and he was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1830 until 1847 when he became our Vice-President, serving in that capacity until 1850 and as President of the Corporation from 1855 to 1862. During all these years his name is connected with many activities; he acted on committees and lent him- self and his prestige in innumerable helpful ways. His value to the insti- tution bore attestation from Dr. Howe in a tribute published in the fif- teenth report (1846) upon Mr. Brooks' withdrawal from the Board of Trustees.

We hear of him as traveling with Mr. George Ticknor in Italy. We picture him as an outstanding man of affairs and of unimpeachable in- tegrity. He was a lawyer and acted as agent for his father's estate in Boston. He is recorded as a donor to the Boston Athenaeum. He served for a time as a member of the State Legislature, but it is said that he was too honest and plain spoken to have much success as a politician.

All honor to these men who were not so engrossed in their own im- portant affairs as to ignore the claims upon their humanitarian impulses to share in the forward movements of their day and generation.

— 8 —

M

| LTUJUN

The | Lantern ^ Mc K

"1

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME VIII. NO. 4 JUNE 15, 1939

A Contributory Place

EVER SINCE the earliest days of Dr. Howe the goal of Perkins has been to prepare its pupils to take a contributory place in the economic and social life of their day and communities. Our record in that endeavor is notable, although the situation today is far from satisfying. Indeed, so acute is the problem of placement for blind people that the very principle of contribution is being questioned in some quarters. Is our objective a relic of the horse and buggy era, and has it become outmoded in this mechanized age?

That question is giving grave concern to educators of the blind, and those who work for and with adults are not encouraging in their prognosis. Outside of our special field we find a definite reluctance to accept the principle of contribution by the handicapped. This atti- tude is hard to refute when the figures show that only eleven per cent of the blind are employed. We must admit that there are many who cannot find gainful employment in modern industry.

These facts are forcing the issue of a realistic consideration of the employability of those without sight. What percentage of the blind is unemployable, whatever the cause may be, is hard to deter- mine. Estimates range from ten to twenty-five per cent. To ascer- tain our situation studies are being made of the economic status of those who have left Perkins in the last ten years. The record of employment with us is higher than averages stated for the country, but even our record is low enough to give us pause. We prefer, how- ever, to accept the stigma of having done a poor job in placement rather than to rate the employability of the blind so low. We still uphold a contributory place as our goal.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

^O^d/ 7&AA*>£p

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The fifth grade has sent a portfolio of its work to a class of seeing children in Stockholm, Sweden.

During the first week of May, Perkins had among its visitors people from Eng- land, Poland, South Africa, Switzer- land, and Syria.

Wilma True, '39, was included among the winners in the scholastic awards for high school sponsored by Scholastic, the American high school magazine.

A new bronze tablet of Dr. Allen has been placed on the wall in the corridor outside of the offices in Howe Building replacing the one which formerly hung by the door leading into the museum.

One of the cases in the museum has been wired for electric lights and con- tains samples of all of the braille appli- ances, games, etc. which are made by the Howe Memorial Press.

Dean Ernst Hermann of Sargent Col- lege of Physical Education spoke at chapel exercises in the Upper School and in the Lower School at the begin- ning of Posture Week, May 1.

Nine members of the Teacher Educa- tion Class of the Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, Massachusetts, spent a day visiting classes at Perkins on May 26.

Dr. Viktor Lowenfeld, whose recently published book, The Nature of Creative Activity, has received much favorable comment, is carrying on his research at Perkins as a guest of the school. On May 22 he lectured at Harvard on the CREATIVE ABILITY OF THE BLIND AND PARTIALLY SEEING.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Michael Joseph Butler, Perkins '34, will graduate this month from Boston College.

Richard Hull, a former Perkins stu- dent, stands sixth in his class at Clark University where he is completing his sophomore year.

Tad Chapman is making a tour through the state of Indiana speaking before schools and other groups with Dr. O. M. Pittenger, former superin- tendent of the Indiana State School for the Deaf.

At the invitation of Peter J. Salmon, Perkins 14, President of the Greater New York Council of Agencies for the Blind, The Director of Perkins spoke at the annual meeting of that organiza- tion in New York on May 18 on Obser- vations from a Tower of Ivory.

Perkins was shocked to hear of the sudden death of Harold William Wright, Assistant Principal of the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, on May 10th. Mr. Wright came into this field of education when he first went to the Institute in 1930 and his loss will be felt by all who have enjoyed contact with him.

At the meeting of the American Association of Workers for the Blind to be held at Los Angeles, July 10-24, the following Perkins graduates will pre- sent papers: Francis B. Ierardi, '08, Field Worker, Massachusetts Division of the Blind; William H. McCarthy, '97, Director, Massachusetts Division of the Blind; Peter J. Salmon, '14, Secre- tary and Assistant Director, Industrial Home for the Blind, Brooklyn, New York; Maurice I. Tynan. '14, Field Agent, U. S. Office of Education, Voca- tional Rehabilitation Division, Service for the Blind, Washington. D. C.

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ANNE EMILIE POULSSON

A Friend to Little Children

By Anna Gardner Fish

AS YOU KNOW, I like to bring before our Perkins people from time to time accounts of individuals who have builded their lives into this institution and helped to make it what it is, but who can no longer become known to you personally; for I feel very strongly that each contributes an important chapter to our history, that should not be lost to memory.

Such an one was Miss Anne Emilie Poulsson, whose death oc- curred on the 18th of March, 1939. Her connection with Perkins dates back to September, 1879, when, her eyesight having failed, she came to Perkins as a pupil-teacher, for, being older than most of the pupils, she was able to give as well as to receive. Her whole interest then and at all times was in children, and this interest was fostered through her study at the Garland- Weston Kindergarten Normal Train- ing Class in Boston while still a member of the Perkins family.

It was just at that time that Mr. Anagnos' attention became focussed upon the kindergarten and its possibilities for blind children through providing hand-training as an important adjunct to mental development. He began tentatively by introducing in 1881 Froebel's kindergarten methods into a class of girls who were far beyond kinder- garten age but gladly lent themselves to the experiment which proved its worth.

Miss Poulsson helped Mr. Anagnos in this initial study and, in- deed, shared gladly in all the activities of the school, aiding as well as aided, for she has said that her education at Perkins meant more to her than any other training she had ever received. She attributed to this school her zest for study, her ability to use her fingers and her love of nature which served her in writing her book, "In the Child's World."

She is the author of many books for children and for kindergar- tens in general, such as 'Through the Farmyard Gate," and has trans- lated books from the Norwegian into our language, one of the last being "Little Kari," and she has continued her literary work, even during her invalidism of the last four years. She edited The Kinder- garten Review from 1897 to 1904. Mr. Anagnos claimed for her that

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

EMPLOYMENT STUDIES

STUDIES of the extent of employment among those who have left Perkins in the years from 1925 to 1935 have been undertaken by two students in the Harvard Class, assisted by staff members. Through letters and interviews the employment of about 200 per- sons has been tabulated and evaluated. One study pertains to those who were graduated and the other to those who left without com- pleting requirements for graduation. Reducing the many factors and differences to the minimum, these results have been recorded:

Fully Partly Not

Employed Employed Employed

Graduates 60'.' 25 % 15%

Non-graduates 43% 15% 42%

Reading these results, one is tempted to feel that our situation is better than that of the rest of the country. There may be a morsel of truth in this, but not enough to enable us to make such a claim. These results are open to question. Too many of those rated as em- ployed are on W P A, which we hesitate to consider as good and per- manent placement. A number of those listed as unemployed do not want work and have a good reason to remain at home, or are studying. In addition, the total number involved is not large enough to make the facts significant. Nevertheless, the studies are revealing and can serve as guides in meeting the great problem of the employability of those without sight.

SAN FRANCISCO CALLING

ANSWERING the telephone late one afternoon in May, the Director was startled to have the op- erator announce: "San Francisco calling. Go ahead, please." Immediately a boyish voice an- nounced that he was at the San Francisco Exposition with a lot of other boys and was having a swell time. The conversation revealed that this boy, Otto Roark, a thirteen-year-old pupil at the California School for the Blind, drew the lucky number, which permitted a long distance telephone call to any place in this coun- try. With this opportunity at hand, Otto decided that of all places in the country the one he wanted most to talk with was Perkins Institution. Perkins has never enjoyed a more flattering compliment than that and in print we send our greetings across the country to the California School.

— 4 —

Fay Bresnahan. '40, be-

^ came a Golden Eaglet on

SK June 1. She is the first

\ girl in the Perkins Girl

!Sl Remit Trnrm tn win this

Scenes from the Country Pair presented by the girls of the Upper School for the Corporation on May 24 and for the all-day conference of volunteer workers for the blind on May 25.

PANEL ON DEMOCRACY

PAPERS on various forms of government were presented by Senior High School boys in a panel discussion on democracy, presented at the morning chapel exercises during the week of May 8. During the following week Dr. Viktor Lowenfeld, formerly associated with the School for the Blind in Vienna, now spending the spring term at Perkins, talked in chapel on democracy as he sees it and told what life would be like for youth in a European country today. On the fol- lowing Saturday questions were presented by the pupils and answered by the boys who presented papers.

SPRING SPORTS

SPRING sports were delayed this year by the weather but on both boys' and girls' sides many activities have kept the pupils busy. Due to a quarantine the annual triangular meet, scheduled for Overbrook, had to be given up. The Hartford Team came to Perkins on Saturday, May 27, and won a dual meet.

On June 3, the Perkins Track Team was defeated by the New York Institute at New York. The Perkins boys made this trip an opportunity to visit the World's Fair on Sunday and Monday, and returned enthusiastic about the World of Tomorrow.

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GRADUATION — JUNE 16

THE graduation exercises will be held in Dwight Hall at 2:00 o'clock on Friday, June 16. Diplomas will be awarded to ten girls and nine boys by Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation. The invocation will be offered by Rev'd. E. W. Anderson, Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Watertown, and the commencement address will be given by Miss Margaret Slat- tery of Boston. Special certificates will be awarded to one girl who has completed the requirements of the manual training department of the Girls' Upper School, to one boy who has completed the piano- forte normal course, and to three boys who have finished the work of the pianoforte tuning course.

The closing assembly in the Lower School will be held at 2:30 o'clock on Thursday, June 15.

ONE hundred years ago, — to be exact, on the 1st of May, 1839, — "the inmates" of this institution were moved from Pearl Street, Boston, to the Mount Washington Hotel, South Boston. The quoted words are Dr. Howe's and do but reflect the usual designation of the day, no slur being in the least intended. The new residence, which had been adapted to the purposes of the school at a cost of $7500, was described as being a suitable and permanent location, and so it proved to be through 73 years, surely long enough to claim per- manency. An even exchange of the Pearl Street estate for the derelict hotel had been effected with Col. Perkins' consent, and it was in grati- tude for that generous act on his part that his name was attached to the institution at that time.

FISHER COTTAGE will be open for the members of the staff who are remaining through the summer. School reopens in the fall with chapel exercises on Wednesday morning, September 13. Members of the staff return on Monday, September 11, and the pupils on the following day.

{{T A THEN are these eyes of mine going to see?" asked a small

Vy boy at his knitting. "Oh, think how well your fingers

see!" said his teacher. "Don't all fingers see as well as

mine?" was his wondering query. "No, indeed!" came the emphatic

response. "Well, then — that's all right."

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PUBLICATIONS

As a part of its promotional program Blind Artisans of New England has printed an unusual pamphlet for dis- tribution to the owners of pianos.

Residential Schools for the Blind is

the self-explanatory title of Dr. Elise H. Martens' article in the April 1939 number of SCHOOL LIFE.

Ken, a pictorial magazine, includes mention of Perkins in the several pages devoted to pictures and notes on schools for the blind in an early May number.

Facts about the Education of Blind Children is a very attractive booklet, outstanding because of its colored illus- trations, published by the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind as a New York World's Fair Edition.

Mental Hygiene for the Blind, a paper read by the Director of Perkins for the Massachusetts Society of Mental Hy- giene, appears in the April 1939 num- ber of MENTAL HYGIENE. Reprints may be obtained from Perkins.

In Guidance for Physically Handi- capped Children, a paper read at the February 1939 meeting of the National Vocational Guidance Association in Cleveland, Dr. Elise H. Martens quotes in full the expression of what God meant to him which was written by deaf-blind Tad Chapman, Perkins '38.

The Office of Education of the De- partment of Interior, Washington, has listed a selected reference list on edu- cation of exceptional children with a section headed "Visually Handicapped Children". This is an annotated bibli- ography dating from December 1936 through December 1939. Thirty-four writers are listed, and it is interesting to observe that seven of them are or have been associated with Perkins.

FROM OUR MAIL

Mr. E. C. Miller, Executive Secretary of the Near East Foundation writes, "I made an inspection of the blind work that is being conducted by Miss Kyri- ake Nicolaou, one of your recent grad- uates. Miss Nicolaou is doing excellent work under rather difficult conditions and there isn't any doubt but that the training she received at Perkins Insti- tution makes her the outstanding leader in this field."

Dr. French writes of the trans-conti- nental telephone call, "It was gratify- ing to receive your kind letter regard- ing your telephone conversation with our Otto Roark. It must, indeed, have been a very great surprise to you to receive the call and it was surely very valuable to our boys and girls to know of the conversation with you. From many points of view, a very deep im- pression was made, notably in the mat- ter of the differences in time and place; almost equally the impression of the wonders of invention was deepened by this conversation."

The State Teachers College at Fram- ingham observed its centennial cele- bration on June 5. Dr. Martin F. O'Connor, President, wrote: "Many of our early graduates were pioneer teachers at Perkins Institution. Dr. Howe was instrumental in saving the Normal School in Lexington, when in 1840 an attempt was made to close it when it had been in operation only eight months. Miss Lydia Drew, of the first class, Mary Swift Lamson, and Miss Rogers went to South Boston shortly after the completion of their courses. Since that time Perkins In- stitution has rarely been without some Framingham teacher. Miss Oliver, of your present staff, is one of our gradu- ates."

ANNE EMILY POULSSON

(Continued from Page 3)

she was the only person who had ever added anything to Froebel's original kindergarten methods. This was Miss Poulsson's invention of finger plays which must be known to all of our pupils who have come up through the kindergarten, and enjoyed them along with the gifts and occupations, all so dear to the childish heart.

She wrote the words of the "Founder's Day Song" which, set to music by Miss Juliet Perrella, a Perkins graduate, serves as the chil- dren's processional on Anagnos Day. This will now become a memo- rial to Miss Poulsson no less than to Mr. Anagnos.

Miss Poulsson has always kept in close touch with this school, sharing in the responsibilities of its public affairs, of the Alumnae Association and of that mysterious club, the ISM's, of which Miss Swinerton told us a year ago. She has always possessed a gracious personality, a brilliant mind and a delightful gift for conversation as well as for writing. An excellent biographical account of her appeared in 1934 in the "Junior Book of Authors."

And now, by way of a happy ending, I am going to quote one of the many charming poems from Miss Poulsson's versatile pen :

JOY AND I TALK TOGETHER

Joy, are you coming to me today? If so, I wonder in what sweet way.

Will you come in a visit from some good friend, Who to my abode her way will wend?

Or in a letter from friends afar

To bridge the miles that between us are?

No matter, joy, how you come to me, If only you come, my heart's guest to be.

JOY REPLIES

If you love me, as I know you do, Remember that other folks love me, too. So whenever I come to your craving heart Be sure YOU hasten some joy to impart To those you meet or otherwise reach. For yes, — I have a short sermon to preach. If Joy comes to you, it will only stay In your heart if you always give it away.

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS

INSTITUTION

VOLUME IX. NO. 1

SEPTEMBER 15. 1939

A Challenge to Education

ECONOMISTS in their struggle with unemployment have thrown a challenge to schoolmasters. In effect they have said: "We cannot place youth in industry, therefore you must provide for them." That there is a gap between the average completion of schooling and the point where industry can absorb youth is apparent. During this time, also, crime finds its recruits. Little has been done because many have held that when the depression lifts the situation will right itself. Now no less an authority than the New York Re- gents' Inquiry states that this gap "is probably a permanent new factor in American life and must be reckoned with from now on in American education."

In our special field this problem has been accentuated by addi- tional factors, — so much so that we have been giving thought to its solution during the past year; and with the opening of school we are taking the first steps. In place of the 6-3-3 plan, which calls for six years of elementary schooling, and three years each of junior and senior high, we are introducing a 6-4-4 plan. This will provide in the Upper School two additional years, enough, we hope, to fill the gap.

In adopting this plan we have another primary motive. For long we have felt that pupils in schools for the blind work on too heavy a schedule. Almost every hour is prescribed. Not only is this too taxing of energy but it eliminates exercise of choice and training in use of free time — two vital processes of learning. This problem we hope to overcome as well as meet the challenge to education to fill the gap between school and work.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President.

Gabriel Farrell, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Visiting in Mexico this summer Mrs. Nelson Coon and Miss Frances L. Mc- Gaw met Miss Eugenia Cortes, a for- mer member of the Harvard class.

England was the vacation destination of Miss Frances E. Marshall and Miss Jean H. Dodds. Both were on Youth Hostel Tours.

The Director read a paper, "Integra- tion and/or Segregation," at the Na- tional Conference of Social Work held in Buffalo late in June.

Mr. J. Stephenson Hemphill, the Bur- sar and also Manager of the Blind Artisans of New England, visited the offices and shops of the Canadian In- stitute for the Blind in Toronto in Au- gust. .

Miss Alexandra Hague, who worked on part time last year with the Blind Artisans, will give full time to the work this year exploring especially new out- lets for products made by the blind.

Congratulations to summer brides: Mrs. Dorothy S. Murphy, nutritionist, who married Mr. Calvin S. Glover, head of the Cincinnati Association for the Blind; Miss Ruth Frankel of the Deaf-Blind Department, who resigned to become the wife of Mr. Louis Smul- lin; Miss Janet H. Cairns of the Per- sonnel Department, who will continue her work another year, while her hus- band, Mr. James H. Thompson, is a student at the Harvard Medical School; Miss Margaret Horton of the Harvard Class who became Mrs. George W. Scott, Jr., and will live in Cam- bridge; a young woman from New York, who married Mr. Joseph Kohn of the Upper School staff; and Miss Rachel Page Webster, the bride of Dr. Mark D. Elliott, the Upper School den- tist.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Wilma True, who was graduated in June, has been admitted to the Gor- ham (Maine) Normal School.

Ruth Potter of last year's graduating class has entered the Nylin School of Swedish Massage in Brookline.

Barbara Getchell and Sabra Oulton, who completed the Domestic Science course with a year's residence in Ben- nett Cottage, have found positions in that field.

James Delaney and John Di Frances- co, who have another year at school were heard over the radio several times this summer.

The generosity of the Boston Com- mittee for the Blind enabled two boys to attend Camp Sherman, the Boy Scout camp at Brimfield, and four to go to Camp Sachem, the Scout camp at Antrim, N. H. The latter four boys climbed Mt. Monadnock.

War clouds over England caused the abandonment of the customary sum- mer visit there of Dr. and Mrs. E. E. Allen and as a next best choice they turned to Nantucket. This island, far out to sea and neighbored by the modi- fying Gulf Stream has many of the qualities of England. President and Mrs. Hallowell have also sought the pleasures to be found in Nantucket during a vacation period.

The class formed for the study of background and methods of teaching blind children, offered by Harvard Uni- versity and Perkins Institution, now registers fifteen members, gathered from all over the United States. Most of these are recent graduates from col- leges and universities, eager to add some specialized training to the gen- eral groundwork of college courses.

2 —

A MEMORIAL ORGAN

IN the days of the World War, 1914-1918, all America was racked with the pity and horror of the mutilations it involved. With some this took a practical form of helpfulness, and sympathy for the war-blinded claimed the attention of many on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Perkins Institution was ready to do its share. It sent out supplies freely ; it gave counsel and advice to all who sought it ; it served every alleviating agency that turned to it for inspiration ; it counted no cost in the utilization of its resources.

A number of young women, affected by the plight of so many young soldiers, plunged into sudden darkness, came to Perkins to en- gage in a brief, intensive course which would fit them to offer some tangible aid to those needing it. These remained for a longer or shorter period, as their forward-looking plans dictated; but one of those who gave fullest attention and longest preparation to the task was Miss Clara Babbitt Hyde of New York, a young society woman of wealth but also of purpose, determination and philanthropic zeal.

Miss Hyde lived for several months in Brooks Cottage and proved to be a most acceptable member of the cottage family and of the school body in general. Then, sailing for France, she was able to put to excellent use the training she had here acquired and to accom- plish much real good for those she had gone to help. Her return to the normal conditions of her homeland was signalized by her brilliant wedding in a New York church to Colonel George Montgomery. The latter, in the tradition of the good soldier, always ready to go wher- ever he might be sent, took over his duties as commanding officer at the Arsenal in Atlanta, Georgia. The bride's mother, sensing the frailty of her daughter's health, sought to keep her in the north, in the bracing air of the Berkshires, but quite naturally Mrs. Mont- gomery, no less a good soldier than her husband, felt that her place was at his side.

And there death found her ; and her all-too-brief connection with Perkins Institution and with the friends she had made here would seem to have ended. But a surprising resurgence, proof of her lasting affection for this school, appeared in a clause in the will of her hus- band, Colonel Montgomery, recently deceased, wherein a legacy of $5000 was left to Perkins with the stipulation that whatever form of

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE ONE HUNDRED AND NINTH YEAR

PERKINS reopened for its one hundred and ninth year on Wednes- day (September 13). There were few staff changes this year. Mrs. Rhoda B. Pill of the Lower School, Miss Ruth Frankel of the Deaf-Blind Department, Mrs. Dorothy S. Murphy, nutritionist, and Mrs. Blanche D. Emerson of Eliot Cottage resigned. Miss Gret- chen B. Machner, graduate of Pembroke College, the Normal Course at the Clarke School for the Deaf and recipient of a master's degree at Smith College in June, and Miss Molly Cambridge, Boston Univer- sity, joined the Deaf-Blind Department. Two members of the Har- vard Class were engaged, Miss Martha J. Fox, graduate of Smith College, to take the vacant place in the Lower School, and Miss Gret- chen Heald, graduate of Wellesley, to become secretary to the director. Several shifts of matrons of cottages were made: Mrs. Mildred T. Darte of Potter Cottage replaced Mrs. Blanche D. Emerson at Eliot Cottage; Mrs. Daisy C. Howard of Fisher was transferred to Potter; and Mrs. Ruth E. Geer of Oliver went to Fisher. Mrs. Grace Work, a new person, became matron of Oliver.

THE SIX - FOUR - FOUR PLAN

CLASSES in the Junior High School this year have been arranged on a new plan. The weekly schedule of thirty-nine periods has been reduced to thirty-four and no pupil will have more than thirty hours of class assignments. This is the first step in changing from the 6-3-3 plan established several years ago to the 6-4-4 plan now recommended by advanced educational studies. (The reasons for this change are stated in the editorial on page 1.) The details of the change are the result of intensive studies made by faculty committees during the past year. These studies will be continued until the whole Upper School meets the full requirements of the new plan.

While under the new plan there will be fewer hours of class work for each pupil the period of schooling will be extended by two years. This will provide more time for extra-curricular activities but will not permit any great increase in the content of instruction. It is hoped, however, that much of the intensive training now given as post-graduate work can be brought in before graduation. This will mean that the award of a diploma will signify full completion of all

— 4 —

instruction that Perkins can give with the exception of highly spe- cialized training in tuning and music.

A very important part of the studies being made is consideration of objectives and the set-up of a program to realize them. Because of the problem of placement and the provision for pensions many are asking what the present-day objectives in a school for the blind should be. The increasing number of pupils with useful vision makes methods devised for non-seeing pupils obsolete. These must be recon- sidered and new ways discovered. Small committees are working on departmental courses especially the social sciences, mathematics and English in order to bring these studies within the probable experience of the pupils in after life. Less extensive spread of subjects and more intensive mastering of fundamentals are being sought. These are some of the problems being considered and more free time for pupils and a longer time for instruction are first steps in realizing objectives.

FOUR MORE DEAF-BLIND

FOUR new pupils — Betty Rinsen, twelve years old, and Virgil Warren, nine, of Minnesota; Robert Baker, eleven, of Colorado

and James Lukas, eight, of Massachusetts — have been admitted to the Deaf-Blind Department this year. Only one of last year's group has left — Clifton Sears of Cummington, Mass., who was graduated and returned home to put into practice what he has learned in the poultry-raising department. The new additions, plus Richard Coiley, who is being transferred to the department because of defective hear- ing, will make a total of eighteen doubly-handicapped children.

Each season sees new methods devised to better this pioneer work, and beginning with this school year all of the younger children

— 5 —

are to live in Bradlee Cottage. A special attendant is to be on duty all night in order to relieve the regular attendants of night duty and to assure supervision of these children at all times. Two new teachers have been added to the staff. The older children will live in the Upper School cottages in order to benefit by normal association with children of their age.

THE WORLD'S FAIR

MONDAY, August 7, was designated Perkins Institution for the Blind Day by the Fair authorities Because of participation in the furnishing of The Small Brick House in the Town of Tomorrow. Fifteen agencies employing handicapped labor made all of the furnishings for the house — Perkins' part being the mattresses for beds and cribs. The Director and the Manager of the Workshop received friends of the Institution on that day and told how mat- tresses were made by the blind.

Many finger readers have become acquainted with the Fair Grounds through an embossed map made by the Howe Memorial Press and distributed without charge through the American Foundation for the Blind and the New York Association for the Blind.

A NEW GAME

THE Howe Memorial Press can now supply the pieces for the game of Chinese Checkers. There are six sets of ten men, sixty in all. The tops of the six sets have different shapes for the fingers, and each set has a different color so that seeing people may play the game. The pieces fit any standard board, and the rules of the game will be found printed on all boards. The pieces, without the board, will be sent postpaid for forty cents a set.

THE SEA GOAT

THE pride of the boys' school is the motor boat made last year as a joint project of the woodworking and automobile mechanics classes. Many hours of hard labor during class time and after schools were spent on this work. The boat, powered with a new Ford motor, is having the finishing touches and will soon be launched. It is twenty-six feet long and gives evidence of the skilled craftsmanship required by Mr. Mabey and Mr. Abraham. Sea Goat, the name selected, has a significance that the blind will appreciate.

-6 —

HONORS

Charles W. Holmes, Perkins '90, of Hingham, was awarded the distin- guished service medal at the conven- tion of the American Association of Workers for the Blind held in Los An- geles in July. At each biennial meeting a committee of the association selects the blind person who has done most for his own people, and a special session of the convention is given over to his honor. The choice this year fell upon Mr. Holmes, but unfortunately his health did not permit his attendance at the convention. The medal was presented at Mr. Holmes' home on July 27 by Francis B. Ierardi, Perkins '08.

Mr. Holmes was for many years head of the work for the blind in Canada and has also been associated with the work in Massachusetts. He was the founder of the South Shore School of Music which is still conducted by his daugh- ter. Previous to his present illness Mr. Holmes was head of the blind section of the Perkins map- and model-making project and much of the effectiveness of that work is due to his skill.

Mr. Ierardi, chairman of the commit- tee of award, is also treasurer of the Workers' Association and founder and manager of the National Braille Press which publishes the Weekly News and Our Special magazine for women. These duties are carried on in addition to his regular work with the Massachu- setts State Division for the Blind.

"Dr. Clarence Hawkes, Poet-Natural- ist-Lecturer. Born in Goshen, Mass., December 16, 1869. Author of 50 pub- lished books. He loves nature and little children." This is the wording on a bronze tablet placed in the Community Building in Goshen in August in honor of one of Perkins' most distinguished graduates. Dr. Hawkes was present at the unveiling, and exercises in his honor were held in the village church.

OLD AGE

Helen Keller's reply to a letter ask- ing her attitude on age reflects her unique vision. To Eileen Scott of Jop- lin, Missouri, she wrote:

"You are the first person who has asked me pointblank how I intend to approach old age. I cannot help smil- ing— I who have these many years de- clared that there is no age in the spirit! Age seems to me only another physical handicap, and it excites no dread in me, I have lived so long and triumphantly with limitations.

"Once I had a dear friend of 80 who impressed upon me the fact that he enjoyed life more than he had done at the age of 25. 'Never count how many years you have as the French say,' he would insist, 'but how many interests you have. Do not stale your days by taking for granted the people about you or the things which make up your en- vironment, and you will abide in a realm of fadeless beauty.'

"Then and there I resolved, vestallike, to cherish an inextinguishable flame of youth. I have tried to avoid ruts — doing things just because my ancestors did them before me — leaning on the crutches of vicarious opinion — losing my childhood sense of wonderment. I am glad to say I still have a vivid curiosity about the world I live in.

"Age, I suppose, like blindness, is an individual experience. Everybody dis- covers its roseate mountain peaks or its gloomy depths according to his or her temperament. It is as natural for me, certainly, to believe that the richest harvest of happiness comes with age as that true sight and hearing are within, not without. Confidently I climb the broad stairway that love and faith have built to heights where I shall 'attain to a boundless reach of sky.' "

— 7 —

A MEMORIAL ORGAN

(Continued from Page 3) memorial this amount should provide, it should include a tablet to the memory of his beloved wife, Clara Babbitt Hyde Montgomery.

It seemed eminently fitting to the Perkins officials and found favor with the executors of the will to use this generous gift for the installation of an organ in the chapel of Howe Building, suitably in- scribed in perpetual remembrance of the donor and of his lovely wife ; and thus have the wishes of the testator been carried out.

The organ meets a long-felt need and desire, serving at all times for chapel exercises and musical events and also as an echo organ for the principal one in Dwight Hall, the gift of former students of the school. The whole incident from its inception to its close marks anew the far-reaching and many-sided interests in which Perkins In- stitution has at all times participated.

A. G. F.

The contract for the new organ was given to the Frazee Organ Company of Everett, and the installation should be completed during September. The carving of the console was executed by Irving and Casson to conform to the decoration of the woodwork of the chapel. A panel across the front of the console bears the inscription : —

Jn HUmortam

(Elara Utabhttt Hy&e fcntgnmfry

Hifp of (Enlnnrl (grnnjr fEnntgoutmj, E. &. Army

A iffrmtb of (Bl]e llittb

The organ will be located in the tower with the console directly in front of the reading desk. It is so arranged that its tone may be projected into the balcony of Dwight Hall, and it is, moreover, play- able from the Dwght Hall console. It may be used for "echo" effects in Dwight Hall, and should be of great assistance in accompanying any choir in the balcony.

The organ has two manuals, with stop "keys" over the top one instead of "draw knobs" at the sides, as in the Dwight Hall console. It contains 28 stops, 961 pipes, and the most modern facilities for control. The chimes which were originally installed in the Dwight Hall organ, are being incorporated in the new organ so that they may be played from either console and their tones projected into either the chapel or Dwight Hall. J. F. H.

Christmas Concert fi. Broadcast

Sunday, Dec. 17 Station WAAB

Jordan Hall rT*1 a 3:30-4:00 p.m.

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

,

VOLUME IX. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 1939

Utyr |lrtnrr nf fkar?

AT Christmas time our thoughts turn to Him who came into the world to bring peace. It is not so easy this year to think of the Prince of Peace when across the oceans on our east and west shores there is so much of strife and warfare. Perhaps this very fact should make us the more feel the impulsion to keep alive the ideal of peace. Ears should be attuned to hear "the tidings of great joy" foretold by the Christmas angel and voices should join the chorus of the Heavenly Host, "praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest!"

Fewer people have a clearer right to assert the ideal of peace than the blind. In any war darkness closes over the world for a time but in a more direct way war destines many individuals to live in unending darkness. For them there is no armistice or retrieve. Blindness was a heavy casualty in the last world war. While loss of sight was not so great among our soldiers as in other armies its extent may be gauged by the fact that now nearly two thousand veterans are drawing pensions for disability through blindness.

These facts give significance to the request made by some of our pupils shortly after the present war broke out to hold a chapel service dedicated to peace. Few services in our chapel have been more real or significant. Those without sight know the toll of blindness.

Certainly at Christmas time the seeing and the blind should join together and with one voice and with one accord call for the fulfill- ment of the angel Chorus —

$ Far? rnt iEartlj, (imtiuiUl ©muard Mxw.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

^Ci^Uyf ^xAAj^

Sir Charles W. Lindsay, K. B. E.

SIR CHARLES W. LINDSAY died at his home, in Montreal, on Tuesday, November 7, in his 84th year. Losing his sight when eighteen years of age, Sir Charles came to Boston and entered Perkins Institution, where he learned piano tuning. After completing his work at the school, he returned to Montreal, where he soon added to tuning the repairing and sale of pianos. Through his keen busi- ness ability and by concentrating all his energies toward establishing himself, he built up one of the great business houses of Montreal and earned a fortune, which enabled him, in his later years, to turn his attention to philanthropy.

Through all the years Sir Charles never forgot Perkins Institu- tion. He came to visit the school in 1932, at the time of the Centennial Exercises, where he made the presentation of the organ in Dwight Hall. This was the gift of former students with half of the cost contributed by Sir Charles. He carried on a constant cor- respondence with the Director and the Director visited him a number of times. On each occasion Sir Charles was eager to know all about the school and its activities and he was constantly interested in its welfare. In his will, which made provision for many hospitals and charities, he left ten thousand dollars to Perkins Institution.

Sir Charles' life is a notable example of what a person without sight can accomplish. Life was not always easy for him, but he had tremendous energy and he devoted himself to his business without stint. He succeeded in making more progress than many men who were equipped with all their faculties. Throughout his life he was interested in others who were handicapped and there was hardly an institution of any type in his city of which he was not a director. This was especially true of organizations for the blind. He was the Honorary President of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, a Director of the American Foundation for the Blind and a member of the Corporation of Perkins Institution.

In 1935 knighthood was conferred upon him by King George V. This honor was in recognition of his philanthropic work. Perkins was greatly interested in this high honor to a former student and at the time many were impressed with the fact that he was the fourth blind person associated with Perkins to have been knighted. His life of service will be greatly missed, but as a Montreal editorial stated, he leaves "a memory that will grow more fragrant and honored with the passing of the years, for he won a lasting place in the esteem and affection not of his native city alone, but of the entire Dominion he had loved and served so well."

G. F.

WILLIAM OLIVER

Whose Name a Perkins Cottage Bears

By Anna Gardner Fish

A Bust of William Oliver

AN old proverb tells us that "he gives twice who gives quickly" ; and the saying may be equally true if paraphrased so as to apply to an early gift. Such was the legacy to Perkins Insti- tution under the will of William Oliver of Dorchester, Mass., which added the amount of $30,000 to the school's resources in 1847, as well as $10,000 worth of stocks. This was more than equal to the valua- tion of Col. Perkins' Pearl Street mansion and seemed indeed a god- send; and the cash payment was doubled in the course of the next few years.

Born in Boston in 1781, William Oliver became a merchant dis- tinguished, even among the remarkable men whose high qualities made trade an honorable line, by his accuracy, promptness and fidelity in all business transactions, great or small, and in the discharge of all trusts and offices committed to his care. His neighbors and busi- ness associates placed entire confidence in him, and sometimes he was fairly forced to accept public responsibilities, although he did not seek them or desire them. He gave to each the same direct, careful atten- tion, the same honest consideration, that he bestowed upon his per- sonal affairs. He was highly respected throughout the community, and his advice was earnestly sought and unquestioningly followed. Upon retiring from business with a competence he lived out his de- clining years at his pleasant home in Dorchester in his favorite occu- pations of reading and caring for his garden.

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

N1

Deaf-blind Leonard

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

"EARLY 20,000 leaflets telling of our work with deaf -blind children have been mailed to friends throughout the country. In addition to telling of the four new children who bring the total of mem- bers of the Department up to eighteen, the general work of the Department is described and illustrated with pictures. Accompanying the leaflets is a letter from the President of the Corporation asking for support of this unique work. In his letter, Mr. Hallo- well expressed the hope that sufficient funds would be obtained to maintain the work of the Deaf-Blind De- partment on an independent basis. As the Institution suffered a considerable deficit during the past year, it is the more important that contributions be gener- ous this year. Already response is coming in in a good way and if it continues, our hopes for the sustaining of this department may soon be realized.

THE BLIND ARTISANS

A YEAR ago the program of the Blind Artisans was announced in The Lantern. Since that time considerable progress has been made in this effort to find suitable employment for blind workers. Special stress has been placed upon piano tuning and advertising material has been prepared for the tuners. A number of large orders for brooms have been secured and these have been diverted to the various state shops, both in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Considerable exploratory work has been done, finding new articles to be made. As a result of this, ironing board covers and handmade candles are being made in the South Boston Workshop for distribution through retail stores. An unusually fine opportunity to make baskets has been contacted and steps are now being taken to train special workers for this craft.

When the program of the Blind Artisans was launched, its first aim was to discover potential business for blind workers. Mr. Hemphill, to whom this task was assigned, brought to it a wide experience in marketing methods in the industrial world. During the past year he has discovered many opportunities for the profitable disposal of blindmade products. The next step is to find adequate means to produce these products on a commercial basis. Toward that end a special operating committee is now working.

— 4 —

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

RESPONDING to the need, which is generally felt, for more effective religious instruction for all boys and girls of school age, arrangements have been made with several religious bodies, whereby instructors come into the school to hold classes, on Thursday afternoon of each week. Although the classes are volun- tary, practically the entire school attends. The school has been divided into three general groups, made up of Roman Catholic chil- dren, Protestant children, and pupils who represent various national churches and the Episcopal Church. Sisters from a nearby convent give instruction to the Catholic children, while teachers for the other groups have been provided by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the Watertown Ministers' Association. The class of older Protestant boys is taught by the Watertown ministers in rotation. Classes are held in school time. This gives the instruction the stand- ing accorded regular school work. The classes are for instruction purposes only and all pupils are expected to attend their respective churches for worship on Sunday.

CHRISTMAS AT PERKINS

THE Christmas spirit is very real at Perkins. For ten days before the pupils go home, on December 19, there is a festival air about the place and at almost any time the chorus can be heard rehearsing the carols for their concerts. Groups of pupils may be seen in the alcoves of the museum, making wreaths to adorn the hall, and the cottage homes are decorated in anticipation of the Christmas parties held on Friday evening, Decem- ber 15. Each of the twelve cottages has its own party on that evening with all the "fixings" and with gifts for one another. In the manual training departments, the pupils are found busy making presents to take home to their parents and friends.

Three concerts are to be given by the chorus of the Upper School and the choir of the Lower School. The public concert in Boston will be held in Jordan Hall on Sunday afternoon, December 17, while another concert for the bene-

A Wreath Maker

fit of the public will be held in Dwight Hall on Thursday evening, Dec- ember 14. A third concert will be on Tuesday night, December 19, and will be especially for the parents and friends of the pupils. School closes on that day and many of the pupils will go home with their parents after the concert.

The Dwight Hall concerts this year will be greatly enriched by the Clara Babbitt Hyde Montgomery Memorial Organ. Although this organ is in the chapel, it has been connected with the console of the main organ in Dwight Hall in such a way that it serves as an echo organ and will accompany the little children as they sing from the gallery.

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

PERKINS tactual museum, which has long been noted for the variety of materials in its care, has undergone a considerable overhauling by a committee made up of Mr. Coon, Superintend- ent of Buildings, and Miss McGaw of the Manual Training Department. To create interest in the museum and to acquaint pupils with some of the more valuable specimens the committee has arranged for the "ex- hibit of the month". Each month special features of timely interest are made available for the pupils to examine and to have a "look-see". A memorandum telling of the features of the exhibit is prepared for pupils and teachers.

NINE SACKS FULL

SPEAKING before the Perkins' staff recently, Mr. A. C. Ellis, of the American Printing House for the Blind, told about the publication of The Weekly Reader, a current events paper published for school children and now available in braille for blind children (because, as Mr. Ellis pointed out, Perkins Institution suggested it and gave it financial aid until it was self-supporting) . Feeling that ink print readers would be interested in the braille edition the editor stated that braille copies could be secured by sending ten cents to the Printing House. So eager were boys and girls to know about braille that their requests filled nine mail sacks and it took three weeks to run off enough copies to meet the demand.

— 6 —

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Station W1XAL, a short-wave sta- tion operating for educational purposes at the Boston University Club opened its season with a program of recordings on Sunday afternoon, October 1. Dur- ing the broadcast it was announced that the two favorite programs of last year would be broadcast from record- ings. The programs presented were by the Syracuse Alumni Chorus and the chorus of Perkins Institution.

Turkish authorities report the return, after three years of study in the United States, of Mitat Enc. He was received by the Prime Minister who expressed the hope that he would work for the blind of that country. Mitat Enc was a member of the Harvard Class and later entered the New York Institute and studied at Columbia, where he re- ceived the degrees of A. B. and M. A.

A second association for the blind has been founded in Penobscot County, Maine, sponsored by the Zonta Club. The opening meeting was held in the Public Library in Bangor on Friday evening, November 7. The Director of Perkins spoke and showed moving pic- tures of school activities.

Norman S. Case, Jr., Perkins '36, has been awarded the Francis Wayland Scholarship at Brown University for "distinctive academic achievement", according to the University's Commit- tee on Scholarships.

The Director spoke on The Place of the Blind in a Modern Social Welfare Program at the annual State Confer- ence of Social Workers, held in Bangor, Maine, on Saturday, October 21.

Andrea Caroselli and Phillip Small, two graduate pupils in music at Per- kins, have been performing Saturday mornings over Station WHDH, Boston.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Howe Memorial Exercises, held on November 10, were made memorable by the presence of Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott, the daughter of Samuel Gridley Howe and Julia Ward Howe. Attend- ing with Mrs. Elliott was Mrs. Larz Anderson, who graciously read some of her poems. Mr. Henry H. Richards, grandson of the first Director, brought a greeting from his mother, Mrs. Laura E. Richards, sister of Mrs. Elliott, while his wife, Mrs. Richards, gave a delight- ful talk on gardening.

Anagnos Day exercises in memory of the second Director were held at the Lower School on the morning of No- vember 7. Dr. Edward E. Allen, the third Director, spoke briefly, while the children paid their tribute by placing flowers before the bust of Michael Anagnos.

Once There Was A Princess, a play in three acts, was presented by the girls of the Senior Class on Friday eve- ning, November 24. For the first time the male par^s in the play were taken by men recruited from the faculty and Harvard Class.

Children from the Lower School, under the direction of Miss Eleanor Thayer, sang carols with the New Eng- land Ensemble at a series of Tuesday afternoon tea-concerts held in Novem- ber and December at the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, Boston.

The girls' intercottage school meet was held on the Lower School green on October 18. May Cottage came off the field with a score of 24 points, Oliver with 26, and Brooks, aided by its mas- cots, a can of spinach and a bottle of milk, brought home the bacon with a victorious 28 points. (As reported by a pupil.)

WILLIAM OLIVER

(Continued from Page 3)

By the terms of his will Mr. Oliver divided his estate into three equal parts, to be held in trust for his brother and two sisters and to be paid eventually to certain designated good causes, — the brother's third to be given unconditionally to Perkins Institution, the elder sis- ter's portion to the Massachusetts General Hospital, the younger sister's to the two institutions in equal shares. The brother died before Mr. William Oliver himself, and a codicil to the will confirmed the orginal bequest, which thus became immediately available.

It was just about this time that Dr. Howe was laying stress upon the great need of separate quarters for the workshop department, using many strong arguments against the existing arrangement which involved the presence of these adult workers among the young pupils. He declared, after alluding to Mr. Oliver's gift, that the state of the treasury made the time ripe for the erection of a suitable building for the growing industries; and as this new workshop was an accomplished fact within the next three years, it is safe to assume that it was Mr. Oliver's bequest which made this improved condition possible.

Of Mr. Oliver's kindly interest Dr. Howe has said that his lega- cies to this school and to the Massachusetts General Hospital were in keeping with his life and character, — the resolute and quiet ful- filment of a purpose deliberately and conscientiously formed.

THE SEAL OF THE BLIND ARTISANS

Designed by

E. S. Whitten

of the

Advisory

Committee

Watch

for this seal

on

blindmade

products

Chorus Broadcast Saturday, April 20

Stations WBZ-WBZA __— i ~j- 3.30-4.00 p. m.

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

:

VOLUME IX. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1940

Radio and Education

EDUCATORS are placing increasing emphasis on the value of radio as a means of supplementing classroom work. Broad- casts of educational worth are frequent. For some of the programs teachers' manuals and students' worksheets are available, as well as reprints after the presentation. Schools in general are availing themselves of the unique opportunities offered. Schools for the blind, in particular, ought to be on the alert to realize these possibilities because here is an avenue of learning, where the sense of hearing supersedes the sense of sight, generally considered the chief medium of instruction.

Dr. Franklin Dunham of N. B. C. is right when he states: "The force of radio in education is contained in its unique power to create a sense of reality, a vital ingredient in learning." David Sarnoff, Presi- dent of R C A, pointed out to the New York Board of Regents : "Radio and education are the youngest and the oldest products of civilization. Ever since man first talked with man there have been teachers and pupils. Down through the centuries there have always been radio waves but it was not until within the last half-century that man learned to harness them as carriers of sound . . ."

Certainly this youngest product of civilization can prove a potent force in the age-old process of learning. Through it the whole world can be brought to the most remote schoolhouse ; school children every- where can know the voices of the great leaders of today; and the events of the past can be so adequately dramatized that even history is a living subject. And from our point of view value lies in the fact that ears and not eyes are the open sesame.

^ajfr*ts( ' 7&a/\*££

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Chorus will broadcast over sta- tions WBZ and WBZA Saturday after- noon April 20 at an hour to be an- nounced later.

Miss Fish represented Perkins Insti- tution in a broadcast on Wednesday, February 14, over Station WBZ, featur- ing the Town of Watertown. Assisting her was James Delaney, a post-gradu- ate.

The Clergy of Watertown have again generously come to Perkins on Thurs- day mornings during Lent to speak at the chapel exercises. The school values these annual messages from the leaders of the Watertown churches.

John Morrison, a post-graduate stu- dent, is taking a special course this term at the Nylin School of Swedish Massage. Six Upper School pupils are taking a course in massage theory and practise in our Physiotherapy Depart- ment.

John Di Francesco and Andrea Car- oselli are to attend the opera on April 4, as the guests of a Boston woman and her daughter who were impressed by the way the boys carried the solo parts at the Perkins' Christmas Con- cert.

No Slump Club is the name of a group of eleven Primary School girls who are interested in good posture. In addition to scheduled corrective work under Miss Peirce, Physiotherapist, the girls also have occasional parties to stimulate interest.

Recent visitors at the school have come from Austria, England, Egypt, Sweden, Norway and Hawaii, as well as many places in the United States. Fifteen hundred people visited the school at the Annual Open House on Washington's Birthday.

— 2

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Angelo Maschio, Perkins '33, who is attending the College of Business Ad- ministration at Boston University is on the Dean's honor list for this term.

Madeline Beyal, the Navajo Indian girl who spent last year at Perkins In- stitution as a graduate student in the Commercial Department, has secured a position as telephone operator in a hospital at Ganado, Arizona.

Lawrence Thompson, Perkins '34, and Harvard '38, who is an active agent of the New England Magazine Agency for the Blind, reported recently making 3,000 telephone calls, soliciting sub- scriptions with, he states, "good re- sults."

The Ohio State School for the Blind announces that beginning next year the High School Course will be extended from four years to five years to give more time for intensive work and ex- tra-curricular activities.

The New York Institute for the Edu- cation of the Blind presented in the Town Hall on Saturday evening, Feb- ruary 10, a concert by its chorus of thirty members, assisted by Lauritz Melchior, the famed tenor of the Met- ropolitan Opera Company. Tickets sold at prevailing prices brought a large return to the Institute.

With deep regret we announce the death on February 22 of Paul E. Fitz- patrick, for many years a Trustee of the Institution, as his father was be- fore him. Mr. Fitzpatrick was also a member of the Executive Committee and of the Advisory Committee of the Blind Artisans of New England. He was a faithful and helpful Trustee and a devoted friend of the school, and his loss will be keenly felt.

PERKINS BOYS STILL SHOVEL SNOW

Seeing the boys (and also the girls) shovel snow during the recent storms reminded us of a letter written in 1909 which told how Perkins once benefitted from this form of healthy and helpful exercise.

Perkins Institution for the Blind,

You have recently been informed of the gift of One Hundred Thousand Dollars to your institution by Mr. John Edward Brown, who died lately in Providence. I doubt if the particulars which led to the gift may come to your notice, except through me ; and it gives me pleasure to send those details to you.

Mr. Brown was a perfect specimen of a business man, cold and unemotional. He was childless. He may have been an excellent husband, but he lacked sympathy.

He came to me some years ago to ask if his will, which had been written in Massachusetts, would meet Rhode Island requirements if he should die in the latter state, and thus it came to my notice that he had given several large charitable gifts. After the business con- ference I looked up at the grim man and said : "Mr. Brown, it must be a great pleasure to be able to give such immense amounts for such most excellent purposes." He turned to me abruptly and asked: "Do you know how I came to give to those blind people? It was in this way : My wife and I were boarding in Jamaica Plain. The house chanced to be near their school, but I knew nothing about them. I cared nothing for charity or charitable institutions. One day a tre- mendous snowstorm came on. It lasted several days, stopping all traffic. I couldn't get down town or talk with a man as I wanted to. I couldn't even get a newspaper.

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

CONFERENCES FOR VOLUNTEERS

A SERIES of conferences for volunteer workers with the blind is to be held at Perkins Institution on Thursday mornings at 11:00 o'clock, beginning April 11, and concluding May 16. At the meeting held last spring of the voluntary organizations for the blind in New England, it was suggested that some practical way of training volunteer workers for the blind be provided. Leading persons in the field of social and educational work for the blind will present problems which confront volunteer workers. They will be open to all interested people. The conferences as planned are :

April 11— EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLIND CHILDREN.

Gabriel Farrell, Director of Perkins Institution April 18— VOCATIONAL NEEDS AND ACTIVITIES.

Miss Rose L. Trainor, Division for the Blind April 25— MEDICAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF BLINDNESS.

Miss Helen Almy, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary May 2— THE RED CROSS BRAILLE TRANSCRIBING PROGRAM.

Miss Eleanor H. Lovett, Braille Section,

Boston Chapter of The American Red Cross May 9— VOLUNTEER SERVICE FROM THE SOCIAL AGENCY POINT OF VIEW.

Mrs. James Donovan, Volunteer Service Bureau May 16— VOLUNTEER SERVICE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE BLIND.

Arthur F. Sullivan, Attorney.

_^ THE BURSAR'S HOUSE

FOR MANY years the matter of providing living quarters for married members of the staff has been under consideration. Recently plans have been compeleted for the erection of a block of faculty apartments to be situated on the grounds near the corner of Beechwood Avenue and North Beacon Street. These plans which have been approved by the Trustees, provide accomodations

for five families. It has been decided to proceed with the building of the first section of the apart- ment house, which will contain living quarters for Mr. Hemphill, the Bur- sar. The wing on

the right-hand side of the model in the accompanying' pic- ture represents the Bursar's house. The house will be ready at the beginning of the next school year.

RADIO IN THE CLASSROOM

RADIOS have been used at Perkins for several years. Nearly every classroom in the Lower School has one and the Upper School has two in assembly rooms, while each cottage has its own instrument. Opportunity to hear news broadcasts is provided, and arrangements are made for the pupils to hear all the special programs of national importance. In addition the cottage radios are always a means of leisure time enjoyment. To afford wider oppor- tunity to use this modern medium of instruction in the Upper School classrooms several new portable radios have been purchased.

DR. SAMUEL P. HAYES

DR. SAMUEL P. HAYES, who is retiring from his position as Professor of Psychology at Mount Holyoke College at the end of this academic year, will be in residence at Perkins Institu- tion next year and will direct the work of the Department of Per- sonnel. Dr. Hayes has pioneered in the field of the psychology of blindness and is widely known through his adaptation of tests and his writings. In his new position he will be able to give entire time to his studies in the psychology of blindness and to carry on new projects of far-reaching importance.

TEAS IN CAMBRIDGE

DURING the winter the girls in the Upper School have been entertained at tea by a number of ladies living in Cambridge. Planned by a committee of the Volunteer Service Bureau, under the direction of Mrs. Arthur Brooks, the teas have been a valuable experience for the girls, as well as a source of great pleasure. The ladies who have entertained have reported our girls as delightful guests and they, too, have enjoyed the experience. The girls are planning to return the hospitality by entertaining their hostesses at a tea to be held at the school in April.

— 5 —

HARVARD CLASS

T

HE HARVARD CLASS has completed the first half-year's work under the leadership of Dr. Edward P. Al- J len, Director Emeri- tus, who has con- ducted this course for eighteen years. The members of the class are now engaged in the second half-year course in special methods under the direction of Miss Genevieve H. Haven. A register of the students with their qualifications has been sent out to all schools for the blind, and the students are now waiting inquiry in regard to employment.

THE VOLTA BUREAU

THE VOLTA BUREAU, organized by Alexander Graham Bell for the increase and diffusion of knowledge relating to the deaf, is observing its fiftieth anniversary this year. Our Deaf-Blind Department gave a Silver Tea in its honor on Friday, February 2, in- viting teachers in schools for the deaf near Boston. Contributions made at the party totaled $50.00, which were sent to the Volta Bureau for the fund which it is raising for its work.

MAP-OF-THE-MONTH

THE MAP-OF-THE-MONTH, which has been published for some time by the WPA Project in co-operation with Perkins Insti- tution, will appear hereafter directly from the Howe Memorial Press, as the WPA Project has closed for a time. Selecting the map and editing the text will continue to be done by Mr. E. J. Waterhouse, of the Perkins' staff. Preparation of the map and distribution will be undertaken by the Howe Memorial Press.

FEELING IS SEEING

^"WOU HAVE made that butterfly beautifully," said the teacher of handicrafts to a little pupil. "You have even put in the feelers very nicely." Later a little boy in the class asked

softly, "Are butterflies blind?" "Why, no. What made you think

so?" "Well, you spoke of their feelers."

— 6 —

FROM OUR MAIL

"In this country a movement has just been started for the Physical Edu- cation of the blind. It would be of great interest and help for us to have some pamphlets or lectures on this subject." (.Letter from Buenos Aires, Argentina.)

"I am working as Inspector or Su- pervisor for the Education of the Blind in Egypt ... I am trying to influence some of the authorities at home to help. Letter from an Egyptian who attended the Harvard Class.

"Having heard much about the Insti- tution during the years I was a student at Harvard, I am now taking the lib- erty of asking your aid in behalf of friends who have resided in Peru for a number of years and who have just suffered grievously." Letter from Peru asking advice about a blind child.

PUBLICATIONS

"Because of the war in Europe we are afraid of losing our business relations in England and Denmark and, now, having your address, we are so pre- sumptuous as to beg you kindly to help us and forward enclosed lists for quo- tations to firms that deal in these branches." Letter from the Society of Friends for the Blind in Iceland.

"Here, in Japan, we have many blind and within the past two years several hundred newly blind soldiers have come back to this land to be trained and cared for. It is a very pathetic sight. We need any suggestions or help that we can get from you." From a missionary working for the blind in Japan.

"I hope the plans for the blinded sol- diers in Japan will be successful. One of the military officers here told us of many soldiers who are going back to Japan because of 'this incident'. What proportions this so-called incident has assumed!" From a missionary working for the blind in China.

I Begin Again by Mrs. Alice Bretz is a book telling how a person who lost her sight late in life adjusted to a darkened world. The book's value lies in the fact that Mrs. Bretz does not try to compensate for the vision which has gone, but tells in a realistic way her experiences when dependent upon the other senses. In this connection she advises sightless persons to stop play- ing "Blind Man's Bluff" and to build their world around the remaining senses. Mrs. Bretz gives practical, straightforward advice as to how see- ing people ought to react toward the blind. It is a volume filled with human interest and courage.

Readers Digest, for some years avail- able to the blind in embossed type, now appears on talking book records. This brings this invaluable magazine to many previously shut out from it so that now all of the blind, finger-read- ers and hearing-readers, may keep abreast with current literature. The blind should be everlastingly grateful to Mr. DeWitt Wallace, Editor of the Readers Digest, for making possible the extension of his magazine, and to the American Printing House for the Blind, which produces and distributes the records.

Lighted Candles is the title of a book by Alfred D. H. Shurtleff, containing sermonettes which have appeared in braille in OUR SPECIAL. Mr. Shurt- leff, a retired Unitarian minister, whose sight has failed, widens the range of his candles to the seeing through this book.

Story of the World Famous Madonna and Novena Prayers Recited Before This Madonna are now available in braille through the Director of the Blind, 1545 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts, at a price of thirty-five cents for both books.

— 7 —

STILL SHOVEL SNOW

(Continued from Page 3)

After two or three days it eased up and, like a caged lion, I kept going to the window to see what the prospects were for getting out. By and by I noticed a group of boys across the way, coming down in a line, shovelling a snow path. They interested me because I had nothing else to watch. Finally I asked someone who they were and was told that they were blind boys belonging to Perkins Institution. I was amazed. It began to dawn upon me, the horror of being blind, the impossibility of doing anything, — and yet those boys were doing something! I saw that it meant training and development. It impressed itself upon my mind, and I determined to give something for those boys. That is the origin of my gift to them. Every cent of it is due to my seeing those boys shovel that path in such an orderly way."

In subsequent meetings with Mr. Brown I saw only the cold, stern, hard exterior, the unfeeling manner, but I cannot forget how he was touched and affected by this incident ; and I felt that you and your co-workers should know what wonderful results follow the seem- ingly slight work of some of your departments.

Louis L. Angell

Providence, R. I., Sept. 8, 1909.

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ryUJUN 1 51940Lii/

The iLanter

THE PERKINS INSTITUTintt*

VOLUME IX. NO. 4 JUNE 15. 1940

Commencement

IT ALWAYS seems strange to call the exercises marking- the com- pletion of schooling Commencement. We are familiar with the graduation speakers' assurance that the finishing of school is the commencement of real life. Graduates commence to deal with the realities of the world. In these days the outlook is more realistic than assuring. Nearly 1,750,000 young men and women will be com- pleting their schooling this June. A little more than one-half, we are told, will find jobs immediately; the others may keep on looking for months — some of them, perhaps, for years.

In our special schools the ratio is about the same. Perkins will graduate fifteen boys and girls this year. On that basis there ought to be about three hundred graduates in all schools for the blind and perhaps as many more will leave school because they have ceased to progress. Will half of them have jobs awaiting? We doubt it. Are all of them ready for jobs ? We doubt that also. Some of course will go on to college, but that will be a relatively small number, due chiefly to financial reasons.

Sensing a need for higher specialized training for outstanding graduates of schools for the blind, so that at least a few more may commence life with more hope, the trustees of Perkins have offered four scholarships providing a year of residence and instruction in this school. In making this offer we do not claim that our instruction is superior to that of other schools, but we do feel that any young person eager to learn can gain by living in a new environment and by making new associations. It is in that spirit that the scholarships are offered.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Dr. Allen, unable to go to England because of the war, is spending more time at Perkins and has again taken up his favorite pastime of tree grafting.

Fred Lowery, talented blind whistler, while performing in Boston, came out to Perkins, Monday, June 3, and de- lighted the pupils with performances at both Lower and Upper School assem- blies.

Anthony Cirella, a member of the Senior Class, received one of the first prizes in SCHOLASTIC'S 1940 awards in music. He submitted a part song for quartette or chorus with piano ac- companiment, entitled "Before the Pal- ing of the Stars."

The Perkins chorus gave a broadcast over Station WBZ on Saturday after- noon, April 20. The school appreciates the courtesy of the managers of that station for their interest and the valu- able time allotted.

Twelfth Night was the annual pres- entation of the Boys' Dramatic Club. Two performances were given on April 24 and 26, with a large attendance at both.

The deaf-blind pupils gave a presen- tation of their work, including recita- tions and demonstrations and a rhythm band, before members of the Corpora- tion on May 23. All contributors to the Deaf-Blind Fund were invited to at- tend and many were able to come.

The World's Fair came to Perkins on Wednesday morning, May 29, when led by Uncle Sam and a sizeable band, pupils bearing the flags and wearing the costumes of all nations marched about the grounds and assembled in Dwight Hall. Here a program was held, rather than outdoors, because of inclement weather. A good time was had by all.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Pennsylvania Institution for the

Instruction of the Blind invited the Boy Scouts of Perkins to go there for a competitive meet. Ten Perkins boys took part in manual, literary, and ath- letic contests over the week-end of April 5.

The American Association of Instruc- tors of the Blind is to hold its biennial meeting at Pittsburgh, June 24-28. Dr. Farrell, Dr. Hayes, Mr. Andrews and Mr. and Mrs. Waterhouse of the Per- kins staff will read papers. The Pitts- burgh school is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary.

The American Association to Pro- mote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf is holding its fiftieth annual con- vention in Providence. On Friday, June 21, Miss Hall is to demonstrate methods of instruction of the deaf- blind. Carmela Otero and Leonard Dowdy are to be with her. Dr. Helen Keller is scheduled to speak just be- fore the demonstration.

Miss Nilsson on her way west is to take Margaret and James Allen as far as Cleveland, where they will spend the summer with their family. She is to continue with Gloria Shipman to Mis- souri, where a demonstration of the deaf-blind work will be given with Gloria at Teachers' College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Manuel Rubin, Perkins '28, and Rob- ert Barrett, Perkins '30, got into the papers, when they sang for a young man in Cambridge, Vermont, who is in an iron lung. The people in Cambridge are making efforts to raise money to help Douglas Tobin, who is receiving treatment for infantile paralysis. Hear- ing of this the two Perkins boys offered to give a recital for his benefit on April 16. The newspapers reported the event with long stories and pictures.

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STEPHEN BLAISDELL'S WILL

A Friendly Gesture to the Blind

By Anna Gardner Fish

At the chapel exercises May 31, Miss Fish, acting for Mr. Bryan, trus- tee of the Blaisdell Fund, presented to the seniors their annual award.

GOOD friends of Perkins Institution, possessed of wealth and of a generous spirit, have won well-deserved and heartfelt appre- ciation of their ever-helpful gifts to the school, but it remained for a humbler benefactor to warm the cockles of the pupils' hearts through his provision by will for their pleasure.

This was Stephen Blaisdell, blind like themselves, who, as a boy at Perkins, had often wished, so he said, for a little money in his pocket, and determined that the boys of his alma mater, whom he surmised to be "hard up" at times, should have the satisfaction of possession at least once a year.

He was, as this implies, a poor boy, coming from Phippsburg, Maine, to Perkins in 1844 at the age of nine years, and he is recorded as one of the early graduates and later an employee in the workshop for adults, which he left in 1869.

He made his home in South Boston and was a frequent visitor at the school, taking a personal interest in its welfare and in its people, two of whom were named as the executors of his will. He was a good tuner and an able musician and taught music successfully for a while; but later he became a business man, selling or renting pianos, selling sewing machines, turning to advantage every oppor- tunity that presented itself, and prospering. Although totally blind, he traveled about freely alone, making his own collections and keeping his own accounts in braille. He was both thrifty and indus- trious and, although shrewd in his transactions and able to drive a sharp bargain, he was strictly honest in all his dealings. He was in- tensely patriotic. He took a great interest in public affairs and kept himself informed on the questions of the day. And he never failed to cast his vote at elections.

He died in November, 1901, at the age of sixty-six years, leaving a will in which Perkins' pupils were most kindly remembered in

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

PERKINS SCHOLARSHIPS

FOUR young people, graduating from schools for the blind in this country this year, will have opportunity for a year of residence at Perkins, beginning in September. The Trustees have offered four scholarships to outstanding graduates from high school this year. Already a number of applications have been received. These will be carefully considered and a committee will select the four who can benefit most by what Perkins offers. The pupils selected may take advanced work in any of the five departments of our Senior High School — College Preparatory, Literary, Musical, Commercial, and Industrial.

Specialized instruction toward a definite goal will be arranged, and participation in the cottage life of Perkins will be provided. The scholarships will cover tuition, board, room, and laundry at the school during the regular school year. The money for the payment of these scholarships will be drawn from the Putnam and Fisher Funds, which have been built up for the purpose of affording advanced study for blind people. The primary purpose of these scholarships is to give to a selected number of young people from different parts of the country opportunity for advanced study in a new environment and in a school which has special facilities, which it is glad to share.

A COUNCIL OF WORKERS

A COUNCIL, to be made up of representatives of the several organizations for the blind functioning in New England, was proposed by Mr. Arthur F. Sullivan at the last of the series of conferences for volunteer workers with the blind, which was an-

— 4 —

noimced in the last issue of The Lantern. Mr. Sullivan felt that the volunteer work would be greatly strengthened if there were oppor- tunity for the various organizations to discuss their programs and to correlate their activities. The suggestion met with such a happy reception that Mr. Sullivan and Dr. Farrell were asked to form a committee to make plans for the establishment of such a council.

A committee, made up of the following persons, has been ap- pointed and has already had its first meeting. The members of the committee are : Mr. Arthur F. Sullivan ; Miss Eleanor H. Lovett, rep- resenting the American Red Cross ; Miss Lucy Wright, the Massachu- setts Association for Promoting the Interests of the Adult Blind ; Rev. John J. Connolly, the Catholic Guild for the Blind ; Mrs. Chester Fin- berg, the Boston Committee for the Blind; Mrs. James Stimson, the Worcester Association for the Blind. It is proposed to have a meeting early in the fall to which all existing organizations for the blind will be invited to send representatives.

CANEY CREEK CRUSADERS

SEVERAL young men from the Caney Creek Settlement in Ken- tucky were guests of the school for a couple of days. On one evening they presented an interesting program, telling of their work among the mountaineers of that State. The young men made a great impression upon the Perkins' pupils and for days thereafter they were gathering up materials to be sent to the settlement. Money contributions were received and thirteen boxes of clothing were gathered and sent by parcel post. Many books were included because the pupils were intrigued by the "book for a gun" program of Caney Creek.

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CELLAR TREASURE

TO MAKE space for our ever-increasing library of braille and talking books and for the many models recently made by W P A, a portion of the basement directly under the museum has been prepared. While clearing out this space, which had been used as a general storeroom, a box of interesting pictures in newspapers of 1879 was found. Among the pictures were two fine oil portraits and two exquisite examples of dry point work. All of these were probably drawn in Italy and portrayed relatives of Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, the wife of the First Director, and well known as the author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott is to dis- tribute them to members of her family who may be interested in them.

FIFTY YEARS

ON JULY 1, Mr. Julian H. Mabey, of the Manual Train- ing Department, will have completed fifty years of teaching at Perkins Institution. Through the half century with Mr. Mabey, the instruction of crafts has been secondary to the teaching of boys. In South Boston he had complete charge of the boys and over a thousand young men have had the benefit of his guidance and counsel. For- tunate is a school which can claim the continued interest and devotion of such a man !

GRADUATION

GRADUATION exercises were held on Friday afternoon, June 14. Fifteen boys and girls received diplomas from Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation. In addition, Clifford Hall received a certificate from the pianoforte normal department. At the graduation exercises the special speaker was Dr. Delmar Leighton, Dean of Freshmen at Harvard University.

BANK FOR LINCOLN DOLLARS

WHEN THE Lincoln Dollars are given to the pupils, tremen- dous decisions must be made as to the right use. One little boy in the Lower School solved his problem when he an- nounced: "I am going to put my dollar in a SIGHT-SAVING BANK!"

— 6 —

FROM OUR MAIL

"It may be of interest to you to know of our work in India. My grandfather, the late Rev. L. V. Shah, founded the first school for the blind in our country fifty years ago. My father came to England in 1914 to study the education of the blind at the Royal Normal Col- lege and he is the present principal of our school in Calcutta." From the Leader of the blind Scouts in India.

"Would you be so kind as to advise me regarding the program of physical education . . . There is a great need in South America for information of this nature." Inquiry from Montevideo, Uruguay.

"I can imagine the beauty of our campus at this season. I tell of it and of Perkins, in general, to my pupils. They think it is a marvelous place; perhaps a Utopia." From a Greek girl who attended Perkins and now is a teacher in Athens, Greece.

"We are preparing one of our pupils to avail herself of a Perkins scholar- ship just as soon as her English per- mits." Letter from a Perkins former pupil now at Bangkok, Siam.

"I have been commissioned by Mrs. Oscar Benairdes, wife of the President of Peru, to write to your organization for such information and help as you can give us." Letter from Lima, Peru.

"I have been reading with great in- terest the reports and booklets of the Perkins Institution which have been enlightening to me on many problems." From the school for the blind in Bom- bay, India.

"I have received your very interest- ing pamphlet, which is of great value to me and for which I thank you." Letter from Johannesburg, South Africa.

COLLEGE NOTES

Nevart Najarian, who was graduated from Perkins in 1923 and later received a degree from Boston University, was awarded the degree of Ph. D. by Boston University on June 10. During the past two years, while completing the re- quirements for her doctor's degree, Miss Najarian has been active as teacher of English at Perkins.

Martha Wolfson, who attended Per- kins and was graduated from Water- town High School in June, 1936, is completing requirements for gradua- tion from Radcliffe College and will re- ceive her A. B. degree later in the month.

Norman Case, Perkins '36, receives his A. B. degree from Brown University this month. He has been elected to Phi Beta Kappa and in the initiation was selected to speak for the group.

William Johnson, Perkins '36, is graduating this month from Gettysburg College, where he specialized in eco- nomics and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Andrea Caroselli, Perkins '36, has received a scholarship to continue his studies at the New England Conserva- tory of Music.

Paul Giuliana, Perkins '32, is con- tinuing his studies at Harvard Univer- sity, leading to a doctor's degree of music.

Entering college this year from Per- kins will be Fay Bresnahan, Regis Col- lege; James Delaney, Holy Cross; Rob- ert Scott, Boston College; and Gideon Tancrelle, Rhode Island State College.

Anthony Cirella and John Di Fran- cesco are to enter the New England Conservatory of Music in the fall.

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STEPHEN BLAISDELL'S WILL

(Continued from Page 3)

the disposition of his estate, which amounted to $10,000, — not a large sum, but much of the property consisted of western lands which later became exceedingly valuable and added importance to the bequest, which was as follows:

"They (the trustees of the estate) are to pay to each pupil of the Perkins Institution for the Blind and the Kindergarten connected with the same, the sum of one dollar on or before the twelfth day of February of each year, the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, and in Commemoration of his freeing the slaves and preserving the Union, and this to be called the "Blaisdell Fund." If the amount of money warrant it, and the trustees deem it advisable I also direct that they may pay a like sum to each of said pupils on or before the Fourth day of July of each year.

"If the trustees consider it best instead of the last payment they may pay to the graduates each year the sum of from ten to fifteen dollars."

It seemed best to the active executor to make a definite gift to the graduates instead of the optional distribution on the fourth of July, when the students are widely scattered; and as soon as the accumulated income made it possible, in 1913, a check for $10 was given to each graduate, the sum being increased to $15 in 1915 and remaining at that figure ever since, a fact which would surprise the donor, Mr. Blaisdell, who himself believed that the fund would some day be exhausted, for he wrote into his will:

"They are to pay the above amounts to . . . the said pupils from the income, and if that is not sufficient, from the principal until the whole has been exhausted."

But the legacy, rather than diminishing, has increased in the efficient care of the sole surviving trustee, Mr. Reardon, manager of the Howe Memorial Press, and later his successor, Mr. Frank C. Bryan. While the latter makes no prophecy as to the future status of the fund, he has had the satisfaction of maintaining its high level for the last quarter century, a record which is equally gratifying to the entire personnel of the school and to those who, going out to seek such fortunes as the world may hold for them, have shared in the benefactions planned and bestowed upon them by Stephen Blaisdell.

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME X. NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 15, 1940

The Lending Library

DURING the summer additional space in the basement of Howe Building was shelved to hold more braille volumes. This space will increase the capacity of the library 25% and will help meet, for a time, the expanding demands of that department. The Perkins Library is more than a school center because it serves the adult blind of New England. Over 25,000 volumes of braille, 6,351 volumes of Moon type, and over 2,000 sets of talking book records are housed in the Perkins library for the benefit of blind readers. These books range from a volume of "The Acts of the Apostles", printed in 1836 and the first book for the blind published in the United States, to "Not Peace But A Sword", by Vincent Sheen, the most recently received braille book. The newest talking book is "Action at Aquila", by Hervey Allen.

A glance at the library records shows that there are over fifteen hundred regular readers drawing books, while the annual circulation is about 25,000 volumes. The number of readers of embossed books is practically the same now as ten years ago, but reached its highest point in 1935. The year previous talking books were introduced and this service added a thousand readers. Likewise, the circulation of embossed books is the same now as a decade ago and its climax was reached in 1935. Last year 10,913 embossed volumes were distributed, but to that figure must be added the circulation of 13,503 talking books. Most of these volumes, both embossed and talking, for the adult blind, are provided by Federal grants to the Library of Congress and are circulated through twenty-seven regional libraries. Perkins is one of these and is glad of this opportunity to serve the adult blind.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Dr. Hayes was one of the speakers at the ninth annual convention of the Eastern Conference of Home Teachers, held in Brooklyn, September 4-7.

Joseph Kohn, teacher of English, re- ceived his degree of Master of Arts in Education from Harvard University in June.

John J. Morrison, Perkins '39, who did post-graduate work in the school last year, will enter the University of Notre Dame this fall.

Albert Gayzagian, whose home is in Watertown, has left Perkins to enter the East Watertown Junior High School.

Frederick Hayashi, a special student in music from Hawaii, took courses during the summer at the New England Conservatory of Music.

The Director of Perkins has been elected a trustee of the American Foundation for the Blind, a member of the Executive Committee and Sec- retary.

A leaflet with an attractive picture of the tower in color, a brief history of the school and an embossed braille alphabet has been printed for general distribution.

Roger Walker, Perkins '19, the only blind carillonneur in the country, was featured in a special article in The Boston Herald, written by Lawrence Dame, telling of his interest in bells and of his career.

With deep regret we announce the death on August 12 of Estelle Langlois of Attleboro, after a long illness. She had been a pupil in the Lower School since 1933.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Catholic Digest is to be embossed in braille and the work is being done by the National Braille Press at the Per- kins Workshop in South Boston.

A swimming pool, built of concrete and set in the midst of the pine woods, was installed at Camp Allen, the Bos- ton Lions Club's Camp for Blind Girls in Bedford, New Hampshire.

Visiting day of the 1940 Convention of the American Occupational Therapy Association is to be Thursday, Septem- ber 19, and Perkins is looking forward to the visit of many O. T.'s as the In- stitution is included on the list of places to be visited.

Dr. O. H. Burritt, former Principal of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, is to have charge of the lectures in connection with this session of the Home Teacher Training Course, given at Overbrook and the Pennsylvania School of Social Work.

A summary of education of the blind in residential schools is presented in a new bulletin, entitled RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, issued by the Office of Education, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. It was written by Dr. Elise H. Martens and is beauti- fully illustrated.

Perkins Institution is included in an article, entitled HOSPITALS OF GREATER BOSTON, by Frederick A. Washburn, M. D., and reprinted from the July, 1940, issue of HOSPITALS, for the benefit of those who are at- tending the Convention of the Ameri- can Hospital Association to be held in Boston during the week of Septem- ber 16.

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DISTINGUISHED VISITORS

By Anna Gardner Fish

During the summer, when the teachers and pupils are away, we have many vis- itors from far-away places especially from other schools for the blind. This year there have not been so many foreign callers as in the past, although we have had one man from India. Visitors have come, however, from California, and several states between here and there. That visiting Perkins is a well-established tradition is shown by this paper by Miss Fish. — G. F.

WE HAVE always enjoyed the personal friendship of men of affairs, such as the Hon. Charles Sumner, His Excellency, Curtis Guild, the Hon. Thomas P. Gore, Donald McMillan, and His Excellency, Leverett Saltonstall; of literati, such as Frank B. Sanborn, Horace Mann, Francis Lieber, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Profs. Arlo Bates and Charlton E. Black, Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead, Dr. Henry Van Dyke and Dallas Lore Sharp ; of musicians, such as Ernst Perabo, Carl Faelten, Louis C. Elson, John Orth, Hiram G. Tucker and Mme. Helen Hopekirk.

In former years it was the custom of the Massachusetts governors to pay us an annual visit, and when it was such a handsome gentleman as His Excellency, Roger Wolcott, we all clustered around to feast our eyes upon his fine and distinguished presence. He insisted upon in- cluding the workshop in his visit, saying that his mother, who sent all her chair and mattress work there, would never forgive him if he omitted it in his tour of inspection.

The first notability from overseas that we have record of was Charles Dickens, who visited the school in January, 1842, — alas, in Dr. Howe's absence, — and, as one teacher jotted down in her diary, "did not deign to notice anything or anybody except Laura Bridgman." Of his keen interest in her development he has given ample proof by his allusion to her in his American Notes. Later, in London, England, Dr. Howe and Charles Dickens became great friends, and the latter paved the way for doors of schools, workhouses and prisons to open to this American visitor.

In 1876 Dom Pedro, emperor of Brazil, came to this country as a visitor to the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, where the tele- phone, there exhibited for the first time, caught his amazed interest and led him to exclaim: "My God, it talks!" Unexpected and un- announced, he arrived at Perkins Institution one fine day, where he was shown every attention by Mr. Anagnos, who had recently become director after Dr. Howe's death in January of that year. He expressed

(Continued on Page 7) — 3 —

PERKINS SCHOLARSHIPS

FOUR young- people who were graduated from schools for the blind in June are to be graduate students at Perkins this year. They were selected for the four scholarships, offered by the Trustees of Perkins to outstanding graduates of the previous year. Many applications for the scholarships were received and after careful con- sideration the choice fell upon: Katharine Smith, of the Alabama School for the Blind ; Lelah Thomas, of the West Virginia School for the Blind ; Robert Beukema, of the Grand Rapids Public School Classes for the Blind, in Michigan ; and Marion V. Beal, of the Kansas School for the Blind. Miss Smith and Mr. Beal will take the College Prepara- tory Course, both looking forward to the profession of teaching; and Miss Thomas and Mr. Beukema are to study in the Music Depart- ment. In addition to the opportunity to take advanced work in this school, it is hoped that these students will gain by the privilege of living in a new environment and by making new associations. It will be good for the Perkins pupils to have young men and young women from other parts of the country live with them and, thereby, gain a larger appreciation of other parts of the country.

The money for these scholarships comes from two funds, one named for Dr. John D. Fisher, the man who first had the idea of establishing a school for the blind in New England, and the other named for William H. Prescott, the great historian who was blind. These funds were established a number of years ago and were built up through the solicitude of Dr. Allen, who was anxious that out- standing blind young people could come to Perkins for further study. The funds have now reached the point where it is possible to assign scholarships from the income.

CINCE the above state- ^ merit was set in type, an application for a schol- arship was received from the School for the Blind in Puerto Rico for Asun- cion Aponte, a former pupil in that school who was graduated with hon- ors in June from the Catholic Academy at San Juan. Because of his high ability, means have been found to grant an additional scholarship. Another boy, Jean Sorel, is entering this year from

THE GRADUATES

IN JUNE, 1940

Haiti as a private pupil. Hector Cadavid, from Colombia, returns for a second year. Rosa M. Sala from Cuba is to enter the Harvard Class and a young man is ex- pected from Mexico. While Perkins has re- ceived foreign students for many years, the enroll- ment this year seems in line with the national policy of strengthening our ties with Latin America.

TEACHING PUPILS

FEW PEOPLE realize that some of our pupils are also teachers. They are the advanced music pupils taking the Pianoforte Normal Course, which qualifies them as piano teachers. This course covers three years and is open to graduate pupils with definite musical ability. In order to secure practice in actual teaching, lessons are offered at a very small charge to boys and girls living in the neighborhood of the school. Last year fourteen boys and girls re- ceived lessons and gave a public recital on the evening of June 7. Beginning children meet in classes until the fundamentals of rhythm and notation are grasped and then they have two half-hour private lessons a week. Three advanced pupils gave the instruction last year under the direction of a member of the Music Department.

LAURA BRIDGMAN LETTERS

RECOGNIZING the historical background of Perkins and that many people turn here for data in regard to the early days and events, people from time to time send here old letters and documents, especially if they concern blindness or blind persons. Recently two letters came through an interesting circuit. Miss Mary H. Buckingham, of Boston, sent the letters to Dr. A. Lawrence Lowell, the former President of Harvard, who sent them to Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, retired Bishop of Massachusetts, who sent them to the Director of Perkins for the historical museum. They were written by Amos Lawrence, the grandfather of Bishop Lawrence and the great- uncle of Mr. Lowell, to Miss Sarah Wight, teacher of Laura Bridgman, and accompanied gifts to the two ladies.

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A MARRIAGE MART

THE TOLL of Cupid's dart was heavier than usual this past summer. Eight marriages involved ten Perkins staff members. Mr. Benjamin F. Smith, master of Potter Cottage, married Miss Martha J. Fox, a teacher in the Lower School; they are continuing with their duties. Miss Gertrude A. MacDonald, of the Deaf-Blind Department, became Mrs. Warner Stenquist. She is living in Wal- tham and will teach one more year. Mr. Joseph E. Jablonske, of the same department, and Mr. Douglas Cook, of the Manual Training Department, were married and will carry on in their present positions. Mr. Don Donaldson, master of Eliot Cottage, married Miss Dorothy Adams, of the Harvard Class. Miss Miriam A. Phipps, teacher of Manual Training, became Mrs. George McGrath. Miss Marion A. Totman, secretary to the Bursar, was the bride of Mr. Harold Young. Miss Ruth E. Robinson, former secretary to the Director, is now Mrs. Roger D. Smith. All of these have resigned their positions to take up housekeeping.

STAFF CHANGES

FIVE resignations for reasons other than matrimony require the engagement of nine new staff members. They are :

Mrs. Georgia McCallum, secretary to the Principal, formerly asso- ciated with Sufneld Academy, Deerfield Academy, and the Harvard Place- ment Bureau; Miss Naomi Johnson, secretary to the Bursar, graduate of the Simmons College Secretarial School; Miss Marguerite W. Furlong, teacher of manual training, attended Simmons College and the Boston School of Occupational Therapy; Miss Barbara Baskerville, teacher of manual training, graduate of Jamestown College, Simmons College School of Social Work with special training in the Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy; Mr. William J. Higginson, master of Eliot Cottage, graduate of Clark University and the Harvard Course; Miss Felicia Cunningham, of Cambridge, assistant to the Receptionist; Mrs. Lee W. Woolston, of Brookline, matron of Potter Cottage; and Mrs. Glen Smith, of Seattle, matron of May Cottage. Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, for- merly a professor at Mount Holyoke College and Consultant in Psy- chology at Perkins, is in residence this year, directing the Department of Personnel and Research.

TENSION

TENSION is a word frequently heard in the eye clinics. On the way back from the hospital one day, a pupil asked: "What do the doctors mean when they say 'tension'?" Replied another: "Why it's just the same as when the teachers say pay 'tention, only they leave out the pay."

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DISTINGUISHED VISITORS

(Continued from Page 3)

the utmost pleasure in his visit, and we may hope that seeds were then sown which produced good fruitage in his home land.

It was in 1906 that we welcomed to Perkins the Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda, reputed to be the richest prince in India, who had come to Boston to call upon his son, a student at Harvard. He was an upright and dignified personage in his linen robes and turban, observing everything and saying little, but registering approval of all that he saw. He was followed around by his wife, meek and wordless, swathed to the eyes in her white robes wound tightly and continuously about her; but she was not so meek as she appeared, for later news from India told of her progressive work for the women of her king- dom.

The Maharajah, in the course of his inspection, asked if it would be permissible to give "a little something for sweetmeats for the pupils", and he was assured that it would be not only permissible but much appreciated. He departed without further allusion to a gift, and the incident seemed to be closed. But a little later a messen- ger arrived at Perkins bringing a check for $200 in furtherance of his wish. We felt very noble because, instead of spending it forthwith, we placed the sum in a bank and used the income from it each year for strawberries, which did not grow for us on every plant in those days. This custom lasted through many years, until a new treasurer abolished this and other small separate holdings.

We always felt a warm friendship for this Maharajah and grieved when he fell into disrepute in India, where, seated on a platform with other notabilities during the Queen's Jubilee, he failed to rise when the royal party arrived. He declared that that was not true, but a chance photograph showed him seated while others stood, with the soles of his boots upturned towards the audience. I believe that the incident was later lived down, wealth salving all difficulties.

Now I pass to 1931, when we had a delightful call from Prince and Princess Takamatsu of Japan, the former brother of the Emperor, a visit brought about by Mr. Courtenay Crocker of Boston, formerly legal adviser to the King of Siam, who was president of the Japanese Society in Boston, of which Miss Lowe, matron of May Cottage, was a member. The occasion being carefully planned in advance, every feature was enjoyable, — the kindergarten children, assembled at the main entrance, flanking Dr. and Mrs. Allen and bearing flowers for the Princess, well-arranged activities in the schoolrooms, a fine pro-

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gram by the choir, including a solo "Lead Kindly Light" by Robert Barrett, which so moved the Prince that he broke his hitherto un- alterable rule not to speak in public and made us an appreciative speech, interpreted, as I recall it, by the Japanese consul. The guests visited Miss Lowe's cottage and the kindergarten and then went on their way, leaving a very delightful memory with us all.

If I stop at this point it is not to be understood that there have not been others of note who have graciously shown their interest in our school, many of whom have carried away pleasurable impressions and suggestions which have, perhaps, spread the influence of the Perkins spirit far and wide, even as our Harvard classes are doing from year to year.

SUMMER BETTERMENTS

THE OUTSTANDING betterment in the plan this summer has been the modernization of the laundry. Practically all new machinery has been installed and the operations centered on one floor. The laundry will be in charge of Mr. Thomas H. Read, in place of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Blais, who have been the efficient leaders for the past seventeen years. In the Engineering Department there has been considerable replacement, and the maintenance men were busy with brushes, scrubbing and painting, in order to have all buildings spick and span for the opening day of school.

THE BURSAR'S COTTAGE

THE BURSAR, Mr. Hemphill, and his family, have moved into the new house built for them during the summer. The house is an attractive structure, corresponding in architecture with the other buildings on the grounds, and is located on the corner of Beech- wood Avenue, opposite to that of the Principal's house.

THE DIRECTOR'S FARM

DURING the summer the Director and Mrs. Farrell acquired a farmhouse more than two hundred years old in Rochester, Massachusetts, near Marion. Much of their time was spent in the throes of restoration and experiencing the thrills which come when original pine paneling is found under old plaster and laths. Ten acres of land give ample opportunity to satisfy any "back to the farm" aspirations which may develop.

PLEASE

IF RECEIVED FOR NOTE ON THE

FIRST TIME -v LAST PAGE

The (Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME X. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15, 1940

The Shop Turns a Century

A HUNDRED YEARS ago the Perkins Workshop opened in South Boston. Although it has changed buildings from time to time, it has continued through the century to do business on the same site. During all these years its primary purpose has been to demonstrate to the public that the blind can be gainfully employed and that their products merit purchase on their quality. Dr. Howe early set that stamp upon the shop and a few years after the opening he was able to report that business had increased "in consequence of the satisfaction always given."

In the first days of the shop it was closely associated with the school. Most of the employees lived in the Institution. One of Dr. Howe's first decisions was to separate school and shop. He did this, partly to protect youth from the habits and attitudes of older people, and partly to give the adults the freedom and responsibility that come from living outside an institution.

As we review the century of service this shop has rendered and the larger aspect of employment of the blind, there looms clearly the need of another separation; and that is between those who can keep alive the demonstration of gainful employment and those who simply cannot maintain that standard. There are to-day among the blind two groups, the production group and the occupational group. Both deserve work and effective programs. But if a shop expects to sell to the public it must depend upon the production group. Business comes only in consequence of satisfaction always given and this calls for workers able to maintain that standard.

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Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Connecticut School for the Blind, at Hartford, entertained five Perkins girls, accompanied by Miss Simonds and Miss Nass, for an all-day get-to- gether on Saturday, November 2.

Rogers House, the home and social center for men in South Boston, main- tained by the Massachusetts Associa- tion for the Adult Blind, has appointed Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Pratt, of Ash- burnham, to be residents in charge.

The School for the Blind and Deaf of the Republic of Colombia, in South America, in connection with the cele- bration of its fifteenth anniversary, presented a certificate "to the world- famous Perkins Institution from which we hope to have enthusiastic and con- stant co-operation in this wonderful work."

The Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, in Pittsburgh, observed its fiftieth anniversary October 29-30. An historical pageant by Mary F. Flem- ing, teacher in the Pittsburgh School and former member of the Harvard Class, was presented. Dr. Edward E. Allen, Director Emeritus of Perkins, made one of the principal addresses. A program, commensurate with the occa- sion, was planned by Mr. Bradley S. Joice, the Superintendent.

The Boy Scouts at Perkins presented on November 4 two plays for the bene- fit of Boy Scout troops in this vicinity. They were so well received that the two plays were repeated on November 15, for the benefit of the Perkins Girl Scout Troop and other Girl Scout Troops in the neighborhood. At the first meeting achievement badges were awarded to seven Scouts and the com- mitteemen of the district held their monthly meeting after the plays.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Howe memorial exercises were held in Dwight Hall on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 12. Mr. Henry H. Richards, grandson of Samuel Gridley Howe, brought greetings from his mo- ther, Mrs. Henry Richards, and from Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott. A program in the form of "Information Please" brought out in a new way some of the old facts about the First Director.

Exercises in memory of Michael Anagnos, the Second Director, were held on Thursday, November 7, at the Lower School. Pupils questioned Mr. Julian H. Mabey, of the Upper School, who taught under Mr. Anagnos and who told many interesting things about the Founder of the Kindergarten.

Moulton Cottage was host to the cot- tage football teams at the annual foot- ball banquet on Wednesday, November 20, thereby indicating that it had won the series of fall games. The girls' an- nual field meet was held on the after- noon of October 16, and the final scores were: Brooks — 33, Fisher — 22, Oliver — 19, May— 12.

Members of Perkins Corporation as- sembled for the annual meeting on No- vember 4, and elected Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President, Mr. G. Peabody Gardner, Vice-President, Mr. Roger Amory, Treasurer, and Dr. Gabriel Far- rell, Secretary. Eight trustees were elected.

Christmas Concerts are to be held on Sunday afternoon, December 15, in Jor- dan Hall, Boston; Tuesday evening, De- cember 17, in Dwight Hall; and Friday evening, December 20, in Dwight Hall. After the last concert school will close for the Christmas Vacation. School will reopen on Monday, January 6, 1941.

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SAMUEL G. HOWE First Director

THE WORKSHOP

Some Personal Items By Anna Gardner Fish

At the very outset of his work for blind youth Dr. Howe saw the necessity of training them to use their hands with skill and with good and marketable results, and on his return from a visit of observation of European schools for the blind, in 1832, which preceded his actual instruction, he brought with him two well-trained teachers, one of them Mr. John Pringle of Edinburgh, a master of handicraft. The department created by this craftsman has been a continuous service from that early day even to the present time, and the instances of success which have followed through his instruction are beyond computation. He it was who taught mat- tress-making to our good workman, Joseph Chalieu, only recently superannuated and still cognizant of Mr. Pringle's helpfulness.

As Dr. Howe only casually named his assistants, as occasion arose, the succession of these helpers cannot be vouched for through his reports, but we can follow in some fashion the vicissitudes of those efforts in manual training, as the enterprise of the Workshop for Adults parted company with the school and finally attained its own separate quarters and independent existence. A curious sidelight is afforded by the careful plans made for the shop and its expenses, as set forth in the sixteenth report (1847), whereby the "master work- man," a former pupil, Mr. I. W. Patten, assumed full financial responsi- bility, whether for gain or loss. Although the gain in 1846 was only $13.81, we may hope that this represented a minimum, since Mr. Patten was content to remain in charge through many years.

Salesroom in the City The need of a central office or salesroom in the city, readily acces- sible to the patrons of the shop, was recognized at an early date, and a room at No. 152 Washington Street was secured for the purpose. This was soon given up in preference for one at No. 20 Bromfield Street, which served not only for shop transactions but as the meeting place for the director and trustees. In his eulogy of Dr. Howe, Gover- nor Bullock spoke of his "almost ubiquitous attendance on his work ;

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TRUCKS CALL AND DELIVER

he was at South Boston, he was at his office in town, ... he was always where duty called."

After twenty-seven years' oc- cupancy of this site the office was moved to No. 37 Avon Street, and there occurred one of those delightful romances, such as every school cherishes among its memoirs. It chanced that the desk of the young woman clerk, Miss Louisa Knapp, was near the window, and there she was espied by the poor but ambitious young man, literally "on his uppers" and struggling to build up an advertising business, Mr. Cyrus H. K. Curtis, who promptly fell in love with Miss Knapp. And so they were married and lived happily through the ensuing years in which Mr. Curtis, moving on to Philadelphia, acquired the Saturday Evening Post, founded the Ladies' Home Journal and amassed a fortune, all with Mrs. Curtis' co-operation and active aid. It is pleasant to dwell upon such a charming episode, emanating from the dusty environs of Avon Street.

The Shop Moves

Among the traditions which should be preserved is one illustra- tive of Dr. Howe's swift and sure action. The word for that vigorous campaigner should have been "dauntless," for the story goes that, when he desired to move the shop building from its location at the northern end of H Street, South Boston, to a site on Fourth Street, adjacent to the school, a permit to cross Broadway was refused. Nevertheless in the morning the building was on the desired spot, and who could be found to explain or gainsay this change of base ?

An old-time anecdote which may be of interest to the lovers of animals concerns itself with a Perkins dog which was totally blind. He liked to spend his days in the workshop among the men he knew, but at mealtimes the Perkins family cat would cross Fourth Street to fetch the dog home. This she did by preceding him, lightly brushing his nose with her waving tail. If a team should be passing on Fourth Street, the cat would sit down, and the dog would wait until the gentle

(Continued on Page 9) — 4 —

COUNCIL OF ORGANIZATIONS

REPRESENTATIVES of twenty-four of the thirty-nine organiza- tions for the blind in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts met at the Boston City Club on Monday evening, November 18, and organized the Massachusetts Council of Organizations for the Blind. The purpose of the Council is to correlate the activities of the many groups and thereby to strengthen programs for the blind and for the prevention of blindness. Meetings are to be held quarterly. The Council is to be made up of two representatives from each member organization. The following officers were elected: Mr. Arthur R Sullivan, of Boston, President; Mrs. T. Edwin Andrew, of Lawrence, Vice-President; Miss Rosanna D. Thorndike, of Boston, Secretary- Treasurer. Mrs. Chester Finberg, of Waban, and Rev. John J. Con- nolly, of Boston, were appointed members of the Executive Committee, in addition to the officers.

THE BOOK FAIR

PERKINS INSTITUTION had an exhibit at the Book Fair, held at the Boston Garden in October. A feature which attracted a good deal of attention was the photographic reproduction of letters passed between Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe and Charles Dickens. Dr. Howe complained of the "lugubrious reading matter," which the blind had, and stated that he wanted something which would "gladden their hearts." Mr. Dickens sent $1,700.00 to have THE OLD CURI- OSITY SHOP embossed for the blind at the Institution press. A copy of the original edition was shown among a number of rare books from the Perkins Library, while other books showed the various forms of embossed type from the old line type invented by Dr. Howe to the dot system known as braille now universally used. A part of the exhibit will be shown in the Howe Building until the Christmas vacation.

AN EARLY ATLAS

AN ATLAS of the United States, embossed for the blind at Perkins in 1837, found its way back recently. Bound in red leather, tooled in gold, the atlas bore the book plate of Edward Everett and contained an inscription : "To Louis Philippe I, with the respect and esteem of Edward Everett." It was brought from Europe to Miss Jane Muhlf eld, of New York, who now owns it. The atlas was made up of an embossed map of each state with a following page in line type, giving geographical characteristics. It was the first atlas printed for the blind in this country.

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^wa

THE MAKING OF A MATTRESS

THE PERKINS WORKSHOP

IN 1840 the Perkins Workshop became a separate department, where adults were employed and their products sold in Boston. This was eight years after Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe had begun the instruction of blind youth and at that early stage he felt the need of a place where the training acquired in the school could be put to good effect. The new project grew steadily until 1850, when a separate building was acquired and occupied. In 1930 further expansion was necessary and the large commodious building, now occupied, was built. This fireproof structure of concrete and steel is generally consid- ered to be one of the finest shops for the blind in this country.

During the hundred years of operation, the Work- shop has never tried to be a large concern. Organ- ized to demonstrate that blind persons with good training could earn a livelihood, the chief business has been the making and the remaking of hair mat- tresses. Business comes not only from private indi- viduals but, also, from hospitals and institutions in the vicinity of Boston. An order received in Novem- ber was for the remaking of one hundred and seven- teen little mattresses for the infant cribs of the Boston City Hospital. The making of mattresses calls for a highly trained sense of touch, which the blind are able to develop to a high degree. In addi- tion to mattress making, the shop for some years has con- ducted a large business in the caning of chairs and, more re- cently, has added the restring- ing of tennis racquets. At the present time twenty-two blind persons and eight seeing per- sons are employed at the Work- shop and an annual business of almost $50,000.00 is carried on.

ARTISANS AT WORK

THE BLIND ARTISANS

TWO YEARS ago the program of the Blind Artisans was announced in The Lantern and in the corresponding issue of a year ago a report of progress was made. It is appropriate, therefore, to report again at this time. Planned, originally, as a means of discovering new products or services which could be provided by the blind on a production basis, steps taken have led to a pro- duction unit. Occupying space in the Perkins Work- shop in South Boston, ten blind persons are now en- gaged in the making of candles, knitting boxes, iron- ing board covers and aprons.

The result of this work is the conviction that there are new articles that can be made by the blind on a production basis and steps will soon have to be taken to make it possible to carry on this work in a larger way. This problem is now being studied in connection with the century-old business of the Per- kins Workshop and other groups which are carrying on employment programs.

During the year the Blind Artisans have continued to give encouragement to the piano tuners and they hope to extend their help to others who work outside the shops. Many blind people engage in home crafts which give a partial livlihood and in this field there is need for the development of articles modernly styled and in opening new outlets. In soliciting busi- ness the Artisans have succeeded in interesting purchasers in arti- cles made in the State shops, chiefly in the placing of large orders for brooms. In the dis- posal of articles made in the Shop the New England depart- ment stores and other sales agencies have given splendid co- operation, and their executives have given sound advice.

SOUTH BOSTON TABLET

THE MAYOR OF BOSTON dedicated on Saturday, November 23, a bronze tablet set in a ten-ton boulder at the South Boston Municipal Building- bearing the following inscription: "1839-1912 Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind occupied the Mt. Washington House on this site from 1839-1912. Here the training of Helen Keller reflected the pioneer education of Laura Bridgman. Here Samuel Gridley Howe, Michael Anagnos, and Edward E. Allen, edu- cators and scientists, brought light to the blind. Erected by the City of Boston on the sixtieth anniversary of the organization of the South Boston Citizens Association, November 23, 1940, Maurice J. Tobin, Mayor of Boston."

The Municipal Building occupies the site of the former home of the Institution. Directly in the rear of this site is the present workshop.

THE MAGAZINE AGENCY

THE BLIND ARTISANS is planning to take over, as soon as satisfactory arrangements can be made, the business of the New England Magazine Agency for the Blind. This has been conducted as a training scheme in connection with the school's course in salesmanship but a number of blind people are getting started in this business and there is need for a central clearing agency, which will help the individuals in their approaches to the magazine pub- lishers. It is hoped that many people will want to clear their sub- scriptions to all magazines through this agency, which affords em- ployment to the blind, and any who want to help in this way may do so by getting in touch with the school.

SWEATERS FOR THE RED CROSS

KNITTING needles are flying back and forth in all spare hours on the girls' side as fifty pupils and staff members are knitting for the American Red Cross. By Christmas they hope to have over fifty sweaters completed and all are getting great satisfaction over putting to such noble use one of the skills in which the blind excel.

FROM A LOWER SCHOOL COMPOSITION

{{T A 7"HILE he was teaching Laura (Bridgman), he met Julia Y y Ward Ward, who wrote The Bottle Hymn of the Repub- lic', and he set his heart on marring the girl. They were married and he took her to Green Peas (Peace) , a lovely old house to live with . . . Laura was said to be a very jolly woman, but she did not turn out exactly the way Dr. Howe had planned."

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MATTRESS MAKERS

THE WORKSHOP

(Continued from Page 4)

guidance was renewed. Surely- life at Perkins was full of home- ly and homelike attributes.

At that time Mr. Anthony W. Bowden was serving not only as steward of the school but as manager of the shop, — a kindly and affable man whose dealings with the workmen were based upon a very deep sympathy and understanding, though perhaps lacking in modern methods of efficiency. Our engineer, Mr. John Carroll, has told how he would approach Br. Bowden for needed supplies, whereupon the latter would whip out his black note- book and write down the request. Then Mr. Carroll would groan "Not in the little black book, Bowdie, — not in the little black book !" knowing well that out of sight was out of mind and that that would be the end of the matter.

The Beloved "Cap"

We find mention of Mr. John Smiley and a Mr. Shepard as man- agers of the shop and of the coming in 1872 of the revered Mr. John H. Wright, as an expert broom-maker. "His other good qualities," said one who knew, "were later discovered by Dr. Howe," and for the next forty years he was the boys' beloved "Cap," a punctilious super- visor whose word was law but whom the boys themselves esteemed as the embodiment of just dealing and the upholder of high standards of character and conduct.

Following Mr. Bowden as manager of the shop in 1890 came Mr. Eugene C. Howard, a man of sterling character and a master crafts- man, somewhat reserved and brusque in manner but possessed of business acumen and executive ability and interested in his work and his workers; and the shop prospered under his management. His sternness of manner was softened by a deep and inherent love of flowers, and his labors among them offered welcome relief from his strict attention to business. It is noteworthy that, when he became ill and had to give up his position, both the men of the shop and the

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boys of the school were constant visitors at his bedside and showed an affectionate re- gard for his welfare.

In his day the office and salesroom shifted from No. 37 to No. 39 Avon Street in 1899, and to No. 383 Boylston Street in 1906, a building bought for the use and purposes of the institution. In 1924, in view of the trend of trade, this prominent and valuable piece of property was sold, and the present building at No. 133 Newbury Street was acquired and utilized as the in-town office for all transactions requiring a central place of business.

FRANK C. BRYAN Shop Manager

Mr. Bryan Takes Charge

After Mr. Howard relinquished the reins, in 1906, and after a brief interregnum, Mr. Allen, newly appointed director, persuaded Mr. Frank C. Bryan to come to Perkins from Philadelphia. In the Overbrook school for ten years he had proved his ability in the pro- duction with meticulous precision of all sorts of appliances for the benefit of the blind as well as their own output. He brought to the work a wholehearted enthusiasm for this field of labor and a conscien- tious and painstaking effort to make the manufactured article the very best that could be produced by the shop and, later, by the Howe Memorial Press, of which he became manager succeeding Mr. Reardon in 1916. Although avoiding publicity, he has accepted to the full all the responsibilities his positions have entailed, and his complete co- operation and wise judgment may be depended upon in the multi- farious and perplexing problems brought about by the present-day economic changes.

This account must not close without reference to the long-time service of such helpers as Pliny Morrill, foreman, and Miss M. A. Dwelly, forewoman, Miss Mendum and Mrs. Lincoln, clerks, and Mr. Charles F. Bond, assistant to the manager. Surely Perkins Institution has been fortunate in its loyal supporters and owes much of its prestige to their staunch adherence and interest.

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PUBLICATIONS

EDWARD ELLIS ALLEN, the life of Dr. Allen written by Mrs. Allen, has been privately printed. Copies are available through The Riverside Press, Cambridge. Proceeds are to be given to two schools for the blind in China.

OUR COUNTRY is the title of the recently published memoirs of Dr. Clar- ence Hawkes, a Perkins graduate, and the author of over fifty books.

THE INSTRUCTOR for September contains an article, "A Unit on the Bermuda Islands", by Mrs. Jessie W. Mayshark, of the Perkins faculty.

THE OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC FOR 1941, in its 149th year, lists in its calendar for March that the Perkins Institution was incorporated on the second day of that month in 1829.

THE EDUCATION OF EXCEPTION- AL CHILDREN, by Arch O. Hech, pub- lished by the McGraw-Hill Book Com- pany, contains five chapters dealing with the blind and the low visioned.

THE SOCIAL SECURITY BULLE- TIN, for September, 1940, has an article, entitled "Who Receives Aid to the Blind and How Much Are They Receiving", by Anne E. Geddes.

THE BOSTON TRANSCRIPT had an article on the deaf -blind children at Perkins in the issue of October 15, and an article by the Director on the edu- cation of blind children in the issue of October 12.

LIFE, for November 15, has an article telling how deaf-blind children are taught to speak and a series of excel- lent pictures of the deaf-blind children at the New York Institute. Featured is Helen Siefert, who was a pupil at Perkins for two years prior to entering the New York Institute.

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FROM OUR MAIL

"The mattress is fine, — just the way I want it." — York Village, Maine.

"Thank you very much for the fine work that was done on my two chairs in your workshop." — Boston.

"The down quilt arrived and is the very thing I wished — beautiful work — enclosed is payment." — Madison, Wis- consin.

"I am certainly well-pleased with the mattress. If I have any further work to do, I will always let you know." — Charlestown.

"We are quite satisfied with the work done on the chair. Noticing that you do mattress work, we should like to have you call for one." — Woburn.

"I was much pleased with the job you did on my puff. Will you be good enough to send me . . . samples of your coverings . ' ' — Newton .

My check herewith . . . for remaking mattress. It is the best mattress job I ever had done. I will surely recom- mend your work to anybody seeking ex- cellent and honest work." — Melrose.

"I appreciate . . . the very satisfactory and business relations the school has had with your Institution. The inner- spring mattress ordered with special cover to fit couch can be sent after July 1." — Andover.

"Your bill has been remailed to me so I presume you delivered the made-over mattress ... As your work has always been perfectly satisfactory, I am mail- ing my check." "Your bill, forwarded to me. However, I thought it wiser not to send check until I had seen the work. I came back to town not three hours ago and am thoroughly pleased with the results as I see them." — Two Sum- mer letters.

WORKSHOP FOR THE BLIND

Salesroom

133 Newbury St.,

Boston

Ken. 1722

Workshop

549 E. Fourth St.

South Boston

Sou. 4570

CHAIRS RE-CANED

NEW MATTRESSES MADE

Hair and Inner Spring

OLD MATTRESSES REMADE

Hair Sterilized

PILLOWS AND DOWN PUFFS

Made and Renovated

For 100 years '"Satisfaction Always Given"

RACKETS RE-STRUNG

Special Workshop Edition

Dedicated to the Workshop which for a century has fur- nished gainful employment to the blind and has always given satisfaction to its patrons.

This issue of The Lantern is being sent to friends and patrons of the shop. It will be sent regularly each quarter to any who send us their name and address.

BLIND ARTISANS of New England

A program to assist blind workers develop new articles and market their products, through established stores.

For information call KEN more 1722

PIANOS TUNED

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS

Watch for this sign in the stores.

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME I. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 194 1

What of The Blind?

EVERYWHERE today organizations and people are analyzing their activities to see what part they can play in the defense program. In this scrutiny we may well ask: What of the blind? Have the blind a contribution which they can make and which will enable them to satisfy the yearning, common to all, to do their bit for National Defense? From abroad we hear stories of the Italians using blind men as outposts to listen for the approaching enemy and many are the stories that come from England, telling how in the blackouts the blind become leaders and guides.

Recently, under the direction of the Army, the American Legion conducted a demonstration of the use of civilians in detecting ap- proaching airplanes, a duty in which keen ears are the essential quali- fication. Our boys were asked to have a part in this by occupying a nearby listening post. Our girls are also taking a helpful part in the war program. One group has knitted nearly one hundred sweaters to be sent to England and another has hemmed towels for the use of the American Red Cross.

The danger in many of these efforts is to seek the spectacular. The blind might better try to find a place in the secondary line of defense. More and more, men, and women too, are being called away for active service. They are leaving empty places in their communi- ties. Therein lies opportunity for the visually handicapped. "They also serve who only stand and wait" might well be the motto of our people in seeking a place in National Defense.

^cUO^^f 7?oAAjl££

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Miss Fish, whose leading articles in former issues of THE LANTERN have been so widely received, is spending the winter months at her home in Nantucket. She will resume her duties at the school in April.

Anita O'Shea, of the Junior Class, submitted a poem, "March Nocturne", for an ATLANTIC MONTHLY prize. Although she did not receive a prize or honorable mention, her poem stood high enough to be included on the final list from which the prize winners were selected.

The Clergy of Watertown are again coming to chapel on Thursday morn- ings, bringing Lenten messages to staff and pupils. On Tuesday mornings dur- ing the winter term the Student Coun- cils have been providing speakers, as in former years.

The Chorus had the privilege of joining in a program with the Am- phion Club, a noted men's chorus, at a concert in Melrose on the evening of February 27.

The Metropolitan Opera Company is to be in Boston during the week of March 27. All Seniors and those spe- cializing in music will attend a per- formance through the Oliver Fund, which provides for the purchase of tickets to musical concerts.

Perkins wrestlers met the team of the Belmont High School on the eve- ning of January 21, and won six out of nine matches; on February 11, they lost to Needham 9-0; and on February 18 at Quincy High, they tied for hon-

1616 people came to the Institution to view the many demonstrations on Washington's Birthday. The Boy Scout program and the swimming were pop- ular features.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Miss Rosanna D. Thorndike, a Trus- tee of Perkins and active in all work for the blind in Massachusetts, left Boston early in the New Year to serve in Unoccupied France in the great rehabilitation program conduct- ed by the Quakers in that country. Miss Thorndike's devotion to the handicapped and her knowledge of France and the French language will make her an invaluable worker.

The Massachusetts Council of Agen- cies for the Blind held an important meeting at the Red Cross headquarters in Boston on Monday, February 24. Miss Eleanor H. Lovett, formerly in charge of the Braille Division of the Red Cross, has succeeded Miss Ros- anna D. Thorndike as Secretary- Treasurer.

The Rhode Island Association for

the Blind has planned a tremendous two- day program, featuring outstand- ing accomplishments by the blind, to be held on March 13 and 14 in Provi- dence. Carl King and Phillip Small, pupils at Perkins, are to participate and a Perkins exhibit of educational materials is to be shown.

The New York Institute for the

Education of the Blind has again achieved great success in a concert at the Town Hall, New York City, on January 25, by presenting a chorus of students and alumni and featuring Lauritz Melchior, the great Danish tenor of the Metropolitan Opera.

Joseph Cetto, a former pupil at Per- kins, is a candidate for Selectman and Tax Collector in the spring election for his Town of Charlemont.

Miss Ethel I. Parker, Perkins gradu- ate and Massachusetts Home Teacher, broadcasts every Thursday over Sta- tion WLAW.

— 2

PERKINS BOY SCOUTS

j\ Chapel Talk, February &

By Roger Beaudry

The writer is Senior Patrol leader and our outstanding troop leader. During his six years of Scouting, he has won many merit badges and has attained the rank of Star Scout which leaves only the Eagle degree for him to obtain. Editor.

THIS week marks the thirty-first anniversary of Scouting in America. It is fitting, therefore, that we tell you something about our own troop. Troop 25 is the largest in the Watertown district, with a mem- bership of forty-four Scouts. We are proud of our record in competi- tions with other troops. Our troop is divided into four patrols. They are: Beaver, Bright Star, Eaglehead, and the Silver Fox.

Since November, we have held a contest among the four patrols. The prize was to be given to the one that made the greatest advancement in Scout rank, conduct and spirit during troop meetings. The prize was roller skating or similar entertainment chosen by the winning patrol.

The contest ended last night. The winning patrol was the Beaver, its leader is Scout William Burke. If Scout Burke will please step for- ward, I will (on behalf of troop 25) present him with this patrol leader's badge. I am proud to present you with this patrol leader's emblem, and may you continue to ad- vance your patrol in years to come.

William Burke : I think the Beaver Patrol won this contest, be- cause all the boys in the patrol worked together. When the bugle sounded assembly, every boy fell into line quickly and quietly. During our work periods, almost every boy followed my instructions for study.

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

ROGER BEAUDRY (left) Explaining the Scout Shield

I

KATHERINE SMITH Alabama

SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS

N THE four corners of these pages are pictures of the four young people who are attending Perkins this year as scholarship pupils. They come as indicated under the pictures, from differ- ent parts of the country and were selected from a large number of applicants for the four scholar- ships offered to outstanding graduates of schools for the blind last June. During the year each in his or her own way has contributed to Perkins. They have talked in chapel, have written for the school paper, and they have caused our pupils to be interested in people from other parts of the country. All four would eagerly acclaim the benefits they have received while here. Educationally, they have been stimulated by special studies, trained in certain skills, and given a taste of that indefinable something called "New England culture".

Opportunity for four more young people to enjoy these privileges has been assured by the action of the Trustees, in making scholar- ships available for another year. The attention of the heads of the schools for the blind throughout the country will be called to these scholarships and they will be asked to submit applications. The scholarships will cover tuition, board, room and laundry during the regular school year, beginning next September. Applications will be received until May 15, and the awards will be granted June 15.

GC

F. T. Hayashi.i

MARION V. BEAL Kansas

DIRECTOR EMERITUS HONORED

A BRONZE plaque, honoring fifty years of service to the blind by Edward Ellis Allen, has been dedicated at the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, in Philadelphia. The plaque, the gift of former associates of Dr. Allen while he was Principal of the Philadelphia School, bears a bas-relief of Dr. Allen, similar to the one on a tablet at Perkins, but bearing a different inscription. Exercises appro- priate to such an occasion, with an address by Dr. 0. H. Burritt, Dr. Allen's successor at Overbrook, were held on the evening of Wednesday, January 29, and many friends gathered to bear tribute to Dr. Allen and his

half century of leadership.

— 4 —

HISTORICAL CANES

A CANE, made of beautifully grained ma- hogany with a curved silver handle, bear- ing the legend, "Cut in 1846, from a piece of the original timber of the frigate Constitu- tion— Old Ironsides — then under repairs at the Pensacola Navy Yard, in charge of Captain W. K. Latimer", has been presented to the Perkins museum by Henry Randolph Latimer, for many years the able leader of the blind in Pennsylvania and now residing in Baltimore. The museum is grateful for this gift and it has been placed in a case in the museum, which also contains the cane used by Michael Anagnos, the Second Director of Perkins, and presented to the school by Mrs. Cora L. Gleason, formerly Home Visitor. Mr. Latimer's gift suggests the idea that there could be no more appropriate souvenir of a blind leader than the walking stick which has been his "feeler" and protector during his active life.

LELAH

West

THOMAS Virginia

OUR THANKS TO —

BOSTON COLLEGE and the Cenacle for Christmas parties and presents to the Upper School on January 11, and the Lower School on January 18. . . . The Highland Glee Club of Newton for an inspiring concert in Dwight Hall on January 14. . . . The Junior League Orchestra for playing to the Lower School on January 22. . . . The W P A Orchestra of Newton for an interpretative concert on January 23. . . . Sir Herbert Ames, former Treasurer of the League of Nations, for an illuminating talk on training aviators in Canada, on January 28. . . . The Boston Committee for a Lower School party on February 8. . . . Sir Clutha Mackenzie, noted blind leader of New Zea- land, for chapel talks at both Lower and Upper Schools and an address to the whole school on February 10. . . . The American Folk Singers for a program of Negro Spirituals on Feb- ruary 17. . . . The Boston College Dramatic Club for a presentation of an act of the play "Father Malachy's Miracles", on February 19. . . . Ben Ames Williams, dis- tinguished novelist, for a talk on Curling, on February 25. . . . Horace Taylor for a lecture on astronomy on March 7. . . . All these events have made this long winter term one of unusual interest.

ROBERT J. BEUKEM,

Michigan

— 5 —

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THE ANNUAL REPORT

HE accompanying picture is the frontispiece of our one hundred and ninth annual report, recently published. Taken on our pond, the picture glimpses something of the more restful side of school life, which is sometimes lost sight of in a report whose purpose is to chronicle activities and events. A volume of seventy-four pages, the annual report is a compre- hensive covering of the work of the school. It is mentioned here because some of our readers might like to know a little bit more about Perkins than The Lantern conveys. The report also represents the work of another handicapped group, because it is printed at the Indus- trial School for Crippled and Deformed Children in Boston.

THE SEEING EYE

PERHAPS no form of aid to the blind is better known than the Seeing Eye. Supplementing the natural desire of all to help sightless people, there is the innate love of an intelligent dog. Like many other causes which have caught the public attention, the Seeing Eye, Inc. is sometimes embarrassed by its friends. Generally well-intentioned, these friends are not always helpful. There is some doubt as to whether featuring guide dogs leading their owners through unusual exploits in literature or in art is eminently helpful. On the other hand, there is no doubt but that some efforts which have been and are being made to secure dogs are decidedly harmful. Only recently Perkins was informed that enough tinfoil had now been raised by interested friends to secure a dog for one of the younger pupils. This practice, as well as that of collecting match folders and cigarette wrappers, is so widespread that the officers of the organization have had to take extensive measures to combat this false information. As a result of our own experience, we are bringing this matter to the attention of our readers because the guide dog movement is so soundly helpful to the blind that it must not be either exploited or misinterpreted.

TEMPUS FUGIT

EVEN when deaf and blind, time flies. Our thirteen-year-old Leonard recently exclaimed to Miss Hall: "Oh, Oh! The days go faster and faster each day!" "Why?", asked Miss Hall. Leonard replied: "There isn't time enough."

— 6—

PUBLICATIONS

In braille, available through the regional libraries, is EDWARD ELLIS ALLEN, the life of Dr. Allen, by Kath- erine G. Allen, mentioned in our last issue. It has been embossed at the American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, Kentucky.

The national school newspaper. CURRENT EVENTS, and editions 3, 4 and 5 of MY WEEKLY READER for February 10, contain pictures of pu- pils at Perkins reading these publica- tions and tell they are now published in braille for schools for the blind.

Training Teachers of the Blind, by

Genevieve M. Haven, Tutorial Assist- ant of the Harvard Course, published in the December issue of THE OUT- LOOK FOR THE BLIND, tells of the Special Methods Course, which covers the second half of the Harvard Course year.

Four million pillow cases have been ordered by the United States Army ac- cording to THIS WEEK MAGAZINE for January 26. This work has been allocated through the American Foun- dation for the Blind to forty-four workshops in twenty-six states and provides employment for hundreds of blind men and women.

Larz Anderson, Letters and Journals of a Diplomat, edited by his wife Isa- bel Anderson, contains many happy references to Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott, daughter of the first Director. Mrs. Anderson is an honorary member of the Ladies Visiting Committee of the Kindergarten and the book tells of her Christmas custom of entertaining the children of the Kindergarten at her home "Weld" when that school was in Jamaica Plain. With Mrs. Howe, she has frequently shared in the Howe Memorial exercises held annually at Watertown. A braille copy of this book is available through the library.

FROM OUR MAIL

Many letters were received in re- sponse to the Perkins Christmas card containing the story related by King George in his message to his people Christmas, 1940. All were appreciated.

Perkins pupils were delighted to re- ceive this letter from Helen Hayes, whose presentation of TWELFTH NIGHT so many attended when it played in Boston:

"I should like to call you all by your names and separately thank you for your sweet letters to me in Boston about TWELFTH NIGHT. It makes me so happy that you enjoyed it, for I loved playing in it.

"I shall treasure the pictures which you sent me of your TWELFTH NIGHT and they will have an honored place in my scrapbook.

"And your kind words about the radio programs are very heart-warm- ing. Since we can't tell on the radio how much we are pleasing, it is nice to hear from those who listen that they like us.

"Thank you again and all good wishes.

(Signed) Helen Hayes."

"What a beautifully typed letter it is. I notice that it was transcribed by a blind Ediphone operator." Yale Uni- versity School of Medicine.

"I am at present living in a small community of people who, while they have shelter for their sleeping hours in the Crypt of St. Paul's, play their part in watching and, as far as they can, safe-guarding that immense and noble building . . . London has been knocked about a bit . . . We appreciate all you are doing to help . . ." W. McG. Eager, Secretary-General of Na- tional Institute for the Blind, London, England.

— 7 —

PERKINS BOY SCOUTS

i Continued from Page 1) At our regular patrol meetings on Wednesday afternoons, almost every boy was present.

This co-operation made it possible for my assistant, Francis Cordeau and me to advance in Scout rank several of our boys. Our patrol also worked hard on the project of brailling Scout songs. My patrol and I decided to go roller skating. We are going to do our best to win the next contest.

Roger Beaudry : Now let us all stand and give the pledge of allegiance to the flag:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

THE ANNUAL PLAY

IN PLACE of the annual play, which usually is a well-known dra- matic work (last year TWELFTH NIGHT was presented), Per- kins Players are this year combining with the Girls' Chorus to produce on the evenings of March 26 and 28 the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, "Pirates of Penzance". This work affords fine opportunity for the choral groups and, also, a broad scope for the dramatic talent which the school possesses. As usual, the proceeds will be divided between the Perkins Athletic Association and the Theatre Fund.

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

m

VOLUME X. NO. 4 JUNE 15, 1941

Teachers in Training

IN A HIGHLY specialized field, like the education of the blind, a primary problem is to secure well-trained workers. Good teachers for ordinary schools are abundantly turned out by normal schools and colleges. But the special schools must provide their own spe- cialized training. In many such schools we find, therefore, in addition to the regular instructors, teachers in training. Perkins Institution is no exception, unless it is exceptional in that it has had such a pro- gram for twenty years.

Throughout his life Dr. Edward E. Allen has been an advocate of higher professional standards among teachers of the blind. For twenty successive years he has gathered at Perkins Institution a group of aspirants for training in this field. Under his tutelage and in the well-equipped environment of this school these students have had an experience and an inspiration which could scarcely be gained elsewhere.

From the outset this training, although held at Perkins, has been offered by the Graduate School of Education of Harvard University. Because of that sponsorship the instruction has become known as "The Harvard Course". Associated with Dr. Allen from the begin- ning has been Dr. Henry W. Holmes, until last year the dean of the Graduate School and more recently a trustee of Perkins. Dean Holmes has constantly been a strong supporter of this joint enterprise which has provided specialized training for nearly three hundred teachers who now serve in thirty-five states and eighteen countries beyond the seas.

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Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Junior League entertained the Lower School on May 16, with their dramatization in costume of the fairy story, "Princess Tenderheart".

Fifty boys participated in the inter- cottage track meet on May 24. Tomp- kins scored 18 points; Eliot, 10; Moul- ton. 8 and Bridgman, 0.

The girls' athletic meets for the year closed with the following results: Brooks, 155; Fisher, 108; May 112% and Oliver. 93. Twenty-five girls took part in the swimming meet and 13 swam 200 yards.

The girls' chorus presented THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE on March 26 and 28. The girls gave the operetta and the boys sold the tickets, with the Music and Dramatic Departments co- operating in the production.

The track team has not had a very successful season. It came out at the tail end of the triangular meet at Hart- ford on May 10, with Hartford, Over- brook and Perkins competing. It also suffered defeat at the hands of the New York Institute on May 17.

A broadcast from Station WORL was given by Perkins pupils on Saturday morning, June 7, in cooperation with the Watertown Police. This was part of the Ml Safety Program, offered each week over that station. The Seventh Grade wrote a play especially for the occasion.

Upper School girls have enjoyed the privilege of attending teas at Cam- bridge homes, arranged for them under the direction of Mrs. Arthur Brooks, of Cambridge. Nearly twenty hospitable women in Cambridge have entertained the girls in this delightful way. With Miss Marshall, the Home Visitor, the girls went in groups of four to the teas.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Charles P. Eaton, Perkins '30, is chairman of the Town Planning Board of Watertown.

Annie Rose Moses, Perkins '34, a graduate of Hampton Institute, is em- ployed as a home teacher of the blind in New Jersey, under a WPA Project.

Dorothy Ingersoll, Perkins '32, enters the employ of the Edison Co. July 1. During June she is assisting at Perkins.

Frank Green, Perkins '34, has entered the employ of the Blind Artisans at South Boston.

Eva Del Padre, Perkins '40, has se- cured a position in a private school in Barrington. Rhode Island.

Gerard Desrosiers, Perkins '40, has been engaged to take charge of the poultry on an estate in Rhode Island.

Anthony Pollino, Perkins '38, has se- cured the right of placing a vending stand in the Public Works Building in Boston.

Angelina Correia, Perkins '39, has been engaged by Lewis Shepard Com- pany, Watertown, as an Ediphone oper- ator.

Gideon Tancrelle, Perkins '39, is em- ployed by the Rhode Island Association for the Blind at its Providence office.

Graduate students completing the Pianoforte Tuning Course in June are: Don Copple. who will take up this work in Maine; Clifford Hall, who goes to Vermont; and Clinton Dyson and Leo Queenan. who will work in Massa- chusetts.

— 2

ANNA GARDNER FISH

A Devoted Servant of Perkins

By Gabriel Farrell

EVERY ISSUE OF "THE LAN- TERN" except two, since it ap- peared in this form, has carried on this page an article by Anna Gard- ner Fish. These articles have told of people whose names have been writ- ten into the history of Perkins Insti- tution. Of those about whom she wrote few, if any, have served the Institution longer and none has been more loyal and devoted than Miss Fish. It seems appropriate, there- fore, that on this page there should be a tribute to Anna Gardner Fish, whose life closed on April 30. Up to a few days before her death Miss

Fish was at work at her desk and had she lived until June 1, she would have completed forty-four years of service to Perkins Institution.

During these forty-four years of service Miss Fish's life merged intimately with the life of the Institution. She served under three directors and to all gave a full measure of loyal service and unstinted attention to the smallest detail in the management of the Institution. In 1897 Miss Fish came to Perkins, then at South Boston, to be secre- tary to Michael Anagnos, the second Director. When Dr. Edward E. Allen became Director, she continued in that office and served him faithfully through the quarter century of his directorship. In 1931 she became Registrar of the Institution and carried on the duties of that office, pertaining to the official documents and the registration of the school, until a few days before her death. During all these years Miss Fish came to know the details of management thoroughly and she was an authority on all matters pertaining to Perkins' his- tory, as well as one to whom anyone could turn for information about the many boys and girls that she had seen pass through the school. Next to Perkins Institution, Miss Fish's loyalty and devotion centered in the island of Nantucket, where she was born seventy-two

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

DR. ALLEN

A SCORE OF YEARS

IN 1920 Dr. Edward E. Allen, then Director of Perkins Institution, felt the need for more ade- quate provision for the training of teachers of the blind. After consultation with Dr. Henry W. Holmes, then Dean of the Graduate School of Edu- cation of Harvard University, and Mr. Charles B. Hayes, of the Massachusetts Division of the Blind, a plan was worked out for a series of lectures upon the history and outlook in education of the blind. These lectures were given by several leaders in the field on appointed evenings at Lawrence Hall, Har- vard University, and attracted a number of those already in the work and a few whose interests drew them towards it. So successful was this preliminary series that Dean Holmes invited Dr. Allen to take up the work more systematically, becoming a duly appointed lecturer on an extension half -course to occupy the first semester of the college year on the education of the blind with Harvard Graduate School of Education as its sponsor and Perkins Institution as its laboratory. In February, 1925, the course was raised from the status of an extension course to that of a regular half-course with credit counting toward the degree of Master of Education to duly accredited college graduates. In that same year the course was supplemented by a second half-course on "special methods" of teaching the blind. Since then this second course has occupied the second half of the school year. For the first eleven years it was conducted by Miss Jessica L. Langworthy, Ed. M., an experienced teacher of the blind, and, later, by Miss Genevieve M. Haven, Ed. M., also a well-versed instructor of blind youth. This supplementary course also counts towards the degree of Ed. M. under certain restrictions and conditions.

COURSE AT HARVARD

DURING the past twenty years the Harvard Course has centered more and more at Perkins. There has been a growing desire on the part of students attending the course to have opportunity to avail themselves of the instruction given at Harvard. To meet this demand, a new plan for the future training program has been arranged to go into effect in September. — 4 —

DR. HOLMES

The teacher in training program for next year will consist of four units of work, two each half-year as follows:

1. The first half-year —

a. A three-hour course on the educacion of the blind to be given at Perkins. This will consist of three periods a week, two for lectures and one for conference.

b. A required number of hours of observation and practice teaching under the direction of the various departments at Perkins with visits to related organizations.

2. The second half-year —

a. A course selected from those offered by the Graduate School of Edu- cation at Harvard and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School of Education and the Director of Perkins. This will be taken at Cambridge and may be in general principles of education, a course on methods, or one on content, as the need may be.

b. Continuation of the observation and practice teaching, described above.

THE TWENTIETH CLASS

THE PRESENT GROUP, which represents the twentieth class of the Harvard Course, is made up of twelve members, coming from five states, Cuba and the Philippine Islands, and repre- senting ten colleges. While this class is smaller than the average of recent years, it has been an excellent group, which is attested by the fact that nearly all have positions assured for the coming year.

— 5 —

GRADUATION, JUNE 20

GRADUATION takes place on Friday, June 20. The Lower School will hold its promotion exercises on that morning at 9.00 o'clock and those who are to be advanced to the Upper School will receive recognition of their achievement in the Lower School at that time. The Upper School graduation will be held in Dwight Hall at 2:00 o'clock. The Commencement address this year will be given by the Rev. Vivian T. Pomeroy, D. D., Minister of the Unitarian Church in Milton, and the Invocation will be by the Rev. Thomas J. Carroll, of the Catholic Guild for the Blind. The diplomas for the seventeen graduates and the certificates for the special students will be awarded by Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE

THE DEPARTMENT of Special Education of the National Edu- cation Association is to hold sectional conferences at Perkins Institution on Tuesday, July 1. The N. E. A. is holding its annual meeting in Boston and it seemed appropriate for those inter- ested in special education to come to Perkins for the day and arrange- ments have been made for an interesting program. Luncheon is to be served at noon, after which there will be a general assembly in Dwight Hall. At 2.00 o'clock section meetings will be held for those inter- ested in the mentally retarded, the physically handicapped, the blind and sight-saving, the deaf and hard-of-hearing, behavior problems, remedial reading, speech problems, and gifted children.

A GOOD COUNTRY

THROUGH THE Howe Memorial Club prizes were offered to members of the Senior High School for the best essays on the subject: "Why the United States is a Good Country in Which to Live". Consideration was given to content, typing, and general composition. Thirty-one papers were submitted and at the chapel exercises on Thursday, May 29, prizes were awarded as follows: 1. Francis Fournier, 2. Elaine Drake, 3. Alden Allen.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

A KINDERGARTEN child recently said proudly that her mother's name was the same as that of the Founder of the Kindergarten, Mr. Anagnos, only the "An" was left off. Her name was Agnes. (From Miss Fish's files)

— 6 —

SENIOR PLANS

Mary Andrews has taken a position with the Blind Artisans at the South Boston Shop.

Americo Autuori has begun his career as an orchestra leader. His orchestra is to play at the Senior Boys' Recep- tion.

Clarence Briggs returns to Vermont where he plans to make articles de- signed by the Blind Artisans to be sold through a nearby tearoom.

Joseph Correia plans to enter his father's grocery business and will also raise poultry.

Francis Fournier has secured a posi- tion as an Ediphone operator in the Cooperative Workshop, Boston.

Stanton Hunt has been engaged at the Middlesex Tuberculosis Sanitorium to work in the domestic department.

Alice Miller has returned to Rhode Island, where she has accepted a posi- tion in the home of the State Treasurer of Rhode Island.

Joseph Roberge has completed plans to start a poultry business with his brother.

Returning for post-graduate study are: Alden Allen for poultry, Carl King in music, Irving MacShawson in college preparatory, Margaret Golden for Edi- phone work, Mildred Lovejoy and Mar- tha Gurry for manual training.

Two members of the Deaf -Blind De- partment are graduating: Earl Martin, who will return to his home in Vermont and William Zarr, who lives in Massa- chusetts. During the year William has built a row-boat which he will take home with him.

COLLEGE NOTES

Ruth R. Hayden, Perkins 13, received the degree of M. A. from Boston Uni- versity June 8.

Betty L. Nye, a former student, was graduated June 9, from the Wheelock School for kindergarten and primary teachers.

Marion Foley, Perkins '39, has com- pleted her work at the Leslie Kinder- garten School in Cambridge this June.

Adelaide Feleciano, Perkins '40, who entered Leslie Kindergarten School this year, is doing honor work with an average of 91% in all subjects.

John Morrison, who entered Notre Dame University last September, has been elected President of the Fresh- man Class, which has a membership of one thousand.

James Delaney, a Freshman at Holy Cross College, has won scholarship honors and has made the Dean's list, which is attained by about only 15% of the pupils.

Richard Hull, formerly a student at Perkins, was graduated from Clark University this June, where he special- ized in political science. Last fall he was a candidate for the Legislature from his home district, Rockland.

Louis H. Rives, Jr., a former pupil, who completed his preparatory work in the public schools of Norfolk, Virginia, recently visited Perkins while in Boston as a member of the Debating Team of William and Mary College, Virginia, which was debating Boston College. Rives was graduated from William and Mary this June and was on the honor roll.

— 7 —

ANNA GARDNER FISH

• Continued from Page 3)

years ago and where she was buried on the Saturday following her decease. Miss Fish traced her descent to the early settlers of Nan- tucket and throughout her life she went there every summer. During the past winter she was at her home in Nantucket for three months and had planned to live there upon her retirement. Her dual interest in Nantucket and Perkins was carried over into the disposition of her estate. After leaving definite bequests to a large number of friends, including several on the staff of Perkins, she bequeathed the residue to be divided equally between the Nantucket Cottage Hospital and the Perkins Institution.

Miss Fish was especially interested in the deaf-blind pupils of Perkins and her retentive memory brought to light many interesting stories regarding their success. At the time of the centennial of the admission of Laura Bridgman, the first deaf-blind mute ever to be taught the use of language, Miss Fish published a book, entitled "Per- kins Institution and Its Deaf-Blind Pupils", which covered the story of the education of the doubly-handicapped at Perkins during the previous century. At the time of the semi-centennial of the founding of the Kindergarten, Miss Fish told in booklet form of the life of Michael Anagnos, its founder, and related many incidents which led to the establishment of what is now the Lower School. In nearly every issue of THE LANTERN there was some part, in addition to her signed article, which came from her vast knowledge of Perkins and her appreciation of the present program of activity.

Many friends of Miss Fish, particularly former students, wrote in regard to what she had meant in their lives. Perhaps the fol- lowing statement, written by one of the older men graduates, ex- presses the feeling that many held for Anna Gardner Fish :

"I remember very well when Miss Fish came to Perkins a modest young- secretary. The spirit of Perkins soon enveloped her, as it does most every person connected with the school, and it was not long before she was one of the joys to which the old graduates looked forward when returning to their Alma Mater. I feel that in the death of Miss Fish I, personally, have lost a dear friend. The articles which Miss Fish contributed to THE LANTERN on historical facts connected with Perkins and many of its former co-workers were most enjoyable and will be greatly missed."

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XI. NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 15. 194 1

A Decisive Decade

FOR TEN YEARS THE LANTERN has endeavored to send out rays of light to the blind and to those interested in the visually handicapped. Perhaps during no decade since the first in Per- kins' history have so many changes taken place. Within Perkins have been those to be expected normally from a new administration. Outside in the larger world of the blind there have been decisive changes which will mark this as a period of tremendous transition.

Never in the history of this special field has so much money been available. Generous provision for financial aid for the blind through the Social Security Board, augmented dollar for dollar by state funds, has enabled programs for the blind to develop and to expand. WPA has contributed its quota directly through employment of the blind, or indirectly through products such as braille, maps, models and in many cases buildings for school purposes. Funds for reading matter have increased and largely because of this a new reading medium, the Talking Book, has become almost of greater importance than braille.

While we are thankful for this generous provision for the blind we must not forget that money can never be the sole solution of their problem. We still adhere, after ten years, to the principle set forth in the first issue of THE LANTERN, that our aim must be to prepare our pupils for poised and purposeful living. To train our young people to be able to meet life adequately, to acquire skills that com- mand respect and provide employment and to have a zeal to be con- tributors rather than recipients must always be objectives for those who really want to enable the blind to fill the place in life that is their aspiration.

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Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Six Perkins' boys attended Camp Massapoag as the guests of the Boston Committee for the Blind.

Many Perkins' girls enjoyed a vaca- tion at Camp Allen this summer, where Miss Jane Murdock, teacher in the Commercial Department, was in charge.

Virginia Cole returns to the Manual Training Department of the Upper School after a year of special study in weaving.

Armand Michaud, Perkins '29, Boston University '35, was awarded the Degree of Master of Arts at the close of the summer session of Boston University.

Maureen Nilsson, teacher in the Deaf-Blind Department, was awarded the Degree of Master of Arts at the Colorado State Teachers College in Greeley, Colorado.

Miss Thelma E. Peirce, Physiothera- pist, and Miss Harriet A. Ellis, Adviser in the Lower School, were the most ex- tensive travelers this summer. Accord- ing to reports, they went "to Mexico by way of Alaska".

Congratulations to Jean Dodds, who became Mrs. Alfred Taylor; Helen Louise Nass, who has married Mr. Ken- neth Henderson; Marion L. Damren, who became the bride of Mr. Richard Hibbard and Harry Burke, who was married to Miss Joan R. Spire.

With deep regret we announce the death of Miss Sadie Turner on August 12, after an illness which began early in the spring. For twenty-five years Miss Turner has been a devoted, faith- ful teacher in the Kindergarten and she will be greatly missed. On July 7 Robert Hopkins, pupil in the Lower School, died at the Massachusetts Gen- eral Hospital.

NEW STAFF MEMBERS

Sara E. Blodgett, Mount Holyoke '40, Harvard Class '41, psychometrist and secretary of the Department of Personnel.

Axel Borg, Perkins '40, teacher in the Boys' Manual Training Department in the Upper School and master of Eliot Cottage.

Almira J. Clark, graduate of the Cambridge Hospital, resident nurse.

Alice Cornelison, Vassar '40, Harvard Class '41, teacher of mathematics in the Upper School.

Guido Marchisio, Perkins '33, Boston University '37, member of the Harvard Class for this year, master of Moulton Cottage.

Frances L. Martin, graduate of Framingham Teachers College, teacher of home economics in the Upper 6chool.

Leroy McLaughlin, Perkins '36, master of Bridgman Cottage.

Betty Nye, a special student at Per- kins in '38, Wheelock School '41, teach- er in the Lower School.

Dorothy Rodgers, Sargent School of Physical Education '39, Harvard Class '40, physical director for girls in Upper School.

Lawrence Thompson, Perkins '34, Harvard '38. Harvard Class '41, teacher of social studies in the Upper School.

Mrs. L. S. Bartram of Cambridge, matron of Bradlee Cottage for one year, during absence of Miss Goodwin.

Mrs. Marcia F. Batchelder, of Haver- hill, matron of Brooks Cottage, suc- ceeding Mrs. Minnie D. Hutton, who retired after twelve years of service.

AN AMERICAN CREDO

Why I Would Rather Live in the United States than in a Country Controlled by a Dictator

By Francis Fournier, '41

This paper won first prize in a contest held last spring for members of the senior high school. The writer completed his work at Perkins in June and is now employed as an Ediphone operator at the Co-operative Workshop in Boston. — Editor.

DO I prefer to live in the United States because here I have freedom of speech and freedom of the press? Is it because I can choose and faithfully follow a religion, unmolested? Are my emotions aroused by the fair trials to which all are entitled? Or is it that I have the privilege to vote and actively take part in my country's government that makes my choice America? Certainly no one of these reasons is responsible for my preference, but every one of them and more besides.

The American flag waving on the pole in front of our school building is not reverenced merely through demand, but through sin- cere appreciation of that for which it stands. To me, those colors stand for happiness. Of course, many people living within the bounds of this great nation are not happy. But that flag which so gently waves before me, I know, stands for a stronger pursuit of happiness to all than that of any other land.

America, you are my foremost choice because here I can live. Whether I am Irish, Italian, Greek, German, French, or whatnot — Whether I am in the upper register of society or toiling for subsistence in a factory — I know I can live compatibly and work side by side with my fellow men. You offer me a land free from persecution and full of opportunity. You are emphatically progressive, but not mali- ciously aggressive. Your spirit is unsurpassed.

You, the United States, do not claim to be faultless, nor do you have all ups and no downs. Problems exist here, difficult ones, but you are great enough to cope with them. Ever since you saved your- self from division more than seventy-five years ago, you have grown stronger and better in every way. And until some nation comes to offer greater opportunities — a chance really to live — I, along with millions of others, thank God for the privilege of living within your borders.

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THE ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH YEAR

PERKINS opens for the one hundred and eleventh year a week later than usual, in that the staff reconvenes two weeks after

Labor Day, rather than one week after that holiday. On Monday evening, September 15, the Director meets with the staff and lays before them plans for the coming year. At that meeting twelve new staff members will be introduced. (See list on page 2.) On the following day the pupils return and on Wednesday classes begin.

Three members of the staff have been granted leaves of absence for the coming school year. Mr. E. J. Waterhouse, for eight years teacher of mathematics in the Upper School and first director of the W P A Model Project, enters Government service in October as in- spector of defense machinery after taking, during this past summer, an intensive course at M. I. T. Mr. Paul L. Neal, for sixteen years master of Moulton Cottage and teacher of social sciences in the Upper School, has undertaken a special piece of work for the Commonwealth in the Department of Child Guardianship. Miss Ethel M. Goodwin, for eighteen years a matron in Bradlee Cottage, is to live at home because of the serious illness of her mother.

A VISITING TEACHER

INSTRUCTION is to be given this year to about a dozen blind boys and girls who have been unable to attend Perkins because of physi- cal handicaps other than blindness. For some time there has been concern over these children who are not receiving the education to which they are entitled. There seemed to be no way to make special accommodations for them at Perkins, because their crippled condition made it impossible for them to get about our buildings and grounds and their presence here would restrict the freedom of movement, which we encourage in our pupils.

A solution to this problem has come through the engaging of a special teacher who will visit in the homes regularly, giving the necessary instruction. This has been instituted for a year's trial. Miss Josephine L. Taylor,

SOME GO TO SCHOOL

for five years a teacher in the Lower School, has been assigned as the teacher for the coming year. Miss Taylor brings to this work a wide knowledge of our instructional methods and the program of Perkins, as well as experience as a visiting teacher for the Arthur Sunshine Home, a nursery for blind babies in New Jersey, where she was en- gaged before coming to Perkins.

SUMMER IMPROVEMENTS

THE PERKINS' tower, a landmark of the Charles River Valley, and widely known through its frequent reproduction on Perkins literature, has undergone considerable repair this summer. The stones on the top of the tower had become loose and all of them had to be re-set and a great deal of repointing done in the masonry of the tower. This will make it secure for many years to come so that it may continue to bear aloft the lantern, which, in architectural sym- bolism indicates that the surrounding buildings are educational rather than ecclesiastical.

Likewise, the great chimney of the power plant, which, in itself, is something of a tower, was the object of considerable work, as it had to be entirely repointed and the top layers of capping stone re- placed. Provided sufficient coal is obtainable this year, the recon- structed chimney will assure us of warmth during the winter months.

THE DISTRIBUTING LIBRARY

PERKINS Institution is one of the twenty-two distributing libra- ries which provide reading matter for the adult blind. A recent report shows that, counting music, the Perkins library has the largest number of books in stock, but without music it is exceeded by three other libraries. In the number of readers the Perkins library stands sixth and it also has that rating in the circulation of books. New York City Library has the most readers, whereas the St. Louis Library circulates the most books. The Per- kins Library contains 32,231 embossed books and 3,006 talking books and lists 1,624 readers with an an- nual circulation of 32,- m:: ,ag|.a f^SEjgJ ^P^sf% -*• 906 volumes, half em- bossed and half re- corded.

SOME GO TO WORK

THE CENTENARY OF LOUIS BRAILLE

SOUTH American countries seem to have been more alert in giving recognition to the centenary of Louis Braille. In Argentina the authorities interested in the blind formed a committee to pay tribute to Louis Braille and to commemorate his great contribution to the well-being of the blind. In publications which were received at Perkins there were many accounts of the life of Braille and an interesting picture of him was widely distributed. A two and one- half cent stamp, bearing the reproduction of the picture of Louis Braille, carried this tribute to all parts of the world. All interested in the blind do well to pay tribute to this Frenchman, who, after losing his own sight, adapted a more complicated dot system to the simpler system based on six dots, which is now universally used by finger readers.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE

PERKINS was host on Tuesday, July 1, to the Department of Spe- cial Education of the National Educational Association, which was holding its annual convention in Boston. Extensive exhibits of work done by the several groups of special classes were set up in the buildings and many visitors came out during the week of the convention. On the day of the meeting luncheon was served in the museum and eight sectional conferences were held for the various groups. Over five hundred people were present at the conferences and all enjoyed the hospitality offered by Perkins.

SCHOLARSHIP PUPILS

FOUR young people from different parts of the country will attend Perkins this year on scholarships which are offered to outstand- ing graduates of schools for the blind each year. Many applica- tions were received this year and, after careful consideration, the following were selected: Charles Nedick, Jr., Columbus, Ohio; Irving Smith, Wenatchee, Washington; Beulah Holly, Lakeland, Florida, and Mary Palmer, Custer, South Dakota.

FOURSCORE YEARS

MANY friends of Dr. Edward E. Allen, Director Emeritus of Perkins, sent greetings to him on the occasion of his eightieth birthday, August 1, and congratulations to Dr. and Mrs. Allen on their fiftieth wedding anniversary, July 9. THE LANTERN is glad to add its felicitations!

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PUBLICATIONS

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A PSYCHOLOGY

OF BLINDNESS

By Samuel P. Hayes. Ph. D., American

Foundation for the Blind, Inc., New York

Since his retirement as Professor of Psychology at Mount Holyoke College a year ago, Dr. Hayes has been able to give full time to his studies in the psychology of blindness. Being in resi- dence at Perkins Institution, he has had the resources of the Perkins' li- brary and, also, opportunity to work directly with blind children.

Part I of the book presents chapters of a more comprehensive study of the psychology of blindness which will be completed for publication sometime in the future. In Part II he makes acces- sible to teachers a great deal of mate- rial in regard to the administering, scoring, and interpreting of psychologi- cal tests. A valuable part of the volume is the Appendix, which contains two complete bibliographies of test litera- ture upon the blind, one list upon achievement tests and the other upon intelligence tests.

WHAT OF THE BLIND?

A Survey of the Development and Scope of

Present Day Work with the Blind. Edited

by Helga Lende, American Foundation

for the Blind, Inc., New York

A few years ago the American Foun- dation published a book, entitled WHAT OF THE BLIND. This met with such a wide acceptance that a second vol- ume covering problems of a more speci- fic nature and dealing with subjects not elaborated upon in Volume 1 has been compiled.

Readers of THE LANTERN may be interested to know that of the seventeen chapters three are by mem- bers of the Perkins' staff and one by a graduate of Perkins. These chapters are: "Mental Measurements of the Blind" by Dr. Samuel P. Hayes; "Spe- cial Groups Among the Blind" by Jes- sie W. Mayshark; "The Blind of Lim- ited Employability" by Peter J. Salmon, Perkins '14 and "The Education of the Deaf-Blind" by Dr. Gabriel Farrell.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Frank Swett, Perkins '39, has ac- cepted a position in defense work in Meridan, Connecticut.

Douglass Barker, Perkins '40, has ac- cepted a position at the State Hospital in Pondville, Massachusetts.

Alfred Reinert, Perkins '30, assumed his duties on September 1, as head of the New Hampshire broom shop in Concord, New Hampshire.

Carl Ireland, Perkins '38, has left em- ployment at the Workshop to take a position with Mr. Gibson on his poul- try project in Reading.

William Johnson, Perkins '36 and a graduate of Gettysburg College, played the leading part in the Seeing Eye film, which is being produced in theatres throughout the country.

Meeting in Indianapolis, in July, the American Association of Workers for the Blind elected as President for the next biennial Peter J. Salmon, Perkins '14, Assistant Director of the Industrial Home for the Blind, Brooklyn, New York, and re-elected as Treasurer, Francis B. Ierardi, Perkins '08, Director of the National Braille Press.

William Endicott, member of the Perkins Corporation for over fifty years, died in Beverly, August 25. As a young man he was elected a trustee in 1888 and held that office until 1934. From 1904 to 1916 he acted as treasurer. During all these years Mr. Endicott was a devoted and loyal friend of the Institution and although he held many other public and banking affiliations his interest in the blind and in Per- kins never wavered. During World War I he was head of the American Red Cross for Great Britain.

7 —

COUNCIL OF ORGANIZATIONS

THE Massachusetts Council of Organizations for the Blind is to hold its first open meeting at Perkins on Saturday afternoon, September 27. The Council, formed a year ago, is made up of two representatives of each organization for the blind in the state, but to this meeting any member of organizations, or in fact, any persons interested in the blind may attend. Following the assembly in Dwight Hall at 2:15 there will be an address by Mrs. Sidney E. Pollack, Administrative Director of the New York Guild for the Jewish Blind and formerly president of the New York Council of Agencies for the Blind.

At three-fifteen there will be Round Table Conferences lead by the chairmen of the following committees :

1. Social and Recreation Activities, Mrs. Etta P. McPhee ;

2. Industrial Problems and Employment, Mr. Frank C. Bryan ;

3. Prevention of Blindness, Dr. Gabriel Farrell.

After the round tables brief reports on the conference will be pre- sented to the whole group followed by refreshments and a tour of Perkins.

THE A. A. I. B. CONVENTION

THE American Association of Instructors of the Blind has ac- cepted the invitation extended by Perkins to hold its biennial convention here on June 21-26, 1942. It is twenty-four years since the convention was held at Perkins and it is not too soon to make plans so that those who attend will have a profitable and pleasant time.

St. Dunstan's,

Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London, N. W. 1 Prom The Chairman's Office 22nd July, 1941.

Dear Mr. Bryan,

Thank you for your letter of 17th June and please thank Dr. Farrell very much indeed for the generous gift of two lots of slates. I am glad to tell you that the first consignment have been received in perfect condition, and I much hope the second lot will come shortly as you can be sure we shall make good use of them.

I greatly appreciate your generosity in making this contribution towards our work for the young people who have been and are being blinded in this war. It is only another sign of the universality of American good-will towards our cause.

Yours sincerely, Frank C. Bryan, Esq., IAN FRASER

Manager — Howe Memorial Press,

Perkins Institution & Massachusetts School for the Blind, 594, East Fourth Street, S. Boston.

I

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The Lantern 1/

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XI. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 194 1

®Iji> IGtgtjt nf ®1jp Warlb

CHRISTMAS is an appropriate time to unveil a window fea- turing "The Light of the World." At this season that Light beams brightly from the Halo of the Little Child of Bethlehem. Certainly there is need of light, not only among the blind, but among all men. May it be as the prophet of old wrote: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a Great Light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the Light shined."

Probably in no generation has the science of physical light made more advance than in our own. The many lamps in our homes, the careful attention given to lighting in schools, the illumination of highways, to say nothing of the flaming signs of advertising, have made light a modern miracle.

What does all this mean to the blind? In 1881, Edward Everett Hale, while pleading for funds for the Howe Press, said that the blind were subject to the same taxes as the seeing and asked: "How does a blind taxpayer feel, I wonder, when he is told of these long ribbons of light — like a cobweb laid over the whole of this city — lighted up every night as the lamp-lighter makes his rounds?"

The light that the world needs today, however, is not physical light but spiritual light. And it can be possessed even by those with- out sight. John Milton, the blind poet, knew, for he wrote:

"And wisdome at one entrance quite shut out. So much the rather Thou Celestial Light Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thense ^ Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell Of things invisible to mortal sight."

^Os&uJ 7&AA*<€p

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Memorial exercises for Samuel Grid- ley Howe and Michael Anagnos were held on November 10 and November 7. respectively. On anniversaries of the birthdays of the First Director of the Institution and the founder of the Kindergarten, exercises are held to keep alive their memories and to pay tribute to the leadership which has made the present-day Perkins possible.

Moulton Cottage, by half a point, won the intercottage football meet this fall and, according to custom, enter- tained the other football teams at a banquet on Thursday evening, Decem- ber 4.

May Cottage won the girls' annual autumn Field Day, held on November 6. A glorious day made the event quite a happy occasion, and the scores were: May 30, Brooks 25, Oliver 20, Fisher 9.

The Boston College Dramatic Club came to Perkins on Friday afternoon. November 28, to read portions of King Lear to the assembled school.

Miss Margaret Hamma, World Champion Typist, gave a demonstra- tion at Perkins on Wednesday, No- vember 26, and thrilled the pupils with her speed and efficiency at the type- writer.

The girls of the Upper School held a dance on Saturday night, December 6, when they entertained thirty sailors from the Boston Navy Yard.

Two girls, Mildred Lovejoy and Mar- garet Tebbetts, as representatives of Perkins, attend the monthly meetings of the American Junior Red Cross in Boston. Perkins was asked to send representatives as a result of the in- terest shown in knitting for the Red Cross last year.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

William E. Powers, Perkins '32, Judge of the Cumberland, Rhode Is- land, Probate Court, addressed the Pawtucket Rotary Club on November 14.

Hervey Rainville, Perkins '33, gave a piano recital before the New Bed- ford Women's Club on the afternoon of November 19.

Manuel J. Rubin, Perkins '28, played the piano and was one of a quartet in a concert for the Pilgrims' Daugh- ters, in Brockton, on November 13.

Madeleine Brooks, Perkins '25, gave a recital for the Music Club in Con- cord, New Hampshire, on November 10, and talked on The Seeing Eye.

The Industrial Home for the Blind. Brooklyn, New York, center of the Light Buoy industries, opened a new building on October 23 for its growing industrial activities. Peter J. Salmon, Perkins '14, is the Assistant Director.

William Johnson, Perkins '36, a graduate of Gettysburg College, has been engaged as a home teacher by the Pennsylvania State Council for the Blind.

Edith Di Dominicis, Perkins '32, was featured in THE BOSTON TRAVEL- ER of September 24, in one of a series of articles, entitled "Our Gracious Ladies", in which it told of her charm and personality, her education, and her present work at The American Red Cross, where she is head of the Braille Division.

Gideon Tancrelle, Perkins '40, on November 14, took the Civil Service examination for State telephone oper- ator. The examination was put into braille by the Howe Memorial Press, at the request of the Civil Service Commission.

2 —

FRANCIS HENRY APPLETON

President of the Perkins Corporation, 1898-1930

FRANCIS HENRY APPLETON was president of the Perkins Corporation longer than any other man who has held that office. He was connected with many other organizations, such as First Corps Cadets, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Horti- cultural Society, Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, the Charitable Irish Society, Sons of the American Revolution. At one time he served in the Massachusetts Legislature, and he was a member of Governor Roger Wolcott's staff. At the time of his death he was the oldest graduate of St. Paul's School, Concord, and one of the oldest graduates of Harvard University. But none of these interests was as close to his heart as the leadership which he gave to Perkins Institution.

Elected president of the corporation in October, 1898, he held that office until he was more than eighty years old, resigning at the annual meeting in November. 1930. These years were crucial in the history of Perkins Institution. When Mr. Appleton took office, the school was in charge of Michael Anagnos, who died suddenly while abroad during the summer of 1906. The responsibility of guiding the Institution through this critical time fell upon Mr. Appleton. and under his direction the trustees sought a new head for the Institution, which resulted in the election of Dr. Edward E. Allen.

The School in Watertown

Dr. Allen's first great undertaking was to establish a new school at Watertown, removing the Institution from South Boston and the Kindergarten from Jamaica Plain. Dr. Allen tells with great appre- ciation of the strong support which he received from Mr. Appleton and the wise counsel which enabled the plans for the new school in Watertown to receive recognition as the most beautiful school for the blind in the country, if not in the world.

Even after his retirement as president of the corporation, Mr. Appleton continued as a member of that body, and his interest in Perkins did not abate. In these later years, when he had retired from other activities, he continued to come to the school several times

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE MEMORIAL WINDOW

DURING the Christmas holidays a stained glass window is to be installed in the chapel in memory of Francis Henry Appleton, President of the Perkins Corporation 1899-1930, and his wife, Fannie Tappan Appleton. The window is the gift of their son, Francis H. Appleton, Jr. After his retirement as President, and until his death in 1939, General Appleton frequently visited Perkins, and often expressed the hope that the chapel could be completed with stained glass windows. In addition to adding beauty and dignity to the chapel, the richly stained glass will soften the strong light that now enters and is disturbing to the pupils' eyes.

When a window as a memorial was suggested, the matter was taken up with Mr. Charles J. Connick, distinguished Boston artist in stained glass. Mr. Connick and his associates had previously con- sidered the possibility of installing a window in the chapel to replace one that had been destroyed in the hurricane. Some preliminary sketches had already been made, and when Mr. Connick was ap- proached he was glad to make these designs available. The colored reproduction of the window, inserted in this issue of THE LAN- TERN, shows clearly Christ, "The Light of the World" as the central theme, with a representation of The Good Samaritan in the right lancet, and an incident of the healing of blindness, as recorded in John IX, 6, pictured in the left lancet. The small medallions in the lower part symbolize the agricultural interests of Mr. Appleton.

CAROLS FOR CHRISTMAS

A HAPPY opening for the Christmas Season, which begins early at Perkins, was a delightful lecture on "The Creche in Modern Art," illustrated by beautiful specimens of creches from all parts of the world. For ten days, beginning December 11, special programs with carols and recitations by pupils were held in the chapel each morning. On Wednesday, December 17, parties were held in all the cottages with gifts and gaiety for all.

The Carol Concerts, usually three in number, were four this year, because a request was received from the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists to have our program presented at a special meeting on Wednesday evening, December 10, in Dwight Hall. The regular concerts were planned for Sunday afternoon, December 14, in Jordan Hall, and on Tuesday and Friday evenings following in Dwight Hall at the school. The Friday night concert is planned,

— 4 —

primarily, for the friends and parents of the pupils. At the close of the concert, those who live nearby may return home for the Christmas holidays. All will leave the following day and will return on Monday, January 5.

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

ONCE again we have sent to several thousand friends of our work for the deaf-blind a report of progress and an appeal for their continued support. This year the appeal took the form of a calendar with an attractive picture of our two newest pupils on the front, and a brief statement regarding "Children of

This picture was among the many taken of our deaf-blind pupils to And one suitable for the appeal. Attractive as It Is, we did not put it on the appeal because it might seem diffi- cult for some people to think that these children are not actually talking to one another. As a matter of fact, both are totally deaf and totally blind, and, as yet, have acquired little ability in the use of speech. With this ex- planation we are glad to share with our readers this attractive picture of Edgar Pittman, from Idaho, and Juanita Morgan, from Col- orado.

the Silent Night" on the back of the calendar. It is hoped that the calendar will seem so attractive that people will want to keep this reminder of our work on their desks throughout the year. Last year we received 650 contributions from 33 States and 5 foreign countries, and it is hoped that there will be as widespread sharing in this work again this year.

PERKINS PREPARES

THE Watertown Committee for Civilian Defense, pointing out that the town has no hospital facilities, has asked the Trustees to make available part of the Perkins buildings for emergency hospital units in the event of war. The Trustees have granted this

request, and committees have been appointed at Perkins to do their part in the program of public safety. Beginning in January, about thirty-five staff members are to take an authorized First Aid Course, to be given at the school by the American Red Cross. Seventeen members of the staff have taken the Convoy Course, which provides training in evacuation proceedings. Full programs have been pre- pared, which will enable setting up cottages as thirty-bed hospital units within an hour's notice. Other committees are working on such problems as emergency feeding, hospital sewing, and air-raid shel- ters. The Perkins tunnel, connecting the buildings, made of concrete far beneath the ground, affords perfect air-raid shelters for all in the school and many in the community.

MORE GIRL SCOUTS

GIRL SCOUTS have been active for several years at Perkins, and so interested have the girls become that it has been neces- sary to form a second troop. Troop 8, under the leadership of Miss Frances M. Roots, has twenty-seven members divided into three patrols. At investiture exercises, held on Thursday evening, November 13, in the Lower School, two new members were admitted to Troop 8, and fourteen girls of the Lower School were accepted to form Troop 31, which is to be under the leadership of Miss Marjorie Beal. Both troops meet regularly on Thursday evenings.

MORE GOOD NEIGHBORS

MISS EUGENIA CORTES, a member of the Harvard Class 1929-30, has come back to Perkins for an intensive review of our methods of instruction. On January 1, Miss Cortes resumes her duties as educational director in the School for the Blind, Mexico City, a position which she held prior to the closing of the school several years ago. Coming with Miss Cortes is a graduate of the Mexico School, Miss Lilia Gonzalez.

INTELLIGENCE QUESTIONING

A REQUIREMENT in a mental test is to count from twenty back to one. A little boy taking the test had had difficulty in counting upwards, pausing at twelve. When asked to count from twenty backward, he said in a tone which questioned the intelli- gence of the tester: "Now, look here, my dear. If I had so much trouble counting up, how do you think I can count back?

— 6 —

PUBLICATIONS

MY WIFE AND I, by Sidney Homer, has been embossed in braille for the Library of Congress and is now avail- able through the regional libraries. Mr. Homer, one of America's leading composers, tells the story of his life, as well as that of his wife, Louise Homer, former Metropolitan Opera star. In the book Mr. Homer states that at one time he was offered the position as head of the Music Depart- ment at Perkins.

MAKE THE MOST OF WEAVING AT CAMP is an interesting article by Miss Virginia Cole, which appeared in the summer edition of THE WEAVER. Miss Cole is teacher of weaving at Perkins and is developing home weav- ing among former students.

THE PERKINS' GOAT, the pupils paper, published in braille and also mimeographed for the benefit of non- finger readers, has announced that hereafter the June issue will be elim- inated, and subscriptions will be sev- enty-five cents for eight issues.

THE JONATHAN HARRINGTON HOUSE IN LEXINGTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS, by Helen Clark Fernald, a book telling of this historic residence, has been recorded for use on the talk- ing book. Four copies of a limited edition were especially designated for Perkins Instituton.

NINETY YEARS ON, by Henry Richards, is a volume of special inter- est to all concerned with Perkins, al- ■ though we usually think of Mrs. Rich- , ards as the author of the family. Another book about, but not by, Mrs. ; Richards has been published in con- i nection with her ninetieth birthday — LAURA E. RICHARDS AND GAR- DINER— which tells of her many in- terests and activities in her home com- munity.

FROM OUR MAIL

LIMA, PERU: — "The society for giv- ing aid to the young blind in Peru acknowledges with this letter receipt of the maps made especially for teach- ing the blind, which you have been kind enough to present to us, and its representative takes advantage of this opportunity to express his gratitude for so generous a gift."

MEXICO CITY:— "We, the Direc- tora and Professors of Secondary School, No. y, desire to thank you again for your wonderful generosity in renewing the scholarships for Miss Eugenia Cortes and her pupil, Lilia Gonzalez, who has been our pupil also in the secondary school."

HAVANA, CUBA:— "Up to this time there has been no kindergarten for blind children in Cuba. I am a kin- dergarten teacher and I am going to start a kindergarten . . . for which I would like to have you send me a list of your activities. All the details which you can give me concerning topics to discuss with the course, games, and other activities of the kindergarten will be very helpful to me."

SHANGHAI:— "This letter is to let

my friends at Perkins know that I am still here in Shanghai waiting for transportation for Manila ... I shall never forget my stay at Perkins and the many interesting people I met in Cambridge and Boston. All these I owe to you for giving me the chance to enjoy the one-year scholarship at the Institution."

CANTON, CHINA:— "I am thinking so especially of Perkins these days, as you are reopening school. The glory of a New England autumn is one of the lovely memories I have. The young women who expect to go to Per- kins are working hard on their English now. It is the greatest that can come to Ming Sum to be able to have these Chinese people get what they will get at Perkins."

— 7 —

FRANCIS HENRY APPLETON

( Continued from Page 3)

during the year to look about, to talk with staff members, and to inquire how everything was going. People at Perkins were always glad to see him. He always had some interesting episode of the past to relate and was full of appreciation of the new endeavors.

On several of these visits he went to the chapel and often ex- pressed the hope that it could be completed by the installation of stained glass windows. In conversations he spoke of the types of windows in which he was interested, and on one occasion he invited the Director to visit a nearby institution which had windows that pleased him greatly. Because of that interest it seemed appropriate to select as a memorial the central chapel window.

For many years Mr. Appleton owned a farm on the shores of Suntaug Lake on the Newburyport Turnpike, now a water supply for the City of Peabody.

He liked to plow his own fields and milk his own cows. It is recorded that when a friend in Boston once asked him why he spent so much time on his farm at Peabody, he replied : "Cowhide boots are excellent alternatives for patent leathers and vice versa." One of the boys in the neighborhood, who, as a lad, knew Mr. Appleton there, is now the Rev. George P. O'Connor of Dedham, a valued trustee of Perkins Institution.

At the time of Mr. Appleton's death Father O'Connor was asked to prepare resolutions, expressing the sense of loss felt by the trus- tees and their appreciation for his many years of service to the Institution. In this minute he wrote: "General Appleton had an extraordinary interest and vision in the accomplishments of Perkins. He loved the Institution and labored for it with wisdom, with pa- tience, and with foresight. Perkins became the consuming ambition in the active years of his later life. He served it faithfully, unself- ishly, and with profound sympathy. . . .

"He had a remarkable capacity for inspiring confidence in others. His gift in being equal to the confidence given him is no less extraordinary. Because he could answer every test of his loyalty to ideals, men of every stamp loved him, sought him, and completely trusted him. He spent the major portion of his life fighting for noble purposes, for human things in which his idealism, his impulse to service, his self -forgetting love of human kindness were supreme."

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XI. NO. 3 MARCH 14. 1942

Victims of Victory

AMERICA is all out for victory. There is no alternative, and there must be no evasion of the stern realities which face us. All abilities and resources must be mustered into service and intelligently directed toward that objective. Victories of value have never been achieved without cost, and there are always bound to be victims as well as victors. That has been the universal price of suc- cess, and Americans today are ready to pay that price in full.

While we feel grave concern for all the victims — the wounded, the bereaved, the refugees, the dispossessed, and the hungered — we trust that we will not be misunderstood if we express special concern for those whose contribution to victory is loss of sight. Hundreds — we hope not thousands — of the armed forces and of civilians, in the course of duty or through accident, will lose their sight before victory comes. As they fall within our area of special interest — those whom we have resources and facilities to help — we are filled with concern over what we can do and what we ought to be doing now.

With many who are blinded in the days to come, sight will be lost in a flash; but the adjustment to a permanently blacked-out world is a long, drawn-out battle. It is during this time that intelli- gent and understanding help and guidance is imperative. We did not do very well by the soldiers blinded in the last war, and because of that we want to press the question now: Are we prepared or preparing adequately to help at the critical time these victims of victory ?

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Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Clergy of Watertown are again speaking in turn at morning chapel on Thursdays during the season of Lent.

The chapel window described in the last issue was not installed but has been stored in a safe place for the duration.

Miss Josephine Taylor, Visiting Teacher, told of her work over Station W L A W in Lawrence on Thursday. February 18.

Open House, held for many years on Washington's Birthday, was held this year on Saturday, February 21, with about seven hundred people in attend- ance. Monday was a holiday.

The annual staff party, in the form of a square-dance, was held on Thurs- day evening, February 5. The leader and musicians from Wayside Inn came back for a return engagement on the evening of March 5.

Miss Lydia Y. Hayes, a Perkins graduate and for a quarter of a century head of the work for the blind in New Jersey, visited the school for a week in February and spoke in chapel on the morning of Friday, February 6.

Robert Smithdas, a deaf-blind pupil, who has been attending the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind at Pittsburgh, was admitted to Perkins late in February. He is sixteen years old and lost his sight at the age of seven and hearing at eleven.

"Talkies," or sound moving pictures, are being offered at the school, and a number of pupils enjoy them. Early in January Mr. Morris Frank showed the film of The Seeing Eye, and in Feb- ruary pictures with a commentator describing New England were offered by the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

John Morrison, a sophomore at Notre Dame, had no mark under 90 during the first half-year.

Adelaide Feleciano, a freshman at Emmanuel College, had only one mark under 90 and that was 85.

Joseph Cetto, a former Perkins pupil, reports that he is leader of the Boy Scout troop of his town and is doing regular duty at the local observation post, reporting planes.

The New York Institute for the Edu- cation of the Blind is seeking funds to build an air-raid shelter for its pupils, which may be later rebuilt as a swim- ming pool.

Gideon Tancrelle, Perkins '40, passed the Civil Service Examination in Rhode Island and has been assigned as tele- phone operator at the office of the Pawtucket Division of the State Em- ployment Service.

Boston Nursery for Blind Babies on February 12 unveiled a portrait of the late Mrs. Roland G. Hopkins, for many years Treasurer of the Nursery and an ardent leader in work with the pre- school blind child.

The Barnes School at Henniker, New Hampshire, has been opened by the New Hampshire Association for the Blind for the training of young men over eighteen years of age in agricul- tural pursuits. Mr. Merton M. Lake is the Superintendent.

The Executive Committee of the

American Association of Instructors of the Blind, after canvassing all of the schools for the blind in the country, voted not to hold the biennial conven- tion this year. This was scheduled be held at Perkins late in June.

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IN DR. HOWE'S DAY

Glimpses from Early Reports

W

HILE CLEARING ATTICS as an air-raid precaution has revealed many early relics, Perkins has had somewhat the same ex- perience through the necessity of cleaning out the large vault in one of the offices in order to make room to store valuable documents. In this process were found bundles of old correspondence and the Director's reports to the trustees from 1830-1876. In going over these various reports in order to pre- s. g. Howe about 1831 serve and classify them, many glimpses of the early days were revealed and we would like to share a few with our readers. It is interesting to learn that in the first years the trustees paid only educational expenses, while Dr. Howe boarded the pupils at his own expense. He was allowed to charge the parents of the children for their board, but at the end of the first year he reported that he lost money and in 1836 he asked to be released from the contract. 'Tn the present high prices it is desirable and proper that the strictest economy should be practised; and, yet, I am very much averse to doing it, situated as I now am, lest the pupils attribute it to my desire for gain."

The reports regarding health show a lack of many modern pre- ventives, but certainly no lack of serious difficulties. "Severe disease of the lungs," "the consumption," "typhus," "a weak and scrofulous nature," are often mentioned. One report said "eight of the males were taken down with the varioloid and, in one case, unmodified smallpox." In the same month a teacher's illness "assumed a fatal turn and she died" and "a domestic feeling the approach of a fit, to which she was subject, fell from the fourth story window upon the top of the piazza and, rolling off from that, fell two stories more to the brick pavement. She was taken up insensible and so continued until she died."

Reports and correspondence indicate the importance of the trans- fer from Colonel Perkins' house to the great hotel in South Boston. Soon after the removal Dr. Howe reports: "The advantages of our new location in promoting physical health are most striking . . . Our pupils bathe daily in the sea ; they are out in the open air much of the

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

PERKINS' WAR PROGRAM

FROM the outset of events which ultimately led this country into war, Perkins has been alert to find its rightful place in the war program, both as an institution and also for its people. A year ago girls were knitting sweaters for the Red Cross in free time. Now all of the time in the Boys' and Girls' Manual Training Depart- ments is devoted to war work. More sweaters, other knitted goods, and sewed articles are being prepared by the girls, while the boys are making stretchers for the First Aid Stations of Watertown and games for the hospitals, as requested by the Red Cross.

EXCEPT for greater intensity of purpose, the school program goes on as before. At this time there seems to be no need to acceler- ate our courses of instruction, as many colleges are doing. A decision, however, has been made to drop, for the time being, the extension of the Senior High School from three years to four years, in order to complete our Six-Four-Four Plan. This will enable pupils to be available for employment a year earlier than was previously planned.

SOME time ago the Town of Watertown asked if an emergency hospital might be established at Perkins. This request was readily granted, but, after a careful survey of the plan, it was considered inadvisable to make the expenditure required to equip a hospital so near the Arsenal. It has been decided, however, to make Perkins one of the four First Aid Stations to be established in Water- town. Arrangements for the use of our buildings in case of attack are complete, and practice drills have been held.

PERKINS' program for defense, which provides for air-raid shel- ter, fire control, emergency feeding, and evacuation, attracted so much attention that the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety sent a representative to investigate the plan. From their office, stories of our preparations for air-raids were sent to papers through- out the State. In addition, THE BOSTON TRAVELER of January 27 carried a story headed: "Blind at Perkins Ready for Raids", by Cor- nelius Dalton, which described at length our plans, with pictures which, through the courtesy of THE BOSTON TRAVELER, are reproduced on the opposite page.

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CONSERVATORY CELEBRATES

PERKINS CONGRATULATES the New England Conservatory of Music on its seventy-fifth anniversary, observed in February. It would be hard to enumerate the number of Perkins pupils who have been students at the Conservatory. Because of this, Per- kins feels a close association with the Conservatory and was glad to observe that the Institution was represented in the first event of the anniversary program. At a concert, held on Monday evening, February 16, of the works which had been awarded Philip R. Allen prizes in composition, two of the seven selections for the anniversary program were by Perkins' graduates: "Sleep, Holy Babe", by Paul Giuliana, and "Tryste Noel", by Helen Reese.

CHORAL CONCERTS

THE PERKINS CHORUS is to give a choral concert at Rockport, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, March 24. It is planned to repeat the program on the evening of Thursday, March 26, the last day of school before the spring vacation. The latter concert will be, primarily, for the parents and friends of the pupils, and, while no invitations are being sent out, friends of the school will be welcome to attend. The vacation will extend through the following week, terminating the Monday after Easter, April 6.

THE BOYS' PLAY

THE ANNUAL BOYS' PLAY is to be held this year on the eve- nings of Wednesday, April 22, and Friday, April 24. Under the direction of Miss Claudia Potter, several boys, assisted by young women of the staff, will present the popular comedy, "You Can't Take It with You." The proceeds of the play will, as usual, be divided between the Perkins Athletic Association and the Lang- worthy Theatre Fund. This year the half for the latter cause will be invested in Defense Bonds and held for the benefit of the fund.

V FOR VICTORY

DOWN THE RIVER not far from Perkins is a manufacturing plant which for many years has displayed in a blinking electric sign its name, DOVER. Now when the lights go off, the center letter remains illuminated in brilliant red with symbols below, which leaves standing against the dark sky : V. While this has nothing to do with Perkins, we like it and think our readers will also.

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PUBLICATIONS

The editorial in the January issue of THE PERKINS GOAT, by Anthony Cirella, was reprinted and commended in THE PILOT of February 15.

In braille, available for the blind of Massachusetts, are the rules regarding air-raids and blackouts. They were embossed by Perkins at the request of the Massachusetts Committee on Pub- lic Safety and may be obtained through local air-raid wardens, who will secure them from the Boston office of the Safety Committee.

Telephone Topics, January, 1942, con- tains a story, entitled "New England's Only Blind Operator Retires from Service." This is Elwyn Smith, a for- mer teacher at Perkins Institution, who for nineteen years was the telephone operator at Greenfield, New Hamp- shire. Upon his retirement a dial sys- tem was installed.

Four articles in the recent issue of THE TEACHERS FORUM were by Perkins persons: "Training for our Field", by Edward E. Allen, D. Sc; "Sensory Illusions", by Samuel P. Hayes, Ph.D.; "The Relation of the Museum to Tactual Education", by Nel- son Coon; and "The Blind: Music's Special Children", by Geraldine Scholl. of the present Harvard Class.

The two publications of the American Foundation for the Blind, THE OUT- LOOK FOR THE BLIND and THE TEACHERS FORUM, have combined and the first joint issue appeared in February. Miss Lucy Goldthwaite, for some years Librarian of the Library for the Blind of the New York Public Library, and now retired from that position, is the Managing Editor of the joint publication.

PERKINS REPORTS

One hundred per cent of the staff and many pupils contributed to the United War Fund $1,054, more than twice the amount given last year.

Seventy-five pupils have bought and are buying Defense Stamps. Staff members are too, but we have no check on the number.

Sixty sweaters, twenty-six knitted suits and many mittens have been turned in to the Cambridge Red Cross since the first of the year. One hun- dred and fourteen sweaters were knitted earlier.

Children's dresses, nightgowns, ki- monos, and over three hundred diapers have been sewn for the Watertown Red Cross.

Afghan squares, neck ruffs, and sea boots have been and are being made for the British War Relief.

Seventy-six stretchers are being made by the boys in co-operation with the Watertown High School.

Little tots in the Lower School are doing their part by winding worsted.

Two tons of paper and one-half ton of iron have been collected outside the grounds by the Boy Scouts, to be sold when three tons have been accumu- lated.

The girls' civics class has collected and sold a ton and a half of paper, in- vesting the $13 received in Defense Stamps.

First Aid and nutrition classes are being held at the school for members of the staff. Staff members have taken outside courses in fire control, auxiliary police, convoy duty and air-raid pre- caution.

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IN DR. HOWE'S DAY

(Continued from Page 3)

time." Another report states that, in addition to ''their improved appearance," "they have consumed twenty-five per cent more flour than any month at Pearl Street."

In January, 1835, while the school was still in Boston, Dr. Howe urged on the Board "the expediency of providing more room to enable those in charge to effect a complete separation of the sexes and to keep the males out of the main building." Again, he reports: "I should not allude to the subject without an intimate conviction of its importance . . . but to give you an idea of the influence of the Blind God of Love ..." In June 1839: "The separation of the sexes is now complete."

The plan of keeping the "females" away from the "males" at the beginning, however, encountered difficulty, the "females" getting the short end of it. In one of the reports Dr. Howe stated that the "females" were not getting sufficient exercises because the "males" monopolized the yard. He requested that money be appropriated to place a fence in the middle of the playground so that the "females" might have their share of outdoor opportunity.

At first Dr. Howe had to work hard to interest the public in the school, but later he had to work even harder to keep the public away. Visitors came in such number, he reported, that "not only are the pupils greatly incommoded, but those of the visitors whom we should be most anxious to gratify are prevented from obtaining sight of anything by the throng of children and inconsiderate females who occupy the front places."

The fame of the Institution was not only intense in Boston, but it extended to different parts of the land.

In August, 1840, Dr. Howe reported: "A circumstance occurred during the last month, which shows the ignorance prevailing in the country re- specting the nature of the Institution and, also, the strong desire which the blind have to learn to read: A young man in Tennessee, blind from birth, had heard of this establishment and, supposing it to be a charitable one and intended for all the United States, he took a lad with him and started for Boston. After traveling on foot nearly thirteen hundred miles, he arrived safely. Although surprised to find that he could not be received as a pupil, he was delighted with the gift of a TESTAMENT and some other books; and, after receiving some general instructions about leaving by himself, he shouldered his pack and went his way rejoicing to Tennessee."

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The Lantern G

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XI. NO. 4 JUNE 15. 1942

Special Services

IT IS perhaps only natural that a school should focus primary atten- tion on its educational program. A school's first purpose is to teach. But in these days many other enriching aspects are needed to complete the picture. Food and equipment, heat and light must be provided. Health, both physical and mental, must be maintained. And in a school for the blind, concern for and care of the eye defects of the pupils must never be overlooked.

Boys and girls attend a school for the blind because they are visually handicapped. Perkins has always been alert to the visual needs of its pupils, but this year our program has been, if we may use a war educational term, "accelerated." Knowing that he would be in war service before the school year closed, our Ophthalmologist, Dr. Trygve Gundersen, has given us a large amount of time. As a result, our eyes are in better condition than ever before, and we are grateful to him.

Appreciation may well be expressed for other aspects of our medical service. The school Physician, Dr. Robert S. Palmer, is in the Navy, but his work is being adequately carried on by Dr. Dera Kinsey, assisted by the Resident Nurse, Miss Almira Clark. Dr. Frank R. Ober, the distinguished Orthopedist, has for many years been our specialist in this department and his directions are carried out by our Physiotherapist, Miss Thelma E. Peirce. Our two Dentists, Dr. Reinhold Ruelberg and Dr. Mark D. Elliott, still guard the dental front. Appreciation must also be expressed to the doctors and nurses of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Massachusetts General Hospital, where our pupils receive professional attention.

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Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

John Di Francesco, a student at the New England Conservatory of Music, is on the Dean's list.

Robert Brownawell, a six-year-old deaf-blind boy from Carlisle, Pa., en- tered the Deaf-Blind Department early in May.

Brooks Cottage was winner this year in the inter-cottage competitions with 122 points. The other scores were Oli- ver 118. May 91 and Fisher 80.

The Alumnae Association held its annual meeting at the school on Sat- urday, June 6, and the Alumni Asso- ciation met on Saturday, June 13.

Frank C. Bryan, Manager of the Workshop and Howe Memorial Press, is away from his work because of a re- cent operation at the Phillips House in Boston.

Virginia Haley and Anita O'Shea

have been awarded certificates of pro- ficiency offered by the Ediphone Com- pany to students who pass required tests.

A mountain of coal may be seen on the Perkins' grounds. Fifteen hundred tons, a year's supply, have been dumped there so that heat will be assured for next winter.

Mrs. Homer Gage, of Worcester, Trustee of Perkins and friend of the blind everywhere, received the honor- ary degree of Doctor of Civic Leader- ship at the Commencement exercises of Clark University, Monday, May 25. She was presented as "one who is first in our (£ity in all fine civic interests. ... No worthy charity has failed of her support." To all that was said of her civic interests much more could be added about her helpfulness to the blind.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Clarence Hawkes' recent book of poems, HOLIDAY HOPES, has been embossed in braille.

Mrs. Emily T. Murchie is the new

field worker for the blind in the State of Maine.

Mr. Fred C. Ward, a former Perkins' student, is now in charge of the work for the blind in the State of New Hampshire.

\

Miss Virginia Cole, formerly teacher in the Manual Training Department, has resigned to accept a position as home teacher and field worker for the blind in the State of Vermont.

Bertrand Chombeau, Perkins '38, and Mrs. Chombeau, a former teacher, have been elected to represent their church in San Diego, California, where Mr. Chombeau is organist, at a General Council of Churches to be held in Durham, New Hampshire, in June.

James Fulton, who completed his studies at Perkins in 1920, and since 1922 head of the Physical Education Department of the Louisiana State School for the Blind, died on April 23, 1942. He was greatly interested in Scouting and had been awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest honor in Boy Scouts.

The Boston Nursery for Blind Babies presents its forty-first annual report in the form of an attractive, illustrated leaflet describing the daily activities of the children in the nursery school one of the divisions of the Nursery's pro- gram. Under the heading "Between the Daylight and the Dark" the sched- ule from "I wanna get up!" at 6:30 a. m. to "Good night" at 6 p. m. is pic- turesquely listed. The Nursery is in charge of Miss Katherine F. Fiske, R.N.

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MAIDEN LANE

Life at South Boston

Because of the interest in the article on the early days of Perkins in the last issue, we are printing in this issue an account of one of the interesting spots in the old Institution in South Boston. This paper was written by Anna Gardner Pish, shortly before her death a little more than a year ago.

LIFE at Perkins Institution in South Boston was of Spartan sim- plicity,— well ordered under Michael Anagnos, the second di- rector, but devoid of luxuries. The women teachers and officers, some fifteen in number, occupied rooms on the second floor of the west wing, the corridor being known as "Maiden Lane". The single rooms were narrow and high-studded, each having a single huge window which rattled inordinately in the slightest breeze. There were no closets — only wardrobes — and no radiators — only a hairpin pipe which came up through the floor, turned, and went down again. There was a single bathroom for the entire group, a single gasplate for heating an iron, a single dry mop. (Chorus at 7 :30 A. M. : "Who's got the mop? Who's got the mop?")

But we were young and vigorous, not accustomed to softness of living, and withal imbued with a spirit of consecration to a life which all shared alike. There was a great deal of fun and laughter and in- dulgence in escapades and practical jokes, and sometimes the out- burst of merriment would produce a loud knocking at the head of the corridor and the stentorian tones of the principal saying: "Less noise, please. You are disturbing the boys' study period." That quelled our spirits for a brief time and gave the boys the utmost satisfaction.

Since the single gas-jet in each room was wholly inadequate for lighting purposes, every one had a reading lamp, and the care of these lamps was another bothersome daily rite, along with the care of wash- ing facilities in the several rooms. The gas-jets created a situation which was fraught with real danger. The gas was turned off each night at ten o'clock but was turned on again at four A. M. for the benefit of the baker. One might be reading by her lamp when the gas went off, but the difference in light was too slight to be noticed, or she might be absent from her room when the gas went out. In either case she would go to bed without thought of the open jet. Why, among many near tragedies, no one was actually asphyxiated must be attributed to the gods and to Miss Boylan, faithful blind teacher, who

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

VISUAL IMPROVEMENT

REALIZING that before the school year closed he would prob- ably be in Army Service, Dr. Trygve Gundersen, the school Ophthalmologist, gave a good deal of time to the eye conditions of the pupils. Practically the entire school was re-examined, treat- ments were checked and glasses provided, and ten major operations for visual improvement were performed. These included the removal of a band keratitis, an enucleation, discissions, cataract extractions, and plastic surgery.

The records of the last five years show that, in addition to the ten operations performed this year, there have been thirty-eight major surgical operations performed for the preservation and restoration of sight among Perkins' pupils. Fifteen pupils have been discharged from Perkins to return either to sight-saving classes or to go to public schools because of improved vision. In his final report, Dr. Gundersen recommended that several more pupils be transferred to seeing schools.

GRADUATION — JUNE 16

AT THE graduation exercises to be held on Tuesday, June 16, the Commencement speaker will be Colonel E. A. Baker of Toronto. Colonel Baker is the managing director of the Cana- lian National Institute for the Blind and a former President of the American Association of Workers for the Blind. A veteran of the last war, he is a graduate of St. Dunstan's, the famous school for the war- blinded in England. At the exercises, which will be held at 2:00 o'clock in Dwight Hall, diplomas will be awarded to five girls and four boys by Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation. The invocation will be offered by the Rev. Francis D. Taylor, Pastor of the Watertown Methodist Church. Special certificates will be awarded to John Di Francesco for having completed the work in the Pianoforte Normal Department, and to Mildred Lovejoy, Doris Nicholas, Viola Patterson, and Angelina Pepe for having completed the work in the Manual Training Department. The closing assembly in the Lower School will be held at 8:40 on Tuesday morning, June 16. The girls of the senior class hold their class exercises on Monday afternoon, June 15, and their graduation dance on Tuesday evening, when they are to have as guests a group of men from the Coast Guard. The boys' dance is to be held on Monday evening, June 15.

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CHILDREN'S ISLAND SANITARIUM

THE four cottages of the Girls' Upper School are to be occupied this summer by the Children's Island Sanitarium. This or- ganization has for many years maintained a summer camp for crippled children on an island off Marblehead. Because of the war conditions, it seemed inadvisable to open the camp this summer, and permission has been granted for the work to be carried on at Perkins. A large staff of nurses and attendants will care for eighty or ninety small crippled children. They will enjoy all the privileges of the girls' cottages and will use the swimming-pool, the pond, and the grounds for the convalescent care and corrective work which is given to these children. Perkins is glad to have its buildings used in this beneficial way.

Perkins boys took part in three track meets this spring: Triangular meet with the Pennsylvania and Connecticut Schools at Perkins, May 16; with the Maryland School at Baltimore, May 23; with the New York Institute at Perkins, June 6.

THE VISITING TEACHER

DURING the year Miss Josephine Taylor, as a visiting teacher, has been travelling about eastern Massachusetts to give in- struction to blind boys and girls who, because of being crippled or having some other disability, are unable to attend Perkins. She has given regular instruction to twelve children and considerable progress has been made in their learning. She has also visited about twenty other children who, for one reason or another, were not able to receive regular instruction. In her travels Miss Taylor has found

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that many of the children need more than teaching. A great deal has been done to make sure that the parents understand the needs of blind children and, in several cases, provision has been made for medical care. Two crippled boys spent a week at Perkins, and other children have come here for the day for the benefit of special treat- ment or examination.

A WORTHY SON

TWENTY-FIVE years of work with the blind on the part of Peter J. Salmon is to be recognized by a testimonial dinner to be held in Brooklyn on June 18. Leaders among the blind are to gather to pay tribute to this Perkins' graduate of 1914, who completed his work in tuning here in 1916. In 1917 Mr. Salmon became associated with the Industrial Home for the Blind in Brooklyn. At that time the Home was carrying on a business of $38,000.00 a year, selling articles made by the blind. Now the Home, in its newly opened work- shop, is doing a business of about $300,000.00 a year and is one of the outstanding industrial programs for the blind in the country.

Mr. Salmon is also Vice-President of the National Industries for the Blind, which allocates Government work among shops for the blind throughout the country. He is also President of the American Association of Workers with the Blind, having been elected to that office in July, 1941. Perkins is glad to add its word of congratulation to Peter Salmon and to acknowledge its pride in this outstanding graduate. Several persons from Boston are going to Brooklyn to attend the dinner.

SUMMER PLANS

THE members of the staff who are on duty at Perkins will have rooms, as in the past, in Fisher Cottage, sharing that house with members of the staff of the Children's Island. The Per- kins' staff, however, will have their meals served in Bennett Cottage. The Library and administrative offices will be open throughout the summer. Staff members will return for the new year on Monday, September 14 and the pupils wrill come back the following day.

MEDICAL CONFUSION

Upon returning from the hospital, where he had had an opera- tion, a Lower School boy was greeted by a friend who said: "I hear you had your independix out."

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PERSONALS

Albert Finger will enter Brown Uni- versity in the fall.

Irving Mac Shaw son, a graduate last June, will enter Clark University.

John King, Perkins '38, was grad- uated from Boston University on May 25.

Phillip Small, a post-graduate student in music, will return to Maine, where he plans to continue his musical study.

Hector Cadavid, of Colombia, South America, is to return to Perkins next year as a member of the Harvard Class.

Anthony Cirella and John Di Fran- cesco will return to continue their studies in the New England Conserva- tory of Music.

Asuncion Aponte, who has been at Perkins for two years, will return to Puerto Rico to teach in the School for the Blind.

Earl Nickerson, who received his cer- tificate from the Nylon School of Physiotherapy, has opened a vending stand in Gloucester.

Wilma True, Perkins' '38, who entered the Gorham Normal School on leaving Perkins and later transferred to the University of Maine, has successfully completed her junior year.

Seniors returning for post-graduate work are: Kathryn Gibalerio, to study at the New England Conservatory of Music; Cecile Nadeau, to study com- mercial work; and Joseph Callero to study Ediphone operating.

BEQUESTS

Perkins, through the century, has been the recipient of many bequests. Indeed, these bequests, many in num- ber, but not many of large size, have built up the present endowment.

Recently a bequest was written in this interesting way: "In grateful re- membrance of my sight being spared to me when both my eyes were seriously threatened by illness at an early age, and in sympathy for those who may not enjoy the great blessing of sight, I give and bequeath to Perkins Insti- tution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, located at Watertown, Mas- sachusetts, $5,000.00."

This bequest was in the will of Stan- ley B. Hildreth, late of Harvard, Mass- achusetts.

Another will of interest was that of Clement Ryder, late of Somerville, and a former student of Perkins. In his will he wrote: "To said Perkins Insti- tution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, as a gift toward the cost and installing of the antiphonal organ for which subscriptions are still being sought, I give the sum of $1,000.00; but if at the time of my decease, it shall have been installed and paid for, then I give said legacy to the Whitcomb Hall for Men, owned and operated by the Memorial Homes for the Blind (Inc.) of Worcester, Massachusetts."

As the organ has already been in- stalled, Perkins was unable to benefit by this gift from a former student, but all are glad to have his money go to the Memorial Homes for the Blind in Worcester.

Perhaps this may be an opportune time to remind friends of Perkins that the work that is being done for the blind by this school has been made possible through the bequests of friends. Only as Perkins is remembered in this way can its work grow and ex- pand.

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MAIDEN LANE

(Continued from Page 3)

again and again, in the early morning hours, plodded down the corri- dor, knocking at one door after another and calling to the room occu- pant: "Is your gas on?" Undoubtedly she saved lives.

There was a sitting-room of sorts for our use, dingy and sparsely furnished, but it was never popular, except, briefly, as a gathering place after prayers on Sunday mornings. It was some little distance from Maiden Lane, though on the same floor, next to the big boys' (the nine o'clocks') sitting room and opposite the nursery for sick boys. The few parties held there furnished topics for gossip for the entire school. But there were times when we were fairly frozen out of Maiden Lane. Even the one big radiator at the further end, around which we were wont to gather in a cold spell, sometimes failed us, and we had to resort to the sitting room. One such occasion was after the big storm of November 1898, when the Portland steamer was lost with all on board, and again in the following February, when there was another snow-storm almost as severe.

The front door of the institution was locked at ten P. M., and after that Tom Horton, the night watchman, must be summoned by the door-bell to let a late-comer in. When he was off on his rounds, his progress through the big old building marked by the weird and wavering light of his lantern, it was a cold and dreary wait under the porte cochere for admission. It was said — though never con- firmed— that Horton jotted down in a note book the names of all whom he admitted "after hours", and if the same name appeared frequently in his list he would report it to Mr. Anagnos, who might hint to the guilty party that nightly revels might interfere with schoolroom efficiency.

Life in Maiden Lane, with all its vicissitudes, its pleasures and sorrows, its deprivations and compensations, its community of in- terests, produced a friendliness and intimacy which no cottage system, however admirable, could hope to achieve.

After the building had been deserted (1912) Chester Roberts, a totally deaf and almost totally blind boy, then under instruction in the Workshop, begged Mr. Bryan to let him visit Maiden Lane. As he was conducted through the corridor and went from narrow room to narrow room, his face registered surprise and disappointment, and finally he grunted that he "didn't see anything very grand about it, after all."

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XII. NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 15. 1942

Employ The Handicapped

IT IS AN OLD AMERICAN INSTITUTION to designate a week for focusing attention on a particular problem or program. Beginning with Old Home Week, the list has grown to a point where there are not weeks enough to go around. Now comes a new week, to be desig- nated as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." Bills have been introduced to the Congress, asking that the third week in September be so assigned and appropriate ceremonies be held through- out the Nation, "the purpose of which will be to enlist public support for, and interest in, the employment of otherwise qualified but physi- cally handicapped workers."

Whether this legislation will be passed is not known at the time of this writing, but despite the awkwardness of the name, the purpose of the week is deserving of support. In these days, when every ounce of material and every degree of skill must be mustered to the war program, the handicapped should be entitled to play their part as citizens capable and desirous of serving. It is pointed out that there are over two million physically handicapped persons who possess skills that the country needs. As a leading supporter of this measure said, "We save 'scrap', but, continue to 'scrap' men!"

In this movement to enlist public support for, and interest in, the employment of physically handicapped persons let us put forward the claims of those who cannot see. Sight may be gone, but willingness to work is strong and desire to serve their country is unsurpassed. Not one week but every day of every week let us strive to keep alive the first rule of democracy — the right of every person to serve his country.

^^A^/^Vu^7

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Albertina Eastman, Perkins '27, a graduate of the Watertown High School in '28, and since '31 a teacher of cor- rective speech at Perkins, has com- pleted the requirements for the Degree of B. S. in Education, awarded to her at the close of the summer school of Boston University in August.

Wayne Moody, a Senior this year, has continued to carry on through the summer his weekly broadcasts on Sun- days at 4.45 p.m. ever Station WESX. This series, called "Thoughtful Mo- ments," has brought many favorable comments.

Edward J. Waterhouse, teacher of mathematics and on leave last year, has requested to have his leave of ab- sence continued, as he is holding a re- sponsible position in the General Elec- tric Company, in Lynn.

Paul L. Neal, who has been associ- ated with Perkins for eighteen years and who last year was on leave of ab- sence, has resigned, as he has been ap- pointed Probation Officer in the Massa- chusetts Court.

Anthony Cirella, a post-graduate stu- dent at Perkins and attending the New England Conservatory of Music, won a prize of $50.00, offered by the Con- servatory for the best motet.

Married — Marjorie Beal to Robert C. Mcrey. Barbara E. Farnham to Kil- borne F. Rowe. Both brides are on the Lower School staff and will return "for the duration."

Josephine L. Taylor, Visiting Teacher last year, has accepted an important position with the New Jersey State Commission for the Blind.

Chester A. Gibson, Douglas Cook, Axel Borg, and Harry Burke have left to engage in war work.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Catholic Guild for the Blind has announced the following winners of cash prizes in an essay contest on "The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." First Prize, $25.00 each — Patricia Robinson and John Di Francesco; second prize — $10.00 each — Gloria Hill and Anthony Cirella; third prize, $5.00 each — Ber- nice Zagunis, Evelyn Wilcox and Mary Robbins; Irving Smith, Norman Hamer, and Bruno Kiwior.

The Murray Printing Company of

Cambridge, which produces and distrib- utes a monthly calendar, this year is running a series on educational insti- tutions with which they do business. The calendar for July had an attractive picture of the Perkins' tower and con- tained a quotation from the Director, stating the educational policy of the school.

The Pennsylvania Institution for the

Instruction of the Blind has announced a plan whereby two groups of five pu- pils each will work for four weeks in industry, as placed by the placement agent, and then four weeks in school, studying subjects adapted to their work.

Irving MacShawson, Perkins '41. who was here as a post-graduate student last year, and who enters Clark Univer- sity this fall, has been granted an Ellis Scholarship.

Wilma True, Perkins '38, and a Senior at the University of Maine, was one of eight persons to be awarded scholar- ships by the American Foundation for the Blind.

Carl King, Jr., Perkins '41, is a mem- ber of the East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Civilian Defense Corps, and takes his turn regularly at the report center.

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A PERKINS MYSTERY

Pertaining to a Brain

IN THAT STRANGE WAY in which a mystery works, one is emerging from the Perkins of fourscore years ago and developing to prime magnitude. It all pertains to a brain. So many people have written to us about this particular center of human intelligence that we feel that we have to tell all that we know. Our first concern was some time ago when we received a letter, asking: "Can you give me any information about this strange matter, particularly what was done with the brain? How could it have been preserved in a box?" It all began when people were reading NEW ENGLAND: IN- DIAN SUMMER by Van Wyck Brooks, who in that delightful volume wrote, right in the middle of a paragraph telling of Julia Ward Howe, the wife of Samuel Gridley Howe, the first Director of Perkins :

"Theodore Parker's brain reposed in a box in a closet at the Perkins Institution. It had been sent to Dr. Howe by Parker's Italian physician, when the great preacher died and was buried in Florence. The Howes regarded the box with horror, not knowing what to do with this fearful relic; but Parker's mind lived on in Mrs. Howe."

When queried on this matter Mr. Brooks said in effect that all he knew was what he read in books by the daughters of Julia Ward Howe. We advised one correspondent to write to Mrs. Laura E. Richards, one of the very distinguished daughters of Dr. and Mrs. Howe, still living at the age of ninety-two at her home in Gardiner, Maine. Mrs. Richards replied by referring to her book, STEPPING WESTWARD, where, in describing her childhood and mentioning the fact that her family at that time lived at the Institution in South Boston, she wrote :

"I do not remember anything about the room where I slept, but I do remember that in a closet nearby in a wooden box, which my mind's eye sees only too clearly, reposed the brain of Theodore Parker, an object of unfailing terror. Mr. Parker died in Florence in 1860. His friend and physi- cian sent his brain to my father as a precious relic. My father . . . regarded the gift with horror, and my mother, I suppose, put it away in this upper cupboard little knowing the anguish she caused one of her children."

Our concern now is the present whereabouts of the brain. On this point Mrs. Richards wrote : "I have no idea of the ultimate fate of the brain."

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE NEW YEAR

WHEN MEMBERS OF THE STAFF return on Monday, Sep- tember 14, and pupils return on the following day, it will seem strange to all not to be greeted by Francis M. Andrews. For seventeen years Mr. Andrews has been associated with Perkins Institution and in the last several years has been in charge of the entire educational program, as Principal of the school. Recognizing the ability and leadership shown in this work, the Maryland School for the Blind, in Overlea, near Baltimore, extended a call to him to become Superintendent of that school, and he took this office on August 1. A graduate of Massachusetts State College, Mr. Andrews carried on graduate work at Boston University, which led to the granting of the Degree of M. Ed. in 1933. He has served on many committees of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind and is widely recognized as one of the leading men in this field of education. He is and will be greatly missed.

A NEW PRINCIPAL

ALLAN W. SHERMAN has been selected as the new Principal to succeed Mr. Andrews. Mr. Sherman is a graduate of Harvard University, 1934, and spent the year, 1939-40, in residence at the Graduate School of Education, receiving the Degree of M. A. in teaching. Since leaving Harvard he has been a master at Tabor Academy, Marion, Massachusetts, and for four years has been in charge of the summer school there. Tabor Academy is one of the five honor naval schools accredited by the Navy Department, and its program is run along naval lines. Mr. Sherman will bring to Perkins a good experience in a well-established residential school and, also, something of the spirit of a naval routine, which will be of special interest in these times. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, both of whom are former residents of Watertown, will live in the Principal's house. They have one son.

COTTAGE CHANGES

DUE TO THE SMALL NUMBER of boys in the Upper School, and as a war economy, Bridgman Cottage will not be open this year. A new plan is being tried this year by assigning boys to the other three cottages according to age. The youngest group, those in the Seventh and Eighth Grades, will be in Eliot Cottage. Post-graduates, members of the Senior Class, and older special pupils

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will live in Tompkins Cottage. The boys falling in between will live in Moulton Cottage. For competitive sports the members of the Boys' School will be divided into equal teams, regardless of the houses in which they live.

Another change in the cottage plan has been forced by the eco- nomic situation. To try to keep twelve adequate cooks in as many cottages has become an increasing problem. In an attempt to help this situation no meals will be served in Tompkins Cottage. The boys in that house will be assigned for meals to Eliot and Moulton Cottages. On the girls' side two kitchens, one on each side of the close will serve

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Cecile J. Nadeau, Anita M. O'Shea, Elaine M. Drake Kathryn T. Gibalerio, Catherine M. Pickett

the four cottages. To make this possible a door has been cut between the two cottages on each side. In order to facilitate this arrangement and, also, in spirit with the times, to provide work experience more duties will be assigned to the pupils in connection with the manage- ment and operation of the cottages,

FINGERS OR EYES

FOR SOME TIME reference has been made to the increasing amount of vision among pupils in schools for the blind. This has led to the introduction in some schools of visual methods of education. Perkins has adhered to the principle of being a "finger

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reading-" school, but the time has now come when thought will have to be given to the recommendation of medical authorities that pupils having sight be permitted to use it as widely as possible. After con- sideration of this problem on the part of the Perkins' staff, and in consultation with the medical authorities, a recommendation was made at the June meeting of the Board of Trustees that, beginning this year, an experiment be carried on to see to what extent there may be provision for visual education in this school. At the meeting of the Trustees the following three principles were approved:

1. That 20/200 or 10% vision be still considered the maximum amount of sight for admission of pupils into the school.

2. That braille still be taught as the chief means cf instruction and that all pupils be required to learn to write braille.

3. That provision be made for pupils with sufficient vision to use ink print for reading, that books of suitable type, insofar as they can be ob- tained, be secured, and that adequate lighting facilities for the reading of ink print be provided.

This will involve, during the year, a careful study of modern appliances for eye-reading, as well as adequate lighting and other mediums which science may develop.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

ONCE AGAIN FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE have been selected from a large number of applicants to benefit by the National Scholarships, offered bythe Trustees of Perkins to outstanding graduates of school for the blind throughout the country. Those chosen are: Patricia Byrnes, California State School for the Blind; Suzanne Sirak, Cleveland, Ohio, Braille Classes ; Herschel Kochenower, Oklahoma School for the Blind, and Frontis Lown, South Carolina School for the Blind. Later Miss Byrnes gave up her scholarship and it was assigned to Mary Palmer of South Dakota.

MANY STRANGE REQUESTS come to our desk but a new one reached us this summer from a man who is writing a play which has a blind character as the hero. After describing his character and the situation which leads to the climax (the blind person is charged with a murder which he did not commit) the writer asked: "Is the story a possible one? Is it a probable one? Does my character behave 'medically proper' in the last scene?"

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NEW STAFF MEMBERS

C. Jane Lawrence, Vassar '40, and Doris Welsh, School of Handicrafts and Occupational Therapy, Boston, '41, both members of last year's Harvard Class, teachers in the Girls' Manual Training Department.

Florence Murphy, Boston University School of Physical Education '40, last year Director of Physical Education in the Wesleyville (Pa.) High School, in charge of recreation in the Lower School.

Rose M. Di Dominicis, Salem Teach- ers College '38, Harvard Class '39, re- cently teacher in the Maryland School for the Deaf, teacher in the Deaf-Blind Department.

Guido Marchisio, Perkins '33, Boston University '37, Spring Secretaria1 School, Boston, '39, Harvard Class '42, teacher of commercial subjects.

Susan M. Brooks, graduate of Boston School of Occupational Therapy and Penland Institute of Hand-weaving, teacher of weaving.

Ruth I. Erickson, graduate of Iowa State Teachers College, Harvard Class '39, teacher in the Lower School.

Mrs. Pearl Gosling, matron of Bridg- man Cottage will be matron of Brooks Cottage.

Mrs. Marion R. Woolston, matron of Potter Cottage, will be matron of Oliver Cottage.

Mrs. May A. Roche, Bridgewater, ma- tron of Potter Cottage.

Miss Verna Anderson, Waltham, Sec- retary to the Bursar.

FROM OUR MAIL

"This week Her Majesty, the Queen of Egypt, was kind enough to visit all the institutions and associations for the blind around Cairo. This visit marked an epoch in the life of our blind people. The Minister of Education proclaimed in front of Her Majesty that, in mem- ory of her gracious visit, two institu- tions and two workshops attached to them will be opened next September. So, when Perkins, the father re-opens, he will have two little new-born Per- kins, Jr. in Egypt. Such news, I know, will be interesting to you and the Per- kins family." Sayed Abell Fattah, Min- istry of Education, Cairo, Egypt.

A radiogram from China, relayed from California, stated: ''Miss Carpen- ter, Miss Schaeffer (former Harvard Class members), and I want you to know we are well and safe. They are still at their post in Ming Sum, (Can- ton) and I am still holding the fort at Shiuhing in Free China." Mary E. Burtt.

"Referring to the notice, 'Children of the Silent Night', in THE LANTERN issued December 15, 1941, I take the liberty of asking you for the report mentioned therein, giving details con- cerning the education of deaf-blind children." Ulrich Rothenberger, St. Gallen-Langasse, Switzerland.

"The work in our school for the blind is progressing slowly but surely, and we have great hopes of accomplishing good results. I am deeply grateful to you for the hearty and most helpful co- operation I received." Eugenia Cortes, Mexico School for the Blind.

"You will be glad to hear that the work of our Institution is progressing very satisfactorily. We are opening a board house for the benefit of our stu- dents, including the war-blinded sol- diers." S. C. Roy, Lighthouse for the Blind, Calcutta, India.

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A PERKINS MYSTERY

(Continued from Page 3)

Theodore Parker was a leading reformer in Boston prior to the Civil War. Julia Ward Howe wrote that the three greatest men she ever knew were : Ralph Waldo Emerson, Theodore Parker, and Samuel Gridley Howe. When Parker's health failed, friends urged him to go away. Dr. Howe went with him as far as Cuba, on his way to Italy. Parker disliked Rome, and as he did not wish to die there, Dr. Apple- ton, his physician, took him to Florence, where he passed away on May 10, 1860. It was Dr. Appleton who sent the brain to Dr. Howe. Why? The physician may have known the high esteem in which Parker was held by Dr. Howe. Writing to Charles Sumner, Dr. Howe stated that Parker's condition would "remove the foremost man of this continent from the earth in less than a year."

Beside the letters a telephone call was received from a leading officer of the Unitarian Church, who asked: "Is it true that you have at Perkins the brain of Theodore Parker?" We replied that we only wish that we knew. Some time ago we destroyed a number of pack- ages that had been removed from South Boston. Not having had a wide experience in what a brain would look like after reposing in a closet for eighty-some years, we may have thrown it away.

The brain of Theodore Parker was actually here recently in the imaginations of some people. Early last spring the Director read some of the letters received at a school assembly. At the following assembly the Director found on the reading desk a box which bore the label: "The lost is found. Here I am." Opening the box, he found a shrivelled article, labelled: "The brain of Theodore Parker", and a note saying: "I've come back to slap the Japs." The Director de- scribed the contents to the pupils and read the attached notes. Just before school closed he was surprised to find that some of the pupils, and he suspects some of the staff, actually thought that this was the brain of Theodore Parker.

This is all that we know about what one of our correspondents called "a queer episode." Whatever may have been "the ultimate fate of the brain" on which Mrs. Richards cannot enlighten us, Van Wyck Brooks was undoubtedly right in stating: "Parker's mind lived on in Mrs. Howe," and, without doubt, it continued to thrive in the Indian Summer of New England.

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t

our contribution to lightening the load of the mailman at Christmas

the mailing of The Lantern has been deferred.

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XII. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 1942

A Braille Friendship League

MANY are concerned over the discontinuance of braille trans- cribing by The American Red Cross. This is a loss that will be keenly felt, both by those who received the embossed vol- umes and those who so generously transcribed them. In all-out war, however, many services appreciated and valued have to give way to the imperative needs of the times. Certainly the war demands now imposed upon the Red Cross must have first call for the full use of their personnel and their resources.

There ought to be some way, however, whereby this service can be continued for the benefit of those who have learned to depend upon it. There is still need for college textbooks and the occasional trans- cribing of material which does not justify multiple embossing. There are still people who have learned this skill and who take great delight in using it. One of the most valuable by-products of the transcribing has been the enlistment of many who thereby learned to know and to understand the blind.

A suggestion which might help conserve both this interest and this skill lies in the possibility of creating what might be called a Braille Friendship League. Enlisted in this company could be those who enjoy transcribing braille for its own sake, as well as for the friendship, which has developed between blind and seeing people. There are many people without sight throughout the country who are lonely. If such a league could use the skill which its members possess to write letters rather than books to these people, many hearts would be lightened and many people now having the skill of transcribing would find infinite satisfaction in using it in this way.

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Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

An art exhibit was held in the apart- ment of Mr. Coon in November featur- ing paintings by Miss Knowlton, Miss McGaw, and Mr. Coon.

Three boys from Perkins are attend-

Iing The Barnes School, Henniker, N. H., taking a practical course in poultry raising and farming.

Benjamin F. Smith, Master of Pot- ter Cottage and leader of the Boy Scouts, was interviewed in a radio broadcast about Perkins' war work over Station WBZ on December 10.

The salesroom at 133 Newbury Street, Boston, has been relinquished by the Workshop, in order to make room for a mica project on which about thirty blind people are engaged. The officers of the Workshop have been moved to South Boston.

Dr. H. B. C. Riemer has taken the place of Dr. Gundersen, Ophthalmol- ogist, now in the U. S. Army. Dr. Riemer has served both the Boston Nursery for Blind Babies and the Mas- sachusetts Division of the Blind. He is an outstanding specialist in this field.

New staff members since the open- ing of school are: Alysan C. Hooper, secretary to the Director; Mrs. Sarah M. Keith, matron of Eliot Cottage; Mrs. Ann M. Tucker, matron of May Cottage; Mrs. Patricia M. Taylor, Mrs. Irene O'Connor, and Miss Elizabeth Schantz, teachers in the Lower School.

A large plasticine map, covering one of the tables in the Museum, depicts the Mediterranean Sea and the stra- tegic countries surrounding it. This map supplements the braille Map-of- the-Month for November and gives our pupils a realistic picture of the ter- rain and natural barriers which are so important in the struggle that is cen- tered in this part of the world at the present time.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Douglas Barker, Perkins '40, is em- ployed in a large bakery in Cambridge.

Gerald Desrosiers, Perkins '40, is head chef in a department store in Providence, Rhode Island.

Charles Simons, Perkins '32, has been appointed manager of a First National Store in Watertown.

Edward W. Jenkins, Perkins '22, in- structor in the Music Department, will give a recital on December 27, at 4.30 p.m., at All Saints' Episcopal Church, Worcester. The music will be appro- priate to the Christmas Season.

Angelina Correia, Perkins '39, em- ployed at the Lewis-Shepard Co., Wa- tertown, is taking dictation on both the Ediphone and the braille short- hand machine. Her employers speak highly of her good work.

Clifford F. Hall, Perkins '38, after leaving Perkins in June, bought a truck and, with a young man to drive it, tuned over one hundred pianos dur- ing the summer. He also played four nights a week in an orchestra.

Richard L. Hull, who attended Per- kins from 1924-33, when he entered the Rockport High School and, later, was graduated from Clark University, was elected to the State Legislature in the November election. His home is in Rockport. Massachusetts.

Virginia Haley, working at the Fam- ily Welfare Office in Fitchburg, writes: "My job is just great and they treat me perfectly grand ... I am glad you pounded figures and tabulations into my head! Most of my work is in shorthand, but last week I took the minutes of a board meeting."

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PERKINS IN THE LAST WAR

Extracts from the Record

THE WAR has brought and will continue to bring changes in our routine affairs. Many of these seem startling and new. Institu- tions, as well as individuals, are required in time of war to re- adjust and often reappraise their activities. This is not new, because history reveals that war has always dislocated not only nations, but also personal affairs, and even institutions as well established as Per- kins. The other clay we were inspired to read over the Director's quar- terly reports to the Trustees during World War I. To our interest, and somewhat to our surprise, we found that many of the changes which are perplexing us now, and many of the adjustments which we are making and which we have considered so new and unusual, had been previously faced in the last war.

We have recently reported with pride the accomplishments of our girls in providing knitted articles for the Red Cross. The record of 1917 shows that they were following a good tradition, because it re- ported: "Our girls continue to help the Red Cross work through con- tributions of knitting."

Our very active selling of war bonds and stamps within the school and our participation in the War Fund Drive have good precedents. In January, 1918, it was reported: "The officers, teachers, servants and pupils of the school collectively subscribed the sum of $7,800.00 for the second Liberty Bond ; also, that some seventy-five have joined the Red Cross Society." In April, 1918, it was reported: " 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' by boys in Tompkins Cottage, the latter for war work in the Y.M.C.A., from which they cleared $600.00, was presented. The girls presented a dramatization of Mrs. Richards' 'Mrs. Tree' and raised $150.00 for the purchase of a Liberty Bond."

This year we have closed Bridgman Cottage on the Boys' side. In the last war we find that Tompkins Cottage was closed, not because of lack of pupils because there were enrolled in the Upper School one hundred and forty-three, compared with our present enrollment of one hundred and twenty-five. One of the reasons for closing Tompkins Cottage was the difficulty in holding men teachers. The following is a typical statement: "One or more of our men teachers may leave this spring for military service. When Mr. Dillingham, gymnastic teacher, was called to the Colors in January, I tried vainly to find a suitable

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

RED CROSS BRAILLE

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS has announced that its department for braille transcribing is to be discontinued. This service orig- inated during World War I, when there was a great need for braille books for the war-blinded. Because of the interest which the work inspired, the program was continued until there has been built up throughout the country a large company of men and women who have given generously of their time to make books available for the blind. The Red Cross service has been especially valuable for college text- books and the single copies of special books. According to the an- nouncement by the Red Cross, no chapters, other than those engaged in braille transcribing, are to be permitted to initiate this service, and plans are to be made for its discontinuance where it is established.

PROGRAM CHANGES

IN ORDER to have more time for sports and recreation in the middle of the day, the school program has been pushed ahead in the after- noon. The football games between the cottages, girls' field events, and various forms of outdoor sports are now held regularly from 1:30 until 3:00 o'clock. Classes are resumed at 3:10 and continue until almost 6:00 o'clock. This has the advantage of getting the pupils out- of-doors during the sunny hours. Another change of interest in the way of acquiring physical fitness, has been through the setting-up exercises, conducted each morning during recess in the courtyards of the Upper School. The boys respond to the brisk "one, two, three, four" of Mr. Di Martino, and the girls are led in their exercises by Miss Rodgers. It is invigorating some of these cold mornings.

■
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■ \	IS

THE WAR-BLINDED

MANY people have been inquiring' about what plans are being made to care for those who may lose their sight because of the war. While there is a widespread interest in this subject, there seems to be, at the present time, no definite plan arranged, al- though a responsible officer in Washington states: "We have been building background and are looking into the forthcoming soldier prob- lem with more certainty than has been possible before."

There are several bills before Congress at the present time per- taining to this problem. In October an all-day conference of those in- terested in the blind was held in Washington to discuss a bill intro- duced into the House by Representative Barden of North Carolina. Interest centers in this bill because it contains a title for a separate program for the rehabilitation of the blind, both war-blinded and civilians. Another bill has been introduced into the Senate by Senator Walsh of Massachusetts, which makes provision for the rehabilitation of men in the service under the Veterans' Administration. Both of these bills are still in committee, and no definite announcement can be made about the program for the war-blinded until Congress enacts the necessary legislation.

DEAF-BLIND APPEAL

LATE IN November, the annual appeal for funds for the deaf-blind was sent out. In making the appeal, recognition was given of the priority of demands for war needs, and it is gratifying to be hav- ing a good response. The appeal this year took the form of a little blue

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booklet, telling of the work and bearing on the cover the words : ''Chil- dren of the Silent Night."

The Deaf-Blind Department, this year, is continuing its work with twelve doubly-handicapped children. Miss Hall, the head teacher, is enjoying a year's leave of absence at her home in Colorado, where she is doing some interesting work with the Speech Department of the University of Denver.

SPEAKING OF APPEALS

TWO FORMS of soliciting aid to help the blind have come to our attention recently. 1. The old story of collecting cigarette wrap- pings in order to secure a Seeing Eye Dog for a blind person seems to have been revived. A dog cannot be secured in this way, and the officers of the Seeing Eye, Inc. have asked many times that this rumor be denied. 2. Representatives of the American Printing House for the Blind have been forming a "Boston Sponsors' Committee to en- able them to secure funds for the purpose of providing free subscrip- tions for the Reader's Digest in braille and talking book form. We are glad to commend this effort to extend the reading of this publication.

THIS YEAR the Christmas Concerts are to be held in Dwight Hall at the school on Friday evening, December 18, at 8:00 o'clock; in Jordan Hall, Boston, on Sunday, December 20, at 3:30; and the special concert for the parents and friends of the pupils, in Dwight Hall on Tuesday evening, December 22. Because of the difficulty in- volved in transportation, the children of the Lower School are not to attend the concert in Boston. School will close following the concert on Tuesday evening and will re-open on Wednesday, January 6, 1943.

SINCE THE opening of school, steps have been taken to reorganize our defense program, filling the vacancies caused by staff and pupil changes. Several air-raid drills have been held and classes in First Aid have continued. The Boy Scouts in the school have accu- mulated mountains of scrap, while the civics classes have accumulated great quantities of paper. The buying of War Bonds with the proceeds of these sales and the purchase of stamps by individuals goes on apace.

A

TEACHER in the Lower School reports hearing some little boys, while rehearsing "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" singing "Doc-tor Far-rell's Angels, Sing Glory to the New-Born King!"

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PUBLICATIONS

Intelligence testing is now considered an essential part of any modern school program. Adaptations of tests of this type for the blind have been made by Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, formerly Profes- sor of Psychology at Mount Holyoke College, and now Director of the De- partment of Personnel and Research at Perkins.

The Hayes-Binet Tests, used for many years, especially with young blind children, have been discontinued. Dr. Hayes now recommends the new tests listed below. These are standard tests which he has adapted for use with the blind.

For young children. The Interim Hayes-Binet tests, a selection of tests from the Terman-Merrill, 1937, revised Stanford-Binet Intelligence Tests. They are based on Terman's twenty-year study and give a direct comparison with the seeing.

For blind adolescents and adults. The

Weschler-Bellevue Adult and Adoles- cent Scales. Weschler's five verbal tests and his vocabulary tests may be used with the blind practically with- out change and yield an I. Q. based on seeing standards.

For the semi-sighted. Brown's I. J. R. Tests for the Visually Handicapped. These tests are the result of an exten- sive study made by Professor Andrew J. Brown at the Institute of Juvenile Research in Chicago.

Test materials needed for the first series of tests may be secured from Dr. Hayes at Perkins Institution. A report on the use of the Weschler Tests may be found in the OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND, Vol. XXXVI, October, 1942.

FROM OUR MAIL

"THE LANTERN is the only maga- zine that I read all through as soon as it arrives." Fred V. Walsh.

"I have read the last LANTERN with more than the usual interest; a strong statement!" Laura E. Richards, Gardiner, Maine.

"All good wishes! I like your not using 'high pressure' as some do." From a contributor to the Deaf-Blind Fund.

"One does not need to be sightless to see what the talking-book means to one who is, and to be eternally grate- ful that it exists for their great delight." To our library.

"Recently I borrowed several issues of the Map-of-the-Month from the Chicago Public Library. . . We should be so very grateful, if we could receive the map each month." Chicago, Illin- ois.

"We should like to reproduce a black-and-white photograph of your portrait of Samuel Gridley Howe by Jane Stuart in our forthcoming text- book Never Surrender by Fitzgerald." From Ginn and Company.

"I thank you most sincerely for your kindness in granting us permission to make here the slates used at our Na- tional School for the Blind as it will enable us to carry on our plans in benefit of its pupils and its organiza- tion." Subsecretario de la Asistencia Publica, Mexico.

"Christmas at Perkins, Ah, yes! There cannot be a stronger holiday spirit anywhere than abounds through- out Perkins at Christmas time. Every year during this season my wife and I get a yearning to be at Perkins." From a graduate now in California.

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PERKINS IN THE LAST WAR

'Continued from Page 3)

substitute and had to adjust the teaching by employing a woman in- stead of a man." October, 1918: "Mr. Molter, boys' Principal-Teacher, has a leave of absence without pay in order to be Principal-Teacher of the General Hospital School for Blinded Soldiers in Baltimore."

The reports refer to many of the minor adjustments that would be expected. We have been gravely concerned over our problem of securing adequate help, both on the grounds and in the domestic posi- tions. Our predecessors had just as much trouble. We have had to resort to public advertising for help in the last month or two. In April, 1920, Dr. Allen wrote: "We have never before had to advertise so much for service." In October, 1918 : "The resolution to erect an iron fence along our western and northern boundary has been halted by inability to get the iron." Now there are some people who would like to take down our fence in order to "get the iron."

Securing supplies, also, was difficult in World War I, as it is now. "All the year we have used throughout the Institution nut margarine instead of butter, less expensive cuts of meat than usual, and for the last three months, milk powder for cooking, where we formerly used milk." When we placed nearly two thousand tons of coal in a pile on the farm last spring, we thought that we were smart and original. In the last war, the records state, "our coal situation is promising as to supply — in piles now on the ground five hundred tons of anthracite screenings and about four hundred of bituminous coal."

The reports through the war indicate the same experience that we are having now, a much better opportunity for employment of the blind than before the war. This carried over after the war, because on April 7, 1920, Dr. Allen wrote: "The times, however, have been propitious for the vocational employment of blind men and women all over the country. It can now be truthfully said, and I fully believe, that there are today more places open to the competent blind than there are such people to fill them." New fields for the blind, cited at the time, were typewriting, Ediphone operating, wrapping, and assem- bling of parts.

All in all, the records show that there is a certain consistency that runs through the years and while we may feel that more of our share of adjustment and change is required, those who have gone before have had the same experience, and we, in our turn, have to learn that the only certain thing in life is change.

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The Lantern - 1 ;

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XII. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1943

Training for Industry

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT of the blind in modern industry have never been so plentiful as they seem to be at the present time. Hardly a day goes by that a newspaper or mag- azine does not contain a report of work being done by visually handicapped people in an airplane factory, a munitions plant, or some other form of war effort. This is partly due to the need that there is for every available form of manpower. Along with this need for the skills that the handicapped possess, is, also, an amazement on the part of industrial leaders that the handicapped, especially the blind, can work and have skills that enable them to take a part in modern industry.

Training blind youth for modern industry is a new task for our schools. We have not been training youth for industry, but, rather, educating them along broad lines. The word education goes back to the verb educere which means "to draiv out." Our aim has been to draw out and to develop natural and latent abilities, and to encourage youth to find a wide field to exercise these abilities. Under the duress of the emergency, this, we are told, may no longer be done. We are asked to tie down abilities, train them to definite skills, and make our youth content to do a simple, uncreative task, finding compensation in the fact that that is asked of all youth today. Even some of our most deeply rooted colleges of liberal arts are being transformed from edu- cational institutions into training schools under the domination of Mars. Such is war, and we have to play our part. And the blind will do their share to prepare themselves to make the most of the oppor- tunities which modern industry now throws open to them.

^Oy&^f ^a/i/l+£g

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Trustees appointed for the first time by the Governor of the Commonwealth are Dr. Reginald Fitz of Brookline and Mr. Theodore F. Drury of Weston.

Wrestling- has become a big sport this year. The Perkins team has wrestled with several public and private school teams including Andover Academy and Browne and Nichols School, losing to the former and winning from the latter.

New staff members are Mrs. Nellie E. H. Hamill, matron of May Cottage succeeding Mrs. Ann M. Tucker; Mrs. Elizabeth L. Rew, physiotherapist in place of Miss Thelma E. Peirce. Mrs. Elsa B. Martz has resigned as teacher in the Lower School and her place has been filled by the return of Miss Edna H. Ennis who had been on leave.

OBITUARIES

Laura E. Richards passed away in her 92nd year on January 14. Mrs. Richards was a daughter of the first Director, Samuel Gridley Howe, and of Julia Ward Howe, author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Born at the school in South Boston, she never lost interest in its work and its pupils.

Rev. George P. O'Conor passed away on January 29. Appointed to the Board of Trustees by the Governor in 1926, he served continuously and faithfully all of these years.

Lydia Y. Hayes, died on February 8, at Bemidji, Minnesota, where she made her home with her nephew, William G. Hayes, and his wife, a former deaf-blind student at Perkins. Miss Hayes was graduated from Perkins in 1889, and throughout her life has been active in Alumnae affairs.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Walter Brzoza, '38, has been accepted by the Army and assigned to Military Police duty at a camp in Oklahoma.

Robert Cookson, '38, and Armand Paquette, who left Perkins in 1934, are engaged in assembly work at the Tor- pedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island.

Francis J. Fournier, '41, has a posi- tion selling at the Post Exchange at the Boston Navy Yard.

Alden E. Allen, '42, is employed at assembly work at Waltham Watch Co.

George E. Forte, '40, is running a cutting machine at Brighton Box Co.

Frank A. Swett, '39, has a job as a moulder's helper in a foundry in Hyde Park.

PUBLICATIONS

Headlines from clippings received during the last month tell the story of the wide range of the employment of the blind: Blind Find Many Jobs — Michigan; Now They're Working — New York.

Blind People Aiding U. S. War Effort — California; State to Hire Blind Typist — Michigan; Blind Woman's Work Helps War Plant Hum — Illinois; Blind Make Pace In Plane Plants — New York; Blind Farmers — Oklahoma; Blind Do Shipyard Work — Washington; I am Sure I Can Do It — Massachusetts ; Blind Men Given Jobs in Tractor Plant — Illinois.

Efficiency of Blind Inspectors Praised —California; Blind Worker Will Help in Womanpower Campaign — New York; Four Blind Men Air Observers — Louis- iana; In Darkness They Fight for Right — New York.

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PREPARATORY TRAINING FOR INDUSTRY

A paper read by the Director at the National Conference of Social Work, New York City, March 8

BACK ABOUT THE TIME of World War I someone said: "Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe." That would seem to throw the burden of progress upon the educator. Somewhat the same attitude prevails today in the efforts to meet the crises of World War II with adequate manpower. Industry must have workers — well-trained workers — and what, industrialists ask the educators, are you doing to provide them for us ? If they do not have workers, they claim, in the mills and factories to keep production lines moving along, the Army cannot "keep 'em rolling" and the enemy will prevail. Civilization will give way to catastrophe. The race will be lost. And education will be blamed.

School teachers are accustomed to being blamed. Their pupils see to that, and parents are not always uncomplaining; but when the industrialists turn to the schools, make demands, and expect returns, the school authorities realize anew the part they play in modern life. Right now the expectation is for hundreds, yea, thousands, trained to man the production lines and to take the places of those who have moved up to the fighting fronts. The military takes the 1-A's, both in classification and ability, for the armed services, and the educators are expected to make the 4-F's, from the military point of view, 1-A's from the industrial viewpoint.

This requires training, and as our subject states, "preparatory training," I feel that that means consideration of those forces which create ability, shape attitudes, and form habits while still in school and before the production line is reached. . . . Opportunity today is for the person who can do a simple single skill right now, who is willing to do this eight hours a day on scheduled pay and time-and- one-half for as many hours thereafter as endurance permits. There are seemingly millions of these skills. Walk through any defense factory and see young girls and old men, the lame, the halt, and the blind all doing simple tasks over and over again ; that is what appalls us.

I, therefore, raise the question: How can we train for all these various skills? Recently I saw a list of several hundred operations that the blind can do, published by the Manpower Commission. It is impossible for any or all schools to train for all of these operations.

(Continued on Page 7) — 3 —

CONFERENCE ON TRAINING

PERKINS WAS WELL-REPRESENTED at one of the two sessions on blindness at the National Conference of Social Work in New York City. At this session on Monday, March 8, Mr. Arthur F. Sullivan, Perkins '14, a Boston attorney, and President of the Massachusetts Council of Organizations for the Blind, was the presiding- officer, while the discussion following- five papers was led by Mr. Peter J. Salmon, Perkins '14, Assistant Director of the In- dustrial Home for the Blind, Brooklyn, New York, and President of the American Association of Workers for the Blind. The Director of Perkins, Dr. Gabriel Farrell, read a paper on "Training Blind Youth for Graduation into Industry."

EMPLOYMENT SURVEY

THE COMMITTEE ON VOCATIONS of the Massachusetts Council of Organizations for the Blind, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Division of the Blind, is making a survey of blind people throughout the State who are available for employment. A questionnaire was sent out by the Division to seventeen hundred people between the ages of twenty and fifty, and nearly half of these have been returned. The committee, under the chairmanship of J. Stephenson Hemphill, Bursar at Perkins, has been analyzing these reports and is making a list of those who are interested in employ- ment and classifying them according to ability. As a part of this survey, conferences have been held with the regional directors of the War Manpower Commission, heads of the United States Employment Service, both of New England and of Massachusetts, and other Government officials interested in the securing of workers for the war industry. This survey is one of the most complete studies ever made in Massachusetts and is resulting in a roster of people available for work, which should be of benefit to the individuals involved, and of assistance to war industry in finding available and well-qualified workers.

TALKS ON PLACEMENT

MICHAEL SUP A, a former student at the New York State School for the Blind, a graduate of public high school, Colgate College, and a graduate student at Cornell University, who shared in the interesting experiments in connection with the sixth sense at Cornell, visited Perkins, February 4-7. Mr. Supa is now em- ployed by the International Business Machines Corporation in the Personnel Department, placing blind persons in that large industry, and, also, in interpreting to other industries the wider use of the visually handicapped. Mr. Supa talked to the student body in chapel and gave two lectures to the Harvard Class. He also gave generously of his time in interviewing pupils who are looking forward to em- ployment.

John R. Millon, a member of the Harvard Class of last year, visited Perkins during the week of February 15. Prior to coming to Perkins Mr. Millon was a lieutenant in the United States Army, where he lost his sight while in the Chemical Warfare Service in 1939. Mr. Millon had just completed a three month's visit to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind where he studied placement work. At chapel on February 17, Mr. Millon told the school of the methods of placement and the program for the blind of the Canadian Institute.

UNITED WAR FUND

EVERY PUPIL in the school and every resident member of the staff made a contribution to The Greater Boston United War Fund Drive, held in February. The contributions totalled $1,100.30, about $50.00 more than last year. The sale of War Bonds and Stamps, especially among the pupils, has increased this year. There was considerable business the day after the distribution of the Blaisdell Lincoln Dollars. Plans are now under way for active parti- cipation in the Red Cross Drive for funds to carry on their great work.

;

OPEN HOUSE OMITTED

OPEN HOUSE, annually held on Washington's Birthday, was omitted. This may be written down as another casualty of the war. While it was felt that the limitations on transportation might restrict the number of people coming, the real reason for giving up the public demonstrations, held at this time, was the difficulties involved in preparing for them. A great deal of the work being done in the Manual Training Department is in connection with war interests and, with the additional duties placed upon the pupils, there seemed to be insufficient time to make the necessary preparations.

THE LONG TERM

ANOTHER FACTOR given consideration was that the winter term, from Christmas through Easter, is about the longest one that there can be, because Easter is at almost the latest date possible. This term has one hundred days, and it was thought that it would be helpful, if there could be a break in the middle of it. Because of that, a recess was given to the pupils and teachers over the long Washington Birthday week-end. The spring vacation will begin on Thursday, April 16, and close on Monday, April 26.

THE GONDOLIERS

IN A NOTICE which announced that the Open House would be omitted, friends were invited to come to the school on the occa- sion of two events ; the presentation of OUR TOWN by the boys of the Upper School on the evening of March 5, when a very creditable performance was carried out. The second suggestion was to attend the production of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, THE GONDO- LIERS, by the girls of the Upper School on the evenings of April 8 and 9. While it is too late to suggest that the readers of THE LANTERN come to see OUR TOWN, there is still a chance for them to show interest in the school and, also, to see a delightful performance by attending THE GONDOLIERS.

PRODUCTION SOLDIERS

({ A T HOME on the production line that bulwarks the fighting / \ front, we are rapidly discovering that the physically handi- capped man may be a splendid production soldier." Edsel Ford, Saturday Evening Post, February 6, 1943.

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PREPARATORY TRAINING FOR INDUSTRY

(Continued from Page 3) Is it possible to group the various functions ? Are there certain fund- amental skills which may be learned and applied later? In its Job Families Series, the Manpower Commission has arranged its list of operations for the physically handicapped into seventeen groups, involving somewhat the same dexterity and skills. It might be well to familiarize ourselves with these studies and, also, with the special training facilities available under W M C, N Y A, and W P A. But these are after-school processes, and we are concerned with the con- tribution of schools before graduation.

While we may still disclaim the ability to train for the many specific skills, there are certain fundamental factors which need the guidance, development, and encouragement of our schools, and which will, in the last analysis, I believe, make the best workers. Let me cite a few :

1. First, I place the necessity of training toward good mental health. Many blind boys and girls are suffering from distorted per- sonalities, brought about by their physical disability, the attitude of their families, their lack of adjustment to a seeing world, or, for those who have lost their sight recently, inadequate adjustment to a darkened world. Some have tried seeing schools and have acquired an inferiority complex ; others have been thwarted in their ambitions and have fallen into a state of frustration. Do not forget that the mere possibility of a well-paid job is a new experience for many of our blind people. Through the formative years of those now ready for work, handicapped labor has been undesired, and the blind have been numbered among the unemployable. Most of our social legisla- tion of the past decade has been built around the idea that the in- dustry has no place for the blind. It is going to take a little time to overcome that attitude and to build up a will to work. That, I think, is the first step in modern training.

2. The second is like unto the first but falls within the realm of physical fitness. With many of our blind youth the visual handicap is a secondary disability. There are forms of eye defects which prohibit physical activity ; there are brain tumor cases, cardiacs, and those diseases which cause the slow deterioration of other organs, and, with most of the blind, there must be persistent pressure to make them exercise enough to keep fit; too many are inclined just to sit. In our training we must overcome this understandable inertia. A little of the Commando training might be good for all of us. There must

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be a physical toughness not usually associated with blind youth, if they are going to be able to stand the strain of the modern production line.

3. Somewhat associated with this factor is the need of sound training in good work habits. I believe that most of our schools have fallen, and are falling, down on that. Life has been too "soft" for our pupils. We have been brought up on the theory that better educa- tional results are obtained, if there is variety in our schooling, and that the mind reacts better, if not overtaxed by long periods of study. That may be true in the training of the mind, but the theory has no place in preparation for industry. Our boys, and girls, too, must be taught that effective employment means steady work and consistently keeping on the job. In my talks with placement agents they often say that many of the blind do not know how to work. I do not mean that they lack skills, but they fall short in application and stick-to-it- iveness. Good work habits must be established, and that job rests squarely upon the schools.

Beyond these, however, there are other forms of training which we cannot shirk, and, although we may still protest that we are unable to give the specific training that industry requires in all of the skills, there are certain points which schools irmst observe. I will try to point them out in as practical a way as one might expect from a school man: 1. Early in the training process introduce simple crafts for developing finger dexterity. Chair caning still has value in that way, even if it has lost its commercial importance, although processes of assembling might have a more realistic value now. 2. Follow these with other skills that will employ the larger muscles and develop coordination in, one might say, a rhythmic response. Woodworking, weaving, and metal work may be used in this way. 3. A program of skills, not automatically taught, but as a basis for adaptation so that new processes may be undertaken readily. 4. A knowledge of materials, varieties of wood, textiles, and metals, their origin, composition, and industrial use, should be provided. 5. Familiarity with tools; first, those at hand, like the hammer, saw, and screw- driver; measures and gauges of all kinds used in modern industry should be made available for handling and study. Then, the power tools, sewing machines, presses, punches, and, perhaps the lathe. 7. An understanding of shop terms and practises, acquired, perhaps, through a shop-school exchange program, but, at least, make the trainees familiar with what they may expect in the way of procedure and lingo when they reach the shop. 8. Lastly, emphasis on listening to and the understanding of orders. Constant drill in following directions. An appreciation that deviation from the blueprint destroys the uniformity which is the basis of mass production. "Modern industrial processes are often an endless chain. If a single link is missing, the chain can't move."

These are all simple procedures that may well be introduced into any school program and which will find ready acceptance today under the stimulation of war contribution. Added to the three fundamental factors — well-integrated personalities, physical fitness to do a day's work, and the establishment of good work habits — they represent the best that we can suggest as the school's preparation for the gradua- tion of youth into modern industry.

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The ILantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XII. NO. 4 JUNE 15. 1943

Spring Clean-Up

VISITORS TO PERKINS this spring have said that the grounds have never been more beautiful. It is true that the flowering shrubs have never been lovelier, although the forsythia did not blossom because of the cold winter. The grass has never been more green. While some may attribute this to the large amount of rain, we would prefer to give credit largely to the boys of the Upper School.

Early in the spring, at the time of the annual clean-up of the grounds, it was impossible to secure the additional labor usually em- ployed. This situation was put before the boys, and they offered to take on all of the clean-up work. To do this they gave up their usual spring track athletics, which meant the cancelling of all meets.

Every afternoon for over three weeks the boys (with rakes, shovels, brooms, and other equipment) went out under the leadership of teachers. This was not a casual raking here and there. The boys went down on their hands and knees, and, using that sense of touch attributed to the blind, got their fingers in among the vines and shrubs to pull out every single stray leaf. It was all a hand job, and perhaps that accounts for its thoroughness.

All the boys snd the girls of the school and the staff, too, have been ready this year to step into every breach when a shortage of help arose. "The victory peelers" prepared the vegetables for the cooks all through the year. More housework has been taken on, many repair jobs, and other items have been handled by the boys and girls. The administration wishes to pay tribute to both pupils and staff for what they have done this year. While it merely shows the usual Perkins' spirit, we want all to know that it is truly appreciated.

J^aJh^t ^oJVxj^

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. GABRIEL FARRELL, Director.

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Children's Island Sanitarium will occupy the cottages in the Girls' Close during the summer months, as it did last summer.

The civics class, through the sale of old paper, has raised enough money to buy another $25.00 bond, which has been presented to the Langworthy Theatre Fund.

Every child in the Lower School has a garden plot, where all work diligently planting and nurturing vegetables. Members of the staff will take over the gardens after the close of school.

Instruction in swimming and diving was given by a representative of the American Red Cross to thirty-two boys and forty-two girls of the Upper School. Certificates were awarded to twenty- four boys and eighteen girls.

Brooks Cottage won the swimming meet on May 27, and, also, scored the highest number of points in competitive sporting events in the Girls' Upper School. As this is the third successive year that Brooks has won the cup, it will now be permanently housed there.

Mattie M. Burnell, who has been as- sociated with Perkins Institution for seventeen years, was married on May 29, to Charles R. Carter. A reception was held on June 4, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Carter in the Board Room. Mrs. Carter will continue her duties at Per- kins through another year.

Miss Marie P. Murphy, Occupational Therapist at the Lovell General Hos- pital, Port Devens, was assigned to Perkins for a week in May to observe methods of instructing blinded persons. There are three blinded soldiers at Fort Devens now, and the hospital authorities have approached Perkins for help in assisting these men.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Survey Mid-Monthly for June contains an article by the Director on the rehabilitation of blinded soldiers.

Nelson Coon has an article on "Home Gardens" in THE HOME TEACHER, a magazine in braille.

Dr. Mark D. Elliott, Dentist for the Upper School, has entered the Army Air Corps and is stationed in Ohio.

"Our Approach to Legislation" is the

title of an article by the Director in the May number of THE OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND.

The American Association of Workers for the Blind is planning to hold its biennial convention in Columbus, Ohio, from July 12 until July 16.

Home Gardening courses have been given by Nelson Coon, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, to a group of members of the Perkins' staff and, also, at the Adult Education Center.

A Joint Legislative Committee has been formed by the committees of the A.A.I.B. and the A.A.W.B. with a repre- sentative of the American Foundation for the Blind. Dr. Farrell is chair- man of the committee and Alfred Allen of the Hadley Correspondence School for the Blind, "Wlunetka, Illinois is secretary.

The one hundredth anniversary cf the marriage of Samuel Gridley Howe to Julia Ward on April 26, was observed through a letter, sent to all the des- cendents for three generations by Maud Howe Elliot, now the only living child of this marriage. In the letter she asked all to "pause for a few moments and think back with reverence and gratitude to the union of these two lives and the joys and blessings it has brought to us all."

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ALONG LIFE'S ROAD WITH LAURA E. RICHARDS

Faye George, 10th Grade

LAURA E. RICHARDS was born February 27, 1850 in Boston. She, along- with her two sisters, Julia and Florence, and brother, Henry, lived at Green Peace, South Boston until Laura was six years old. It was one of the happiest periods of her life. She was very fond of Green Peace and later in life came back to her beloved birthplace.

The family moved to Perkins at South Boston where Laura's father was working for the blind children. Julia found many dear friends among the blind pupils, but Laura, although she was never unkind to them, mixed with them very little. They ran about and played just as she did. To Laura, who never could make dainty little stitches, the blind pupils' sewing seemed a wonder. Laura made one friend at Perkins whom she never forgot, Miss Moulton, the matron of all the boys and girls. Laura spent many an hour in Miss Moulton's room talking over the day's excitement and other things extremely important to her at that time. While at Perkins another member was added to the family, a darling little girl whom they named Maud.

Their stay at Perkins, however, was a brief one, for the family soon moved for the summer to Lawton's Valley, a short distance from Newport. Here Laura spent most of her time out-of-doors. She loved nature, especially the trees which grew around her home.

Although there was much happiness in Lawton's Valley, the parents decided to return to Boston to be nearer to Dr. Howe's work. During this time — or perhaps earlier — Laura made a lasting friend- ship with Charles Sumner. Her father and Mr. Sumner had been friends for many years, so it was only natural that Laura should love that tall, handsome person whom the Howe children called the Harm- less Giant. Another friend of the family was John Dwight.

At the age of seventeen, Laura, with her mother, father and Julia, took her first trip to Europe. It was on this trip that Dr. Howe met Michael Anagnos, a young Greek student who became extremely interested in the work that Dr. Howe was doing. He also became very much interested in Dr. Howe's oldest daughter, Julia. Dr. Howe was getting along in years and was already looking around for some- one to continue his work. When it was time for Dr. Howe to return to America, Michael Anagnos asked to accompany him and soon they were working hand in hand.

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE WAR-BLINDED

THE PRESIDENT placed his signature on legislation, authorizing a program for the rehabilitation and retraining of disabled serv- icemen, including the blind, on March 24, 1943. This legislation, known as the Walsh-Clark-Rankin Bill, provides for persons disabled while in the armed forces and delegates the authority for the retrain- ing program to the Veterans' Administration. General Hines, Admin- istrator of Veterans' Affairs, issued an order on March 30, directing each field station of the Veterans' Administration, having regional office activities, to establish a Vocational Rehabilitation Division. The rehabilitation program for the blind, however, will be centered in the Washington office under the direction of Maurice I. Tynan, a Perkins graduate in the class of 1914. Mr. Tynan has been associated with the United States Office of Education and prior to coming to Washington was in charge of the work for the blind in Minnesota. In a recent letter Mr. Tynan expressed the hope "that we will be able to plan and carry through a program which will rehabili- tate each blinded soldier so that he may take his place in society as a useful member commensurate with his ability."

As the program planned by the Veterans' Administration will not begin until the blinded men have left the hospitals, the Surgeon- General's office has established a service for the blind, which will care for them prior to discharge and reference to the Veterans' Administra- tion.

TRAINING FOR INDUSTRY

SIX PERKINS boys are having an unusual opportunity for special training at a public school in Newton where a training project, supported by the Federal Government, is preparing young people for defense industries. Five afternoons a week the boys go to the special classroom which is fully equipped with modern machinery used in defense plants. Under the instructor, the boys are becoming familiar with the tools and the processes that are used. Coupled with the training, is the use of modern vocational tests. The project is an attempt to see how practical it is for visually handicapped boys to take this type of training. Present reports indicate that the boys are doing excellent work and are revealing skills that will make them valuable in industry.

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VISUAL AID

DURING THE WINTER steps have been taken to explore the possibilities of using visual processes of education at Perkins. As reported a year ago, there are a number of pupils in the school whom the Ophthalmologist feels may use their eyes for in- struction. A room in the Lower School has been equipped with intense lighting; the walls have been painted a color which will not reflect light ; materials used in sight conservation classes have been secured. Twelve boys and girls in the Primary grades have had instruction for about five months, using this visual equipment. There is every indi- cation that they have been helped, and an evaluation of the progress made by the end of the year will determine the extent to which these facilities will be expanded.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, which are offered each year by Perkins Institution to outstanding graduates of schools for the blind throughout the country have been assigned to four young people: Albert Vallon, of Louisiana; Jacqueline Woodward, of Florida; Lelia Jensen, of Montana; and Marion Knoll, of Michigan. Four young people from Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and South Dakota are now completing their year of graduate study.

FIFTY YEARS

FIFTY YEARS of continuous service in the Manual Training Department is the proud record of Miss Mary B. Knowlton. During this half -century Miss Knowlton has been more than a teacher. There are many Perkins' boys who owe much to her kindly interest in their progress and her unique ability in teaching hand skills. At the staff meeting on June 14, recognition was given to Miss Knowlton's half-century of service, and she was presented, on behalf of the staff and the pupils, with a radio.

GOOD NEIGHBORLINESS

AT THE REQUEST of the office of the Coordinator of Inter- American Affairs recordings were made of four selections sung by the Perkins Chorus. These are to be included in a album of records of leading choirs and glee clubs of this country to be dis- tributed in South America as part of the Good Neighbor policy.

— 5 —

GRADUATION EXERCISES

GRADUATION EXERCISES will be held in Dwight Hall at 2:00 o'clock on Friday, June 18. The Commencement Address will be given by the Rev. Dan Huntington Fenn, of the Harvard Divinity School. The Invocation will be offered by the Rev. John J. Connolly, Director of the Catholic Guild for the Blind. Diplomas will be awarded to four girls and three boys by Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation. Special certificates will be presented to three girls who have completed the work of the Manual Training De- partment, and to one boy who has completed the work of the Piano- forte Normal Course, and one who has completed the work of the Pianoforte Tuning Department.

Academic achievements of former Perkins' pupils at this time are: Norman S. Case, '36, received in February the degree of L. L. B. from Yale University Law School . . . Martha F. Wolfson, '40, received her Master's Degree in May from Boston University . . . WUrna L. True, '39, was graduated from the Uni- versity of Maine in May and has been accepted for graduate study at the Boston University, School of Social Work . . . Irving MacShawson, '42, completed his Fresh- man year at Clark University and, at the close of the winter term, stood twelfth in a class of one hundred and thirty . . . Julia Kucab, '42, and Catherine Pickett, '42, are completing a year of post-graduate work at St. Anne's School in Arlington Heights . . . Alice Terrian, who left Perkins last year to attend public high school in Worcester, is to be graduated in June and is on the Honor Roll . . . Clifford Hall, '36, has completed the radio course at the N. Y. A. Training Center, Waterbury, Vermont.

Three boys, Frank Blaine, Gene Boroni, and Walter Polchlopek, have spent the year at the Farm School for the Blind, known as the Barnes School, in Henniker, New Hampshire. This school, under the supervision of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, gives instruction in farming and poultry raising on the large farm on which it is situated. These boys have been considered pupils at Perkins, but were transferred for the year in order to get this practical training.

At the chapel exercises on Thursday morning, June 17, certificates will be awarded to eight young men and women who have completed the Harvard Course. This group includes a young woman from Mexico and a young man from Colombia, South America.

The Senior Class Colors are red, white, and blue, and the Class Flower is the red rose.

— 6 —

FORMER STUDENTS IN DEFENSE WORK

Mary Andrews, '41

Northeastern Products Co., Boston Dana Bailey, left '39

A. G. Spaulding Co., Brattleboro, Vt. Mary Bedrosian, '37

H. L. Hamson, Worcester Fedora Bessette, '17

Cornell Co., Providence Howard Blood, '13

Dennison Manufacturing Co., Framingham Joseph Boutin, '09

Torpedo Station, Newport, R. I. Clarence Briggs, '41

A. G. Spaulding Co., Brattleboro, Vt. Francis Buckley, '37

Cornell, Dublier Co., New Bedford Peter Campbell, '32

News-stand at Navy Yard, Charles- town Charles Casella, '35

Triple-A Manufacturing Co., Wal- tham Virginia Clark, left '38

Harrington-Richardson Co., Wor- cester Josephine Colaizzi, left '25

Worcester Molded Plastic, Worces- ter John Cooney, '20

Harrington-Richardson Arms, Wor- cester Sarah Dien, left '32

Gillette Safety Razor Co., Boston Ursula Flannigan, '27

Parker, Harper Co., Worcester Francis Fournier, '41

News-stand at Navy Yard, Charles- town Eino Friberg, left '20

Parsons Majestic Co., Worcester Katherine Gibalerio, '42

Cornell Co., Providence Eva Gilbert, left '31

Wright Machine Co., Worcester Eva Goff, left '20

Worcester Molded Plastic, Worces- ter Clifton Harris, left '11

Davidson-Thurber Co., Andover

Thomas Howard, left '18

Dennison Manufacturing Co., Framingham Edna Lanoue, '26

Dennison Manufacturing Co., Helen Lanoue, left '27

Dennison Manufacturing Co., Ellen Laudate, left '29

Indian Motorcycle Co., Springfield Thomas LeBlanc, left '41

Telecron Co., Ashland Earl Martin, '41

American Woolen Co., Winooski, Vt. Irene Melanson, left '42

Plastic Co., Leominster Virginia Minezzi, left '40

Telecron Co., Ashland Maria Delia Morte, left '36

Sunshine Chemical Co., Providence Juliette Perella Nelson, '15

Boston Woven Hose, Cambridge Doris Nicholas, left '42

Bates Mills, Lewiston, Me. Alaric Nichols, '38

Sidney Gage Basket Co., Bellows Falls, Vt. Hayden Nichols, left '38

Sidney Gage Basket Co., Bellows Falls, Vt. Anna Ouelette, left '26

Torpedo Station, Newport, R. I. Armand Paquette, left '23

Torpedo Station, Newport, R. I. Frank Radominski, left '29

Wright Mills, West Warren Henry Rainville, '36

Aerovox Co., New Bedford Adrian Salesses, '16

Sunshine Chemical Co., Providence Blanche Duquette Stott, '34

United Car Fastener, Cambridge Lester Stott, '33

Fish Pier Box Co., Boston Lillian Surprennant, '38

Sickles Manufacturing Co., Chicopee Adeline Wood, '17

Torpedo Station, Newport, R. I. William Zarr, '41

Wico Electric Co., Springfield

— 7 —

ALONG LIFE'S ROAD WITH LAURA E. RICHARDS

(Continued from Page 3)

A short time after this Julia and Michael became engaged and were married. Soon afterward Florence announced her engagement to David Hall, childhood playmate. It was in 1869 that Laura an- nounced her own engagement to Henry Richards, and two years later, on the seventeenth of June, they were married. The bells rang; there were fireworks ; and even the big cannon was shot off. But alas ! 'twas only Bunker Hill Day! After a trip to Europe, Laura and her hus- band lived at the school in South Boston. But in 1873 the Howes moved back to Green Peace. During this period, Laura had three of her seven children, Alice, Hal and Rosalind. When Laura was twenty- six, her father died, leaving Michael Anagnos to carry on his work.

Soon after, Laura and her little family moved to Gardiner, Maine, where she spent the rest of her days. Her life in Gardiner was very full. Her husband worked his paper mill for many years, but one night it burned to the ground. Although they had to start from the bottom again, their courage never failed them. They did some tutor- ing and then started Merryweather, a camp for boys. Also, during this time, Laura had her four other children : John, Julia, Ward, Laura Elizabeth and Maud, who lived only a few months. She used to lay a baby on her lap and use its back for a writing table. In this manner were most of THE HURDY GURDY JINGLES written.

In 1880 Laura wrote FIVE LITTLE MICE IN A MOUSE-TRAP and CAPTAIN JANUARY. The latter was not accepted for publica- tion until many years afterwards, but when it was accepted, it was a best seller. Later she saw the moving picture taken from her story of CAPTAIN JANUARY, but she was much disappointed in it. Laura also wrote the life of her father and edited his letters and journals, and with the help of her sister, Maud, wrote that of her mother.

The year following her fiftieth wedding anniversary was one of great sorrow. Laura's oldest daughter, Alice, passed away. Later Florence and her husband died, within a few weeks of each other. That same year her only brother, Henry, died leaving Laura and Maud the two remaining members of the Howe family.

It was on January twenty-first of this year that Laura Richards slipped into eternal rest.

We at Perkins shall always remember Laura Richards for the letters she wrote to us on the birthday of her father. Some remember the days when she came to the Howe Memorial exercises, but the majority of us know her only through her writings.

— 8 —

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIII. NO. 1 E SEPTEMBER 15, 194 3

Laws vs. Regulations

THE WISE MAN of old who "believed that if a man were per- mitted to make all the ballads he need not care who should make

the laws of a nation" might today, with wisdom, substitute the word "regulations" for "ballads." Many a point won in the halls of Congress is lost in the hands of those who write the regulations. This may be the fate of the LaFollette-Barden Rehabilitation Act, unless workers for the blind be on the alert. During the hearings prior to the passage of the Barden Bill, workers for the blind fought for recog- nition of existing state commissions for the blind as the administering agencies for the benefits provided for the visually handicapped. This point was finally won and so stated in the Bill as enacted. But, the administrator is "authorized to make rules and regulations governing the administration of this Act."

Now we hear reports of regulations which would nullify the point gained in Congress. It is proposed to place sole control of the ad- ministration of the Act in the State Boards of Vocational Education, permitting State Commissions for the Blind to administer the portion of the plan which cares for the blind but claiming that the responsi- bility for supervision and control of the entire plan must remain with the State Boards of Vocational Education. This definitely places State Commissions for the Blind under control of State Boards of Voca- tional Education insofar as benefits of the Barden Act are concerned. This was clearly not the intent of the authors of the Bill, nor the point for which workers of the blind contended. Many blind commissions are older than vocational boards and some are in different state depart- ments. Workers for the blind will not accept this change of intent and practise at the hands of the writers of regulations even if they have to carry the whole matter back to the halls of Congress for amendment of the Act.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. Gabriel Farrell, Director

J?ct<&i*U T^M^

OBITUARIES

Ruth M. Knapp passed away on Au- gust 3 at the Baker Memorial Hospi- tal, Boston. Since 1931, Miss Knapp has been on the Library staff, being in charge of the circulating library. Although not feeling well, she com- pleted the work of the school year and went to the hospital during her vaca- tion. She had become an invaluable member of the staff, and she will be greatly missed not only by those whom she served at Perkins but, also, by the hundreds of readers throughout New England who valued her advice on books and her constant readiness to help them secure the books that they desired.

Mary H. Fowler, wife of Elywn H. Fowler teacher of piano tuning, died September 8 after a long illness at the age of eighty-eight years. In 1882 Mrs. Fowler joined the teaching staff of the Royal Normal College in London, under Sir Francis Campbell. In 1887 she became a teacher at Perkins remaining until her marriage to Mr. Fowler early in 1904. Lily B. Howard, whom she adopted in England in 1887, is the tele- phone operator at Perkins.

Vinnie I. Forbush, a former teacher, passed away in Newton June 27. She was a specialist in speech instruction and since her retirement a neighbor and frequent visitor to Perkins.

MARRIAGES

Ruth I. Erickson, teacher in the Lower School, to Dr. Robert Pirtie on July 4.

Lillian Huset, teacher in the Deaf- Blind Department, to John R. Millon on July 5.

Marjorie A. Johnston, teacher in the Music Department, to Walter P. Carr, Perkins '39 on July 31.

Caroline M. Burrell, teacher in the Kindergarten, to Olin J. Cochran on September 1.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Henry T. Istas, Perkins '22, gradu- ate of Yale and Yale School of Law, has been appointed Assistant City At- torney in New Haven to take charge of the Municipal Court's Office of Do- mestic Relations.

Henry W. Henrick, Perkins '29, has given up his poultry business to be- come a teacher in the Barnes School for the Blind (farm school), Henniker, N. H.

Robert B. Irwin, Executive Director of the American Foundation for the Blind, received in June an honorary degree of LL. D. from the Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Stetson K. Ryan, Executive Secre- tary of the Board of Education for the Blind, Hartford, Conn., has completed twenty-five years of service with the Board, which is this year observing its fiftieth anniversary.

George Marshall died at Hartford. Conn., on April 22. He was born in London, England, in 1867 and was graduated from Perkins in 1889. For seventeen years he was the Superin- tendent of the Connecticut School for the Blind, and throughout his life maintained an interest in work for the blind and in his regard for Per- kins.

Paul Guiliana, Perkins '36, graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, holder of a master's degree and now working for his doctor's degree in music from Harvard writes: "I expect to be at Smith College for a few days at the invitation of Dr. Alfred Einstein in connection with my thesis."

Peter J. Salmon, Perkins '16, as President of the American Association of Workers for the Blind, presided over the meetings of the Biennial Convention, held in Columbus, Ohio.

2 —

NATIONAL LEGISLATION FOR THE BLIND

THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, passed in 1935, put the blind in a special class, so far as National legislation is concerned. At

the time many of the blind and their friends did not like this. The coming Congress will have before it extensive amendments to this act, which eliminate the special title for the blind and include them in general categories. Many of the blind and their friends do not like this, and there has arisen a plea to save Title X, which is the sec- tion of the original act that separated the blind from all other groups and made them a special class. Title X, as it now stands, provides direct financial aid to the needy blind.

Objection to Title X arose through the claim that its provision removed the incentive to work, and several efforts have been made to exempt earning power up to a certain extent so that the person who worked and earned would not be discriminated against in favor of a person who did no work at all and who, under Title X, received the same amount as the one who worked. Several attempts have been made to amend the act to restore work incentive, but they have not been successful. There is also a feeling that Title X was written as it was because some of the authorities on the Federal level were con- vinced that the blind could not take a contributory place in modern industry, and the simplest way to solve the problem of this group was to give them direct financial assistance when they were reduced to the category of "needy/' The years since the war began have dis- proved this assumption, and the blind are now actually being sought.

The principle that the blind can work but need special training and, perhaps even more adequate placement is evident in the legisla- tion passed by the last Congress. This is the so-called La Follette- Barden Bill, now known as Public Law 113, 78th Congress. The ori- ginal version of this bill did make the blind a special class with a separate program conducted on the Federal level and completely paid for by Federal funds. Before passage this was amended so that: 1, all programs for the blind must be initiated and then directed by State commissions for the blind where they exist; and 2, the Federal government will reimburse states for fifty per cent of their expenses for certain services. This is a rehabilitation bill providing "any serv- ices necessary to render a disabled individual fit to engage in a remun- erative occupation." The possible catch in this legislation for the blind lies in the phrase "remunerative occupation," because there is

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEENTH YEAR

PERKINS OPENS its one hundred and thirteenth year with the smallest number of pupils it has had since before it moved to Watertown in 1912. This is due to the trend toward smaller en- rollment, which has been in evidence for several years, and, also, to the large number of boys and girls who left last spring to obtain posi- tions and a smaller number who, having found good jobs during the summer, did not return. As most of these older boys and girls are holding positions in war industries, this decrease in enrollment has to be accepted as one of the consequences of the war and adjustments made accordingly.

BOYS AND MORE BOYS!

ENROLLED IN THE LOWER SCHOOL are one hundred and sixteen pupils of which seventy-four are boys and forty-two are girls. Potter, the primary cottage for boys has twenty-eight pupils, whereas the corresponding cottage for girls has only twenty- three. Anagnos and Bradlee, the Kindergarten cottages, have between them sixty-five pupils, nineteen girls and forty-five boys. Has this un- usually high ratio of boys in Perkins at this time any significance? About five years ago the girls outnumbered the boys in the Lower School but not in as great a propor- tion. It is because of this that, at the present time, the Boys' Upper School is smaller than the Girls' Upper

School. The present figures indi- cate that in the next five years the boys' school will build up, and the girls' side will show a consid- erable decline in enrollment.

The Children's Island Sanitarium unable to go to their island home off Marblehead again used the cottages of the Girls' Close to give recreation and medical care to crippled and convalescent chil- dren.

FOOD AND SUPPLIES

IN COMMON WITH ALL institutions and families, Perkins faces the problems arising through the scarcity of food and the ration- ing of certain articles. As previously indicated, there is every assurance of sufficient fuel to maintain our heating and lighting sys- tems, as well as to warm the houses, through storing adequate supplies of coal on the grounds. In order to lay in larger supplies of fresh vegetables, there has been installed during the summer a new freezing unit. This is a "hold freeze" type of refrigeration. In this room it will be possible to store vegetables and other forms of food which have been frozen, and they will be held in this condition until ready for use. Under this plan it has been possible to order large quantities of frozen fresh vegetables, and, through storing them, a supply will be assured for the winter months.

Other items which formerly were bought in advance, such as butter, cannot be secured in that way now, and it will be necessary to buy from the market week by week, as our need arises and as it is possible to secure these supplies. The whole problem of food and supplies is very complicated in these days, but Perkins accepts this situation along with other insti- tutions and families, and feels fortunate in being able to cope with the problem in a fairly ade- quate way. The pupils and teach- ers in residence can be assured of good food and reasonable warmth.

An official U. S. Navy photograph showing handi- capped men work- ing at the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport. At the right is Robert Cookson, Perkins '38 employed at assembling.

THE DIVISION OF THE BLIND

GOVERNOR SALTONSTALL in July, appointed as Director of the Division of the Blind, Department of Education, Arthur F. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan was graduated from Perkins in 1914, attended Boston University Law School, took a special course in social work, and, since then, has been a practising attorney in the City of Boston. During the last war he was one of the directors of the American Red Cross Service Program in Boston. For twenty years he has been a member of the Advisory Board of the Division of the Blind, and he is President of the Massachusetts Council of Organiza- tions for the Blind. Mr. Sullivan succeeded Mr. William H. McCarthy, who has held the office for ten years. Mr. McCarthy is also a gradu- ate of Perkins and, prior to being Director of the Division, was a member of the Legislature for many years.

The Division of the Blind in Massachusetts has charge of the program for the adult blind, providing home teaching, field service, placement, financial aid, and a program for the prevention of blind- ness. The Division also maintains a register of all the blind in the Commonwealth. Workers of the Division locate pupils for the sight- saving classes in the State and, also, for Perkins.

Julius E. Warren, Superintendent of Schools at Newton, Mass- achusetts, has been appointed by the Governor as State Commissioner of Education.

BLINDNESS NOW REPORTABLE

THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE passed a bill at the last session, making it mandatory for clinics, hospitals, physi- cians, or optometrists to report to the Division of the Blind all cases of established blindness. Massachusetts is the first State to require the reporting of cases of blindness with the causes of blind- ness to a State department. This should facilitate the locating of blind persons for immediate attention and, also, the finding of visually handicapped children who could profit by attending Perkins.

THE TWELVE POINT LOOK

TWELVE POINTS a week for food for dogs may now be obtained through 0 P A by persons requiring assistance of Seeing Eye or other dogs which have been especially trained to guide the blind persons.

— 6 —

STAFF CHANGES

Elizabeth C. Oliver, Nutritionist and teacher of Home Economics, will this year give full time to the duties of nutritionist because of the many prob- lems arising through the food situa- tion.

Marion A. Woodworth, teacher of social studies, has been transferred to the Library taking the duties of the late Miss Knapp.

Catherine M. Campbell, ediphonist, is to remain at home where she is weaving scarfs under an order from the Navy.

Alysan C. Hooper, former secretary to the Director, has received an ap- pointment for hospital duty overseas with the Red Cross.

Benjamin F. Smith and Mrs. Smith resigned to accept positions in the Washington School for the Blind of which Mr. Smith is a graduate.

Dorothy I. Misbach, who inaugu- rated the visual aid work, accepted a position to introduce similar work in the Iowa School for the Blind, of which state she is a resident.

Edna H. Ennis of the Lower School accepted appointment as teacher of the Sight Saving Class in Hartford, Conn., her home city.

Mrs. Marjorie Beal Morey, resigned to join her husband, who is serving in the Army in Maine.

Doris E. Welsh of the Manual Training Department resigned to ap- ply for service in the Red Cross.

John R. Millon, Harvard Class '42, and formerly in the Army has been assigned to the Surgeon General's office to visit hospitals to help blinded sol- diers.

APPOINTMENTS

Gladys E. Denton, formerly with the State Street Trust Company, Secre- tary to the Director.

Bertha L. Cowan and Mary B. Loek- wood, secretaries in the Department of Personnel.

Sally Tyler, Middlebury '42, Harvard Class '43, Psychometrist in the De- partment of Personnel.

Bradford W. Newcomb, Middlebury '27, formerly Dean of Men, Southern Union College, Master of Tompkins Cottage and teacher of English.

Frangcon Jones, University of New Hampshire, Master of Eliot Cottage and teacher of science.

Rachel Quant, Hamline University '42, Boston University Graduate School, teacher of organ and piano.

Barbara Wilson, Wheelock School '37, teacher of the Kindergarten.

Aline MacDowall, University of Illi- nois, teacher of the Fifth Grade.

Evelyn Kaufman, Sexton Hall Col- lege, 42, Harvard Class '43, teacher of the Second Grade.

Judith Greenstein, Brooklyn College '42, Harvard Class '43, teacher of Vis- ual Aid Class.

Martha L. Winget, Oklahoma A. & M. College '43, teacher of First Grade.

Mrs. Freda Jablonske, Matron of Moulton Cottage, succeeding Mrs. Eliz- abeth M. Holcomb who retired after twelve years of service.

— 7

NATIONAL LEGISLATION FOR THE BLIND

(Continued from Page 3) room for possible hesitation on the part of some authorities to include in normal times the blind as remuneratively employable.

The new Congress will have before it Senator Wagner's extensive amendments to the Social Security Act, which, are designed to fill the gaps in the "cradle-to-grave" security that seems to be the National objective. The primary purpose of these amendments is to increase the benefits and to extend the coverage of the present act. In brief, the amendments provide for: 1. Contributory social insurance which would cover all the economic hazards that threaten to cut off the income of workers; 2. Extension of coverage to all wage and salary employees and, except in the case of unemployment compensation and temporary disability, to the self-employed also. This would bring into the system domestic servants, employees of government and non- profit organizations, farmers, and other self-employed persons. 3. Hospitalization insurance. 4. Social insurance rights of persons in the armed services.

The Wagner Bill, as prepared for the next Congress, completely changes the program for the blind through the elimination of Title X. Under the new program it is assumed that the blind will be protected through the wider coverage described above. The danger in this, for the blind is that in normal times a large proportion may not be em- ployed and thereby will not be covered. In addition, there are many blinded from birth or in youth who would not be able to build up the reserve that normal workers do and, therefore, would be excluded from the provisions of the Act. It is because of these loopholes that many workers for the blind are now concerned over the Wagner Bill and are preparing plans for its amendment to safeguard more ade- quately the benefits which the blind receive under the present act.

The ideal plan for the blind is one which supplements earnings so that a blind person and his family may live adequately. This form of assistance has been weakened by recent legislation and, particularly, by the provisions of the Social Security Act. Since the beginning of the act eight years ago it has been the aim of workers for the blind to find some way whereby incentive to work could be restored, employ- ability increased, and the respect of the sightless maintained. The new Rehabilitation Act is going to help in providing rehabilitation training, if it is rightfully interpreted and the present objective is to see that the amendments to the Social Security Act are helpful rather than harmful. G. F.

The ILarltern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIII. NO. 2 feAvJ DECEMBER 15. 194 3

Sing ®n (HI?? UnrlJi

THROUGH THE CORRIDORS leading from the chapel, where the chorus is rehearsing, come the strains of the old hymn of Isaac Watts which has assumed the lilt and cadence of an ancient carol. It is easy, in these days of war, to think that there can be no joy in the world. But we must be lifted out of such doldrums. Perhaps that is the mission of music and the message of carols at Christmas time. Surely every man and every nation needs to hear :

Joy to the World! the Lord is come:

Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing.

Truly the earth needs a King, and Christmas tells us One has come, — One who can bring joy to the world if in our hearts we pre- pare Him room. How can we prepare to receive this King?

Let men their songs employ.

Music may be the medium that we need and may perhaps explain the appeal of the Christmas carol which transcends all national bounds. We recall again the reference in our last issue to the wise man of old who "believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads he need not care who should make the laws of a nation," and this time we stress the ballads and their place in national life. We need ballads, today, stirring songs, carols, perhaps, for the word carol is derived from two words meaning to sing and to give joy. And above all else, they must carry -into the hearts of men everywhere the message of Isaac Watts that we hear from the corridors below :

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. Gabriel Parrell, Director

Jza&usf 7&sifr+£g

INTRAMURAL NOTES

This issue of The Lantern is dedi- cated to the Music Department to whom all are indebted for much of the joyful spirit which prevails at Christ- mas time.

The Chapel window in memory of General Francis Henry Appleton and his wife described in The Lantern two years ago was unveiled on November 1 at the time of the annual meeting of the corporation.

Officers elected at the annual meet- ing were Robert H. Hallowell, presi- dent; G. Peabody Gardner, vice-presi- dent; Roger Amory, treasurer; Gabriel Farrell, secretary.

Clarence Shellnut, formerly of South- ern Union College, Alabama, has been appointed teacher of physical education and is training the wrestling team which meets the team at Andover Academy early in January.

All classes in the Upper School were cancelled on Wednesday, October 27, while teachers issued ration book No. 4 and the pupils raked leaves and cleaned windows to make up for short- age of help.

Paul L. Bauguss, teacher of music in the Lower School has become Scout Master of the Perkins troop. Mi-. Bauguss teaches every Wednesday at St. Paul's School, Concord, N. H.

Miss Wilhelmina R. Humbert, retired teacher of Kindergarten, has been re- called to help in the Lower School because of the large number of pupils.

The girls' track team held this fall resulted in the following scores: Brooks Cottage 39, Oliver Cottage 22, May Cot- tage 17 and Fisher Cottage 13.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

J. Robert Atkinson, president of the Braille Institute of Air erica, Inc., Los Angeles, California and president of the American Associatic i of Workers for the Blind, wrote: "Let me compliment you for your able editorial on the Bar- den-LaFollette Act which appeared in the September issue of The Lantern."

Oliverio Sanchez, special student at Perkins 1930-31, is editor, of the maga- zine LUCES, published in Havana in the interests of the blind of CUba. The October issue had a full account of Perkins with special stress on the work of the Music Department.

James D. Delaney, Perkins '40, re- ceived the degree of B. S. at the grad- uation exercises at Holy Cross College October 31. He is the first blind stu- dent to become a graduate of the Col- lege. Governor Saltonstall, a former trustee of Perkins, made the gradua- tion address.

Matthew Di Martino, Perkins '29, who since his graduation has been teacher of physical education at Perkins has been appointed Placement Agent on the staff of the Bureau of the Blind in Rhode Island.

Peter Salmon's, (Perkins '16) shop has been awarded the Army and Navy E in recognition of its efficient produc- tion of war materials. This is the Industrial Home for the Blind in Brooklyn.

Edith De Domiinicis, Perkins '32, for several years head of the Braille De- partment of the Boston Red Cross, has been appointed Home Teacher by the Division of the Blind in Massachusetts.

Lilia Gonzalez, Perkins '41, and mem- ber of the Harvard Class of last year, has received her appointment as teach- er in the senior department of the School for the Blind in Mexico City.

— 2

MUSIC AT PERKINS

"and the air shall be filled with music" By John F. Hartwell

For forty-two years Mr. Hartwell has been associated with Perkins. Two years after his graduation from the New England Conservatory of Music he came here as teacher of piano. Since 1932 he has been head of the Music Department and full credit for our high music sta-ndards is due to him and his associates in the Department. — G. F.

T

HERE'S MUSIC in the air almost everywhere about Perkins these days. Over in the lower school the youngsters are learning Christmas carols and singing them on the slightest provoca- tion. They are looking forward to the Christmas concerts, and especially hoping that they may be allowed to sing in Jordan Hall, — the goal of all "artists." In the upper school, rehearsals of Christ- mas music are held nearly every day, and from the music practice rooms strange sounds issue, as some anxious Caruso works at what will be eventually a smooth tenor line in some carol. The "Christmas spirit" begins early at Perkins, and continues until the final note of the last concert.

There is always music in the air at Perkins, or, to be particular, always from 8.15 to 4.10 each day. The lower school children are meeting in large and small groups with Miss Thayer for their singing, solfeggio and music appreciation classes, where they first become ac- quainted with the mysteries of "sight-singing," — reading the Braille music with their fingers, hearing it in their minds, and singing it with their soprano voices ; and where they enjoy musical experiences which shall build towards the future by supplying a rich background. Most of them become very good readers and dependable singers after three or four years of this training, and they learn many interesting songs, and listen to much fine music which they seldom forget. Then there is a fairly constant procession of small boys and girls going to and from their piano practice rooms, where Miss Gring a"hd Mr. Bauguss struggle and suffer to make unruly fingers stay on the right keys, and to help small memories retain a few measures of some little piano pieces. That the combined efforts of instructors and children are successful is proved by the good proportion of pupils who survive the ordeal and arrive at the upper school eager to go on with their music. In the upper school they are almost at once "grown up." The fortunate girls naturally and inevitably drift into the soprano or alto

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

CONCERTS OF Christmas Music have been given annually by the choirs of the Upper and Lower Schools for more than forty years. This year they will be held in Dwight Hall, Thursday evening-, Dec. 16; in Jordan Hall in Boston, Sunday afternoon, Dec. 19; and in Dwight Hall, Tuesday eve- ning, Dec. 21. Tickets for the first two concerts are available without charge by sending an addressed envelope to the Institution. The last concert is primarily for the relations and friends of the pupils who come to share the concert with the pupils. Afterwards, many of the students will leave for the Christmas holidays, remaining until school re-opens on January 5.

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

THIS NAME for the boys and girls who are deaf and blind has a Christmas origin for it was while hearing the chorus rehearse "Silent Night" that the thought came to use it to describe our doubly-handicapped children. This year this group is smaller than usual because of the difficulty in securing teachers. Eight deaf-blind boys and girls are now being taught in this special department. A few of the former pupils have been equipped with hearing aids and are now able to take instruction in regular classes. This new development in the Department, due to the improvement in mechanical hearing aids, promises to be helpful. Included in the department this year are children from Colorado, Idaho, New Jersey, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

THE OLIVER FUND

ONE OF THE UNIQUE privi- leges of the pupils at Perkins is the opportunity to attend musical concerts and recitals, the opera and symphony concerts, through the provisions of the Maria Kemble Oliver Fund. For thirty-five years the income from this fund has been available to provide "musical

students of the Institution with oppor- tunity to attend the highest class of musical performances." Each year tickets are purchased for all the musical events taking place in the vicinity of Boston and pupils with teachers acting as guides and interpreters attend the concerts. Several season tickets are taken for the Boston Symphony Orches- tra Concerts and for the Opera when the Opera comes to Boston. Maria Kemble Oliver, a pupil of the school from 1847 to 1854 died in 1872 and the fund, in her memory, was set up by her family.

THE TOWER BELLS

A VIBRANT NOTE is added to the Christmas spirit which pre- vails during the weeks prior to the Christmas vacation by the Wheelwright Bells in the tower. Each morning at eight o'clock for ten days before the Christmas holiday starts, familiar Christmas carols are rung on the bells by John di Francesco, one of the graduate students of music, assisted this year by Ettori Rosati. Every Sunday morning during the school year hymn tunes are played on the bells for a half hour. They are chimed also on special occasions, more recently at 11 o'clock on Armistice Day, and usually in the spring the changes are rung by a group of bell ringers.

PIANO TUNING

PIANO TUNING has for many years been one of the successful trades of visually handicapped people. Sir Charles W. Lindsey, who gave about half of the cost of the organ in Dwight Hall, left Perkins to begin the career which led to his great fortune, as a piano tuner. Since that time, many Perkins graduates have found suc- cess in this field and this skill is still being taught at Perkins to several present pupils. For sixty-six years Perkins trained piano tuners have serviced all of the pianos in the city of Boston public schools under a contract negotiated by Perkins.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

THREE ORGANS, seventy-six pianos and innumerable musical instruments make up the musical equipment available to the students of music at Perkins. In Dwight Hall, the great organ is located for concert use. It is a four manual Skinner Organ in- stalled in 1931 as the gift of former pupils at the time of the Centen- nial Exercises. In 1939, a two manual Frazee Organ was built for the chapel in memory of Clara B. H. Montgomery, who came to Perkins during World War I to study methods in preparation for going to France to work with blinded soldiers. This organ can also be played on one manual of the Dwight Hall organ as an echo organ. The third organ is a two manual reed organ used for early instruction and for practice purposes.

THE MUSIC LIBRARY

A MUSIC SERVICE which is not widely known but is widely appreciated is the lending of embossed music to blind musi- cians. From the Perkins Library of over 3000 titles blind musicians can borrow music and the circulation reaches throughout the country and into Canada and Mexico. Most of the music in the Perkins Library has been adapted for publication by the Perkins staff and embossed at the Howe Memorial Press. A full time music stereo- typer is on the staff of the Press and music can be immediately pre- pared for any special occasion.

THE PIANO NORMAL COURSE

SIX BOYS and girls living nearby are now receiving two piano lessons a week in the Pianoforte Normal Course conducted by the Music Department. Under supervision of the Department, ad- vance piano students of the School give these lessons as part of their training to become professional music teachers. The Normal Course takes three years and work done in it is accepted by the New England Conservatory of Music when students also attend the Conservatory.

HEARD IN A LOWER SCHOOL MUSIC CLASS

AFTER LISTENING to the Victrola record "The Cuckoo" from Saint Saens's "Carnival of the Animals," a boy who has a sister named Jeannette asked, "What makes that noise, OO-whoo?" Teacher: "A Clarinet." Boy: "Is that a boy or a girl?"

— 6 —

FORMER STUDENTS OF MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Anthony Cirella '40 was elected to the Pi Kappa Lambda Society of the New England Conservatory last Spring. He was graduated from the Conservatory in June with highest honors, won a prize in composition, and received the Ida Converse scholarship in organ. During the past summer he attended the Pius X School of Liturgical Music in New York City on a scholarship.

Clifton Sears '39 is playing the organ and conducting the church choir in his home town of Cummington, and taking organ lessons in Northampton. He keeps up his piano practice, has a magazine agency, a large chair caning business, and spends his spare time working on farms in the neighborhood.

Bertrand Chombeau '30 is organist of a church in San Diego, Calif., and plays the organ in the largest of the three skating rinks in that city. Of 54 en- tries for the Associated American Guild of Organists last May, he was one of 19 who was passed.

Roger Walker '19 has played the carillon at the Wellesley College Bacca- laureate and Commencement exercises for several years, and plays regularly on the Norwood carillon. He is winding wire for pipe coverers at the Hingham Navy Yard.

Madeliene Delight Brooks (Mrs. Charles Norcross) '25, soprano, gave a program for the Brookline Woman's Club in October.

Fred Hayashi '43 is studying at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and playing on a radio program called "The Piano Classic."

Edward W. Jenkins, '22, is engaged in writing a book on Bach's last work "The Art of Fugue."

John di Francesco '39 is a senior in the degree course at the Conservatory, majoring in voice. He gave a recital at the House of the Pines in Norton early in November, made a recent appear- ance as baritone soloist with the Law- rence Alumni Orchestra, and has been conductor of the Catholic Guild chorus for the last two years.

Sonora Brusteun '23 is teaching music in the public schools of her home town, Summit, S. D. She has private piano pupils after school hours and on Saturdays, and on Sundays, plays for church services and assists in special music programs. One of her former pupils is now directing the First A.S.F. Band in Iran.

Clifford Hall '37 is not doing much playing, but is singing in the church choir and tuning pianos. He writes that he has a practical monopoly on the tuning for many miles around his home town of Orleans, Vt., and has done 80 pianos in the last two months.

Phillip Small '38 continues his piano practice, but doesn't have much oppor- tunity for organ practice. He has been quite busy playing for the Elks, Lions, and Kiwanis clubs, and for the USO In Portland, Maine.

Paul Guiliana, '36, graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, holder of a master's degree and now working for his doctor's degree in music from Harvard is writing a thesis on the Magnificat.

Frederick Walsh '20, field worker for the Massachusetts Division has been organist at St. Bridget's Church, South Boston for over twenty-five years.

Walter Carr '38 has a position as tenor in the choir of the Church of the Advent in Boston.

— 7

MUSIC AT PERKINS

(Continued from Page 3) sections of the chorus without much preliminary fuss, and begin to learn the large repertory of anthems, one of which opens the morning assembly six days a week. They are also assigned time for singing lessons, at first in groups, "and later, if the voices warrant it, indi- vidually, and also time for piano lessons and practice. The boys are not so lucky. Most of them arrive with unchanged or partly changed voices, and are neither tenors or basses, but sometimes both at once. These boys have to mark time for a year or so, but eventually are iden- tified with the chorus and in the course of their school life, learn, with the girls, fifty anthems, fifty hymns, and about forty Christmas carols.

Of approximately fifty girls and boys in the upper school who are taking singing lessons, about forty, with possibly a few who do not sing, continue the study of piano playing as far as their several abilities warrant, or until further progress seems impossible. Some fall out by the end of the first year, but a few go to the Conservatory or elsewhere for higher instruction, becoming eventually piano teachers, organists, or concert singers.

By the time high school is reached, or sometimes a little earlier, music pupils are granted certain privileges. They may use our library of about 850 standard victrola records; they may attend recitals, Symphony concerts and opera performances, and they may elect to study, in addition to piano and voice, small instruments, such as violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone and trumpet. We do not especially encourage the study of these instruments, but the pupils enjoy them, and they, notably the trumpet, add greatly to the volume of music in the air at Perkins. At about this time, pupils may begin the study of pipe organ playing, and selected pupils are started along the path of theoretical studies, — music history ; harmony, and a little later, counterpoint. These studies broaden the base and increase the height of the musical structure, thus widening the range of under- standing and appreciation of the art.

Music is not an end unto itself. It is one avenue of approach to life, an aid in the development of better men and women, with finer perceptions, higher ideals, and a knowledge of and love for the more worth while and more beautiful things. Almost any former Perkins pupil will gladly tell you that because of music in the air at Perkins, it has been possible to more fully enjoy music on the air at home.

The ILaritern

THE PERKINS ; INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIII. NO. 3 KfeJtilf MARCH 15, 1944

Partially Seeing Children

FIFTY THOUSAND children in this country need help. They are not blind ; or schools for the blind could care for them. They are not fully sighted ; therefore they cannot benefit fully by the public school system. These children fall between two groups for whom reasonably adequate facilities are available. They have too much vision to be finger readers, but they cannot see well enough to read the ordinary type in textbooks.

Some people feel that schools for the blind should accept these children and, in fact, some schools are admitting them. Their presence, however, in a school planned for the blind creates situations unfair to them and to the children who cannot see. Partially seeing children should not be classified as blind as that magnifies their visual defect. Blind children should not be subject to constant contrast with children who can see as that magnifies their sense of disability. Par- tially seeing children should have special education designed primarily to meet their needs.

The ideal program for the partially seeing child is the "sight- saving" class. Thirty years ago last April Perkins had a part in establishing in Boston the first class for the partially seeing in this country. It is our pleasure to present in this issue a story of the beginning of that class by Dr. Allen, who early recognized the need of special education for the partially seeing child. There has been a lag in developing facilities for these children who fall between the blind and the fully sighted. Perkins wishes at this time to make its plea for these boys and girls who need help.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown. Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

The clergy of all the Watertown churches are speaking in turn at the morning chapel exercises on Thursdays during Lent.

Ralph Savio, special student for piano tuning, has completed the course at the Nylin Institute of Physiotherapy, in Brookline.

The Director was reelected chairman of the Joint Committee on National Legislation of the A.A.I.B. and the A.A.W.B. at a meeting held in Wash- ington on January 13.

Eight lectures on problems pertaining to the blind are being given to members of the senior class at the Boston School of Occupational Therapy by Perkins' staff members.

The Music Master, a comedy success- fully produced several years ago, is to be repeated by the Boys' Dramatic Club on the evenings of March 23 and 24.

An ultra-violet lamp of institutional size has been secured by the Health Department and treatments are now available to pupils and staff members.

Opportunities for social gatherings for the staff are afforded by tea served at the Director's house on Wednesday afternoons, and coffee in the clubrooms in Bridgman Cottage one night a week in succession with a different cottage serving as host each night.

Dr. I. A. Richards, Director of the Commission on English Language Studies at Harvard University, spoke at the Staff Meeting on Monday, February 14, on the principles and use of Basic English.

Woven blankets made by Melina Her- ron and Dorothy Reynolds were ex- hibited as part of the Red Cross dis- play in the window of Filene's in Bos- ton in March.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

John Morrison, Perkins '40 was grad- uated from Notre Dame University in February Magna cum laude having an average of over 93 for the four-year course. During his freshman year he was president of his class of over 1,000. He has been awarded a fellowship which will enable him to return to Notre Dame for graduate study in philosophy.

Patricia Robinson, Perkins '43, was admitted in September to the fresh- man class at the State Teachers Col- lege at Hyannis.

Merle E. Tracy, Perkins '97, formerly editor and owner of Current History Magazine, and author of Our Country, Our People and Theirs, is now doing editorial work for the Office of War In- formation.

Florence E. Birchard, for many years Placement Agent for the Massachusetts Division of the Blind, has retired and is spending the winter in Florida.

Roger T. Walker, Perkins '19. received a certificate and cash award for an improvement in the method of winding wire at the Hingham shipyard.

Smith College, class of 1892, of which Miss Jessica L. Langworthy was a member, gave a membership in her memory to the Smith College Student Aid Society. Miss Langworthy was for- merly head of the Boys' School, and for many years the tutorial guide of the Harvard Class.

Leona Guerin, who left Perkins in June, has knit twenty pairs of mittens and ten pairs of gloves for the Red Cross, and is now knitting scarves for

the Navy.

The Bulletin of the Training School at Vineland, New Jersey, for February, contained excerpts from the Annual Re- port of the Director of Perkins.

— 2 —

THE FIRST SIGHT SAVING CLASS

By Edward E. Allen, D. Sc. Director Emeritus, Perkins Institution

Y

"OU ASK me for an account of the starting of the Boston sight-saving class; also for the philosophy which shaped its conduct. As you know, our trustees sent me abroad in 1909 to inspect European care of the young blind. In London Sir Francis Campbell arranged for me to attend a clinic held to determine to which special school center each of a small army of atypical children belonged — blind, deaf, cardiac, etc. It was there I first learned of separate schooling for the partially seeing. No such "myopic" classes were then in session ; any- way I visited none, but came away understanding little more than that these successfully used blackboards instead of books.

That I was interested goes without saying; for I had long been troubled to know how to deal with such pupils. Returning home I reported my discovery to our State Commission for the Blind. We voted that our chairman see the Boston Superintendent of Schools about opening a trial class for the city's "semi-sighted." Nothing resulting from our appeal, I bided my time until Dr. Dyer, the new head, should come. Then, when his friend, Principal Van Cleve of the New York Institute for the Blind, visited me, we called upon him and came away confident that a class would be started, and that Perkins might be called upon to assist.

In anticipation Miss Helen Smith, a former teacher of ours, was brought to Watertown and set to work collecting sundry material and writing with black crayons a lot of primary reading on large sheets of paper. Presently she was appointed teacher, laboriously gathered her little group and on April 6th, 1913 opened with six girls, of various grades of advancement, in an empty schoolhouse of the Rox- bury district.

Most pioneering is attended with difficulties. Miss Smith tells of hers in No. 22 of the Sight-Saving Class Exchange, issued by our National Society for the Prevention of Blindness. However, she put the little enterprize through and, when her pupilage exceeded 12, was

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

SIGHT-SAVING VS. VISUAL AID

SIGHT-SAVING classes for children of partial vision must not be confused with the visual-aid class opened at Perkins about a year ago, and described in an earlier issue of the LANTERN. Sight- saving- classes are for children whose sight range is from 20/70 to 20/200 on the Snellen chart. The maximum vision for admission to a school for the blind is 20/200, but opthalmologists are now permitting pupils in the upper range of vision to use what sight they have, and to read ink print, preferably in large letters, if possible. The visual-aid class is planned to assist that group of children. This year in the class in the Lower School there are eight boys and girls of the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Children in the lower grades with sufficient visual acuity to see ink print are taught their letters. In the Upper School these children are permitted to read from print.

WRESTLING TEAM

WRESTLING has become a major sport at Perkins. Eight boys of the Upper School with Herbert Sabin as captain, and Jack Hart as manager have carried out a strenuous schedule. In January the team had two matches with the team of Needham High School, winning one and losing the other. On February 12, the team went to Andover Academy where they won a victory. The following Saturday they won again over the team at Tabor Academy at Marion. Tables were reversed at the meet with Exeter at Exeter on Saturday, March 5. The team is looking forward to a meet with the Maryland School for the Blind which is sending a team to Perkins on March 11.

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WRESTLING

Top row: Edmond Ber- ube, . Robert Smithdas, Francis Delaney, Herbert Sabin, Francis Cordeau.

Bottom row : Norman Hamer, William Gallagher, John Flynn. Smithdas is a deaf-blind pupil from Pittsburgh, Pa.

I

BROADCAST

The Perkins chorus is to TOadcast from the Chapel ver Stations WBZ, Boston, .nd WBZA, Springfield dial 1030) on Monday eve- dngs from 7:30 to 7:45. •rograms have been ar- anged for March 13, 20 nd 27 and may continue fter the Spring Vacation rhich ends April 12.

PERKINS' PARACHUTE

SOMEWHERE in one of the theaters of war a paratrooper or an aviator will land safely on the ground because of a parachute. He will owe this safety, although he may never know it, to the boys and girls of Perkins. As their objective in the Fourth War Bond Drive the pupils of Perkins set out to sell among themselves enough war stamps to buy this parachute. They not only succeeded in doing this but also were able to provide a motor scooter and a life raft. One hundred per cent participation by the pupils was attained with a total of $432.60 raised. This entitled the school to Minute-man flags, which are now proudly flying. In this drive only pupils participated. Un- official reports of the staff, however, reveal that enough bonds were bought to buy two jeeps. Early in the campaign on February 4 three veterans wounded in action spoke to the school. The high spot of the campaign was reached when a jeep came to the school on February 25 and the pupils had the fun of driving around the grounds chauff eured by a WAC.

STAFF WAR ACTIVITY

PERKINS' CONTRIBUTION to the war is not confined to raising money. The School opthalmologist is with the Army in North Africa, the physician on the seas with the Navy and the Upper School dentist is with the Air Corps. One former secretary is in Eng- land for the Red Cross and another is a Wave in this country. Three men teachers are on leave for important war work while several members of the maintenance staff are in the armed services.

Eighteen sons of the staff are in the army or navy. There has been one casualty and one, John Forkin, has been reported a prisoner, being taken while a member of the Fifth Army in Italy.

Here at home there is also intensive activity. Many staff mem- bers are blood donors while two work an evening a week at the Blood Center. Five serve as nurses aides at a Boston Hospital. Three give time to the Red Cross Canteen. Several work at surgical dressings and others pack garments for war relief societies. The social worker has been loaned for two half days a week to serve at the Army Induc- tion center. Innumerable staff members, and pupils also, knit, one person has made fifty-three garments this year. Two staff wives give practically full time to the Red Cross. Four wives of service men are on the teaching staff.

OTHER DRIVES

RECORD should be made of the fact that during the Greater Boston War Fund Drive the staff achieved almost one hundred per cent contribution with a total of $1,110.76. In March, an effort is being made to have every member participate in the drive for funds for the American Red Cross. As a means of supplementing the individual contributions for the Red Cross, members of the staff are giving an amateur show on Friday evening, March 10, with talent that will surprise and entertain the pupils. This is a reverse of a similar night of entertainment presented by the pupils on the evening of February 18 where for admission a war stamp had to be purchased.

MUSIC RECITALS

ADMISSION was charged to the annual recitals of the pupils in the Music Department this year for the first time. Each person admitted had to buy a war stamp. The two concerts, one for the intermediate pupils on February 8, and one for the ad- vanced pupils on February 15 were both of high quality with a varied program of instrumental and vocal selections.

OTHER MUSICAL VENTURES

RECORD should not, perhaps, be made that some of the boys (not of the Music Department) have been winning prizes in local moving-picture houses for imitation of one whom a local journalist calls Frank "Swoonatra."

— 6 —

BOOK REVIEWS

Education and Health of the Par- tially-Seeing Child, by Winifred Hath- away. Columbia University Press, 1943.

A timely book and one greatly needed right now. Fifty thousand children in our schools today have partial sight. and facilities for special instruction are provided for only 9,000 in 631 classes in 31 states. Here is a field that calls for expansion, and this book tells why and how most adequately.

Considering that the first classes for partially-seeing children were started in Boston and in Cleveland in 1913, it is surprising that greater progress has not been made. These two pioneer classes so close in origin differed in method. The Boston class followed the segregated method — the pupils carried on all their work in a special room. The Cleveland class instituted the coopera- tive plan — only close eye work was done in the special room and stress was placed on joining classes of the fully sighted for other work.

The advantages and disadvantages of the two plans are discussed by Mrs. Hathaway, and full instruction is given on the many aspects involved in setting up this type of special education. To educators this will be a handbook long desired, and to have it written by a per- son with the wide experience of Mrs. Hathaway gives it authority. Every person responsible for the education of children should read it.

Perhaps it will be more valuable in the hands of social workers, public health nurses, and others who work in the field where children with defective vision are to be found. Rounding up children who deviate is often more difficult than providing for their special need. Communities should be made more conscious of these boys and girls who, with the relatively simple pro- cedure of instruction outlined in this book, can receive education under con- ditions that minimize their handicap.

— G. F.

The Visually Handicapped in India,

by Ras Mohun Haider. Thacker & Co., Ltd., London and Bombay, 1943.

This book is a campaign document for the cause of the neglected blind of India. It is alive with the spirit of a crusader who has seen what can be done for the blind by visiting western nations and is burning with the desire to arouse his country-men to similar efforts. Not discouraged at the immen- sity of the task — estimates of the blind in India range from one-half mil- lion to one and one-half million — Principal Haider describes in detail the methods of prevention and education which he has observed in the United States, makes recommendations for similar procedures in India.

While the book will be primarily helpful to those planning to meet the needs of the blind in India, the account of existing work in that country will be of interest to the blind in this country especially a very interesting chapter describing the eight braille codes now in use in India followed by a plea for one Uniform Indian Braille Code for the whole of India.

On section consists of a series of chapters taken from Principal Haider's master's thesis for Boston University, upon Education as Guidance for Blind Pupils. This part may be considered his philosophy of education for the blind. Appendix I gives a directory of the activities for the blind in India, ar- ranged by provinces.

Principal Haider's friends at Perkins will be happy to see that he has made such effective use of the material he collected here, and will wish him suc- cess in arousing the Indian public from the lethargy mentioned by Major Sir Clutha Mackenzie in his forword.

-hS. P. H

— 7 —

THE FIRST SIGHT SAVING CLASS

(Continued from Page 3)

given an assistant, Miss Lilley, another teacher of ours. I visited the class often, sometimes supplying needed materials.

In 1917 Boston opened a second center and in 1919 a third, under resourceful teachers of its own selection; and it now has sixteen of them.

As Miss Smith and I had successfully taught blind pupils before the day of braille textbooks, she proposed to teach these low vision children also orally, including of course much blackboard writing, learning through doing and making, the reading of sheets of large script, gymnastics and games, all stressed in that order. Indeed, her main reliance remained upon them even after books in clear type arrived from Cleveland.

She daily led her special charges to concentrate and grow strong where other pupils are commonly weak — in intensive listening and thinking — and so to excell in these saving characteristics. This was the more practical because her pupils were few in number: she could and did know them individually and taught each according to his needs. Success came as a matter of course. Yes, she followed in general the common school curriculum and her pupils, when ready, graduated at the closing exercises of their main school.

Now it is my conviction that our American teaching by the "reading method" is commonly overdone — excessive reliance being placed on the printed word at the expense of personal effort ; also that whenever a handicap spurs to special effort, it is no longer a hindrance but becomes a help.

Sight-Saving classes are rightly so called. Their pupils should be habituated at school to avoiding all eye strain, and to acquiring there other interests than reading, even hobbies both indoor and outdoor. In Zurich, Switzerland, they draw in outline and in color; and go on excursions. In England some learn folk dancing: some to play on the violin.

The Master of a center of low vision pupils in London told me in 1937 that though these were not allowed to read printed books, they had just excelled in a general test set for ordinary pupils of corres- ponding grades — which showed his superior methods of instruction.

I have often visited such classes. When addressing them I do not forget to stress the fact that keeping their eyesight is vitally more important than getting a scholastic education.

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIII. NO. 4 JUNE 15. 1944

Our War Blinded

THE ANNOUNCEMENT that the Army has selected a place for the establishment of the center for the adjustment and retrain- ing of blinded service men is encouraging. Now we may hope that an adequate program for this important and delicate task will soon be in full operation. The announcement, recently made by the Secretary of War, that there have been only seventy-three cases of total blindness, seventy in the Army and three in the Navy, is also encouraging. This will allay the rumors that at this hospital, or in fact at almost any Army or Naval hospital, there are hundreds of cases of blindness.

While it is still hoped that the number of persons blinded in the war will be smaller than we feared, nothing must be left undone that will assure those, who have given their sight in the service of the country, of every opportunity for retraining, rehabilitation and restoration to normal, civilian life. Generous pensions are not enough ; glittering promises of jobs will not suffice. The really important and most telling factors are the allaying of fear and the assuring that life in a darkened world is worth living.

America did not have, as the British did, an organization, St. Dunstan's, ready to take up the task when this war began. We had to seek special legislation, and then decide the agency to carry on the work. Legislation placed it with the Veterans Administration but this work had to begin before the men were veterans so the Army agreed to begin training in the hospitals and to assume responsibility for the personal and social adjustment. The new Center is for this purpose. Schools for the blind stand ready to help because America is going to demand for its war blinded nothing short of the best.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Miss Genevieve M. Haven, teacher of English in the Upper School, served on a panel discussing Basic English at a conference in Somerville on May 13.

Two Library Associations held their meetings at Perkins this spring. On April 26, The Charles River Library Club had its meeting. On the evening of May 22, the Special Libraries Asso- ciation held a meeting. The Director addressed both meetings.

A Botany Course comprising ten lectures, given by Mr. Nelson Coon, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, was taken by eighteen staff members. Part of the Course was a tour of inspection of the many flower- ing shrubs in bloom on the grounds.

A bronze tablet designating the Girls' Reading Room as a memorial to Julia E. Burnham, a graduate of Perkins and teacher in the Girls' Upper School for forty-five years, was dedicated at the time of the Alumnae Association Meeting on June 3.

"Western Star" by Stephen Vincent Benet, was presented in Dwight Hall on May 31 by forty-six pupils who are taking speech work under Mrs. S. F. Waterhouse.

Wayne Moody, a senior, offered a program of readings on June 9, with musical background by Edward W. Jenkins of the music faculty and as- sisted by Norman Hamer, tenor, a member of the Junior Class.

A May Party was held by the girls on Saturday, May 29, with games in the afternoon, fortune telling, rides in the dump truck, and a picnic supper. A good time was had by all.

The final outdoor meet was held by the girls' cottage teams on May 19, resulting in the following scores: Oliver 15, Brooks 10, May 5. This brought

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The American Association of Instruc- tors of the Blind is planning to hold its biennial convention at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock, June 26-30. The Director and Principal are planning to attend.

Scholarship aid to the extent of $200.00 a year has been offered to grad- uates of Perkins planning to attend institutions of higher learning by the Howe Memorial Beneficiary Fund.

The Perkins Alumnae Association at its meeting on June 3rd voted to set up a scholarship fund of $1,200.00, the in- come from which will be granted to girls who are graduatec of Perkins to assist them in advanced studies.

Cecila Nadeau, Perkins '42, later a student of Nashua, (N. H.) Business College has received a position as Edi- phone Operator in the office of the University of New Hampshire.

Adelaide Feleciano, Perkins '40, will graduate from Emmanuel College this month and Mary Fay Bresnahan, Perkins '40 will receive her degree from Regis College.

Wilma True, Perkins '39, who was graduated from the University of Maine last year, is finishing a one year course of study in the Boston University School of Social Work.

Mrs. George H. Monks, member of the Ladies Visiting Committee for the Kindergarten, died April 22. Mrs Monks had been actively interested in the Kindergarten from the early days in Jamaica Plain and continued that interest throughout her life.

Brooks out on top again for the year, winning a new cup, which was presented at the Victory Banquet on June 7.

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ENGLAND'S WAR BLINDED

By Gabriel Farrell

Most of this article is taken from "Help for the Blinded Soldier," published in the April issue of Hj'geia, the health magazine of The American Medical Association.

AMONG ALL the troops of the British Empire in the last war, there were slightly under 3000 cases of blindness. "With prac- tically no exception," wrote Sir Arthur Pearson, founder of St. Dunstan's in his book Victory Over Blindness, "all the soldiers and sailors of the British Imperial Forces blinded in the war came under my care in order to learn how to be blind." At the outset of his work Sir Arthur determined that the sole objective would be to restore blinded men to the positions in life from which they had come. As a center for this work, Sir Arthur was fortunate in securing- the magni- ficent mansion of the American banker, Otto Kahn, situated in the Inner Circle of Regent's Park in London. "I wanted," said Sir Arthur, "delightful surroundings," anjl he found them in this estate with fifteen acres of gardens and grounds larger than any in London save Buckingham Palace. As the work grew, other buildings in the city were occupied and later convalescent homes were opened at Brighton and St. Leonard's-on-the-Sea.

When World War II broke out England was fortunate in having already functioning this center for the retraining of blind men. For- tunate also were they in the present leadership of Lt. Col. Sir Ian Fraser, M. P. Sir Ian is a product of St. Dunstan's. When only eighteen, he was blinded in the Battle of the Somme. After com- pleting his training at St. Dunstan's, he qualified as a lawyer and entered Parliament in his early twenties. For several years a governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation, he was able to press the cause of disabled veterans upon British opinion and obtained many reforms for them in Parliament. Sir Ian was in this country about a year ago and at that time offered the United States Government the facilities of St. Dunstan's for the care and treatment of any blinded members of our Armed Forces in England, Egypt, India or South Africa. Sir Ian said, "We shall place them as honored guests and do as much as we can for them." Already two Americans have been guests at St. Dunstan's.

Those who go to St. Dunstan's now will not be received at the beautiful mansion in Regent's Park as in World War I because the house was given up several years ago, nor at the administrative head-

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE ARMY CENTER

ANNOUNCEMENT has been made by the Army of the selection of the Avon School, at Avon, Connecticut, for a Center for blinded members of the Army and the Navy. Avon Old Farms, as the school is called, is architecturally one of the most interesting groups of school buildings in the country. Twenty-five buildings, made of stone in the Cotswold type of architecture, are located in the heart of three thousand acres of grounds. The Army will take possession of all of the buildings, but only two hundred acres of land. The Center will be under the command of Colonel Frederic Thorne, one of the Army's foremost Ophthalmologists.

Early in the summer it is planned to transfer a number of men now at the Valley Forge General Hospital to Avon for personal and social adjustment. An adequate staff of instructors, some from the Army and others civilians, is being assembled. The primary purpose of the Center is to teach the blinded men how to live in a darkened world and after adjustment has been attained, they will be discharged from the Army and transferred to the care of the Veterans Admin- istration, which will provide all necessary vocational training, place them in jobs, enroll them in colleges, or return them to their homes. The Center will have facilities for two hundred men.

RETIREMENTS

TWO MEMBERS of the Music Department are affected this year by the Perkins Retirement Plan. Miss Mabel A. Starbird, who was eligible for retirement a year ago, and continued to carry on her work during the present year, has completed thirty-three years of service to Perkins. She will be remembered because of fine work that she has done with the Girls' Glee Club. Miss Naomi K. Gring is retiring after thirty-seven years as teacher of piano in the Girls' Lower School. She is to return to her home in Maryland and has agreed to assist in the Maryland School for the Blind for the duration.

BASIC ENGLISH

FOLLOWING a talk by Professor I. A. Richards on Basic English, a Committee was appointed to study the possible use of Basic English among braille readers. A number of experiments are under way which may lead to interesting results. The Basic word list has been put into braille and is being used in connection with the

— 4 —

book, "Words at Work," which Miss Haven, Chairman of the Com- mittee, is using in the ninth grade. Mr. Marchisio is using the book, "Basic for Business" in some of his commercial classes. Many teach- ers feel that some of the Basic Texts put into braille would be helpful with beginning braille classes, while others see an unusual opportunity for teaching ink print to those with sufficient sight to permit its use through the illustrated text books now available in Basic. Miss Harlow, a member of the Committee, is planning to take a course in Basic English at the Hyannis State Teachers College this summer. The Committee has recommended a list of Basic books to be put into braille by the Howe Memorial Press.

SCHOLARSHIP MARKS

CONSIDERABLE stress has been placed this year upon high scholarship. Teachers are requested to report the academic standing of pupils regularly and each month the Prncipal has posted an Honor List. This list is made up of the ten highest rank- ing pupils in scholarship. These grades cover all the courses in school and indicate the pupils who have outstanding ability and who are working diligently to make the most of their academic training.

ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES

ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES have not been overlooked during the spring. Following the close of the successful wrestling season, the Track Team went into training and over the week-end of May 27, journeyed to Baltimore for a meet with the Maryland School, which resulted in a victory for Maryland. On June 3, the track team from the Pennsylvania School for the Blind, visited Perkins and this meet was won by Pennsylvania.

LOWER SCHOOL PLAY

THE LOWER SCHOOL playgrounds have been alive with acti- vity all spring. The playground, made colorful by sun-suits provided for all the children, contains a considerable amount of apparatus but the two most-used media of play are wooden logs, about five inches in diameter and six feet long, made of light pine and therefore easily lifted, and wooden boxes about twenty-four inches square and twelve inches deep. The boxes are painted bright green and red. Railroads, cities, forts, ships, and jeeps, displaying imagina- tion and strategy, are made out of these logs and boxes.

(We had planned to print a picture of some of these marvelous constructions but in view of the poor prints in the last issue, we are omitting pictures until this run of paper is used up.)

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GRADUATION, JUNE 15

GRADUATION EXERCISES will be held in Dwight Hall at 2:00 o'clock on Thursday, June 15. The Commencement address will be given by the Most Reverend Richard J. Cushing, D. D., L. L. D., Administrator of the Archdiocese of Boston, and the Invocation will be oifered by the Rev. Edgar W. Anderson, Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Watertown. Mr. Robert H. Hallo- well, President of the Corporation, will award diplomas, signifying graduation from high school, to Chiararose Larato, Margaret E. Teb- betts, Selma L. Tirocchi, John J. Hart, and Wayne S. Moody. A special certificate will be given to Dorothy Reynolds, who has com- pleted the work of the Manual Training Department and Bernice Bauman of New Jersey, will receive a certificate indicating com- pletion of the Pianoforte Normal Course.

Ralph Savio, who came to Perkins in 1941 as a special student, will receive a certificate from the Piano Tuning Department. During the past year, in addition to his work at Perkins, he attended the Nylin Institute of Physio-Therapy, where he was certified as a masseur, and he has also carried on special studies under the direc- tion of the Lawrence High School, the city in which he lives, and has passed examinations which entitle him to receive later in June a diploma as a graduate of that school.

John Di Francesco completes this month his work at the New England Conservatory of Music and will receive a B. A. Degree. He is widely known as a baritone soloist for the Chorus and for his work as Director of the Guild Choristers, sponsored by the Catholic Guild for the Blind. John entered the Kindergarten of Perkins and has continued to live at the school while attending the Conservatory.

Selma Tirocchi, -Margaret Hayman, Melina Herron, and Faye George completed the requirements of the American Red Cross Home Nursing Course and received certificates from that organization. Lelia Jensen, a National Scholarship pupil from Montana, Marion Knoll, Scholarship pupil from Michigan, and Jacqueline Woodward, Scholarship pupil from Florida, have received certificates as proficient Ediphonists from the Ediphone Company.

The Senior Class colors are: Red, White and Blue. The Class flower is : Red Rose. The Class motto is : Perge modo (Keep on to the end.)

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FROM OUR MAIL

"We have just enjoyed your excellent choir's fine music over our radio and congratulate you." — E. L. B., Milford, N. H.

"Just a few words in praise of your fine chorus work. It is GREAT, in interpretation, enunciation, expres- sion ..." — A. W. L., Springfield, Vt.

"Your program gave Mrs. T. and me great pleasure. It carried a spiritual message we all need in these trying days." — C. W. T. (U.S. Senator) N.H.

"I listened with pleasure to the beau- tiful broadcast of the Perkins Chorus last evening and hope we are going to have more of them." — E. S. P., Boston, Mass.

"It was delightful to note the fine balance of the four sections, the rich- ness of tone, the precision of expres- sion, the brilliant color, and the warmth . . . " — fW. A. M., Providence, R. I.

"Their singing is excellent, and the precision of their attack and the choral effects are really very remarkable. They can stand comparison with any choral group I have ever heard on the air." P.M. N., New York.

"I want to tell you what joy such music as that sung by your young fresh voices means to all of us . . . With so much misnamed music that is utterly unbearable to real music lovers, it was a revelation and a joy to hear anything so fine." — K. L. C, Milton, Mass.

"Even though most of us don't know much about music, we thought the program was pretty darn good. It is good for a person's ears to be able to listen to good music for one time during the week after listening to boogy woogy day in and day out." — J.J. (U.S. Army) Portsmouth, N. H.

PUBLICATIpNS

Clarence Hawkes, L. L. D., Perkins '90, the well-known author, who has pro- duced over fifty books, has had pub- lished a volume entitled, "The Service Man's Friend." This is an inspirational book, composed of articles which were prepared by Dr. Hawkes for eight New England newspapers and four broad- casting stations. They represent Dr. Hawkes' contribution to the war effort and will undoubtedly be of inspiration to all who read them.

Ruth R. Hayden, A. B., M. A., Perkins '13, is the author of "Erma at Perkins," a book which tells in fictional form the story of a girl all the way through her educational career at Perkins. The education of this girl began at the Kindergarten in Jamaica Plain, she then went to the Institution at South Boston, and just before her last year, came to the new plant in Watertown. Because of this the life in all three locations of Perkins is described in an interesting and informative way.

Hygeia, the health magazine of the American Medical Association, carries in its April number an article entitled "Help for the War Blinded Soldier," by Gabriel Parrell. This gives an account of the work for the American blinded soldiers in the last war and recom- mendations for the program for the blinded service men of this war.

The April number of the Journal of Exceptional Children carried a photo- graph of Dr. Edward E. Allen on the cover and a tribute to his leadership in the field of the blind. It also contained an article on the Harvard-Perkins Course by the Director.

The Director was asked to review Mrs. Hathaway's book, "The Education and Health of the Partially Seeing Child," by the Harvard Educational Review and The Survey Magazine.

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ENGLAND'S WAR BLINDED

9 (Continued from Page 3)

quarters which were retained in the Park until they were bombed prac- tically out of existence. Neither will they live in the training center at Brighton. When this war broke out, preparations were made to receive blinded men at a fine new building on the sunny cliffs near Sussex. Additional hospital wards and temporary workshops were built on the extensive grounds, but when the bombs began to fall on that area, the disabled men were moved to quiet hotels and pleasant homes in the West country.

England has also made provision for civilians who have lost their sight as a result of air raids or while on civilian defense duty. The National Institute for the Blind, has opened three centers called Houses of Recovery. These are not hospitals but homes where, in an atmosphere of healthy encouragement, persons are helped to recover from the shock of loss of sight. The training in the houses is ele- mentary. Advanced training in occupations or professions can be ar- ranged for people so desiring after they return to their own homes.

The first of the three centers is Longmeadow in Goring, the charming home of the Chairman of the National Institute for the Blind, Captain Sir Beachcroft Towse, V.C., a blinded veteran of the South African War. Sir Beachcroft has taken personal charge of this center doing much to invigorate the program and to inspire those who have lost their sight. Because this place is near London and also be- cause of its restful seclusion on the banks of the Thames, elderly peo- ple jprefer it. The younger people go to an estate in Torquay known as American Lodge because it was given by the British War Relief Society of the U. S. A. The young people are sent there because it has "all the amenities of life at a seashore resort." The third center is Oldbury Grange near Bridge North in the Shropshire hills. This home is where "those who love a country life find ideal conditions, with chickens and pigs, and the sounds and scents of the countryside to charm them to renewed contentment."

According to the latest figures available, there are about sixty blinded civilians in the three Houses of Recovery and there have been over one hundred all told. About one hundred are now in residence at St. Dunstan's in their present home at Church Stretton near Shrewsbury and there have been about two hundred cases of blindness in the armed services making something over three hundred so far in England during this war.

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The Latltern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIV. NO. 1 iv-lSiil SEPTEMBER 15,1944

A Class Apart

CONSIDERABLE CONCERN is being expressed over the extent of special legislation for the blind. Interest in adequate provi- sions for the war-blinded focussed attention on the many bills introduced into Congress for the benefit of the sightless. Prior to the Social Security Act practically all national legislation pertaining to blindness was for the benefit of institutions rather than for individ- uals. Since then there has been an increasing trend toward bills which afford direct benefit to blinded persons. These range from an amendment to the Income Tax Law, which permits blind persons to claim reductions up to $500 for personal services, to the Social Security Act which provides $25,000,000 a year for needy blind persons.

Motivation for this legislation reaches from the feeling that society is under obligation because blindness, largely preventable, has been allowed to prevail, to an attempt on the part of the blind to secure economic parity with the seeing. While all who have the in- terest of the blind at heart want them to have every aid and oppor- tunity, many blind people are becoming concerned lest this zeal build them into a special class apart from seeing people.

Formerly the blind asked no special consideration beyond adequate training to overcome the loss of sight. Has this aim been lost in the complexity of modern life, or can the blind with good training still stand on their own feet ? We will not venture an answer but we think the whole matter needs consideration and clarification by the blind themselves, rather than by workers for the blind.

JzOsO^U ^a/vhj^

L Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown. Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President. Gabriel Farrell, Director

INTRAMURAL NOTES

National Scholarships have been awarded to Arrietta McClung and Calvin Wooten of Alabama.

James Champ, eight years old, of Kansas and Carolyn Edmundson, elev- en years old, of West Virginia are new pupils in the Deaf-Blind Depart- ment.

Norman Hamer, Francis Cordeau, and Herbert Sabin were employed this summer at Camp Indian Acres at Fry- burg, Maine.

Francis Delaney and Richard Crane operated a vending stand at the Pew- Gorton Fish Pier in Gloucester.

Ettore Bosati and Thomas Cotter worked on the Regis College farm this summer. Ettore continues until Oc- tober 1 to help with the harvest.

Several Perkins' boys were able to take part in some of the training courses at the 'Springfield Trade School this summer.

Eleven boys were able to go to camp this summer through the generosity of the Boston Committee for the Blind. Fifteen girls attended Camp Allen, Bedford, New Hampshire. Several former Perkins pupils were also there.

The Director, the Principal, and Miss Winget represented Perkins at the Convention of the American As- sociation of Instructors of the Blind at Little Rock, Arkansas, June 26 - 30.

The Director has been appointed Chairman of the A.A.I.B. on the Re- training of the War Blinded. During the summer he visited the Valley Forge General Hospital and the Old Farms Convalescent Hospital where blinded soldiers are under care and training.

Alice M. Carpenter, B. A. Hastings College, M. A. University of Colorado, member of the Harvard Class '36 - '37, formerly head of the Ming Sum School for the Blind, Canton, China, to teach in the Deaf-Blind Department.

Marion Brown Newcomb, B. A. Colby College, M. A. Boston University, for- merly Dean of Women at Southern Union College, to be Matron of Tomp- kins Cottage land !to teach in the Upper School.

Leroy Victor Cleveland, B. A., Th. B_

formerly teacher at Henniker High School, graduate student at the School of Education at Harvard, to teach science.

Edward Jacobs, B. A. Illinois Wesley- an University, Harvard Class '41, form- er teacher in the Baltimore schools, to be Master of Bridgman Cottage and teach in Upper School.

E. Jane Smith, A. B. Massachusetts State College, Harvard Class '43 - '44, to be Psychometrist in the Department of Personnel.

Vesta V. V. Coon, B. A. Syracuse University, to teach in the Commercial Department.

Helen Dunne, B. S. Regis College, to teach Home Economics and to assist in Bennett Cottage.

Albert R. Raymond and Paul L.

Bauguss, who have been teaching in the Music Department on part time, are to give more time this year to take up the work of the music teachers who were retired.

Mrs. Mary Hunt has become Matron of Potter Cottage. Miss Eva Jordan, who was in Potter, has become Matron of Bridgman Cottage.

Miss Stella L. Eldridge is matron of Oliver Cottage.

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LEGISLATION FOR THE BLIND

FROM THE EARLIEST times blindness has stirred the compas- sion of charitable people and many organizations have been

established to ameliorate the conditions of those so afflicted. Perhaps the outstanding factor in the relation of society to blindness in the United States has been the change in attitude from that con- noted by the terms compassion, charity and affliction to one where socially minded people claim that assistance to the blind is their rightful due and everything possible should be done to give them parity with seeing people. Once this was done by associations to promote the interests of the blind, but more recently there has been a trend toward special legislation for the direct benefit of individuals.

While special legislation to provide assistance for the blind was enacted in Indiana in 1840, in New York City in 1866, and in Ohio in 1896, all of which has since been repealed, it was not until after 1900 that this form of aid was generally accepted. In 1903 Illinois passed a law providing aid to the blind which is still in existence and in 1907 Massachusetts established the first state commission for the blind. The legislation which enabled these forms of assisting the blind was state and not federal.

The first Federal legislation for the blind was in 1879 when $10,000 annually was provided for the American Printing House for the Blind, but that was to provide text books for schools and was not for individuals. Since then, this appropriation has been increased until it now totals $125,000 a year. In 1931 the Pratt-Smoot bill made Federal funds available for free reading matter for the adult blind. This legislation has been extended to include books on records as well as embossed books and in 1944 it was further amended so that the machines for reproducing records could be kept in repair at gov- ernment expense and the total sum available annually under this act is now $500,000.

The outstanding Federal legislation for the blind was the inclu- sion in the Social Security Act passed in 1935 of Title X which matches state appropriations for aid to the needy blind. This supple- mented the plans of the twenty-nine states already having programs and caused the creation of state departments for the blind in all states. Under this legislation about 75,000 persons are now receiving aid which totals $25,000,000 a year. This averages about $28 per month and is paid in all states except Delaware and Alaska. Nevada,

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

DL1

ANOTHER YEAR BEGINS

EACH SEPTEMBER sees the beginning of another year — this year for Perkins, the one-hundred and fourteenth. Classes were resumed on Wed- nesday, September 13, the pupils having returned on Tuesday and the staff on Monday for the opening talk by the Director on that evening. At that time the Director outlined the plans for the coming year, intro- duced new members of the staff, and called for a loyal support of the program for the year so that many de- privations brought about by the war may be compen- sated for by the "little extra" which brings success.

Although the school enrollment is about the same as last year, it was necessary to open Bridgman Cot- tage on the boy's side of the Upper School which has been closed for two years. This was due to the large ratio of boys over girls in the Lower School where there are enrolled seventy-two boys and forty-seven girls. To ease the pressure of boys in the Lower School, the sixth grade and some other of the older boys were brought from the Lower to the Upper School to live in Bridgman. The total enrollment at the opening of school is two hundred and thirty-nine.

GARDENING TOOLS

TO ENCOURAGE blind people to take up garden- ing and to enable them to work effectively in Victory Gardens, Dr. Hugh Findlay, professor of Landscape Architecture in Columbia University, has devised attachments to garden tools that will enable the sightless to hoe a straight line and cultivate a garden plot. These attachments to the hoe, rake, and spade were brought to Perkins and tried out and were also experimented with at the Old Farms Convalescent Hospital for blinded soldiers at Avon, Connecticut. It is Professor Findlay's hope that they will help blind people in successful gardening and if there is a suffi- cient demand, steps will be taken to market them.

I

M

S. S. MICHAEL ANAGNOS

ICHAEL ANAGNOS is the name of a Liberty Ship launched at South Portland, Maine, September 15. This honor to the second Director of Perkins Institution is in recognition of war bond sales by the Greek Division. Michael Anag- nos assisted Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, the first Direc- tor of Perkins, when he was administering relief in Crete in 1867. A graduate of the University of Athens, he came to America with Dr. Howe and in 1876 became the second Director.

Mr. Anagnos established the Howe Memorial Press and in 1887 founded the Kindergarten. In 1906, while on a journey to his native land, he passed away. In his will he left money to establish a school for boys in his native village in Greece. Throughout his life in America Mr. Anagnos maintained contact with his fellow countrymen. The selection of his name for a Liberty Ship is recognition of the esteem in which he was held. At the launching, Perkins was represented by the Director and Mrs. Farrell and Mr. and Mrs. Coon. Dr. Farrell was included in the list of speakers and made an address on the life of Michael Anagnos.

COMMUNITY COOPERATION

THE BURSAR, J. Stephenson Hemphill, has been appointed chairman of the Watertown Committee of the Greater Boston United War Fund. This is a high honor which carries with it much hard work especially during the fall months when the campaign is underway. Perkins appreciates this recognition of the community's respect for its bursar and is glad to make available the time that the work requires. This is but another illustration of the fine spirit of cooperation which exists between the town and the Institution. The town officials have always been mind- ful of the needs of Perkins and ready to do any- thing that is needed and helpful. For example, when

the traffic became so heavy on North Beacon Street that crossing the road became hazardous for our pupils, the town placed a stop-go light with a bell to ring when crossing is safe near the main gate. Also, the bell which rings during the period for crossing at Watertown Square was placed there for the benefit of Perkins people.

Perkins people have also made their contribution to the town. Maurice J. Carroll, chief engineer, is now a member of the Ration Board and for several years was a member of the Water Department. Charles P. Eaton, a graduate of Perkins, is chairman of the Town Planning Board. Mr. Hemphill, Mr. Sherman, and Dr. Farrell are all members of the Town Meeting, the body which controls the affairs of the town.

SUMMER BETTERMENTS

DURING THE SUMMER, it has been possible to carry out a limited program of improvements which has not been possible for two years. A considerable amount of piping had to be re- placed in the heating system and one of the refrigerators had to have new insulation. Most noticeable are the repainting of the Library, Dwight Hall in the Upper School, and the hall in the Lower School. The walls of the swimming pool were repainted and all of the windows replaced with glass brick. The gymnasium was also repainted, the ceiling covered with acoustical tile and new lighting installed.

HOME TEACHERS

THE HOME TEACHERS of the blind of the eastern area held their annual conference at the Hotel Lenox, Boston, September 12-15. Miss Ethel I. Parker, Massachusetts home teacher and former student at Perkins, was chairman of the committee which planned the program. At the banquet on Thursday, September 14 tribute was paid to Walter G. Holmes, and to Dr. Edward E. Allen, director emeritus of Perkins.

VICTORY GARDENS

A NUMBER of people both blind and sighted have had Victory Gardens on the Perkins' grounds this summer. Some seven- teen members of the staff and neighbors were assigned plots and they are now enjoying a considerable harvest.

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EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Matthew Di Martino, Perkins '29 and formerly teacher of Physical Education, is in charge of recreation at the Army Center for Blinded Soldiers at Avon, Conn.

The Newton Trade School, in co- operation with the Department of Re- habilitation, has given machine train- ing to forty visually handicapped persons. Several from Perkins have had the advantage of this training.

Marion Knoll, who completed the Ediphone course in June, has been en- gaged to work in the Perkins adminis- tration offices.

Cecile Nadeau, Perkins '43, is em- ployed as Ediphone operator in the office of the University of New Hamp- shire.

Josef G. Cauffman, Superintendent of the Michigan School for the Blind, has been elected Principal of the Pennsylvania Institution for the In- struction of the Blind.

Francis M. Andrews, former Princi- pal of Perkins and now Superintendent of the Maryland School for the Blind, was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee of the A.A.I.B.

MARRIAGES

Bradford W. Newcomb, teacher at Perkins, to Marion B. Brown, former Dean of Women at Southern Union College.

Sally Tyler, secretary to the Princi- pal, to Allan Vickers, Instructor at Middlebury College, where they will live.

Patricia Robinson, Perkins '43, to Bruce L. Rose, U. S. N. R. Patricia was attending the State Teacher's College at Hyannis.

Viola Patterson, former pupil at Perkins, to George Ellsworth, formerly employed at Perkins.

Jack Hart, Perkins '44, has entered Bates College. During the summer he was swimming instructor at Loon Pond Camp.

Ralph Savio, who completed his work at Perkins in June, has been ad- mitted to Harvard University.

Albert Gayzagian, who attended Per- kins from Kindergarten through tlie 8th Grade and then transferred to the Watertown High School, from which he was graduated in June, has entered Harvard.

Wayne Moody, Perkins '44, has broadcast several times — once over WBZ when he recited a poem, sup- ported by the 350th Infantry Band.

Wilma True, Perkins '39, graduate of the University of Maine, who last year attended the Boston University School of Social Work, has taken a position as Home Teacher in Maine.

Fay Bresnahan, Perkins '40, was graduated from Regis College in June and is now attending the Boston College School of Social Work.

Roland Moreau, who is employed at the Rivet Tool and Grinder Company in Brighton, is taking courses in ma- chine tool operation at the Wentworth Institute.

Allan Gillis completed training at

the Newton Trade School on July 21

and is now doing assembly work at

Trimount Manufacturing Company in Roxbury.

Ima Brown, former special pupil in Ediphone work has a position in the Auburn office of the Maine State De- partment of Health and Welfare.

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LEGISLATION FOR THE BLINDED

(Continued from Page 3)

Missouri, and Pennsylvania administer aid to the blind without Federal assistance.

The Randolph-Sheppard Act passed in 1936 authorized the opening of vending stands in Federal buildings and in 1938 the Wagner-O'Day Act made it mandatory for government departments to buy articles made in workshops for the blind at a fair market price. The former has enabled many blind people to set up vending stands and the latter has provided well paid employment in shops in thirty- two states. During 1943, the blind were included in two important pieces of legislation covering all forms of disability. The Clark- Walsh bill sets up a program for the retraining of disabled veterans including the blind. The Barden-Lafollette bill greatly increases facilities for rehabilitating blind persons. In 1944 an amendment was attached to the Income Tax Law which permits a blind person to claim reduction up to $500 for special personal expenses inherent to blindness.

This is but a summary of the laws passed by the Congress. In- numerable bills are introduced in every session of Congress, many of which never get beyond committees. In the last session there were introduced nearly one hundred bills pertaining to the blind. In com- mittee now is a bill introduced by Senator Wagner which will vitally change the Social Security Act. Title X will be deleted and the blind will be included in a general relief program if they are not covered by the section which makes provision for all disabilities while employed. These many forms of legislation show the change that has taken place during this century. Intensified in the last ten years, attention has been focused on the blind as on no other physical disability.

An entirely different approach to the problem is now being advo- cated by Dr. Robert B. Irwin of the American Foundation for the Blind. He would have included in the revision of the Social Security Act a form of insurance against blindness operated similarly to the Old Age and Survivors Insurance plan. Small premiums on all em- ployees and employers would build up a fund out of which would be paid allowances if a person loses his sight. To provide for those not employed, Dr. Irwin says it would be poetic justice to place a tax on electric light bulbs. This plan has the advantage of not being legis- lation for the blind but legislation for the seeing if sight is lost.

G. F.

*^iri&MAj

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

Pill

VOLUME XIV. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 1944

A Sound Body

(( K SOUND MIND in a sound body" is an old saying which should /-\ never be forgotten by educators of youth. Too often they become so concerned with the development of the mind that they lose sight of the fact that the achievement of a sound body comes through careful attention to its needs and correction of its weaknesses. Especially is this true in a group which starts with a major disability which in most cases is beyond correction and where compensations must be developed. Unfortunately that commonly held opinion that nature generously provides compensation to make up for a lost sense is not true. Achievement by handicapped youth comes through good guidance by wise teaching and hard work on their own part.

Schools for the blind must therefore be as interested in the development of the physical assets of their pupils as in their mental aptitudes. This we try to do at Perkins, some times to the point that one wonders whether we are not almost as much hospital as school. Good health we feel is essential to good habits. Good habits can only be established by knowing how, and as teachers we must know and convey to our pupils the how. This is the basis of our program of medical care, our attention to posture and poise, our justification for time spent in sports and recreation. In competitive sports is found the spirit to achieve, in dances the value of grace and in simpler games the fun of working together.

These are all aspects of a sound body. It should be as robust as physique will permit and as fit as physical education can make it. Nor should the mind be over-looked. "For as a man thinketh, so is he." And the achievements of our own people are ample evidence that one can rise above physical disability. But a sound body helps, and the ideal "a sound mind in a sound body" must be our objective.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President Gabriel Parrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Organ recitals are being given in Dwight Hall on the second Sunday afternoon of each month at 4 o'clock by Miss Rachel Quant of the Music Department. The program on Decem- ber 10 featured Christmas music. The next recital will be on January 14.

The Sixth War Loan campaign was waged at Perkins in a vigorous way, culminating in an auction held in Dwight Hall Friday afternoon, Decem- ber 8. Stamps and bonds valued at $2,085.30 were sold.

A square dance was held by the staff on the evening of November 27. More are to be held during the winter months and a series of "coffees" to be served in cottages in rotation is planned by a committee.

The local chapter of the American Guild of Organists held its annual meeting at Perkins on the evening of December 14. A program of Christmas music was given by the Perkins choir.

Edward W. Jenkins, Perkins '22, of the music faculty has prepared for publication an anthem setting of the canticle Benedicite, omnia opera Do- mini.

The Perkins Boy Scout Troop won the swimming trophy in the meet held with the Arlington Troop on November 17.

The Perkins Girl Scout Troop held its Investiture ceremony on Thursday evening, December 7 at which time two new members were received.

Christmas holidays begin after the concert on December 19 and classes will resume on Thursday, January 4. Dur- ing the vacation Eliot and Fisher Cot- tages will be open.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Mrs. Mary Knapp Burtt, Perkins '09, Wellesley College 15, who since her graduation has been working for the blind in China, is reported recently to have flown "over the Hump," arriving in India where she was at last report awaiting a boat to come to this coun- try.

Dr. Merle E. Frampton, Principal of the New York Institute for the Blind, has been granted leave of absence for the duration and has received a com- mission as Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve. He is to assist the chief of re-habilitation in planning programs for the disabled.

Helen A. Strickland, Harvard Class 1937-38 has published in the Outlook for the Blind, November, 1944, a prac- tical and interesting paper advising Home Teachers how to build on the interests of their pupils. She is now the Supervisor of Home Teachers in Connecticut.

Aleides Lugue, a member of the Harvard Class of 1928-29, has been appointed Director of the Institute for the Blind, Bogota, Columbia, South America.

Robert H. Barnhard, Harvard Class of 1939-40, has been appointed a field representative of the Veterans Admin- istration to assist in the guidance and placement of blinded service men.

Angelo Maschio, Perkins '33, Boston University '40, is now on the editorial staff of the Newark, Ohio, Advocate and also does assignments for the As- sociated Press.

R. Lawrence Thompson, Perkins '34, Harvard '38, has entered the Harvard Graduate School to study for a doctor's degree in guidance and placement.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT PERKINS By Allan W. Sherman

DURING the Fall Season, the sports program has been very successful. Our athletics-for-all plan seems to be developing satisfactorily, and its excellent results show improvements in physical development as reflected in the general health of the Upper School. Competition in team games, both on the boys' side and on the girls', has been keen.

This program has three purposes. Our students need to have a program that will counteract the tendency toward sedentary occupa- tions and provide opportunities for the development of freedom of movement and self-confidence which comes through sports. Further, team games develop the spirit of cooperation, loyalty, and control of self. Lastly, but perhaps most important, is the recreational value of some parts of our sports program in the development of skills which have a carry-over value in later life and the development of a desire for physical activity to promote the general well-being of the students. To say that we have accomplished these three purposes would be too optimistic, but we can say that we are reasonably on the way now.

During the regular class day, both boys and girls have two gym classes scheduled each week. These classes have been organized in small homogeneous groups so that the instructors have been able to work closely with the pupils and to develop necessary skills. Our athletic equipment consisting of a well-equipped gymnasium, swim- ming pool, and athletic fields gives us ample opportunity for develop- ment of pupils' abilities. In addition to the regular gymnasium work carried on during the school day, we have classes in health informa- tion at three grade levels which adequately reinforce the other aspects of the athletic program.

A competitive sports program is carried on in the afternoon at the conclusion of the regular school day. During the Fall Season, the boys had two intra-mural football teams, each team composed of ten men plus substitutes, and the competition was excellent between them. Although one team, the Blues, held the edge over their rivals, the Whites, in every game, nevertheless the scores in most of the games indicated that there was rather close competition all the way. This modified game of touch football seems to meet our needs here quite

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AUTUMN ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS loom large during- the autumn months on both the boys and the girls sides of the Upper School. In the annual field meet held by the girls on the afternoon of October 25, Brooks Cottage again emerged the winner, Oliver losing that honor by being out- pulled in the last event, the tug-of-war. From the opening of school until the final game on November 17 the boys engaged in football con- tests which resulted in a final victory of the Blues over the Whites which was celebrated at a banquet in Bridgman Cottage on the evening of December 9. In between these contests both boys and girls raked leaves in the fall clean-up of the grounds which they_have carried on since the beginning of the war. As the winter approaches the girls will turn their attention to dancing and indoor sports while the boys will take up wrestling for which meets have already been arranged with several boarding schools and high schools nearby.

THE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

FOR THE FIRST TIME in many years there will not be a concert of Christmas music in Boston. This decision was forced by the fact that an organization with a higher priority had engaged Jordan Hall for the Sunday afternoon that Perkins wished. This situation has provided an opportunity to hold all of the concerts at the school where more and more people have wanted to come. There will be three concerts held in Dwight Hall in the main building — Friday evening, December 15, Sunday afternoon, December 17, and

Tuesday evening, De- cember 19. At all three concerts the same program will be rendered by the choirs of the Lower and Up- per School.

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The Library of Congrea of those interested in farmi; ment of Agriculture bulleti: desiring such a periodical Director, Books for the Adi D. C, stating whether thej Book records or embossed ir.

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THE HOWE FAMILY

FORTUNATE is the institution which has the interest of a single family spanning its entire existence of over a hundred years. Since Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe started the first class in his father's house on Pearl Street, Boston in 1831, members of his family have been intimately asso- ciated with Perkins even up to the present day. Of the immediate family of Dr. Howe there is only one surviving member, Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott. Although now ninety years old the interest of Mrs. Elliott has not abated for as she said in a recent letter "I was born at the old Perkins and my life has always been full of what I learned there." At the recep- tion given in her honor at the Art Museum in Newport on November 9th the Director presented her with letters written in braille by the pupils of the Upper School which she greatly appreciated and also assured her that her recent book, "This Was My Newport" will be brailled for the benefit of the blind.

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

A LITTLE CALENDAR similar to the one sent out in 1940 has been mailed to the many friends of the deaf -blind to whom the annual appeal is made. Already a very favorable response is being made to the appeal which was sent out at the end of November and many have expressed appreciation of the calendar. The Deaf- Blind Department this year has eleven pupils, admitting in September James Champ, a seven year old boy from Kansas and in October Carolyn Edmundson, an eight year old girl from West Virginia. The teaching staff has been strengthened by two teachers with long ex- perience Miss Alice M. Carpenter and Miss Madge Dolph.

ing a periodical for the use i up-to-the-minute Depart- agricultural fields. Persons Mr. E. P. Rogei-s, Adting 'f Congress, Washington 25, iical should be on Talking

ELECTION RETURNS

INTEREST in the election ran high at Perkins and in the returns it was learned that one more Perkins graduate has entered public life. James E. Hannon, Perkins '29, and graduate of the Boston University School of Law, was elected to the House of Representatives from the 4th District which includes the town of Lee where he has been practicing law. Another former Perkins pupil is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Richard L. Hull at- tended Perkins for ten years and then went to the Rockport High School and later was graduated from Clark University. He was elected to the House in 1942. Mention might also be made of William E. Powers, Perkins '32, and a graduate of Boston University School of Law, who since 1938 has been judge of probate for Cumberland County and a member of the Rhode Island Legislature.

THE WAR FUND DRIVE

THE UNITED WAR FUND DRIVE was successfully carried out both at Perkins and in the town of Watertown. Interest in the community drive centered in the fact that Mr. Hemphill, the Bursar, was Chairman of the Town Committee. Under his able plan- ning and direction the town's contribution exceeded that of last year and the town raised 129% of its quota. Perkins increased its contri- bution this year with a total of $1,130.59. It was one of two groups in Watertown to receive the Award of Merit.

FOUR SHIPS

IN THE LAST ISSUE reference was made to the launching of the Liberty Ship Michael Anagnos at South Portland, Maine the day following the hurricane. Since then it has been learned that three other Liberty Ships have names associated with Perkins — the Samuel Gridley Howe, named for the first director; the Julia Ward Howe, wife of Dr. Howe and author of The Battle Hymn of the Repub- lic; and Laura Bridgman, the first deaf -blind-mute ever to be taught the use of language who came to Perkins in 1837.

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

DESPITE the high interest in the election, there is apparently still need of education. One boy asked, "Do you know what the Electoral College is ?" In reply another asked, "Is it where they train electricians ?"

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PUBLICATIONS

This Was My Newport by Maud Howe Elliott, The Mythology Company, Cambridge 1944. An account of New- port from the earliest days, touching what is called the social invasion and containing sections on the Naval and Military experiences of that town. Written by the youngest daughter of Julia Ward Howe and Samuel Gridley Howe, this is one of the most interest- ing of Mrs. Elliott's many books and was written as she approached her 90th birthday. It will be published in braille shortly.

A Sounding Trumpet by Louise Hall Tharp, Robert M. McBride & Com- pany, New York, 1944. A delightful life written for youth of Julia Ward Howe, featuring the story of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. It tells how young Julia Ward met Samuel Gridley Howe on a visit to Perkins with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Charles Sumner. After their marriage Mrs. Howe lived at the Institution and the book contains an interesting account of many events at Perkins.

It Was Not My Own Idea by Robin- son Pierce, American Foundation for the Blind, Inc., New York, 1944. This book presents a valuable documenta- tion of a blind man's dauntless spirit and it has been published so that it will serve as an inspiration for those who must face blindness on the thresh- old of adult life.

How is Johnny Doing? by Samuel P. Hayes, appearing in the October, 1944 issue of the Outlook for the Blind, is a popular presentation of the appli- cation of Percentile Tables of the Stanford Achievement Tests.

Light, published by Braille Institute of America, Inc., Los Angeles, in its October number reprinted the article on "Legislation for the Blind" from the last issue of THE LANTERN.

PERKIN'S WAR ROLL

Rosanna D. Thorndike, trustee, after service and internment in France and return to this country has been ac- cepted by the American Red Cross for service overseas and expects to resume work in France.

Henry H. Faxon, M. D., trustee, after service with the Sixth General Hospital in Italy has been invalided back to this country and is now at the Fitz- simmons General Hospital at Denver, Colorado.

John P. Chase, trustee, is now over- seas with headquarters in England serving in a civilian capacity.

Trygve Gundersen, M. D., ophthal- mologist, is in the Army Medical Corps and after service in North Africa has gone on to Italy.

Robert S. Palmer, M. D., school physician, is in the Navy and at last reports in charge of a Naval Hospital in France.

Mark D. Elliott, D. D. S., school den- tist, is in the Army Air Corps attached to a hospital near Indianapolis.

Alysan C. Hooper, secretary to the Director, is a recreation worker with the American Red Cross in England.

Alice R. Cornelison, Upper School teacher, is American Red Cross work- er at Old Farms Convalescent Hospital, Avon, Conn.

C. Jane Lawrence, Upper School teacher, has been accepted for training for overseas duty by the American Red Cross.

Naomi Johnson, former secretary to the Bursar, is a Lieutenant (JG) in the WAVES now stationed at Fargo Barracks, Boston.

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT PERKINS

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satisfactorily, and we had no injuries during the season. Those boys who were not playing football on one of the teams entered into com- petition in cross-country walks and in bowling contests.

During December the boys have continued their intra-mural sports program in wrestling competition. Soon they will begin their work for varsity wrestling which is one of the sports in which we can compete with outside schools without any special concessions being made to the visually handicapped boy. Last year the wrestling team was quite successful, and we already have a good schedule for this year, including matches with Andover, Exeter, and Tabor Academies, Browne and Nichols School, and Weymouth and Needham High Schools. These matches provide opportunities for meeting other boys and for taking trips to other schools distant from Watertown — help- ful social experiences.

The girls have continued their house competition which always produces fine spirit and good competitive work. The Girls' Field Day was held on October 25th with Brooks Cottage winning over the others. These house competitive matches will be held during the winter months and also in the spring.

In addition to field meets, the girls have an organized swimming program developed in accordance with a plan developed by the American Red Cross and our objective here is to have every girl in school know how to swim. The swimming program is balanced with social and folk dancing, walking, bowling, and other games. There are two girls' athletic clubs, the Girls' Athletic Association composed of senior high pupils who are elected to membership, and the Outing Club, composed largely of junior high girls who are interested in sports and who are also elected to membership in the organization. Not all girls are members of these clubs as only those who have a very deep interest in athletics and sports events are elected to membership.

Both boys and girls have benefited greatly by the program of social dancing developed by Miss Rodgers. Teaching groups have been organized and both boys and girls have made real improvement in this way. Both boys and girls have been given individual instruction whenever such attention seemed advisable. Recent social events have indicated the value of this training as a most desirable feature of our athletic and social program and a feature which has great carry-over recreational value.

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The Lantern

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THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIV. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1945

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A Quarter of a Century

A QUARTER OF A CENTURY of teacher training is now on the record. In 1920 a growing expression of need for a means whereby teachers of the blind could receive training on a pro- fessional level crystalized in action. Dr. Edward E. Allen, then director of Perkins, laid the foundation on which year by year a sub- stantial structure of accomplishment has been built.

With the years this program has grown in effectiveness. Not only have the accomplishments of the past been revealed but new ways have been blazed and steps taken to keep this special field abreast with advances in general education. Sponsorship by the Graduate School of Education has kept instruction here in contact with the best as developed at Harvard.

Through the years, the Harvard Course has been far-reaching in its influence. Students have come from practically every state in the nation and graduates are found on faculties of many of our schools. The records show that students have come from nineteen foreign countries, and in many lands, centers for the blind are affectionately called "Little Perkinses.'' Since Christmas time, we have heard from former Harvard Class members in Egypt, India, China, Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela. But, in these days, our thoughts reach out to many from whom no report comes — Greece, Turkey, Norway, Thailand, the Philippines, and Japan.

Twenty-five years of continuous instruction, 320 students trained in modern and progressive ways of education, extension of our in- fluence throughout the country and in many lands — that's on the record. But off the record looms the personal leadership and inspira- tion of the founder and still its leader — Edward Ellis Allen.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, Jr. spoke in Chapel on January 12 telling of his experiences in England during the robot bombing and of entering France shortly after D-day.

Shirley Smith has joined the Per- kins' Staff as physiotherapist. Miss Smith is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, a member of the Harvard Class, 1942-43, and later took the Physical-Therapy Course of the Harvard Medical School.

Posture Week was held during the last week of February with a program emphasizing the need of poise and posture. A mass meeting was held to start the week and a careful check was made and prizes were awarded to the ten best pupils.

Silver dollars were distributed to every member of the school on Lin- coln's birthday, carrying out the pro- vision of the will of Stephen Blaisdell. a graduate of Perkins, who left a be- quest to the trustees on the condition that "they are to pay to each pupil of the Perkins Institution for the Blind and the Kindergarten, the sum of one dollar on or before the 12th day of February of each year, the birthday of Abraham Lincoln."

Recent visitors to the school have been Mrs. Winifred Hathaway of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness; Miss Kathern Gruber of the American Foundation for the Blind; Mr. Morris Frank of the Seeing Eye, Inc.; Mrs. Ross Thomas, formerly of the school for the blind in Dadar, India; Miss Borghild Dahl, author of I WANTED TO SEE; Lt. Col. M. E. Randolph, in charge of the program for the blind, Office of the Surgeon General; and Dr. Albert E. Croft, ha charge of the blind at the Veterans' Administration.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Juan D. Escobar, Harvard Class 1931-2, is the acting head of the school for the blind in Santiago, Chili.

Sayed A. Fattah, Harvard Class 1937-8, is with the Department of Edu- cation in Egypt in charge of schools for the blind in that country.

Ras Mohun Haider, Harvard Class of 1930-1, has been granted the degree of Ph. D in Sociology by the Univer- sity of Bombay, Bombay, India. Dr. Haider reports a second book ready for publication.

Oliverio Sanchez, a special student at Perkins in 1925-6, is editor of LUCES, a magazine about work for the blind in Cuba. The January 1945 issue has a story about James E. Han- non, Perkins graduate, who was elected to the Massachusetts Legislature.

Aleides Lugue, Harvard Class, 1928-9, has recently been appointed Director of the Institution for the Blind, Bo- gota, Columbia, S. A. In writing, he expresses himself as being a product of Perkins and remembers Perkins with gratitude in his heart.

Eugenia Cortes, Harvard Class 1929- 30, is in charge of the blind in a school for the handicapped in Mexico, City. Assisting her and acting as teacher of the Second Grade is Lilia Gonzalez, who spent two years at Perkins and was a member of the Harvard Class in 1942-3.

Soledad Rodriguez Pastor, Harvard Class 1928-9, has recently been pro- moted from teacher in the Institute for Blind Children in Santurce, Porto Rico to Chief of the Office of the Handicapped in the Division of Public Welfare of the Insular Health Depart- ment.

THE HARVARD-PERKINS COURSE

Twenty-five Years of Teacher Training

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HE HARVARD-PERKINS course for the training of teachers of the blind grew out of a recognized need for providing pro- fessional training for those who wished to enter this specialized field. The course is a coopera- tive undertaking between Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, and Harvard University. For a quarter of a cen- tury the work has been under the active direc- tion of Dr. Edward E. Allen, former director of Perkins and now director emeritus. In February 1925, after four years as an extension course, the permanent value of this training course was recognized. Consequently, it became a regular graduate course with a full sem'ester of credit counting toward the degree of master of education, or of doctor of edu- cation when taken by duly accredited college graduates. Similar credit has been granted by many other colleges to students enrolled in the course.

During the first twenty years the Harvard Course consisted of the series of lectures given during the first half of the academic year. Most of these lectures have been given through the years by Dr. Allen, assisted by specialists in the field who represent wide interests such as the work of the Division of the Blind, the program for the preven- tion of blindness, sight-saving classes, workshops, and industrial activities. In the same year that the Harvard Course became a regu- lar half -course with credit, a supplementary course was added to fill the second half of the academic year. This course was called the Special Methods Course because it was designed to apply the theories and principles enunciated by Dr. Allen in his course to actual teach- ing in the schoolroom.

In 1941 Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, who for over twenty years had been visiting psychologist for Perkins, as well as for the school for the blind in Philadelphia, and the American Foundation for the Blind, took over the general supervision of both the Harvard Course and the Special Methods Course. At that time it was decided to make certain definite changes in the plan of teacher training.

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THE ANNUAL REPORT

THE 113TH ANNUAL REPORT has come off the press. This year it has been printed by the Industrial School for Crippled Children as a cooperative enterprise of two schools helping the handi- capped. Perhaps the most obvious difference between this Annual Report and previous ones is in the illustrations. Because of the scarcity of films, not many suitable and current pictures were at hand. It was, therefore, decided to bring- out and to use a series of famous pictures of outstanding men through the ages and from • several countries who have been prominent in the annals of the blind. The list includes Belisarius, famous Byzantine General of the sixth century ; John Mil- ton, the English poet; Valentine Hauy, of France, often called the "father of the blind" ; Johann Wilhelm Klein, leader of work for the blind in Austria ; and William Hickling Prescott, famed blind Ameri- can historian.

THE PERKINS' MUSEUM

RECENT REFERENCES to the Perkins' Museum have been to current exhibits and the use of its contents as part of objective teaching. In addition to the articles used in that way, there is a wealth of material which has been constantly accumulating since the museum began under Michael Anagnos, the second director. In the upper galleries, there are cases containing devices and appliances gathered from many countries and which represent, without ques- tion, the greatest collection of material of this type in the world. For a number of years Director Mell, of the Imperial and Royal Institu- tion for the Blind in Vienna, Austria, regularly sent materials which he secured in Europe. Through other agencies, materials have come from Asia and Africa. And, here in this country, Perkins has been alert in securing articles of educational and historical value.

One of the most valuable and unusual collections in the museum is that of pictures pertaining to the blind. These are bound in large leather volumes nearly three by four feet in size. Each of the pic- tures used in the Annual Report was selected from a volume contain- ing many other reproductions of these individuals. One of the most interesting volumes is that containing illustrations of "Christ Healing the Blind" of which there are many, both engravings and in color. Another volume entitled "Blind Musicians" has many quaint pictures in that field.

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WAR PROJECTS

A PROMINENT CORPORATION, experimenting with lining for shoes for use in the tropics, needed small pieces of fabric made of special yarns and according to unusual specifications. Hear- ing of the proficiency of the Perkins Weaving Department, they came here for help. Several samples were woven, each according to the results of research, until a satisfactory fabric was produced. Most of the weaving was done by one of the deaf-blind boys. Another cor- poration producing a device for testing the degree of surface finish of metals where touch is a vital factor thought that the blind might be able to contribute. Tests made at Perkins proved that this was true.

CABMELLA

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GLORIA

of the

Deaf-Blind

Department

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

A MOST GENEROUS response is being made to the annual appeal for the deaf-blind. A calendar, similar to the one printed two years ago, was sent out to several thousand friends of the Children of the Silent Night. Many expressed appreciation at receiv- ing this little calendar again and financially, at the present time, the response has been twice that of last year and higher than any pre- vious year since 1937 when the first appeal was made and large gifts were sought for a capital fund. Special gratification is felt for those who give each year without fail and for the fact that contributions come from every part of the country.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS, offering a year of residence and study at Perkins, have been offered to outstanding graduates of other schools for the blind throughout the country. Letters, stating the terms of the scholarships, have been sent to the heads of the schools and opportunity to apply extends until May 1. Nearly twenty young people have enjoyed the benefits of these scholarships the last five years and all have profited by their year of residence in this cen- tury-old school and the opportunity to study advance courses. Perkins is glad to be able to share its facilities with young people from other parts of the country and looks forward to extending this service.

THE HARVARD CLASS

SIX MEMBERS make up the Harvard Class this year, and while it is smaller than usual, there is gratification in being able to as- semble a class in these difficult times. This small group was supplemented by new teachers on the Perkins' Staff and by a number of sight-saving teachers who were especially invited to attend and who responded favorably. Included in the class was a young woman, a teacher in the Louisiana School for the Blind, who was released from her duties to spend a year in study under a special plan which was offered by Perkins last year and is being ' off ered again this year.

THE SPRING CONCERT

(enpHE HIGHWAYMAN" the poem by Alfred Noyes and set to I music by Deems Taylor, is to be presented by the Music De- partment on Wednesday evening, May 9. This is a dramatic cantata for mixed voices and will be rendered by the full chorus of the Upper School. The baritone solo will be taken by John Di Fran- cesco, Perkins, 1939. This is to be a public performance with tickets sold for admission to benefit the Perkins' Athletic Association.

POLITICAL ACTIVITY

PERKINS' PARTICIPATION in the political life of Watertown seems to be on the increase. The Director is a candidate to be a member of the Town Meeting ; the Principal for the School Com- mittee, and the Bursar, for the Public Library Committee. The Chief Engineer is one of the leading officers of the Ration Board.

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PUBLICATIONS

The Outlook for the Blind, January 1945, had three articles by Perkins' people: Dr. Allen's usual column; "From the City of Rams," by Alice M. Carpenter; and "Winter Sports and Recreational Activities at Perkins," by Allan W. Sherman.

Mary G, Knapp Burtt, Perkins 1909, Wellesley 1915, tells the interesting story of her school in China, The Sun Laap School for the Blind, in the Jan- uary 1945 Bulletin of Institutions for the Chinese Blind, Inc.

M. Albertina Eastman, Perkins '27, teacher of speech correction in the Lower School, had a children's story in THE INSTRUCTOR for December, and a poem in the December issue of THE GRADE TEACHER.

"America Mine" and other selections by Merrill Maynard, Perkins '38, have been published by Boston Book Fellows. This is a sixteen page pamphlet of poems, attractively printed, which the author submits "for the joy of sharing its delicate delight with friends."

Elwyn H. Fowler, Perkins, 1889, has written and published a beautiful tri- bute to his late wife, Mary Howard Fowler. He tells of her association with Sir Francis Campbell in the founding of the Royal Normal College for the Blind in London, of her valued contribution to the Committee on Types, and her leadership in the es- tablishment of the Memorial Homes in Worcester. Characterized by re- straint, touched with affection, and a modesty, typical of both Mr. and Mrs. Fowler, it tells a story of splendid service and devotion. The booklet has been embossed in braille, and any person wishing a copy of the braille edition may secure one by writing to The Howe Memorial Press, Perkins In- stitution, Watertown 72, Mass.

>ERKINS COURSE

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was to be continued as before, a i education of the blind given at 1 and supplemented as in the past During the second half year the •mitted to select any course offered on at Harvard as approved by the cation and the director of Perkins, the class to come into direct con- imbridge and to have that associa-

Ivantages of the Harvard-Perkins i taking the course shall reside at This gives the students the ex- :hool for the blind and a chance to needed. These are best attained ; children themselves. It also in- •ogram through the cottage system ;he blind at Perkins so distinctive, •kins Course has been far spread. its existence, students have come : country, and are now distributed ring in many schools for the blind. s in this special field. In addition, om nineteen countries throughout war their friends at Perkins often len and women, many of whom are ,var. Most of them apparently are 3ver they may be. ) help again the "Little Perkinses" 'or in many distant places there are Perkins to take their training. All ithing of the spirit of this century- jar imprint of the founder of this >out the high standards that must le need for adequate professional ertake the responsible task of giv- ot see.

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The Lantern

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THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIV. NO. 4 JUNE 15. 1945

Eye Minded

IN THE FIELD of the blind, as in all other areas, the only cer- tainty is change. If we are to continue to give up-to-the-minute service we must be alert to the conditions which make change necessary. Methods adequate at one time become outmoded if under- lying changes occur. Are there fundamental changes in our fields ?

Are the children coming to our schools now the same as those of the last generation? Obviously not, but the attitudes and perhaps standards of all children have changed. Blind children are but a cross-section of all boys and girls. Schools for the blind have the same wide range of racial background, mental ability and social atti- tudes as other schools. But are we as alert in meeting the demands of present day trends ?

Schools for the blind do have special areas of change not found in other schools. Chief among these is the extent of vision among the pupils. It is definitely true that there is more sight now than a gen- eration ago, even in schools which adhere to the standard definition of blindness as Perkins tries to do. If our pupils were divided into the three common divisions, totally blind, light perception, and useful vision, it would be found that there are now fewer in the first group and more in the third group than formerly.

This fact alone calls for a new and broader outlook. There is a tendency to hold to the practices and programs instituted for children who could not see at all. While their rights must always be main- tained, new ways of teaching must be developed wnich are visual and not tactual. We can no longer claim to be solely finger reading schools but must become eye minded.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Ruth E. Marsden, Assistant Book- keeper, resigned June 1 to begin train- ing for overseas work in the American Red Cross.

Mira J. Clark, Perkins nurse for three and a half years, entered the Army in March. After training at Fort Devens. she was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to an Army Post in Maine.

A Track Meet with the Watertown High School was held on Tuesday, May 22, resulting in a very decided victory for Perkins. The Perkins Track Team visited Exeter Academy on April 19 for an informal meet and went to Over- brook June 1 for a meet which resulted in a very decided defeat.

The Upper School Girls' Spring Meet resulted in a victory for May Cottage. For the year's total, however, Oliver Cottage led with a score of 108, Brooks 96, May 81, and Fisher 74. The Victory Banquet was served in Oliver Cottage on Tuesday, June 5.

The Boys' Octet visited Old Farms Convalescent Hospital, the center for blinded soldiers at Avon, Connecticut, on Wednesday, May 2, and gave a program under the auspices of the Red Cross. On Sunday, May 27, the Octet sang at Tabor Academy where they en- joyed an afternoon of sailing.

Recent speakers at Chapel have been Captain Lawrence Marshall, USMC. who told of his experiences and how landings are made in the Pacific; Mrs. Mary Knapp Burtt, Perkins '09, Wel- lesley '15, who described bombings in China and her flight "over the hump" to Calcutta on her way to this coun- ;ry; The Rev. Clement W. Welsh, Chaplain of Kenyon College, who re- tted the war experiences of that in- 'tution in Ohio.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Doris Riopal, Perkins '42, is now a switchboard operator at the New Bed- ford Hospital with a station of five trunk lines and one hundred exten- sions.

Helen C. Gray, postgraduate student in the Commercial Department, 1937- 38. now Mrs. Nawaa, is employed as a Dictaphone operator in the office of the Bureau of Conservation of Sight and Work with the Blind in Honolulu.

The Surgeon General of the War

Department has recently appointed a group of Honorary Civilian Advisory Consultants to the Army's blind pro- gram. Among the members are Peter J. Salmon, Perkins '14, Industrial Home for the Blind, Brooklyn, New York; The Rev. Thomas J. Carroll, Catholic Guild for the Blind, and Gabriel Far- rell, Director of Perkins.

Dr. Robert B. Irwin, Director of the American Foundation for the Blind, is to receive on June 23 a well-deserved honor through the Alumni Association of the University of Washington, from which he is a graduate. He has been selected for the "Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus." This is the highest honor that is within the power of the Alumni Association to give.

Merle E. Tracy, Perkins '96, died in the Bellevue Hospital in New York on March 4, at the age of 65. At the time of his death he was engaged in editorial work on an encyclopedia. He was the author of Our Country, Our People, and Theirs and New World Challenge to Democracy. From 1924 until 1934, he published a column "M. E. Tracy Says" in the Scripps- Howard newspapers with an estimated ten million readers. In 1936 he bought the magazine Current History from the New York Times and was its editor and publisher until 1939.

ON VISITING THE KEATS ROOM

By Robert J. Smithdas

AFTER VISITING the home of Mr. H. W. L. Dana, formerly Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard, special ar- rangements were made for me to go to the Keats Room of the Houghton Library at Harvard University. I had always appreciated the works of John Keats which I had known for a long time; it was with an increased pleasure that I at last found it possible further to enjoy him through contact with his own writings. So on February 8, 1945, I had the opportunity of examining this greatest of all Keats collections. ,

Professor Dana introduced me to Mr. William McCarthy, Assis- tant Librarian, and to Miss Mabel A. E. Steele, curator of the Keats Collection — both of whom received us graciously. The room was beautifully furnished in Georgian style, panelled in black walnut with built-in bookcases on either side. Facing the double doors of the entrance was a marble fireplace, above which a niche in the moulded mantelling of fine wood held the life-mask of the poet. The atmosphere was one of a fine private library.

Miss Steele permitted me to hold several of the rare old manu- scripts, among which were the first draft of "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" with its many corrections ; an autographed copy of "Endymion" presented by the poet to Percy Bysshe Shelley, and a letter of invitation from Shelley to Keats, inviting him to Pisa. The papers were yellow and worn with time, carefully preserved in bound leather cases.

Standing there, surrounded by so much of the past that had come to be a heritage of the present, memories of the life of Keats began to, renew themselves in my thoughts. The struggles and priva- tions of his short existence, his obscure death and unprecedented rise to fame appeared more vividly than ever before. The passage of the years alone had elevated him to greatness and recognition as one of the most poetical of poets. A desire to express the strong emotions of a moment came to me, forming itself into the opening lines of a poem. Later in the evening I finished the final draft of what I hoped might be a sincere homage to one who so richly deserved honor and commemoration among men.

("Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

CHANGING FRONTS

CHANGING FRONTS in the Field of the Blind was the theme of an all-day program sponsored by Perkins Institution and the Massachusetts Council of Organizations for the Blind and held at Perkins on Saturday, May 26. At the morning session, with Arthur F. Sullivan, Perkins '14, President of the Massachusetts Council and Director of the Massachusetts Division of the Blind, presiding, Dr. Gabriel Farrell spoke on Changes on the Educational Front and Dr. Robert B. Irwin, on Changes on the Economic Front, stressing parti- cularly the new approach to financial assistance as a handicap allow- ance and outlining proposed amendments to that portion of the Social Security Act pertaining to the blind.

During the afternoon session, at which Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Board of Trustees of Perkins, presided, the program was devoted to Changes on the Medical Front. Dr. Theodore L. Terry described the new eye disease which causes blindness in prematurely born children. Dr. Hugo B. C. Riemer told of the recent discovery that many cases of blindness, classified as congenital cataracts, are now known to be due to the mother having German measles before the child was born. Major Thomas J. Cavanaugh related his ex- periences in the eye section of hospitals in North Africa and Italy.

SUMMER SCHOOL

TWENTY MOTHERS with their blind babies, from one to five years of age, are to attend a Summer School to be held in Brad- lee Cottage during the last two weeks of June. All of these children are from the group prematurely born, and the school has been planned to give opportunity to observe these children so that plans for their guidance may be developed and, also, to give instruc- tion and assistance to their mothers. A nursery school for the children will be directed by Mrs. Louise Wood, of the Boston Nursery for Blind Babies. Dr. Ethel C. Dunham, authority on premature children, Children's Bureau, Washington, D. C, Miss Harriet B. Tot- man, pre-school worker in Ohio, and Miss Gertrude Van den Boek, pre-school worker in New York, will hold conferences with the mothers. Miss Virginia Beal will advise on feeding and diet. The program is being planned by Mrs. Eunice W. Wilson, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Miss Katharine F. Fiske, Boston Nursery for Blind Babies, and Miss Frances E. Marshall, Social Worker at Perkins. Miss Marshall will be in charge of the summer school program.

— 4 —

THE SHOTWELL AWARD

DR. EDWARD E. ALLEN, Director-Emeritus of Perkins, was highly honored at a luncheon given in his honor at the Hotel Statler, Boston, on Saturday, June 9. At that time, the Shot- well Memorial Award was presented to him — a gold medal presented by Robert I. Bramhall, former Director of the Division of the Blind, and an illuminated scroll, presented by Fred V. Walsh, Perkins '00. At the same time, beautiful flowers were presented to Mrs. Allen by Miss Mary E. French, Perkins '89. Tributes to the leadership of Dr. Allen in , 5 been held in

the field of the blind were paid by representa- tives of the many organi- zations with which he has been connect- ed.

The Shot- well Award is usually made at the Bien- nial Conven- tion of the American As- sociation of Workers for the Blind. As this conven- tion, which was to have

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Albertina Eastman The soul may hunger and die For lack of a lovely thing: The blue of the summer sky, The curve of a sea-gull's wing, The shine of the moon on the The sunset's glow, The tall, dark trunk of a tree, Whiteness of snow.

In sunlight, my soul once fed On beauty the sight perceives, In darkness, now its bread Another sense receives.

But nourishing fare it is — Good for a famished soul: A baby's rose-bud kiss, The mighty ocean's roll, The shape of a bowl or vase, The tinkle of ice in a glass, The texture of silk or lace, The cool, young blades of grass.

On morsels such as these My soul has been sustained, Has found a quiet peace In loveliness retained.

August, has been cancelled, the presenta- tion was made at this lunch- eon in recogni- tion of Dr. Allen's sixty years of lead- ership in the field of the blind — first a teacher at Perkins, then Principal and rebuilder of Overbrook, fol- lowed by twen- ty-four years as Director and rebuilder of Perkins.

THE HELEN KELLER AWARD

THE HELEN KELLER Gold Medal for Literary Excellence, offered by the Jewish Braille Institute of America, has been awarded to Miss Albertina Eastman, teacher of speech correc- tion at Perkins. Miss Eastman was also awarded first prize in the Poetry Literary Competition of the Jewish Braille Institute for her poem entitled, "The Need of Beauty." The gold medal was presented on Friday, June 1, by Professor John Holmes, of Tufts College.

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Miss Eastman was graduated from Perkins in 1927, from the Water- town High School in 1928, and holds a Degree of B. S. from Boston University.

GRADUATION — JUNE 14

THE HON. JULIUS E. WARREN, Commissioner of Education, made the address at the Graduation Exercises held in Dwight Hall on Thursday, June 14, at two o'clock. The invocation was offered by the Rev. Paul J. Myers, of the Phillips Congregational Church. Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation, awarded diplomas signifying graduation from high school to Norman F. Hamer, Harriet E. Murby, Edward B. Murphy, Ettore Rosati, Her- bert Sabin, Robert J. Smithclas, Mary L. Tobey, Bernice B. Zagunis, and George E. Zermas. A Manual Training Certificate was awarded to Helena Moran and Elizabeth Murby was awarded a certificate for Ediphone proficiency.

RETIRING from the staff this year are Elwyn H. Fowler and Julian H. Mabey whose combined services to the school total 89 years. For fifty-five years, Mr. Mabey has directed the work of the Boys' Manual Training Department. At the South Boston School, he was in charge of all of the boys. Mr. Fowler has been at Perkins for thirty-four years as teacher of piano tuning. He was graduated from Perkins in 1889. For twenty years, prior to coming to Perkins, he was in independent practice as a piano tuner, and one of his large contracts was the servicing of the pianos in the public schools of Worcester. As head of the Tuning Department at Perkins, he managed and supervised the servicing of all of the pianos in the Boston Public School System. While both of these men were assigned to definite fields, they were, primarily, teachers of boys, and over a thousand former students of Perkins look back and, indeed, come back to them for counsel and encouragement.

ANTHONY J. CIRELLA, Perkins '40, received his degree at the New England Conservatory of Music on June 12, where he majored in organ. In 1942-43, he won the Oliver Ditson Scholarship and the following two years he held the Ida Converse Scholarship. In 1942 and 1943 he won the Philip Allen Awards for musical composition. In the summers of 1943 and 1944, he was a student at the Pius X School of Liturgical Music in New York City and plans to attend that school again this summer. He is organist and choir master at St. John's Catholic Church in Roxbury.

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PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Hugo B. Riemer, Perkins oph- thalmologist, has a paper on Glaucoma in the March, 1945, Outlook For The Blind.

Blindness in the United States, the

article prepared by the Director of Perkins for the Social Work Yearbook. 1945, is now available as a reprint upon application to the Institution.

Never Surrender by Brassil Fitz- gerald, published by Ginn and Com- pany, tells the story in dramatic form of free men in action. The first story is of Samuel Gridley Howe, entitled "A Yankee Guerrilla."

A Class Apart, the editorial in the September 15, 1944, issue of The Lantern was reprinted in full in the April 15, 1945, issue of The New Beacon, the magazine published by the National Institute for the Blind, London.

The article on Legislation for the

Blind, printed in the September 15. 1944, issue of The Lantern was re- printed by Light, the magazine of the Braille Institute of America, California, and summarized in the April 15 issue of The New Beacon,

Professor Hugh Findlay, who has in- vented tools for blind gardeners, has an article "The Blind Can Grow Too" in the March, 1945 Outlook For The Blind which includes a letter from Ar- mand Michaud, Perkins '29, a teacher of French at Perkins Institution.

"The War-Blinded Soldier — How

Can I Help Him" by Enid Griffis, ap- pearing in the Ladies Home Journal is now available as a reprint through the American Foundation for the Blind. This gives practical and well- grounded advice on how to help the returning blinded soldiers.

COMMENTS

I continue to receive The Lantern regularly from which I learn that Perkins is as progressive as ever. — Honorary Editor, The Teacher of the Blind, England, April 4, 1945.

It was an auspicious moment when we of the Eastern School received the cordial greeting and recognition of the greatest institution for the blind in the Western World. — The Palestine Light- house, Inc., May 29, 1945.

From the 113th Annual Report of the Perkins Institution for the Blind, we are glad to reprint this history of that excellent institution. Here many of our nation's leading blind men were educated and graduated. It is not nec- essary to say that there is no better institution for the education of the blind of school age than Perkins. — Edi- torial, The Braille Mirror, May, 1945.

Please accept our hearty thanks for a copy of your One Hundred and Thir- teenth Annual Report which came a few days ago and has been examined carefully. The record of your work is an inspiration to others of us who are working with handicapped children. You are to be congratulated upon the magnificent record you are making. — The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, March 16, 1945.

"Institutes for blind children had just been established in Boston and New York in 1831. They were not suc- cessful because they were only the well-meant attempts of humanitarian people to do something without practi- cal experience or adequate methods of teaching for the proper treatment of the blind." — American-German Re- view, April, 1945.

ON VISITING THE KEATS ROOM

(Continued from Paee 3) I was greatly pleased when I was asked for a copy of that sonnet and one that I had written after reading Shelley's Adonais to be placed in the Keats Collection at the Houghton Library.

SONNET (On visiting the Keats Room)

Here in the new-old life of Fame's sweet gaze,

In close communion with long silent years —

Among rich garners of great hopes and fears,

Hovers a spirit of now forgotten days.

The touch of Time hath stain'd these frail displays,

The mystic runes are faded and remov'd, —

And that fair art of which he once had lov'd

The guileless beauty, like a rose decays; —

The piercing light hath shatter'd through the haze

Of the Norn Mother's magic web of skill:

And he is deck'd in splendor, whilst the rays

Of the glorious ascension now do fill

The passionless air with motion, like a thrill;

— He is not dead! his voice is lingering still!

SONNET

(After reading Shelley's "Adonais") I read of Adonais, and how he died A youthful swain — sequester'd by the years; Of how his star had risen and descried The far flung fame that only genius bears; And how, — through all the Grecian isles, — flow'd the tears Of gods and men and beasts as one allied — And gentle echo sate among the meres And wept in silence, pale and starry ey'd; — Then felt I like some mariner who steers His bark before a mighty wind or tide — When of a sudden the storm-cloud disappears And leaves the ruffled seas serene and wide: Bright, pure and boundless; and at his side The land-lock'd haven in the distance nears.

ROBERT J. SMITHDAS, of the graduating class, is the fifth deaf-blind pupil to receive a diploma at Perkins. He has been at Perkins for two and a half years, coming from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind in Pittsburgh. An excellent student, graduating with very high record, he has also been one of the ablest members of the Perkins Wrestling Team. His outstand- ing literary ability has led to some interesting experiences. On Memorial Day, Robert, with his teacher, Miss Carpenter, joined the grandson of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in placing flowers on the grave of the distinguished poet at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

The iaritern

THE PERKINS

VOLUME XV. NO. 1

INSTITUTION

SEPTEMBER 15. 194 5

International Relations

THE ARRIVAL AT PERKINS of Jimmy Osborn, the ten year old blind pianist the Ninth Air Force sent to this country for an education, focussed wide attention on the international renown of this century old school and the service we have rendered through the years to the blind in this and many other countries. While most of the foreign students at Perkins in recent years have come to attend the Harvard course there have been many who have been enrolled as pupils within the school's program.

In addition to the boy from England we have as a pupil this year the son of a member of the House of Deputies and Treasurer of one of the states of Mexico and we have application for another from that country. During the summer we had conferences with the Minister of Finance of Afghanistan regarding the education of his son who has lost his sight and who came to Perkins for advice on recommendation of the State Department. One of the four National Scholarships for this year was given to a girl from Hawaii who while not a foreigner does represent a non- Yankee strain. And we have in the Harvard class for this year a young woman from Puerto Rico and hope to have one from China.

It has often been said that knowledge of Perkins by many people is in reverse ratio of their distance away. Many living within the shadow of the tower know so little of our work while the mere mention of Perkins in distant lands arouses immediate response and recognition of the place Perkins holds in the field of the blind. This wide reach of our renown must make us alert to deepen our roots in sound processes so that we may continue to hold high the standards that have given Perkins international prestige.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President

JzcLQ^f ^aJVtJ^

Gabriel Farretj,, Director

INTRAMURAL NOTES

A full account of the summer school for mothers and their blind babies held at Perkins, June 17 - 30 may be found in the September number of the Outlook for the Blind.

Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, psychologist and in charge of the Harvard Class, has been appointed Lecturer on the Blind on the staff of the Graduate School of Education at Harvard.

Richard Crane, Perkins '46, complet- ed during the early summer a training course on vending stand operation at Washington and for the remainder of the summer substituted during vaca- tion periods at vending stands in his home state, Rhode Island.

The Director was invited to attend a conference to study the problems of child victims of the war to be held in Zurich, Switzerland, September 10 - 29. Because of difficulties in being away in September and problems of transpor- tation he was unable to accept.

A calendar for 1946 depicting herbs and edible shrubs of the Massachu- setts coast has been prepared and pub- lished by Nelson Coon, Perkins super- intendent of buildings and grounds. Illustrations in color are by Frances McGaw of the Manual Training staff.

Alice M. Carpenter, formerly head of the school for the blind in Canton, China, and last year a teacher in the deaf-blind department at Perkins is spending this year assisting the Pres- byterian Board of Missions in clearing up matters in connection with their work for the blind in China. She plans to return to Perkins next year.

A booklet of thirty-two pages with pictures and text on every page de- scribing Perkins and its activities has just been published.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Carl King, Perkins '41. is planning to enter the New England Conservatory of Music this fall.

Samuel Genensky of New Bedford, who attended Perkins several years ago, plans to enter the University of Wisconsin in September.

Frances L. Martin and Guido J. Mar- chisio, Perkins '33, teachers in the Upper School last year, were married June 24 and have taken positions at the Utah School for the Blind.

Florence E. Murphy and Clarence Sheinutt, teachers of physical educa- tion last year were married on August 29. They are to be at the Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind this year.

Frederick Hayashi, Perkins '43, was graduated from the music course at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago on August 2. He plans to return to his home in Honolulu.

Mrs. Mary Knapp Burtt, Perkins '09, Wellesley '15, head of a school for blind children in China is to be on the Staff at Perkins pending her return to that country.

Lawrence Thompson, Perkins '34, Harvard, A. B. '38, received the degree Master of Education at Harvard on June 28. Mr. Thompson is now con- nected with the Florida Commission for the Blind with headquarters in Tamj,a.

Announcement has been received of the marriage of Virginia Marion Foley Perkins '39 to Mr. Lloyd Warner Mit- chell on August 25, 1945. Mrs. Mitchell plans to return with her husband to the Maryland School for the Blind where they are both employed.

POST-GRADUATE STUDY

Opportunities Offered at Perkins

WHILE PERKINS is primarily planned to give instruction from kindergarten through graduation from high school, it has always offered opportunity for post-graduate study. Originally this began with the desire of Perkins graduates to supple- ment studies begun in high school, to gain better preparation before going on to higher education or to continue in those fields where in- struction of professional standing is offered. More recently interest in post-graduate study at Perkins has been manifested by persons who have received their secondary education elsewhere or whose schooling was completed before blindness came to them.

The scholarships offered now for five years to outstanding grad- uates of other schools have revealed a national contribution that Perkins can make to youth. Twenty young people from seventeen states have gained by the additional year of instruction beyond what their own schools gave them. Their own schools are good schools but Perkins has facilities because of its endowment, exceeding most schools and flexibility because of its private control, which enables it to take advantage of all advances on the educational front.

An interesting group turning to Perkins in increasing numbers is made up of those who have lost their sight after schooling was com- pleted. In the school this year will be a man of wide business ex- perience, who in return for instruction in the new tools that he needs since his sight failed is going to contribute his skill in the field of salesmanship by conducting courses for our pupils. Application has been received for and we hope to accept a young man from Mexico whose studies in mechanical engineering have been interrupted by loss of sight. Another pupil this year is a young woman whose career as a hospital dietician has been closed by visual difficulty and whom we are going to help find a new field of work. There are many of this type who can be assisted under the Federal Rehabilitation Program.

A third group which Perkins has been able to help is represented by a young man enrolled for this year who was graduated (although totally blind) from a private secondary school and has been accepted by a New England college. He feels that he will be better equipped for his college work with a year of intensive training in braille and a

COontinued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE 115th YEAR

THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR begins at Perkins on the day follow- ing Labor Day when the matrons return, assemble domestic staffs, and open the cottages. This year began early as Labor Day was on September 3. On Monday, September 10, the teaching staff returned for the annual opening meeting held on that evening when the Director introduced new members and outlined plans for the year. On the following day the pupils came back and with chapel on Wednesday morning the new year was fully under way. The 115th year began with a full staff and more pupils than last year. Most of the new pupils are young and they have taxed the capacity of the Kindergarten cottages. There are also more new advanced pupils than previously and pupils have come from more places than in former years. In addition to the usual New England states, Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas are represented with pupils also from England and Mexico. Another fact which may be interesting, if not significant, is that more children are coming to Perkins from better homes.

JIMMY OSBORN

JIMMY OSBORN, the ten-year-old English boy who so captivated the members of the Ninth Air Force that they raised a fund to send him to America for his education, arrived in New York on the Clipper Friday morning, July 20. Accompanied by Captain John O'Connell of Holyoke, public relations officer of the air force, Jimmy was given a tremendous welcome at the airport in New York and at Boston the following morning where he arrived by plane. Newspaper

reporters and photographers were overwhelming nor did they desist when he arrived at Perkins after driving from the airport in the car of the Mayor of Bos- ton with Jimmy operating the siren and horn simultan-

eously. On Thurs- day evening, July 26, Jimmy played in

the March of Time ^fl

broadcast which dramatized his story and how the Air Corps boys be- came interested in him. After this event Jimmy spent the remainder of the summer at a home provided by his sponsor. He began the school year at Perkins and plans for his education are being worked out. Jimmy has unique musical ability, a most winning personality and an alert and keen mind.

ADVANCED STUDENTS

FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE have again come to Perkins on scholar- ships offered annually to outstanding graduates of schools for the blind throughout the country. They are Clarice W. Rothe from Maryland, who will take a general course; Hideko Shemokawa from Hawaii, who plans to specialize in commercial work and music; Rose E. Misceo from Pennsylvania, who will take advanced music courses and Donald Walkout from Michigan who will study in the literary department. All four live at the school and share in the cottage activities which form such an important part of Perkins' program of schooling and socialization. Seven persons are already enrolled in the Harvard Class and several applications are under con- sideration. Those accepted are from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, New Mexico and Puerto Rico.

SUMMER BETTERMENTS

WORKMEN WERE BUSY during the summer carrying out the program of improvements planned in the spring. The manual training rooms of the Upper School, the Board Room and the ceiling in the Museum were painted. Ceilings in Potter Cot- tage were covered with acoustical tile. The third and last large refrigerator in the Store was rebuilt and extensive repairs were made

— 5 —

in the heating plant. The usual decorating and refurbishing of all the buildings made them ready and attractive when school opened.

From the school point of view the most important betterment is the new science laboratory. After careful study plans were drawn for the complete reorganization and equipment of the laboratory. New desks and tables specially designed have been installed and every modern facility for the teaching of science in the several areas taught at Perkins is to be found in the new laboratory.

MAGNIFYING DEVICE

THE OFFICE of Scientific Research and Development (which developed the atomic bomb) has underwritten a project to study and develop a magnifying device to make reading of ink print possible for people with partial vision. Perkins has been interested in promoting this study as a possible means of avoiding the neces- sity of putting text books into large type. The project has been assigned to the Dartmouth Eye Institute connected with Dartmouth College with provision for cooperation with the University of Roches- ter in the development of the device. Work began on the project June 15.

THE WAR BLINDED

MAJOR TRYGVE GUNDERSEN, M.C. A.U.S.. ophthalmologist of Perkins before entering the army, has been placed in charge of the program for the war blinded with headquarters in Washington. Major Gundersen recently returned from hospital duty in the European theatre. After a brief tour of duty at Valley Forge General Hospital, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, the eastern center for eye casualties Major Gundersen went to the Dibble General Hospital, Menlo Park, California, the western center. The work in both of these centers will come under his direction as well as the program at Old Farms Convalescent Hospital, Avon, Connecticut.

V-J DAY

PERKINS was practically deserted on V-J Day so that it was not possible to celebrate and hold a service similar to the one held on V-E Day. But the groundsmen, who have formed a bell- ringing team, climbed the tower and the Wheelwright Bells rang fast and joyously. An unknown, unbeknownst, borrowed one of the three bells in the Lower School Courtyard but as mysteriously as it went it came back the next day.

— 6 —

FROM OUR MAIL

Kyriaki Nicholai, former Perkins pupil and now at School for the Blind, Athens, Greece writes:

"Our school has been functioning all through the dark years of slavery with only the spirit of our pupils. We had, naturally, many hardships to meet. Nevertheless, we have kept up our work. Now that the war is over for us, our pupils are coming back, along with many new ones. I have been teaching English from the beginning of the war with the help of some books found here — you Americans cannot imagine our hardships. War is a ter- rible thing I assure you. I can never stop being grateful for the scholarship which you gave me.

Lt. Mira Clark, former Perkins nurse, now in an Army hospital in Calcutta, India, writes:

"Am settled in Calcutta and think I'll like it. So far I have been very busy. The seriously ill patients have a special nurse and I was lucky enough to draw that job. Apart from learning to use a lot of new gadgets, I'm busy every minute and time just flies. This is the largest hospital I have ever been in and seems very well equipped . . . Spent two weeks at Karachi, where we landed, while waiting for new orders. That is the choice city of India. I had a wonderful time there, apart from working six hours a day.

Alysan Hooper, former secretary and now in Europe with the Red Cross writes: "Atomic bombs and a cornered Japan have rather changed the world picture in short order. Our V-J cele- brating was very mild. Partly, I think, because everyone here is so lethargic now, so deeply entrenched in boredom and waiting — and then there is the mountainous problem of shipping which has a very sobering effect — until that best V Day (Voyage Day) and home when we will know that the thing is really over."

STAFF APPOINTMENTS

Edward J. Waterhouse, teacher of mathematics and on leave of absence has returned. During the war he did secret mathematical work in connec- tion with the planning of the jet pro- pulsion plane at General Electric.

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Smith are also returning and will teach in the Lower School. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been at ,the Washington School for the Blind since they left Perkins.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Carr will return this year. Mrs. Carr will reassume her duties in the Music Department and Mr. Carr will give instruction in wood- working and poultry raising.

Orin Stone, B. S., B.D., M. A. in Edu- cation from St. Lawrence University and M. A. from Boston University, former principal of the Connecticut School for the Blind, will teach Social Science and History.

Miss Dorothy Bischoff, Brooklyn Col- lege and the Harvard Class, will re- turn to Perkins to teach in the Lower School. She has been teaching for the past three years in the Lavelle School for the Blind in New York.

Arlene Eccles, Framingham Teachers College '36 will teach Home Economics. She has taught in Northfield, Lebanon, N. H., and at Fannie Farmers School.

Philip G. Worrick of Hingham, Bos- ton University '44, B. S., is to teach Physical Education. Mr. Worrick has been an assistant at Boston University and Northeastern University.

Beatrice Pinkham of Quincy and Gertrude Seibert of Hyde Park, Sar- gent '45, will teach Physical Education.

Marjorie Ritchie of East Bridgewater, Mass., and Jean Harrison of Bucksport, Maine have been appointed as secretar- ies. Both are graduates of the Fisher School class of '45.

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POST-GRADUATE STUDY

(Continued from Paee 3)

wider knowledge of the special appliances prepared for the blind. Within a few years two other young people came to Perkins on the same basis. One is now in Harvard and the other in Wheaton College. This is a plan which has been proposed to the army for blinded soldiers who have completed high school and who now want to enter college under the GI "bill of rights" or veteran placement.

In addition to training in the tools and skills the blind need and ranging through all areas of instruction Perkins conducts post-grad- uate programs of a professional character. These train adequately for life work. Outstanding is the three-year course in pianoforte tuning and repairing. Many young men trained in this field are lead- ing successful and well compensated lives. The late Sir Charles W. Lindsay used to say that he left Perkns with nothing but a piano tuners kit but that was the basis of the great fortune he accumulated and distributed in his will to many charities including Perkins. For over sixty years the servicing of the pianos in the Boston Public Schools has been directed by the Perkins tuning department.

Another field where professional training is given is in preparing blind persons to become teachers of piano. This is a two year course and for practice seeing children near the school receive instruction. In the music department every opportunity is available for advanced instruction either in school courses or in cooperation with the Con- servatory of Music. More recently advanced instruction in commercial subjects has become professional in character. Through post-grad- uate courses pupils are now fully qualified for office work in typing, ediphoning and telephone service. Poultry raising, which is being revived this year, has professional possibilities and there is hardly a department which has not something to offer the student seeking ad- vanced work.

In advancing these opportunities for post-graduate study Perkins wishes only to share its unique facilities and its century of experience with blind youth seeking to equip themselves for service. Perkins is seeking, as the Harvard report on General Education says all educa- tion must, two things : "help young persons fulfill the unique, particu- lar functions in life which it is in them to fulfill, and fit them so far as it can for those common spheres which, as citizens and heirs of a joint culture, they will share with others."

The

THE PERKINS

VOLUME XV. NO. 2

alifttern

INSTITUTION

DECEMBER 15, 1945

What's in a Name

THERE SEEMS to be a growing distaste for the word "blind" as part of the name for our special schools. While many pupils are not blind in the common interpretation of that word most of them fall within the technical definition of blindness. Some schools are accepting pupils not legally blind but who are visually handicapped and the elimination of the word "blind" broadens the scope of the school. One institution states it is for "Children with Impaired Vision," which gives plenty of scope. Another is renamed "Braille and Sight-saving School" thereby featuring its methods rather than its pupils while a dual school refers to itself as an "Aural and Vision Center" which seems, on the blind side, to stress that which it lacks.

Much of the distaste arises from the fact that people are reading into the term "blind" connotations which they dislike, associations to which they object such as mendicancy, mannerisms and a disability to which they react unfavorably. Our inclination is to stick to the old word and not lose sight of the fact that we were created to help the blind. For them we exist. Instead of changing names let us resolve to make the term "blind" stand for attributes which we can uphold and support. Let us strengthen our programs of education and assistance so that the blind can become assured and attractive and examples of achievement and success which the world can admire and applaud. Blindness and all its tragic consequences we must strive to prevent, but let us make the "blind" so worthy that we can be proud of that term as applied either to individuals or to schools.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President

Gabriel Parrell, Director

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Director lectured on the modern trends in the education of blind chil- dren at Columbia University on Oct- ober 30 in a series of lectures on the blind. Dr. Samuel P. Hayes gave .an- other lecture in the series on psycholo- gical tests on November 13.

James C. Kent, who lost his sight while a prisoner in the Philippines, has entered the Harvard Class. Mr. Kent is a graduate of Murray Teachers College, Kentucky, and was a director of physical education. He came to Perkins from Old Farms Convalescent Hospital.

A Salesmanship Club has been or- ganized by the boys who are studying this subject under Mr. William Mc- Greal, formerly director and sales manager of the Remington Rand Cash Register Company in this country and later in Great Britain.

J. Stephenson Hemphill, Bursar, is chairman of the New England group of the Educational Buyers Association and presided at the semi-annual meet- ing at Middlebury College in October.

Maxwell Rappaport, several times champion wrestler in his class in New England, is coaching the boys' wrest- ling team and an active schedule has been arranged.

Walter Houston of the American Red Cross meets with the boys and girls several times a week for instruction in swimming.

Recent visitors have been Dr. Milton T. Stauffer of the John Milton Society for the Blind, Mrs. G. Pisart of Bel- gium, now at the Lighthouse in New York, Mrs. K. S. Wang, wife of the Chinese Consul, Miss Carol Hughes of the Coronet magazine, and Bishop Roberts of Shanghai.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

M. C. Migel, for twenty-three years President of the American Foundation for the Blind, retired from that office at the Annual Meeting of the Founda- tion, held on November 30, but has been elected Chairman of the Board. For over fifty years, Mr. Migel has served the blind generously.

William Ziegler, Jr., has been elected President of the American Foundation for the Blind. He has been active in the Foundation affairs as Treasurer but is perhaps best known through the Ziegler Magazine, founded by his mother.

Miss Alysan Hooper, formerly secre- tary to the Director, has returned from two years of work with the American Red Cross in England and Germany. She was in charge of the Red Cross in the 27th Evacuation Hospital.

Dr. Trygve Gundersen, ophthalmolo- gist at Perkins, has returned from services in the Army in Africa and Italy. Prior to his discharge, he was in charge of the program for the blind with headquarters in Washington.

The Reverend Frederic C. Lawrence has been elected President of the Protestant Guild for the Blind which is formulating a program to assist the sightless and provide instruction for Protestant children at Perkins.

Joseph Butler, Perkins '34, has opened a Vending Stand in conjunction with a sighted friend in Madonough Square in Lynn, Massachusetts. The stand is located near the General Electric Plant.

Dr. Robert B. Palmer, former school physician, has been released by the Navy after service in Europe and, more recently, the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

2 —

THE U. S. S. WASP A Trip to Remember

OVER TWO HUNDRED Perkins pupils, all but the three lowest grades, were the guests of the Commanding Officer and the crew of the U. S. S. Wasp, the battle-scarred carrier from the Pacific, when it came to Boston for Navy Week. The morning of October 25 was given over entirely to our boys and girls who had the full run of the ship before the public was admitted later in the day. Every provision for entertainment and for exploration of the ship was arranged in advance. Small models of the carrier were distrib- uted so that the pupils could get first of all a good idea of the type and the character of the ship. Then they were taken to the several decks, to the planes, to the turrets and to the exhibits where the rails shutting off the general public were removed so that eager fingers could explore bombs, K-rations, life rafts, and many other accessories.

Captain Switzer, the commanding officer, was at hand to greet his visitors and at first appalled but later understanding sailors escorted pupils over the ship. The boys soon found their way about but for some strange reason the girls became unusually inept at getting around and each required a sailor to help her over the ropes and around the turrets. It was an experience long to be remembered and upon their return to school many letters of thanks and apprecia- tion were sent to the ship. Following are a few with the reply re- ceived from Captain Switzer.

"We, the girls of Oliver Cottage, want to tell you how much we enjoyed our visit to the 'Wasp' this morning.

It was a great experience for us to see first hand this carrier that had figured so prominently in the Pacific, and had made such a splendid record. Everything was so new and interesting to us that we left feeling that we had gained a great deal of knowledge.

This was a day to which we can all look back with many pleasant memories. Many thanks to you and the members of the crew."

(Continued on Page 8)

DEAF-BLIND PROGRESS

ON THE SAME DAY, two photographs appeared in a Boston newspaper. One picture, Juanita Morgan and Leonard Dowdy, present deaf-blind pupils of Perkins, was run in connection with the story telling of the appeal for the Children of the Silent Night sent out to many friends throughout the country. The other was of Dr. Helen Keller and her companion, Miss Polly Thompson, and was run in connection with the story relating the visits Dr. Keller was making to servicemen in the Army and Navy Hospitals in the vicinity of Boston as part of a tour throughout the country to bring cheer and courage to those who are disabled. It was a strange coincidence that should have caused the two pictures to appear simultaneously for they represent the beginning and culmina- tion of the education of the deaf -blind.

Juanita Morgan is one of the youngest pupils in the department, a charming and responsive child who lost her sight and hearing at the age of seven months and whose speech has been developed since coming to Perkins five years ago. Leonard Dowdy, now a youth of eighteen, came to Perkins in 1932. He was the first pupil at Perkins to be taught the new method of vibration and oral speech. In many ways, he has been the yardstick by which progress has been measured in succeeding pupils. It is a long reach from these children on the threshold of training to Helen Keller who stands on a high pinnacle of achievement over her multiple handicaps, and who is recognized as one of the outstanding women of her generation.

From Perkins in 1886 Ann Sullivan went to Alabama to bring light and learning to the little child who had become totally deaf and blind at the age of nineteen months. Miss Sullivan, a Perkins grad- uate, later Mrs. John Macy, brought Helen to Perkins in October, 1889, and she remained at the institution until Sep- tember 1893.

The two pictures have another unique significance in that they reveal vividly the different methods

Photo Boston Traveler

of instruction. The picture of Miss Keller shows Miss Thomp- son spelling into her hand, using the method prevalent at the time of her schooling. The pic- of the two present pupils shows the hands placed on the face to feel with their fingers the vibrations now used as the medium of speech.

Photo Boston Travt

THOMAS STRINGER

THOMAS STRINGER, one of the notable deaf-blind pupils of Perkins in the '90's, passed away on October 11, 1945, at Fulton, New York, where he had made his home with Mr. Lee Edgarton since he left Perkins in 1913. Tommy came to Perkins while Helen Keller was living at the school and his coming was made possible by the fact that money was being raised at the time to replace Miss Keller's beloved dog which had been shot. She requested that the money be used to give little Tommy the opportunity to come to the school where she and many other deaf-blind pupils had found new life. From the time he entered in April, 1891, "a mere lump of breathing clay," Tommy grew and developed and became exceedingly proficient in woodwork. This skill he used through the remainder of his life in the making of crates for the fruits and vegetables grown on the farm where he made his home.

THE ADULT DEAF-BLIND

THE HELEN KELLER Committee on the deaf-blind, which is to be a permanent Advisory Committee to the American Founda- tion for the Blind, has been formulated to prepare and implement a program to assist the adult deaf-blind in this country. A Field Worker has been engaged, and this group of people, often called "the most neglected in the world," will now receive the attention their double handicap deserves. Miss Keller has been tremendously eager to have this special work undertaken, and because of that, her name

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has been applied to the committee. The Foundation's Field Worker will act as a consultant who will urge upon local agencies the con- sideration of special needs of persons who are both deaf and blind. The first step will be to compile an up-to-date authentic list of the deaf-blind people in this country and then to learn of their economic and social needs so that the most effective program may be formu- lated.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

THREE CONCERTS of Christmas music, by the Upper and Lower School Choirs, have been planned for this year, and all will be held in Dwight Hall. On Friday evening, December 14, Sunday afternoon, December 16, and Tuesday evening, December 18, an interesting program of ancient and traditional carols will be given as planned by John F. Hartwell, Director of Music, and assisted by Miss Eleanor W. Thayer, Director of the Lower School Choir, with Miss Louise E. Seymour accompanist on the piano and Mrs. Marjorie Johnston Carr on the organ. Perkins will close for the Christmas holidays after the concert on Tuesday evening and will reopen on Wednesday, January 2. Part of the program will be broadcast on Christmas morning at 9.30 over the New England Regional network.

A NEW TREASURER

AT THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Corporation held on Monday, November 5, officers were elected for the coming year — President, Robert H. Hallowell, for the fifteenth time; Vice-President, G. Peabody Gardner; Secretary, Gabriel Farrell; Treasurer, John P. Chase. Mr. Chase succeeds, as Treasurer, Roger Amory, who for ten years, with fidelity and personal interest, carried on the duties of this office. Francis C. Rogerson, who has been Assistant Treasurer for five years, resigned because of ill health. Mr. Chase is president of an investment firm, treasurer of Wellesley College, and coach of the Harvard Hockey Team.

YOUTHFUL INTELLIGENCE

During the administering of an Intelligence Test one of our youthful prodigies was asked, "How old are you?" to which he replied, "Why, I am not old at all. I am young!"

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FROM OUR MAIL

"This letter is being written on behalf of Mohammed El Ala'i to in- quire about institutions in the United States where he might study ways of assisting the blind in Egypt ... He has been interviewed by Mrs. Zahia Marzouk who was some twelve years ago a student in your institution, (Har- vard Class, 1932-33). Mrs. Marzouk is a high official in the Ministry of Social Welfare." — W. Wendell Cleland, The American University at Cairo.

"The school where I am supposed to teach is at present leased to the U. S. Navy. By next June, the school will open for handicapped children . . . We have the school building intact but not a single piece of furniture or school material is left. I hope you will remember us in our dire need."' — Esperanza Tejada, (Harvard Class '40), Rizal, Philippines.

"We have recently received a request from the American Embassy in San- tiago, Chile about helping a young Chilean boy who is blind in securing further education ... I am writing to ask whether it may be possible for your institution to offer any assistance." — American Republics Section, U. S. Office of Education.

"Now that normal relations are re- established between our countries, we are again considering the exchange of publications which deal with the sub- jects concerning the blind as we did before the war." — Association Valentin Haiiy for the Blind, Paris, France.

"I wish to know about an American Hymn Book with words to sing; also, about books used by the American home teacher ... I am being very tiresome; however, forgive me because we in Portugal are instructionless people." — Carlos Luiz, Lisbon, Portugal.

PUBLICATIONS

Lights Out by Baynard Kendrick — A novel, graphically portraying the ex- periences of a youth blinded in France and carrying him through hospitaliza- tion at Valley Forge and adjustment at Old Farms. Through a year of residence at Old Farms Mr. Kendrick obtained a deep insight into the problems confronting the war blinded.

Still My World by Leonard M. Foulk and "C. W." — Sergeant Foulk's story of his blindness on the Island of Attu in the Pacific, his hospitalization at Letterman General Hospital, and the freedom he found through a guide dog.

Green Peace by Marjorie Hayes — A mingling of fact and fiction, telling the story of the Howe family and their life at Perkins Institution, beginning with John Brown and concluding with an account of the writing of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Gardening For The Blind by Nelson Coon, Professor Hugh Findlay, and Rev. Marinus James illustrating Pro- fessor Findlay's tools for the blind ap- peared in the November issue of the AMERICAN HOME magazine.

Creative Writing For The Blind by

Jessie Whitney Mayshark, a teacher in the Lower School, in EDUCATION for February, 1945, develops this art as one in which the blind may engage.

"New Light on Congenital Malforma- tion" by Dr. Hugo B. C. Riemer, ophthalmologist at Perkins, was printed in the OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND for November. This paper was read at the meeting held at Perkins in May.

Washington reports "the piano in- dustry needs 10,000 trained tuner technicians."

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THE U. S. S. WASP

(Continued from Paee 3)

"We, the boys of Eliot Cottage would like to thank you for letting us visit the 'Wasp.' We enjoyed every minute of it.

We were surprised to learn that a carrier was so large. We had no idea it could carry so many planes. We enjoyed examining the planes on the flight deck. We were amazed at their size. Some of us saw the wonderful radar equipment.

We wish to thank our guides who showed us the ship. They were very nice to us. Please thank the cook for the ice cream and the cookies. They were really good.

We hope we shall have another chance to visit the 'Wasp.' "

"The boys of Tompkins Cottage wish to express their sincerest- thanks for the privilege you gave us of visiting your ship. It was an experience we will long remember.

The boys made a few comments about what interested them (most. The size of the 'Wasp' made a great impression on many of them. The cleanliness and order of the ship met the approval of the orderly fellows. The displays on the hangar deck helped to clarify some of the things we have heard so much about during the war. The flight deck and the planes made for much discussion among the fellows. However, the thing that made the greatest hit of all was the very fine dance band. We'd give anything to have them play at one of our dances.

We thank you very much, sir, and would like to have you express our thanks to your men for their friendliness and help."

"I cannot begin to express the 'Wasp' crew's appreciation of the letters written by the children at your school after their visit to our ship. It was a great pleasure to us all that they were able to be our guests; and the sincerity and enthusiasm of their thanks have made a deep impression. At present the letters are framed and on display in the Crew's Reading and Writing Room.

If the 'Wasp' puts in at Boston again, I hope it will be possible ;for you to come on board with any of the children who missed the first visit or those that might be interested in making a second trip."

Yours sincerely,

W. G. SWITZER

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t

■

The fLantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XV., NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1946

Our New Citizens

OVER A THOUSAND young men have become citizens of the community of those who live in a darkened world. They have taken up their citizenship at an age when responsibilities are assumed, and they have come into this community without the previous advantage of having been members during the formative growing years of their lives. As a result, those who have lived in this world for a long time and those who have been interested in its inhabitants are eager to know how our new citizens will assume their responsibilities and what contribution they will make to the com- munity life.

These new citizens have a lot to contribute to our world ; they also have a lot to learn, and in the learning, all of us want to make our contribution. They represent a cross section of American life, socially, economically, morally, and intellectually. They are, however, bound together by a common experience. They have been members of the armed services, subject to routine, discipline and morale. They were the 1-A's of their generation.

Now these young men would be listed as 4-F's. They are described by some as handicapped, disabled, or rehabilitation cases, but our world interprets these terms differently from the world of light. Being handicapped has been accepted as meaning that we have to do a little more than the next fellow. We must see that our new citizens learn that obstacles are things to be overcome and that through good training and right attitude they can be overcome. If these young men assume their citizenship responsibilities in that way, they will bring strength to our world.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President Gabriel Farrell, Director

^a^d/ 7&AA+>£?

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Annual Staff Party in the form of a Kindergarten was given by the Lower School on Friday evening, March 8. The staff had a very pleasant Square Dance Party on the evening of February 18.

The senior girls invited the junior girls to join with them in presenting a musical program on March 1 to raise money to defray graduation expenses. The plan to have the juniors join with the seniors was proposed and approved by the Student Council.

Dr. Trygve Gundersen, having been released from the army, has resumed his work as the school ophthalmologist. He is continuing to give part time to the Veterans' Administration as con- sultant in ophthalmology.

Mrs. Marjorie B. Morey, formerly a teacher in the Primary Department and more recently a WAC serving in the program for the blind at Valley Forge General Hospital, rejoined the teaching staff in February, taking over a part of the fifth grade.

Miss Pauline M. Moor, formerly in charge of the Center for Child Care in Waterbury, Connecticut, has been engaged as Field Worker among pre- school blind children, working especially among those who attended the summer school held at Perkins last June.

Giuliano Cabbia, the eight and a half year old Italian blind boy sent to this country by the 88th Division for an eye operation at Johns Hopkins Hospital, has been a visitor at Perkins. The operations have not improved his vision, and plans are now being made for his future education. He is an accomplished accordion player and is fast acquiring the English language.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Clifford F. Hall, Perkins '36, is pro- prietor of Harvey's Music Parlor in St. Johnsbury, Vermont according to an attractive calendar for 1946.

Ruth Cox, Perkins '39, is writing children's stories and has had several published in the Christian Science Monitor.

Frederick Hayashi, Perkins '43, writes, "Piano tuning is mighty good in Hawaii. The training at Perkins is coming in handier all the time."

Lloyd H. McLaughlin, Perkins '22, Boston University '27, is now working in the office of the Cambridge Work- shop of the Massachusetts Division of the Blind.

Ralph Savio, who completed his work at Perkins two years ago is now at Harvard, where he is studying Oriental Philosophy. He was recently married and is living in Cambridge.

Norman S. Case, Jr., Perkins '36, Brown '40, Yale School of Law '43, is now living in Washington where he is associated in a legal capacity with the Federal Communications Commission. He has recently announced his mar- riage.

William E. Powers, Perkins '32, Bos- ton University Law School '35, deputy Democratic floor leader of the Rhode Island Legislature and chairman of the insurance committee, was recently referred to as "one of the finest speak- ers and most able members."

Former students as far back as South Boston days will learn with regret of the passing away on January 31 of John J. Carroll who, prior to his re- tirement in 1938, was for over fifty years Chief Engineer.

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CANDIDATES FOR CITIZENSHIP World War Contributes Over A Thousand

TO KNOW MANY of the young men who have lost their sight in the service of their country is a rare privilege. Most of them have a fine spirit and a good determination. I like to think of one young man whom I met at Valley Forge on a day when he had just learned from the surgeon that an operation to attach the retina had not been successful and that he would probably have no sight. He was in a low mood that day, and I had an opportunity to tell him a little about many of our people and I think I was able to give him some cheer and hope. Returning to the hospital several weeks later, I inquired about this young man and found that he was confined to his room. When I went to his room, there were signs, "Do Not Touch The Bed," and I learned that he had had another operation the effects of which might be offset by the slightest jar. In talking with him, he told me he had to remain perfectly still for twelve weeks, but he said hopefully, "Half of the time is gone. I hope that this time the opera- tion is going to be a success."

Of course there are, in this large group, others without the same ambition and expectation. They range from one young man who, when I asked what he did before entering the Army, replied, "Nothing," and when I asked what he was going to do when he got out of the Army, said, "The same thing." He revealed a great deal of determination in expressing that goal for life, and I think it is probably true that that is about all he has accomplished or ever will. At the other extreme, I recall a young man who had not only lost his sight but also part of one arm to the remainder of which was attached a device which he used most effectively. He had already made his plans to continue graduate study at one of our great universities, and I feel sure he will attain success in his studies.

The young man with part of his arm gone represents a consider- able group among our new citizens, those who have lost their limbs as well as sight. There are some who have lost either both arms and one leg or both legs and part of one arm. In so far as I can ascertain, there are no "basket cases" among the blind — that is, those who have lost both arms and both legs. It is remarkable how effective the prosthetic devices are which can be applied to either arms or limbs

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

WORLD STUDIES

REALIZING THE NEED of knowing more about the nations with whom our country is allied and with whom there must be continued associations, a committee of faculty and students prepared a plan covering- the year whereby these nations could be studied and through study, better understood. Through the fall and early winter, interesting programs covering China, India, and Russia have been presented, and plans have been made to study the Latin American countries during the spring term. Mrs. Ellen Lin, a mem- ber of the Harvard Class from China, talked to the school about her country and set up a very interesting exhibit of Chinese material. Gayatri Devi, a native of India, presented the story of her country to the assembled school and exhibits of Indian material were ar- ranged. To present the story of Russia, Roman Mochernuk, a grad- uate student at Perkins whose parents are Russian, gave an interest- ing talk and was supported in his presentation by a Russian dance by girls in costume, arranged by Miss Beatrice Pinkham, and a round- table discussion by the students concerning the problems which must be understood in the relationship between this country and Russia. Throughout the year, in addition to the exhibits, there has been a great deal of classroom study and assigned reading. All of these programs have contributed to a better understanding of the various countries and have been a valuable project of common work for the whole school.

TEACHERS ATTEND SCHOOL

ANOTHER EDUCATIONAL adventure being carried on this year is a planned series of adult education courses for the benefit of the staff. A staff committee outlined a number of possible courses which could be given here at Perkins, and from this group, selections were made. Where the enrollment was large enough, courses were organized and are being carried on through the winter term. Three classes are now being conducted one night a week. A course in music appreciation is being led by Mr. Edward W. Jenkins, graduate of Perkins, the New England Conservatory of Music, and the Fontainbleau Conservatory in France. Through selections played by Mrs. Jenkins and records, Mr. Jenkins discusses the fundamentals of the music involved and points out the principles for appreciation. A course in artistic expression, featuring painting, sculpturing, and other forms of art is being conducted by Miss Frances L. McGaw,

— 4 —

graduate of the Massachusetts School of Art and art classes at the Chicago Art Institute. A course in metal work is being carried on by Mr. John B. Butler, an outstanding teacher of practical arts and the author of books on metal crafts and inventor of devices used in this craft throughout the country. More than fifty members of the staff are participating in this program which will conclude with an exhibition of work and entertainment in the Lower School Hall on Monday evening, April 9.

THE COMING CONVENTION

PERKINS AWAITS with anticipation the convention of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind to be held here June 24-28. This was originally planned for 1942 but was given up because of the war, and plans are now being made to make this a post-war gathering of importance and value. Many delegates from schools throughout the country are expected to attend, and Perkins wishes to assure them of traditional New England hospitality. Since many may want to stay beyond the four days of the convention, ar- rangements are being made so that some of the cottages will be open for a period after the convention to give visitors an opportunity to remain here while sight-seeing in New England.

Instead of having the convention members divided up into small cottage groups, arrangements have been made to serve all of the meals in the adjoining Lower School Hall and Gymnasium. In this way, there will be the value of group assembly and the usual festivities which go on at convention meal time. A feature of interest will be the fact that half of the floor of Symphony Hall has been secured for the Pops Concert on Thursday night, June 27. Attending the Pops with a program by members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is considered one of the experiences which visitors to New England should not miss.

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

THE ANNUAL APPEAL for the work with deaf -blind children was sent out late in November, and the response this year has been greater than ever before. At the present time, over twelve hundred contributions, totalling about fourteen thousand dollars, have been received. As so large a number came in immediately after

— 5 —

the appeal went out and due, also, to the shortage of help, the usual personal acknowledgments which are sent to contributors were con- siderably delayed, and it is hoped that those who did not receive them until late will understand and accept this situation which was re- gretted.

FAMILY TRUSTEESHIPS

RICHARD SALTONSTALL was elected a trustee at the December meeting of the Board. This revives a family membership which goes back to 1884. Leverett Saltonstall, the grand- father of the new Trustee, served on the Board from 1884 to 1895. He was succeeded by his son, Richard M. Saltonstall, who served until 1922 when he was succeeded by his son, the present U. S. Senator Leverett Saltonstall, brother of the new Trustee, who served from 1922 until his election as Governor in 1938. The new Trustee's great- grandfather on the maternal side, Peter C. Brooks, was President of the Board from 1840 to 1846.

Robert H. Hallowell, the present President, succeeded his father, Colonel N. P. Hallowell, who began his service as member of the Board of Trustees in 1898. G. Peabody Gardner, Vice-President, also succeeded his father, who began his services in 1895. Ralph Lowell was elected in 1927 to succeed his uncle, James Arnold Lowell, who was elected to the Board in 1908. Miss R. D. Thorndike, who was a Trustee until she resigned to go abroad in the service of the Red Cross and who is now attached to the American Embassy in Paris, succeeded her father, Albert Thorndike, former Treasurer, who in 1911 suc- ceeded his father, S. Lothrop Thorndike, who became a member of the Board in 1887.

SPEAKING OF NAMES

THE SEEING EYE is an organization for which all are usually glad to say a good word, but our friendship was put to a severe strain when a radio program asked, "What was the name of the first seeing-eye dog?", promising an award for the correct answer. Immediately Perkins was deluged with several hundred telephone calls. In one hour there were fifty-five. Some had been asked the question, but most were trying to secure the information in advance. Many promised that, if Perkins would tell them the answer, they would split the reward, but, as yet, Perkins has not had a cut on the winnings.

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FROM OUR MAIL

"I cannot resist telling you how much I admired what you wrote on the cover of the December LANTERN. Your statement entitled 'What's in a Name' is vitally needed at the present time when everyone seems to be trying to avoid using the word 'blind.' "

D. H. L., Woodstock, Conn.

PUBLICATIONS

"I enjoy getting the LANTERN from time to time, and reading recently what you had to say about retaining the word 'blind.' I think you are right. Things have to be redeemed, rather than put away."

W. A. L., Springfield, Massachusetts

"I wanted to write and tell you how much I admired (and envied) your editorial in the LANTERN. It is just about the most meat I have ever seen packed in few words."

— R. W. M., Sewickley, Penna.

"I read your December LANTERN editorial to an able young blind man who has just joined our staff. He ap- plauded it vigorously and I entirely agree with what you say."

W. M. E., London, England

"I have your December 15, 1945, LANTERN in which you discuss on the front page the re-naming of schools for the blind. * * * Our decision to change our name did not grow out of any feeling on our part that the word 'blind' was distasteful. We had simply run into a stone wall often times in our field work in trying to interest parents to send their sight saving children to our school. * * * Our School is willing to go with you and other schools in strengthening our programs of educating and assistance in such a manner that the word 'blind' will have a better connotation than ever."

J. C L., Fairbault, Minnesota

"Wings For Ruth," by Rosan Clarke, published by W. A. Wilde, Boston, is a story for children relating the experi- ences that a child attending Perkins has. The author, writing under a pen name, is a teacher in the Lower School.

Tools For The Blind And How To

Use Them is the title of an illustrated booklet published by Professor Hugh Findlay, inventor of special gardening tools for the blind which have been described previously in this publication and which are being more and more widely used by blind persons.

Vocational Aptitude Tests For The Blind, by Samuel P. Hayes, Ph. D., published as number 13 in the series of Perkins Publications, tells of the work which has been done in the past in trying out and adapting vocational tests for the blind and presents a most comprehensive survey of that field.

"That Word 'Blind'" is the title of an article by Capt. Robert Steptoe in the SATURDAY EVENING POST for December 22, 1945. Captain Steptoe, a Bostonian who lost his sight through the explosion of a land mine in France, presents one of the most interesting documents of the experience of the war blinded.

The Blind In Cleveland, 1906-1943, a

chronicle by Eva Brewer Palmer, for thirty years the head of Grasselli House wherein centers the activities of the Cleveland Society of the Blind, tells an interesting story of the devel- opment of that organization and its many forms of helpfulness to the blind in Cleveland. It is interesting to note how much of this work was inspired by the life and writings of Samuel Gridley Howe, the first Director of Perkins.

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CANDIDATES FOR CITIZENSHIP

(Continued from Page 3)

and how efficiently the men who are disabled in that way get about and use these devices.

Loss of limbs as well as sight is due, largely, to the explosion of land mines and booby traps which was one of the largest causes of blindness in the war, especially in the early stages of the European and Asiatic landings. This form of injury also caused a great deal of facial disfigurement. The Army surgeons have done marvelous work through plastic surgery in removing the effects of these injuries and making the men, as some of them have said, better looking than they were before. Another piece of very effective work has been the new eyes which have been made of plastic and which can be made to look exactly like the original eyes, or, if some prefer, even more attrac- tive.

Most of our new citizens have been through a program of training provided by the Army and the Navy. There is nothing to be gained at this time in commenting on these programs. Each, in its way, developed certain techniques of value, and from them perhaps we can learn a good deal as their studies are completed. The Navy group was sufficiently small to be handled largely on an individual basis as there are only a few more than 150 sailors and marines who lost their sight. The blinded men of the Army, comprising a group of slightly under a thousand, necessitated perhaps more group activity, and this form of training was accentuated, particularly at Old Farms. At Valley Forge a highly developed technique for the use of canes was perfected, while at Old Farms stress was placed upon sense of obstacles called by them and publicized unwisely as "facial vision."

Of the approximately twelve hundred men who lost their sight in the war, over half are now out of the Army and Navy and have become citizens of the civilian community of the blind. These new men must find their places in that community or, better still, be able to make places in the seeing world in which all must live and into which all strive to integrate themselves to the measure of their ability. The older citizens of our community know that there is need for guidance, help and encouragement if those who are without sight are to succeed in finding their rightful places in the complex life of today. We must assure these new citizens that we want to give them encouragement and assistance and, above all, a very hearty welcome to our world. — G. F.

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The ILaritern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XV.. NO. 4 JUNE 15. 1946

The A. A. I. B. Convention

PERKINS WELCOMES, during the last week of June, the bi- ennial convention of the A. A. I. B. To those active in work for

the blind and to a general public which has become accustomed to alphabetical nomenclature, these four letters stand for a strong grouping of men and women who are giving their lives to the ed- ucation of blind youth. To the world at large, however, we may need to say that our guests are the members of the American As- sociation of Instructors of the Blind, founded in 1853.

While there are innumerable organizations of blind people and of those interested in the visually handicapped, there are two out- standing and widely representative groups, both well known by the initials of long names. The other organization, comparable to the A. A. I. B., is the A. A. W. B. This, to be interpreted, stands for American Association of Workers for the Blind, which as an organiza- tion, differs from the Instructors in that the former is made up, pri- marily, of those who work with the adult blind.

Perkins has not been the host to the A. A. I. B. since 1924 when a very memorable convention was held here. At that time, the plan was to have the visitors see a school in action. Many of the pupils stayed, and the routine of the school carried on in order that the visitors might see how Perkins operated. At this convention only about fifty pupils who are members of the chorus will remain but nearly the entire staff will be at hand to assist in the program. Perkins hopes that our visitors will be helped by the convention pro- gram, but we want to assure them, above all else, of a very hearty welcome to this century old school.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President Gabriel Farrell, Director

^ctS^u^f 7?k>Vu^

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The Girls' Glee Club and Boys' Octet gave a joint concert at Tabor Academy on the evening of May 24 which fol- lowed a very pleasant afternoon of sailing.

Watertown High School Track Team defeated the Perkins Track Team in a spirited meet held at Perkins on May 13. The final score was 46 Vz to 25%.

A "Pops" Concert was held in Dwight Hall on the evenings of June 6 and 7 with an excellent program by members of the Music Department.

Rose DiDominicis, teacher in the Deaf-Blind Department, and Robert Vivian, former Perkins student, were united in marriage on May 11 and are making their home in Somerville.

The Girls of Glover Cottage recently enjoyed an afternoon at the circus. The other three Lower School Cottages spent a very pleasant day at the beach.

Dr. Balboni has taken the place of Dr. Kinsey as school physician for the remainder of the year.

May and Oliver Cottages held their annual picnics at Norumbega Park on May 25 and June 1, respectively, the Girls of Brooks Cottage enjoyed theirs at the Perkins Pond.

Several staff members were awarded certificates by the Red Cross for volun- teer work done during the war.

The track teams of Overbrook and New York came to Perkins on June 1 and 8 and returned with victories.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Rose Maria Sala, Harvard Class '41, has an interesting article on the Har- vard Course in the current issue of Luoes, published by the Society for the Blind, Inc., in Cuba.

OHverio Sanchez, Harvard Class '27, Director of the Society for the Blind in Havana, Cuba, writes that the gov- ernment has given a substantial sum of money for the construction of a homo.

Warren Bledsoe, Harvard Class '39, is making a survey of the blinded vet- erans of the First World War in the hospitals of the Veteran's Administra- tion.

Guy J. Marchisio, Perkins graduate and former teacher, now principal of the Department of the Blind at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, has introduced a sight-saving edition of the school paper, The Utah Eagle.

Francis M. Andrews, former principal of Perkins and now Superintendent of the Maryland School for the Blind, is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Association of In- structors of the Blind and is arranging the program for the convention.

Mrs. William Brattle Oliver has been appointed executive secretary of the recently organized Protestant Guild for the Blind. She was formerly orga- nizer and first president of the Boston Council of Church Women.

John DiFranceSco, Perkins '39, now studying in New York came to Boston to sing solos for the concert of the Catholic Guild Choristers in Jordan Hall on May 1 and that of the Perkins Chorus at the school on May 3.

Mrs. Mercedes Carmona DeVerdiales,

Harvard Class '29, head of the schooi for the blind in Puerto Rico, has coma to this country to attend the A. A. I. B. Convention and spent several days at Perkins in May.

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The American Association of Instructors for the Blind — Its Origination and Its Aims

Joseph G. Cauffman

IT IS PECULIARLY fitting that as members and friends of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind preparing to visit Perkins for the Thirty-eighth Biennial Convention, we review briefly the history of that organization, its aims, and purposes. To quote from "The Mentor", July 1892, an article covering the early history of the Association:

"On August 16, 1853, delegates from fourteen differ- ent Institutions, representing as many states, met in accord- ance with previous arrangement at the New York Insti- tution, and effected the organization of the body which has since been so potent a factor in advancing the inter- ests of the blind. This was a notable event. It was the first meeting of the kind ever held on the American con- tinent. It was presided over by Dr. Samuel G. Howe. The immediate object of this meeting was to discuss the propriety of petitioning Congress to grant a subsidy for a permanent printing fund for the use of the blind, and although other questions were considered, they seem of small importance in comparison with this. The agita- tion on this subject begun then did not cease until March 1879, when an act was passed by the Congress of the United States setting apart, as a perpetual fund, $250,000, the interest of which is annually used in providing books and apparatus suitable for instructing the blind . . .

"The second convention was not held until August 1871. It met at the Indiana Institution in Indianapolis, pursuant to circular issued by W. H. Churchman, superintendent, in which the immediate object of the meeting was declared to be the adoption of a uniform system of print- ing for the blind . . .

"The next convention assembled on August 20, 1872, at the Perkins Institution for the Blind. At this meeting the question of systems of (Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

Delegates will enter here to register

CONVENTION HIGH-LIGHTS

THE PROGRAM for the biennial convention of the A. A. I. B. opens on Monday night, June 24, with a special meeting in Dwight Hall. At this time, addresses of welcome will be given and the address of the president, W. G. Scarberry of the Ohio School, will hgihlight the program. Following this program, there will be a reception. On the following morning, at the opening session, new superintendents will be introduced by the president and a notable talk will be given by Dr. Edward E. Allen, Director Emeritus of Perkins. On Tuesday evening, June 25, there will be an open meeting to which persons interested in the education of the blind will be welcome. In addition to a musical program, there will be two main addresses. The first will be given by Dr. Donald D. Dur- rell, Dean of the School of Education of Boston University, who will set forth the objectives of general education. The second will be given by Col. E. A. Baker, head of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, who will speak on the special objectives within the field of the blind. Colonel Baker, head of the Canadian National In- stitute for the Blind, lost his sight in World War I, and has had charge of the retraining of the blinded Canadian soldiers of World War II. On Thursday evening, June 27, a large section of the floor of Symphony Hall has been engaged for a "Pops" Concert.

THE MAGNIFYING DEVICE

PROGRESS IS BEING made on the development of a magnify- ing device for the partially seeing according to a report made to the Committee on Sensory Devices, O.S.R.D. at a meeting held in New York on Monday, April 29. This project which was assigned to

the Dartmouth Eye In- stitute about a year ago, has now reached the stage where actual work on the device is under way. A very com- prehensive study of de- vices was made by V. J. Ellerbrock, and this was presented to the com- mittee and accepted by — 4 —

Delegates will live In Upper School Cottages

Delegates will eat in Lower School

it. The development of a device is now under the direction of Dr. Kenneth N. Ogle of Dartmouth in coopera- tion with Dr. Brian O'Brien of the Univer- sity of Rochester. A device of unusual clar- ity, developed by Dr. O'Brien, was tried out at Perkins in April on some of the pupils with considerable vision and, also, on the pupils in the Watertown Sight-Saving Class. While the final solution of this problem is not yet in sight, definite steps are now under way which should lead to a device which ought to be practical and helpful.

THE WORLD REPAINTED

THE LARGE GLOBE which stands in the lobby of the Admin- istration Building has been repainted and now presents a very colorful appearance. For a time all the continents stood forth in a white first coat and it was suggested that it ought to remain in that way so that each part of the world could be colored as peace con- ferences and U N determined boundaries. It was finally decided to restore the world to the condition it was in at the time the globe was made in 1837 and with the help of authorities at Harvard these boundaries were laid out. Dr. Howe, in an early report, described the globe, which is six feet in diameter and made of 700 pieces of wood glued together as "beautiful, durable and the most perfect article of its kind in the world." As now decorated, it is at least colorful.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE have again been awarded scholarships which will provide them with a year of graduate study at Per- kins Institution during the coming year. Many applications were received this year from young people graduating from their respective schools in June. From the list, the following were select- ed and will be expected here next year : Kathryn Hearn, Alabama ; Tina Lou Daniels, Utah ; William Coppage, Virginia ; and Joe Salazar, New Mexico.

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GRADUATION, JUNE 19, 1946

GRADUATION this year is to be held on Wednesday, June 19. This is a little later than usual but the date was pushed ahead to shorten the gap between the closing of school and the be- ginning of the convention, as many of the teachers are remaining for the convention. At the graduating exercises, which will be held at two o'clock in Dwight Hall, diplomas will be awarded to four boys and three girls by Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation. The invocation will be offered by the Rev. Edson G. Waterhouse of the Methodist Church, Watertown, and the Com- mencement address will be made by the Rev. Carl Heath Kopf of the Mt. Vernon Church, Boston. The chorus will sing "Rising Tide" and "The Silent Sea" and there will be a solo by Thomas Cotter.

THE DANCES usually held by the boys and girls on the night before and the night of graduation were held this year on May 17 and May 18. It was felt that there were too many events around graduation day and that more enjoyment could be felt if the dances were held earlier, and this proved to be true as both dances were very successful occasions. In the place of these two dances, a reception will be held following the graduation ex- ercises on June 19. At that time the many people attending the exercises, including friends and parents, will have an opportunity to meet the graduates and officers of the school.

CERTIFICATES of efficiency have been awarded by the Edi- phone company after tests to the following members of the Commercial Department: Fay George, Ethel Murray, Clarice Rothe, Hideko Shimokawa, and Jane Waska. Winfield Lewis will receive his certificate as a pianoforte tuner at the graduation exer- cises.

FAYE GEORGE of the graduating class will enter Middlebury College in September. She has been awarded the first scholarship from the Alumnae Fund.

THE SENIOR CLASS has chosen red and white as their class colors, and the red rose as their class flower.

THE CLASS MOTTO IS : Out of the harbor into the sea.

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FROM OUR MAIL

Coronet, May issue, has an article entitled "A School for the Children of Darkness," by Carol Hughes. While appreciating the lightsome manner in which the writer tells 'the story of Perkins, we must disclaim her state- ment, "Perkin's roster of graduates in- cludes almost every blind person of renown in America." Reactions to the article have been many and varied.

"The May issue of CORONET gave an interesting account of your estab- lishment. However, it did not mention the iron fence imprisoning your 'in- mates'. If it was low ... it would serve the same purpose without tha pupils appearing to themselves and others as prisoners behind bars." — Ohio

'The article in the May issue of CORONET gave me a great deal of hope and inspiration. I am the mother of a boy, blind from birth, who will be five years old this May 1 . . . thus I turn hopefully to you. Is there any method by which I may have my son enrolled in your school?" — Michigan

"To illustrate cleared reprint of CORONET May, 1946, article, "A school for the Children of Darkness," in Far Eastern periodicals serviced by United States State Department, we should appreciate selections, pictures of your school and children in action." — New York

"I am preparing a paper on the sub- ject of the amazing work being done for blind children in your institution. This month's CORONET magazine just barely touches the secret or the facts." — California

"I read of your school for blind children in this month's CORONET. Will you please accept this contribu- tion for your very worthy cause."

— New York

"Our New Citizens" is the title of an article about the war blinded written by the Director for the Home Teachers' Magazine which is published in braille.

PUBLICATIONS

'Our attention has been called to an issue of THE LANTERN, dated March 15, to an article by you which states," . . . "At Old Farms, stress was placed upon a sense of obstacles called by them and publicized unwisely as 'facial Vision.' "I just want to point out for your information that we have not placed particular stress on the so-call- ed 'facial vision.' It ranks very low on a list of some fifteen orientation tech- niques. As we have stressed, it is use- ful to some men some of the time. Any publicizing of this particular item was done over our protest rather than by us." — Connecticut

"Your interesting LANTERN turns up here regularly in distant Dhra Dun, an extremely pleasant valley in the Himalayan Foothills . . . what espe- cially inspired me to write today was the opening subject in THE LANTERN. December, 1945, and I send my hearty congratulations and enthusiastic ap- proval of your support of the good old honest word, 'blind'."

— Sir Clutha MacKenzie, India

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, May

issue, has an article entitled "New Aids to the Blind," by Paul J. Zahl. This tells of the work being done by the Committee on Sensory Devices, OSRD. The conclusions set forth, however, do not bear out the hope expressed in the title although .valuable information re- garding research underway is described.

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, June issue, contains in its letters to the Edi- tor a reply by the Director of Perkins to the article in the May issue by Dr. Zahl, on "New Aids to the Blind."

"I read your article, 'Our New Citi- zens,' and it is needless to say that I find it most refreshing. You had the courage to say what a good many of us have felt but hesitated to say."

— New Hampshire

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The American Association of Instructors for the Blind

(Continued from Page 3)

writing music for the blind received attention. Superintend- ent Wait, of New York, explained the outlines of a system which he had devised, based upon the New York system of point writing and printing. After discussion the convention passed a resolution requestioning Mr. Wait and all others having tangible systems of musical notation for the blind to report the same to the several institutions at the earliest practicable moment. It was also the opinion of the members of this Convention, expressed in resolutions, that in schools for the blind the apparatus and methods employed should vary as little as possible from those used in the most ap- proved schools for the seeing, and that the discipline should conform to that in schools for the seeing. The subjects of maps for the blind, the establishment of industrial schools, and systems of printing also received consideration."

As will be seen, Perkins has played an important role in the affairs of the Association throughout its long years of service. The aim of the organization, and its accomplishments may be summarized from its committees as follows :

1. To provide a professional organization for edu- cators of the blind, where through the discussion of com- mon problems, improvements in methods and facilities may be brought about.

2. The Association has fathered the Printing House and been active in the affairs of the American Foundation for the Blind, Inc.

3. It has provided means of teacher certification and through its printed Proceedings it has contributed to the literature of its special field.

4. It has earnestly endeavored to encourage and pro- mote helpful legislation which would benefit the blind, as well as conducted research for its professional membership.

5. Membership is by schools and organizations; indi- vidual memberships are classified as associate, honorary, and corresponding.

It is hoped and expected that this Convention will go down in the Association's history as another great conference at Perkins.

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The iLaf tern

THE PERKINS I. r i INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVI., NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 15. 1946

Appreciation Acknowledged

A WARM WELCOME indeed was extended to our friends who attended the biennial convention of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind held at Perkins the last week in June. Evidence of this is not only on the record of the Weather Bureau which records the time as one of the hottest weeks in the history of New England but also in the receipt of many letters of appreciation of our hospitality received during the summer. We are grateful for these letters which refer to the convention as "tops", "best ever", "interesting", "enlightening" and other terms in the superlative, and hereby wish to acknowledge our appreciation.

Perkins is grateful for this appreciation and for the pleasure of entertaining the leaders in our field of education. We cannot, however, take all the credit for the outstanding success of the con- vention. Much belongs to the officers of the Association and es- pecially to the members of the Executive Committee, under the chairmanship of Francis M. Andrews of the Maryland School who formulated the program. Credit for the fine spirit which prevailed may well go to those present for it was their fine attitude and keen interest that made the convention click.

We want, however, to express appreciation to those from outside our field who came to keep us abreast with modern education, especially Dean Durrell of the Boston University School of Education who spoke at the Open Meeting, and also to the conference leaders from Boston University, Wheelock College and Harvard University. And thanks, too, to Col. E. A. Baker of the Canadian National Insti- tute for the Blind, who at the Open Meeting brought a telling message from the field of the adult blind for which we are preparing the young blind.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Robert H. Hallowell, President Gabriel Farrell, Director

^a^uy/ t&aa*^

//

INTRAMURAL NOTES

National scholarships have been awarded to Tina Lou Daniels of Utah, Joe Salazar of New Mexico, Kathryn Hearn of Alabama, and Vega Lui Suarez of Cuba.

1/ Edward J. Waterhouse, teacher of mathematics in the Upper School, will devote half of his time this year to the management of the Howe Memorial Press. David Abraham, former teacher of the Manual Training Department, will be the chief engineer of the Press.

James Osborn, the blind boy sent from England by the Ninth Air Force a year ago, spent a very happy sum- mer at Camp Wonalancet in New Hampshire.

A parchment scroll beautifully illu- minated expressing thanks for being at Perkins last winter was received from Guiliano Cabbia, a blind boy who was sent to this country by the Eighty- eighth Division for surgical care, and later returned to his home in Italy.

Summer visitors included Mrs. Emma C. de Jiminez Lanier of Havana; Miss Asta Meidell of Oslo, Norway; Ernesto O. Miranda of Puerto Rico, and Prof. M. V. Orlov of Moscow, Russia.

With deep regret we report the death of Mrs. Martha Fox Smith in Ohio on July 17. Mrs. Smith came to the Har- vard Class following her graduation from Smith College in 1938. With the exception of one year which she and Mr. Smith spent at the Washing- ton State School Mrs. Smith has taught in the Lower School where she was one of our most valued teachers.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Entering College this year are Faye George, Perkins '46, who goes to Mid- dlebury and Roman Mocheruk, Perkins '45, who enters Oberlin.

The "Towers" is the title of a new publication of the Overbrook School for the Blind, which is the new name for the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind.

0

Mrs. Marion H. Grew, a member of the Harvard Class 1934, has been ap- pointed superintendent of the Wash- ington State School for the Blind.

Alp

Frank Johns has succeeded Gordon Hicks as superintendent of the Con- necticut Institution for the Blind. Mrs. Johns, who was a member of the Harvard Class 1937, has been ap- pointed the matron.

Rosa Maria Sala, Harvard Class 1941. has an article in the Cuban magazine. Carteles, describing a proposed plan for a new school for the blind in Cuba. A large picture of Perkins is printed and the proposed plan follows closely the Perkins pattern.

Donald Morgan, Harvard Class 1935, who has. been teaching American His- tory at the Mount Holyoke College, has received an appointment as as- sistant professor. He is a graduate of the Washington School for the Blind, holds degrees from the Univ. of Wash- ington and Harvard University.

CORA L. GLEASON

(Fondly known as "Mother B") By Edward E. Allen

MRS. GLEASON, who on June 17 died at the age of 85, told me that she, when only 16, had sought employment at Perkins Institution as escape from an unhappy home; that Director Anagnos had exclaimed: "Too young! too young!", yet retained her as helper in the Girls' sewing room, where she could be also inter- preter for Laura Bridgman. Evidently he perceived in her eager per- sonality a prize. The life suited her there; for, a few years after leaving it to be married, she returned, a widow, again seeking asylum and peace of mind. From then on, for a generation, she was the popular, beloved matron of Brooks family. Her girls called her "Mother B.", a name that fitted her and stuck to her.

Her house became the lively one. In the early days of few embossed stories to read, other free-time self-entertainment was en- couraged there — a comb orchestra, parlor games, dramatic plays, candy making, etc. The family even got out a quarterly paper, The P. I. E. (Perkins Institution Epitome), for which every member had to write something.

"Dear, darling Mother B. !", says one of her girls. "It would take a whole book to do her justice, a book to which each of us, and we came to be many, might contribute a page. She was our mentor and our looking-glass." Another writes: "Her broad understanding of how to be a helpful friend to young people was the secret of her success. She put us 'on our own' and taught us how to take respon- sibility. Indeed, her loving interest did not cease when we left the family circle, but continued throughout the years, and has been of inestimable value to many of us. Naturally we hold for her a deep sense of gratitude."

A student of social work, after living a season in Brooks, wrote this : "She is a wonderful mother to her house daughters — wise enough not to see all their mischief, absolutely just, possessing humor enough to enjoy their pranks, understanding enough to know that

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

n

THE 116TH YEAR

CLASSES MARKING the beginning of the 116th year start on Thursday, September 19. On the day before the pupils return

and on Tuesday night the opening meeting of the staff will be held. Perkins begins a little late this year as the closing of school was extended an extra week in June. The enrollment this year is up from last year with 265 pupils expected. Included among the boys and girls from the New England states will be pupils from Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Penn- sylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Cuba, England and Mexico. Deaf-Blind pupils come from Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Washington and Wiscon- sin. The Harvard Class has members from several states and Chile, Egypt. Norway and South Africa.

Boys still outnumber the girls so that only three of the four girls' cottages are needed at the upper school. Fisher Cottage is used exclusively by the pupils and staff of the Deaf-Blind Department. The boys' cottages are returning this year to the old plan of equal distribution with all ages of the Upper School repre- sented in each house. For four years the boys have been divided according to age. After careful consideration it has been felt that better cottage spirit will prevail under this plan whereby a boy remains in one house through his school life.

Miss Elsie H. Simonds who has completed twenty-five years as head of the girls school is relinquishing her duties as supervisor of girls but continues with a full program of teaching. The duties of supervisor will be taken over by Miss Alice M. Carpenter, formerly principal of the Ming Sum School for the Blind in Canton, China. Miss Carpenter was a member of the Harvard Class, 1935-36 and upon her release from internment in China came to Perkins and taught during the year 1944-1945. She went back to China last year and returned this summer to take up her new duties at Perkins.

PERKINS

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STAFF RETIREMENTS

TWO MEMBERS of the staff who have served Perkins for many years retired at the end of last year. Miss Mary B. Knowlton came to Perkins shortly after her graduation from Massachu- setts School of Art in 1893. Ever since she has taught in the boys' Vocational Department and in more recent years has been in charge of supplies. Many boys have received from her not only art- istic skills in the field of crafts but also an appreciation of values and a sense of thrift. Miss Lily B. Howard has for many years been the first person to greet visitors. As telephone operator

since 1924 she has always been cour- teous and anxious to help. She was adopted in England by the late Mrs. Elwyn H. Fowler, back in the days when Mrs. Fowler was working with Sir Francis Campbell in the Royal Nor- mal College in London.

Miss Sharlie M. Chandler who teaches in the girls' Vocational Department and has been associated with Perkins since 1911 is away this year on a leave of absence. Three war substitutes have withdrawn from the staff — Dr. Dera Kinsey, who served as school physician ; Dr. H. B. C. Riemer, opthalmologist and Dr. George E. Crowell, dentist for the Upper School. Perkins is grateful for their services.

THE BABY SCHOOL

THE LATE OPENING of Perkins made it possible to hold the summer school for blind babies and their mothers during the first two weeks of September. On Labor Day fourteen mothers and their babies ranging from one to five years of age assembled in Bradlee Cottage. A program designed for the guidance of the mothers and the training and observation of the children made Perkins an active and interesting place. While the children varied in age, ability and degree of vision they had in common the same

— 5

cause of visual impairment. They were all premature babies whose sight had been affected by the newly discovered disease called rectro- lental fibroplasia.

VISITOR FOR BABIES

THE PROJECT set up a year ago last June to study the problems pertaining to prematurely born children with visual defects in- cluded provision for a person to visit in the homes and help the mothers with their responsibilities and to carry over the start made in the first summer session. Miss Pauline Moor, who had organized and carried on the Child Center in Waterbury, Conn., undertook the work of home visiting in February. In the six months since then she has made regular visits to homes and has recently made a report based on her observations of thirty-nine children with whom she has worked.

VISUAL AID

WORK IN THE FIELD of Visual Aid will be resumed this year in the Lower School under the leadership of Mrs. Aline McDowell. A new room has been equipped with special lighting and approved materials have been secured. Mrs. McDowell took courses at Columbia University this summer in preparation for this work. The program will not be a sight-saving class but rather the exploring of new ways of assisting pupils with useful vision to use it more effectively.

HOUSING PROBLEMS

PERKINS TEACHERS have housing problems but only for the summer. Last Spring several were unable to find living quarters for the summer so Perkins took them in, turned Bennett Cottage into a cooperative housing project and all lived happily until school reopened and winter quarters were again available.

A

SMART SCHOOL

NEW PUPIL, not long ago made this fortuitous remark upon entering Perkins, "it is a smart school that can learn me anything."

FROM OUR MAIL

Experanza Tejada, Harvard Class 41, writes from the Philippines: "Classes have not resumed in the School for the Deaf and the Blind. The building is inadequate for occupancy and the chil- dren from remote places are not in a financial position to come to Manila. I wish to acknowledge receipt of many packages for the school and I extend to you my heart-felt appreciation for them. They are at present in storage and will be opened when school begins."

Dr. Alfred Mell, whose father pro- vided a great deal of material for the Perkins Museum and was head of the school for the blind in Austria, writes: "A great success of the last director of the Vienna institution was that the little castle of the prince of Liechten- stein was bought for the library and museum; but during the combats . . . the castle was destroyed and in it burnt the whole special reference library. . . . If you would send me the last reports of Perkins I shall give them with the older reports I possess to the institu- tion in amends of the lost copies."

NEW STAFF MEMBERS

Marion Hoskin, Mt. Holyoke College '45, Harvard Class '46, to teach Grade I.

Mary F. Davies, Wheelock College '45, formerly teacher in Cornwell, N. Y., to be teacher of Kindergarten.

Muriel Herrick, Mass. State College, '45, Harvard Class '46, to be assistant in Kindergarten.

Caroline Peters, State Teachers' Col- lege, Wisconsin, '22, and formerly teacher in Indiana, to teach Grade V.

Bertha Feinberg, Univ. of Cincin- nati '45, Harvard Class '46, to teach Grade V.

Anthony Ackerman, Bloomfield Col- lege '45, Harvard Class '46, to assist in Lower School special class.

Genevieve Caulfield, who although a graduate of Overbrook, has been closely associated with Perkins, has written Dr. Allen from the School for the Blind in Siam, which he established seven years ago. She writes, "The school is going pretty well, considering the state of the world . . . The materials with which Perkins so generously supplied us made it possible for us to carry on our work . . . Fortunately, no revolu- tion or war interfered with the work- ing of the school ... I am looking after the twins of my Japanese adopted daughter, Haruko, who died when they were born ... I have living with me a Siamese Princess, a lovely girl, who is deeply interested in doing things for others. She is the sister of the ex Queen, who is now in America. So you see, I have a very interesting, and, as usual, cosmopolitan family."

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Mrs. Perley C. White, who has

studies at the New England Con- servatory and Eastman Conservatory, to teach piano in the Lower School.

George Faulkner, who has a diploma from the Conservatoire Americaine, Fontainebleau, France, and is a licen- tiate of the Trinity College of Music, London, to teach voice.

Leo V. Gittzus, who holds a bach- elor's degree from State Teachers' Col- lege, Fitchburg, '40, and a master's degree in guidance from Boston Uni- versity, to teach in the Vocational De- partment and be master of Tompkins.

James P. Hilly, who studied at Tufts College and was graduated in 1945 from the Training School for Teachers of Mechanic Arts to teach in the Vo- cational Department.

CORA L. GLEASON

(Continued from Page 3)

children enjoy big pieces of pie and cake; close-mouthed with regard to troubles and faults ; comforting in times of distress."

Let me enlarge upon this point. She frequently did what any parent would do; that is, coach a backward pupil, say, in spelling; or set matters right whenever a daughter had been unjustly or too severely punished at school. It is known that she saved two head- strong girls from expulsion. If anyone knew how to be a tactful champion, Mother B knew. Her personality was charming. Wher- ever she went she made friends. Once, when an older girl was to undergo an eye operation, Mrs. Gleason visited the hospital in ad- vance, interested the surgeon and his nurses in such manner that the patient commanded unusual attention ; certainly she regained her eyesight. This girl, having no other home, insists that Mother B. was in every respect all that a real mother could have been; in fact, owes her graduation diploma and after school success to her.

While foster-mothering blind girls was Mrs. Gleason's greatest privilege (Principal Van Cleve actually borrowed her for a year as pattern for his housemothers at the Bronx) ; another joy was when, as home visitor during a few of her later years, she motored about northern New England, hunting up every past, present, and future pupil of ours, often explaining away parental misunderstandings, occasionally showing a distressed mother how to train her blind baby; commonly meeting the village doctor, minister, school teacher, social worker, and not only interesting these in Perkins but even enlisting for it new and understanding friends. Such, indeed, was her loyalty and gratitude to her institution that she regarded these extras (and others, like making saleable, year after year, any poorly finished articles sent in by the alumnae) a part of her mission to the cause of blind people, just as, in 1932, when the Boston Lions Club was starting a summer camp for blind girls, she hired a near-by room for a month or so, and shaped things at the camp as they should be.

After her retirement she remarked in my hearing that her half century of association with Perkins had been so precious to her that she could never adequately repay the obligation.

Perkins Chorus Broadcast . IN program op

CHRISTMAS 9.30 A.M. CHRISTMAS CAROLS

WBZ & WBZA

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVI.. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 1946

Prc-School Blind Children

WHILE Perkins does not normally consider pre-school blind children as within its area, our interest in this field has been aroused through the two summer schools which were held here for mothers and their blind babies. Within the last decade and more, not much attention has centered in blind children of preschool age. This was due to the conviction that the number of these children was diminishing to a point where organized work was no longer need- ed. A generation ago there were three nurseries for blind babies, but with the decreased number of blind babies, all but one have closed their doors. This has also been in accord with the modern tendency to substitute home care or foster homes for the institutional care of former times.

New interest in these children has been created by the conviction that all educational programs should begin earlier in the child's life, and particularly in our field by the prediction that there will be a large number of infants who are blind because of premature birth. These facts seem to have stimulated interest in these children, and there are signs of new programs for their benefit. Some schools for the blind are admitting pre-school children; State programs are in- cluding home visitors; summer schools for blind children and their mothers are being started, and more day nurseries are being opened. What is the best way to help pre-school blind children? This is a question that must be raised at this time, and consideration must be given to principles that should guide this new interest. These programs should be centered about the children and their needs, and not on what schools can gain by their presence nor the sympathies that can be stirred so easily by little blind children.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Alice M. Carpenter, supervisor of girls, has been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Pedagogy by Hast- ings College of which she is a graduate.

Robert Routh a blinded veteran from Memphis, Tennessee, has come to Per- kins to take up- the study of piano tuning.

Gene Autry, with three of his mu- sical cowboys, came to the school and entertained the pupils on November 11.

The Director, on November 19, spoke at Columbia University on "Modern Trends in the Education of Blind Chil- dren."

Stores for the sale of candy are being conducted on both the boys' and the girls' sides of the Upper School. The profits on the boys' side go to the Athletic Association, and on the girls' side, to the Senior Class.

Linguaphone Records, for teaching in four languages, were presented to the school by Max Sherover, President of the company, who visited Perkins on November 15.

Eliot Cottage was host for the foot- ball teams representing the four cot- tages at the annual Victory Banquet held on Saturday, November 23. The Director's Cup was awarded to this cottage for winning the fall series of football games.

Emmanuel Kephakis and Theodharo- poulos Pamoghiotis, two blind scholar- ship pupils, arrived from Greece No- vember 7. They are to study at Perkins for two years. The first is a graduate of the Academy of Music, Athens, and the second of the School for the Blind near Athens, where two of the teachers are graduates of the Harvard Class.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Edmund Berube, Perkins '46, is mak- ing good progress in his freshman year at Brown University.

Roman Mochernuk, post graduate 1945-1946, is now at the Conservatory of Music, Oberlin College.

Robert Fried, post graduate 1945- 1946, is taking courses in journalism at Boston University.

Stephen Garabedian, post graduate 1945-1946, is majoring in landscape gardening at Rhode Island State Col- lege.

Grace Swanson, Perkins '39, has been appointed home teacher for the New London district, in Connecticut.

Marion Knoll, former post graduate student and Ediphonist in the Direc- tor's Office, is now employed in the central office of the Michigan State College, where Ediphone transcribing is done for fifty-six different depart- ments.

"Tad" Chapman, deaf-blind graduate of Perkins in 1938, now living at his home in North Dakota, was a recent visitor to the school, where he and Leonard Dowdy held many animated conversations through vibration.

Edward W. Jenkins, Perkins '22, im- provised on the organ at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston, on Sunday evening, November 17. Start- ing with a fragment of plainsong, im- provisation was carried out in sixteenth century style.

Rev. John J. Connolly, Pounder and Director of the Catholic Guild, has been made rector of St. Bridget's Par- ish, Framingham. Rev. Thomas H. Carroll has become the Director.

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TRAINING FOR THE YOUNG BLIND CHILD By Pauline M. Moor

INTEREST IN HOW A CHILD GROWS and develops has been wide- spread since the child first became an object of scientific study only a comparatively few years ago. The psychiatrists say the growing child has certain fundamental needs which must be fulfilled if he is to take his place as a good member of society. Some of these needs are quite obvious — the necessity for food, air, warmth, shelter, activity and rest. Other needs are less tangible, for example, the feeling of independence, a sense of power over some object, person, or situation, and above all, the need for the feeling that he belongs, is wanted and appreciated. All of these when woven together give him security without which he has no real personality.

We are prone to forget that the needs of the handicapped child differ only in degree and are usually intensified. The young child seems to thrive best amid well-known surroundings — his own toys, familiar and loved persons to feed him and tuck him into bed. Since the feeling that one is loved and wanted is most poignant and the family unit is where the emotional ties are the strongest, the focus of the training for the young blind child should be on the child in his own home.

It is on this theory that we feel a program based on home visit- ing best meets the needs of the pre-school blind child. Some advo- cate that there should be a social worker functioning with the family in working out plans for the child's total adjust- ment so that a good attitude toward the child will be developed and an environment favorable to the child created. When the case worker feels the par- ents are ready for concrete suggestions and prac- tical help in the developmental and training areas, the services of the preschool teacher should be offered as a part of the total case work plan and not as an isolated teaching service.

Parents raise many questions with the teacher. A frequent one is how the child with a severe visual loss can be motivated to walk when he seems content to sit in his play pen. It is understandable that this and similar types of behavior should loom as

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

Mother and blind son at Perkins summer school

CORPORATION MEETING

THE PERKINS CORPORATION at its annual meeting on Mon- day, November 4th, elected two new officers. Dr. Reginald Fitz was chosen to succeed Robert H. Hallowell as President and Ralph Lowell succeeds G. Peabody Gardner as Vice-President. John P. Chase was re-elected Treasurer, and the Director was re-elected Sec- retary. One new Trustee, David Cheever, Jr., was added to the list of those chosen by the Corporation. Mr. Cheever has a son in the Lower School. Mr. Hallowell has been Pres- ident of the Corporation since 1930 and a Trustee since 1914. He will remain on the Board of Trustees. Mr. Gardner, who has been Vice- President since 1930 and a Trustee since 1922, is withdrawing from the Board. Both of these officers have given notable service to Perkins and their leadership will be greatly missed.

A STUDY OF VISUAL AIDS

THE NATIONAL RESEARCH Council through its Commit- tee on Sensory Devices has approved a study of the adaptation of visual aids for use by the par- tially sighted and has assigned the contract to Perkins Institution. Dr. Walter F. Dearborn, Director of the Psycho-Educational Clinic of Har- vard University, is the technical supervisor. He will be assisted by Dr. Philip Johnston, Research Con- sultant of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and who was active in the development and validation of the Massachusetts Vision Test. Miss Jane Smith, psychometrist and research assistant at Perkins, is to be examiner and assistant in experimental work. Other research assistants are to be engaged as the program develops. An Advisory Committee made up of ophthalmologists and leaders in the field of optics, physics, and psychology have been appointed to plan and supervise the study, which supplements the several projects

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FROM AROUND 1

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now under way for the development of magnifying devices. At- tempts to use some of these devices revealed the need of a study of the problems of adaptation, and the psychological factors involved in the use of remaining vision by partially-sighted persons. The purpose of this study is to set up principles to guide teachers and others in the choice of visual aids and techniques involved in their adequate use.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

NDER the able leadership of John F. Hartwell, who has directed the Perkins Depart- ment of Music since 1932, and a teacher since 1901, three concerts have been planned for this Christ- mas season. All three will be held in Dwight Hall at the school — Sun- day afternoon, December 15th, Tues- day evening, December 17th,- and Thursday evening, December 19th. Included in the program of ancient and traditional carols will be an antiphonal carol A Child's Song of Christmas, by John J. Duffy, Per- kins, '19. The choirs of the Upper and Lower Schools will be assisted by Kenneth Morris, '43, as baritone soloist. Sharing in the direction of the concerts with Mr. Hartwell will be Eleanor W. Thayer, leader of the children's choir and Marjorie Johns- ton Carr, organist.

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

THE ANNUAL APPEAL for the support of the work with chil- dren who are deaf and blind was mailed late in November. Once again an attractive desk calendar, this year picturing eight of the ten children in the Department, was sent out to nearly eleven thousand people. This appeal is mailed nationally as the Deaf-Blind Department accepts children from all over the country and this year has children from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Alabama, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi and Washington.

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SOME TO PERKINS

3hile, Norway Montana, Cuba,

waii, Alabama, India.

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MILESTONES

MARY EUNICE FRENCH, Perkins '89, 42 years home teacher in Rhode Island and ten times elected president of Perkins alumnae, received deserved high tribute at a reception given

in her honor in Providence, October 16 The Hon. William E.

Powers, Perkins '32, Boston University Law School '36, Judge of Probate and state representative, made the presentation of a Braille

watch to Miss French Mary G. Burtt, Perkins '09, Wellesley

'15, at Perkins last year, has returned to South China to reopen her school for blind children. Guide dog Ruby went with her. . . . Roger Walker, Perkins '19, whose avocation is playing the carillon and whose vocation is tuning pianos, was assigned to service the piano of Myra Hess, during her performance in Boston. This meant a back stage seat while she played, to be ready to correct any strings out of tune. .... John J. Duffy, Perkins '19, well-known musician of Hartford, Connecticut, has had two songs accepted for publication by a leading music publisher. These songs have been rendered by the Perkins

choir Robert Smithdas, Perkins '45, both deaf and blind, has

been admitted to St. John's College, Brooklyn. October issue of

Vogue carried an article by him Faye George, Perkins '46,

has been elected secretary of the freshman class at Middlebury College.

THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT

THREE BEAUTIFUL MEDALLIONS in stained glass telling the story of the Owl and the Pussycat, have been executed and presented to the Lower School by Mrs. Russell G. Ryan, of Squantum. They are to be inserted in one of the oriel windows of the kindergarten room at Anagnos Cottage. Lovely in design, and rich in color, they fulfil the function of ancient stained glass, the telling of a story. Featured in the first medallion is the owl and about him are the honey and the money. In the second are the owl and the pussycat on the pea green boat, while the third pictures the pussycat, the pig and the ring, as well as the mince and the quince.

PERKINS, PLEASE

PERKINS is the name of a new exchange of the telephone system in this area. Unfortunately the Institution has not been as- signed numbers on this exchange so that any attempt to dial Perkins on PERkins will only result in "Wrong Number."

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FROM OUR MAIL

Asta Meidell, volunteer worker in the Eastern Division of the Norwegian Foundation for the Blind, at Oslo, vis- ited Perkins while in this country.

Mrs. M. Hyde, J. P., alderman of Birmingham, England, visiting this country in the interests of child wel- fare, spent a day at Perkins in October.

Mrs. Is ma el Salas of Mexico came to Perkins to visit her son, a pupil in the Upper School. Her husband is treasurer of the State of San Luis Potosi.

Professor M. D. Orlov, University at Moscow, Russia, in this country on a special mission, visited Perkins because of the possibility of his blind son com- ing to this country.

Raymond Buhrle, Technician for St. Dunstan's Hostel for Blinded Soldiers in England, in this country to study devices to aid the blind, came to Perkins to discuss projects in this area. He spoke at Upper School Assembly on November 24th and visited the Howe Memorial Press.

Sven Gasta Sjoberg, Director of Music in the School for the Blind in Sweden, spent two weeks at Perkins observing our methods of instruction. While at Perkins he directed the chorus on several occasions, talked to the Har- vard Class and spoke at the Upper School Assembly.

V. H. Vaughan, Vice-Principal of the School for the Blind at Worcester, South Africa, has come to Perkins to study our methods of instruction and will remain for the rest of the year. He is here as the representative of the school at Worcester and with the en- dorsement of the Education Depart- ment of the Union of South Africa.

PUBLICATIONS

My Eyes Have A Cold Nose, by Hector Chevigny, Yale University Press.

This book in a forthright and vigor- ous way tells the story of its authors encounter with the world when he lost his sight and his reactions to those to whom he turned for help as a blind man. There is considerable value in reporting the attitude of the seeing world toward a blinded person and little harm in prodding some of the agencies maintained to help the blind, but perhaps the greatest contribution of the book may be in focussing atten- tion on that submerged group within the blind — those who are quietly and effectively making their way without benefit of agencies to rehabilitate or even dogs to guide them. While Mr. Chevigny has few kind words for work- ers for the blind (except those at the Seeing Eye), nor a very high opinion of our educational structure, he does make several favorable references to "the famous blind Sir Francis Camp- bell who virtually revolutionized the education of blind children in England and profoundly influenced it in Amer- ica." May we point out the origin of his influence? Young Mr. Campbell with six other teachers of Perkins went to England in 1872 to begin the work which culminated in the Royal Normal College. Perhaps if Mr. Chevigny had come to Perkins first he might have had a different story to tell but it would undoubtedly not be so striking.

Warren Bledsoe, Harvard Class, 1938- 1939, Consultant on blinded service men Veterans' Administration, is the new editor of The Outlook for the Blind, published by the American Foundation for the Blind.

Maynard A. Merrill, Perkins '38, is the Founder and Director of the Braille Poets Guild. He is the author of a volume of verse entitled "America Mine, and Other Selections."

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TRAINING FOR THE YOUNG BLIND CHILD

(Continued from Page 3)

"problems" particularly when other children the same age seem more advanced. At the same time it is equally understandable that a great deal of learning on the part of blind children may proceed at a slower rate when we consider that much of the child's early adaptation is based on visual imitation. Perhaps the most important contribution which the preschool teacher can make is by way of some interpretation to the parents of the child's behavior. The teacher is able to give this help from her intimate knowledge of a large number of children similarly handicapped whom she sees in the clinic and home.

There are many methods of parent education and child guid- ance; the service of the preschool teacher is but one. A summer institute for mothers and their visual handicapped children who are under the supervision of trained nursery school teachers where more intensive work can be done, is another. Whatever the method, the goal is the same: preparing the visually handicapped child for a fine adjustment to a world which is geared to the sighted.

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With this end in view, participation should be encouraged in all types of play activity and association with seeing children. When possible, arrangements should be made for the child to attend a nursery school or kindergarten in his own neighborhood and the preschool teacher can be helpful in preparing both the child and his teacher for this experience. When this is not possible the pre- school teacher should outline for the parents forms of activities, games and toys and simple training processes that can be followed between visits. As a very minimum the visually handicapped child should be given every opportunity to share in the activities and responsibilities of the family circle. This may at times tax the patience of parents as they work with the blind child but it should not deter them from expecting him in time to reach the standards of seeing children. An observation already apparent in this field is that the child with a visual handicap responds to the same prin- ciples and techniques of guidance which have been shown to be beneficial to other children of preschool age. Therefore, the approach is in terms of the needs of any preschool child with only the deviations necessary in terms of the severity of the child's handicap.

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THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVI.. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1947

Books For The Blind

BOOKS ARE BRIDGES. This was the slogan of a recent Book Week. They open the way to all parts of the world and even to parts beyond. They lead into men's minds and reveal their thoughts and aspirations. Bridges of this type are needed today and the blind should have the same opportunities to explore the lands and areas which bridges make available to the seeing.

Blind people need these bridges perhaps even more than seeing people. Many of them, especially the older people, have considerable leisure time. Others lose suddenly the ability to read the former texts. The young blind need to have their vistas broadened and horizons extended as only books can do. Some are closely confined, and reading provides the only way to get beyond themselves. The least the seeing can do for the non-seeing is to provide the bridges that lead to far lands, both in the world of reality and of fantasy.

Books are available for the blind, probably more generously in this country than anywhere else in the world. They come in three forms: books embossed in the symbols of the raised dots known as Braille for facile finger readers ; books in a form of line-type known as Moon for those, especially older people, whose fingers are not so supple ; and on phonograph records known as Talking Books. In the former both classical and modern books are available.

The Library of Congress, acting under special Act of Congress, is the center from which these books come. They reach sightless peo- ple, however, through regional libraries scattered throughout the country. Perkins serves the New England area and is happy to have the privilege of providing for the blind opportunity to use the bridges which widen horizons and open ways leading to entertainment, enlightenment and comfort.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School foe thb Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

"Quiz of Two Cities," a program spon- sored by Station WNAC in Boston, and WEAN in Providence featured two groups on Friday night, January 4, one representing present pupils at Perkins, and the other former pupils living in Providence. The present pupils with a score of 175 won over the former pu- pils whose score was 115.

Perkins Specialty Company is the

name of a business company organized by the boys to provide opportunities for earning spending money. The most re- cent project is a contract for the manu- facture of two hundred small wooden pet boxes for the Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals.

Three victories, one tie and three de- feats is the present record of the boys wrestling team. The team is to take part in the wrestling tournament of the Eastern Athletic Association of Schools for the Blind to be held in Baltimore on March 14 and 15.

The Girls' Glee Club sang at the great Birthday Ball held at the Boston Gar- den, Friday, January 11, under the aus- pices of the Infantile Paralysis Com- mission.

The Boys' Trio made up of Francis Devino, Francis Cordeau and Robert McNally, broadcast over Station WEEI on February 15 and 22.

A Pops Concert similar to the one held so successfully last year will be offered in Dwight Hall on the evenings of April 15, 17 and 18.

With regret we report the death on January 23 of Miss Eleanor F. Parker, for many years a member of the Ladies' Visiting Committee of the Kindergar- ten and of John Montgomery on Febru- ary 19, public accountant, who audited Perkins' accounts.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Perkins Institution received a citation from the Tub Thumpers Inc., an organ- ization made up of publicity people, at a dinner held at the Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, February 21.

The Perkins Alumnae Association is

to hold a benefit card party in Dwight Hall on May 2 at eight fifteen. Re- freshments will be served, and the pro- ceeds will go to the Alumnae Scholar- ship Fund.

Lenna D. Swinerton, Perkins '83, teacher and physio-therapist at Perkins from 1907 until her retirement in 1933, left $500 to Perkins, which has recently been paid to the Treasurer by the exec- utrix under her will.

The National Braille Press of which Francis B. Ierardi, Perkins '08, is the managing Director has acquired a new building in Boston and is to transfer its publishing activities from the Per- kins Workshop in South Boston.

An institute on eye care will be held on Thursday and Friday, March 27 and 28 in the Outpatient Amphitheatre of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, under the direction of the Divi- sion of the Blind of which Arthur F. Sullivan, Perkins '14 is director, and the Social Service Department of the Mas- sachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

A national conference on the blind pre-school child was held at the Russell Sage Foundation Building in New York on March 13, 14 and 15, under the aus- pices of the American Foundation for the Blind. Perkins speakers were Miss Frances E. Marshall, on Group Work With Parents and Dr. Samuel P. Hayes on Measuring Mental Development. The Director presided over the panel discussion on Facilities for the Educa- tion of Blind Pre-school Children.

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THE HOWE MEMORIAL PRESS

EARLY EFFORTS FOR BOOKS

By Edward J. Waterhouse

FOR BLIND PEOPLE, 1832 is a year of great import, for it was then that the education of the blind took a decisive turn. Six

children were taken into the home of Samuel Gridley Howe for instruction. This, of itself, was not particularly significant. Fifty years previously Valentin Hauy had taught French boys, and a num- ber of schools for the blind existed in Europe. Howe had visited the European institutions, and came back determined to strike out along a new path. He found the French offered only intellectual education to a selected group, while the English trained only for a craft. He wrote at the time : "We should depend entirely neither upon physical nor intellectual education, nor should we lay down any general rule to be observed towards all pupils. One ought to be even more observ- ant of the bent of a blind boy's mind, and the direction of his talent, than he is in the education of seeing children."

Howe's plan was to offer a general education to all his pupils, and only as a last resort were handicrafts to be chosen as a means to a livelihood, for he felt that in the use of his hands a blind boy gen- erally faced unequal competition with his seeing fellows. He had abundant faith that the blind as a whole could learn to read and write. With over a century of proof behind us, it is difficult for us to realize that this was ever a matter of doubt, but in 1832 the only evidence came from a few Europeans who might prove to be exceptional. If he had failed to teach his first pupils to read, Perkins would probably have developed into a training school for basket makers.

From Europe Dr. Howe brought copies of the four books which comprised the entire library for the blind in the English language. He immediately set out to make more and better books. At his own expense he experimented with various kinds of type. He gave some thought to a sign language, but decided in favor of type which was similar to the Roman letters of the seeing. From a press constructed under his direction came first "The Acts of the Apostles," followed by various textbooks. These were more compact than their European counterparts, occupying only half as much space. They cost only one fourth as much, and this proved of great importance. Dr. Howe recognized that any books he manufactured must be made available to all who could use them. Quite apart from the wasteful expense of

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

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THE PROPOSED NEW LIBRARY

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NEW LIBRARY NEEDED

LIBRARY SHELVES constantly overflowing and new books continually inflowing, make it necessary to consider means of adequately housing the Perkins Library. Since space was pro- vided in the new buildings in Watertown thirty years ago, the library has increased from 13,461 embossed books to 51,532 to which must be added 5,790 Talking Books introduced first in 1934. Expansion within the present plant has reached the limit. The Trustees are cognizant of this situation. Plans have been prepared for a new library, and consideration is being given to its erection and means of financing it.

The Perkins Library not only serves the school, in which the circulation last year was 3,626 textbooks and 5,386 volumes for vol- untary reading, but is also the center for the distribution of books for the adult blind, which sent out last year 7,513 embossed books and 17,827 Talking Books. 1,884 Talking Books were used within the school. Circulation of all types of books, including magazines, for 1946 totalled 45,024 volumes. 1,589 readers outside the school were served.

The new library would not only provide adequate space for the housing of books, but more efficient facilities for the service of distri- bution, particularly outside the school. In addition, space would be provided for more adequate teachers' library service, which is greatly needed to enable our teachers to keep abreast of changing trends in educational programs. Facilities are also included for the teacher training program known as the Harvard Class.

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BOOKS FOR THE ADULT BLIND

BOOKS FOR THE ADULT BLIND are received constantly from the Library of Congress, which was designated as the federal agency to administer the Pratt-Smoot Bill passed in 1931, and appropriating $125,000 a year for embossed books for distribution to the adult blind. This legislation has been extended to include Talking Book records, and more recently to include Talking Book machines. On August 8, 1946 the appropriation was increased to $1,125,000 annually. With this increased appropriation it is apparent that there will be more books, and Perkins as one of the distributing libraries must be prepared to do its part.

THE ORIGINAL LIBRARY

THE PRESENT PROVISION for books for the blind is a far cry from the original Perkins Library. This consisted of four books which Samuel Gridley Howe, the first Director, brought back with him from Europe in 1831. They are still in the school's possession, although no longer in use. From Edinburgh he brought the Gospel of St. John, and a small book of "Scripture Statements with Respect to Religious Doctrines and Moral Duty." From York, England, he brought a book in raised diagrams to illustrate a con- temporary school edition of Euclid. The largest of the four came from Paris entitled "Extracts from the Best English Authors." This book is believed to be the first one embossed for the use of the blind in the English language and is dated 1818. It was intended to help French students in their study of English. Brutus' speech from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" is probably the only extract in it which would be read today.

EVIDENCE OP OVERFLOWING

BLINDIANA LIBRARY

FEW PEOPLE REALIZE that within the Perkins library is the greatest collection of material on the blind in the world. The only comparable collection in Vienna was largely destroyed during the war. The Perkins collection known as the "Blindiana Library" was begun by Michael Anagnos, second director with continued expansion by his successors. It ranges from the first book ever printed for the blind in English, which is invaluable, to a comprehensive news clip- pings coverage of the blinded in World War II. There are books in 23 languages and practically every book ever published about or by the blind. Research workers must come to Perkins to cover the field adequately and the new library has facilities planned for a wider use of these treasures.

THE HOWE PRESS

THE HOWE PRESS, founded by Michael Anagnos in 1881, shares in the Library of Congress program, as it is one of the four printing presses in the country publishing books for the blind. The Press, which also produces appliances such as slates, writers, and games for the blind, is now in a state of transition as the making of appliances is being moved from the South Boston shop to the new shop set up in Watertown at the power house. New equipment will enable the Press to produce more material than in the past. An entirely new model of a Braille Writer has been developed, and it is hoped to start production by next fall. A special activity of the Press has been the making of embossed maps, and out of the production of several hundred maps has grown the project "Map of the Month," which distributes throughout the country maps featuring news of the day.

THE MAGNIFYING PROJECT

THE MAGNIFYING DEVICES developed by the Dartmouth Eye Institute in cooperation with the University of Rochester, and the projection devices developed at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia have been received at Perkins. A project to study the effectiveness of these devices, is under way at Perkins under a contract with the National Research Council through its Committee on Sensory Aids. The aim of the Perkins project is to see if partially seeing people can, through these devices, be enabled to read books or other reading matter in ordinary type. With the new devices in hand, definite progress along these lines should be made from now on.

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FROM OUR MAIL

"As I am alone all day, except for my singing canary, your records are a source of inspiration to me." L. M. L.

"I want to express my deep apprecia- tion for the pleasure and profit I have received from the use of the machine and records. It is a wonderful boon to the blind." E. S. T.

"I am going to attend school in Omaha, Nebraska ... I will therefore no longer be using your library, but I do want to thank you for the wonderful service you have rendered." C. W. G.

"We want to thank you for the won- derful services rendered through the Talking Books. Mother was blind three years and confined to her chair and it helped wile away many an hour." C. W.

"What these books have meant to me, only the blind can understand. The records came as an uplift and refresh- ment to a mind found waiting a difficult burden." C. S. W.

"I am returning the final volume in the Moon Type. Miss H. is nearly eigh- ty-seven, and is unable to use any more of her precious books . . . We can never be grateful enough that she could en- joy the raised type books for almost forty years." A. G. B.

"In my medical work in Boston I have always admired the work of the Perkins Institution . . . Recently one particular case came to my attention, where an elderly man was given many hours of happiness through the records that he received from Perkins Institu- tion." M. M., M. D.

PUBLICATIONS

"I wish I could properly thank all who have had anything to do with it for the great enjoyment I am having being able again to 'read' and to have such fine reading." E. P. G.

The Social Work Yearbook, published by the Russell Sage Foundation, ap- peared early in March. The article on The Blind was written by the Director. This summarized the activities for the blind in 1947 as well as giving facts necessary for historical background.

Perkins Institution figured promi- nently in the January issue of The Out- look for the Blind. Armand Michaud, Perkins graduate and teacher, had an article on Jessica L. Langworthy, for- mer principal of the boys' school, and tutorial assistant of the Harvard Course for many years.

Edward W. Jenkins also a Perkins graduate and teacher, had an article entitled "A Wanderer Through the Glory," telling of the life of Edwin L. Gardiner, Head of the Music Depart- ment of Perkins from 1890 to 1933, while Edward J. Waterhouse, teacher of mathematics had an article on "Braille and Mathematics."

Social Security Board recommenda- tions for amendments to the Social Se- curity Act in 1947 include: "We recom- mend that age requirements be deleted in Aid to the Blind ... In Aid to the Blind many states have a minimum age requirement ranging from sixteen to twenty-one years. The effects of these requirements may be to deprive needy blind children of assistance in their own homes, since these children are not necessarily eligible for Aid to Dependent Children and general a'ssistance may not be available. One- reason for the age requirement may be the thought that blind children would be taken care of in schools for the blind. It may not be necessary to place the children in such schools when, for example, appro- priate educational facilities are avail- able locally." Social Security Bulletin, December 1946, page 13.

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THE HOWE MEMORIAL PRESS

(Continued from Page 3)

a small edition, he desired to see blind persons everywhere given the benefits he was able to bestow on his own few pupils. Consequently, he could not use the institution funds in his printing department. Money raised for the boys and girls of New England ought not to be spent on the blind at large. He made it his personal responsibility to raise a special fund, and in this he was only partly successful. On several occasions during his long term as director the press stood idle for months at a time for lack of money. Had he not succeeded in reducing the cost of embossed books by three fourths at the outset, the whole matter of a library for the blind might well have been indefi- nitely delayed.

Before his death in 1876, Dr. Howe had issued about thirty books. He had also manufactured embossed globes and maps, and published embossed music in the braille notation. This seemingly small con- tribution was about equal to the combined efforts of all other presses issuing material in English. The man who had seen so clearly the immediate importance of establishing a printing department in his school, who designed the type to be used and the press to use it, who selected the titles for publication, editing some and writing others himself, who spared himself no effort in raising funds for its support, and who insisted on making the products of his labor available to all who could use them, surely deserved to have his name commemorated in the Howe Memorial Press.

As soon as Mr. Anagnos became Director of Perkins, he began a campaign to endow the Press, and by the fiftieth anniversary of the school's opening, more than one hundred thousand dollars were in the treasury. Since that time this fund has been more than doubled in amount, though not in value. With the passing of time new prod- ucts have been needed. As braille became more widely used, the demand grew for braille slates, writers and shorthand writers. Arithmetic slates, geometrical instruments, thermometers and barometers with raised markings, and a variety of games for the blind have all been maufactured, and are in demand. As in Howe's time, these products find wide distribution, not only in our own coun- try but in other lands. As in his time also, maps are manufactured, including the Braille Map-of-the-Month which is distributed free to all schools and braille readers who can use it.

— 8 —

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVI.. NO. 4 JUNE 15. 19 4 7

The Forgotten Blind

WITH so much attention being focused on special provision and financial assistance for the blind, is there not danger that the general public will think that all people without sight are dependent for their welfare and their happiness on the efforts of others ? Is it not possible that the many visually handicapped people who are quietly but effectively carrying on by their own abilities and resources and asking no favors are becoming the forgotten blind? Should not more emphasis be placed on this group because we like to feel that they represent the solid bulk of our blind citizens ?

These questions have cropped up in our minds since attending a meeting of deaf people. There we heard of a club of deaf-mutes who would not ask for exemption from taxation for their clubhouse because they would have to declare themselves a charitable organiza- tion and of a state which offered to remit poll taxes to deaf people, but which was refused as the deafened citizens wanted to meet their full obligations of citizenship. These incidents are, in our mind, evidences of determination to measure up to full responsibility despite a handicap and are in accord with principles of American democracy. In a democracy all people are not equal despite the Declaration of Independence. Those who are poorly endowed must therefore work the harder to achieve. The will to achieve is perhaps the essential factor. Indubitably there are many who need guidance and help and in our field this takes many forms. We would not decry these efforts nor deny many of the blind all the assistance that they need and should have. But do not let us put so much stress on this aspect of our program that those who are able to carry on independently are forgotten. We ought more widely to proclaim our women and men of achievement.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for thi Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrjell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Jimmy Osborn, the little English boy sent to this country for an education by the Ninth Air Force and now in the Lower School, has been made happy this spring by the arrival in this coun- try of his father, mother and sister.

The Red Sox baseball team has now very ardent rooters in the Upper School. Thirty-five girls attended the game with the St. Louis Cardinals on Fri- day, May 16, and thirty-five boys went to the game with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, May 20. While at the game the girls met John Kiernan of INFORMATION PLEASE.

James Byrnes of the Upper School received second prize in a nation-wide short story contest conducted by the New York Association for the Blind.

Twenty -one boys of the Upper School spent Sunday afternoon, May 26, at the yards of the Boston & Maine Rail- way where they inspected Diesel en- gines and other railroad equipment. Following that they gave a program at the YMCA and had supper as the guests of Mr. George Ellis, an official of the railroad company.

The Lower School Girl Scout Troop presented a Swedish Dance at the In- ternational Folk Festival held in the Watertown High School on Wednesday evening, May 28.

Perkins was represented by seven boys and coach in the track meet held by the Athletic Association of Schools for the Blind held at Overbrook, Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon, May 17. Score not mentioned.

The Greek boys now in residence at Perkins presented a musical program in Dwight Hall on Tuesday evening, June 3.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Donald Southern, who left Perkins in 1943 to accept war work in industry, has now set up a machine shop in Watertown, where he is doing business.

Fay Bresnahan, Perkins 1940, grad- uate of Regis College and Boston Col- lege School of Social Work, is now Social Worker at the Beth Israel Hos- pital in Boston.

John J. di Francesco, Perkins 1940, now studying in New York for an operatic career, was married on May 11 to Muriel Marion Cook, also a stu- dent of voice.

R. M. Haider, Harvard Class, 1931-2, formerly head of the Dadar School for the Blind in Bombay, India, is now Assistant Educational Advisor to the Department of Education, Government of India, with offices in New Delhi.

Horatio W. Hendrick, Perkins 1929, and in business in Plainfield, New Hampshire, was married on April 21 to Miss Alice Lorraine Palmer, a school teacher. At one time Mr. Hen- drick was an instructor at the Barnes School, Henniker, New Hampshire.

John Morrison, Perkins 1940, a grad- uate of Notre Dame University, and now doing graduate work there, was selected by the National Research Council to make a study on the "Value of the Magnetic Wire Sound Recorder to Blind College Students".

Dr. Edward E. Allen, Director Em- eritus and Mrs. Allen went to England in March to visit their daughter and grandchildren. He writes that he found England pretty cold, but "warm weather does creep upon us over here . . . the green leaves are greener than in U.S.A. — altogether a very lovely country; but hardly equal to our golden America!"

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MEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

Id The Halls of Legislation

PERKINS has four former students serving in the halls of legis- lation, one in Rhode Island and three in Massachusetts. There

may be others in other parts of the country of whom we have no record. There have undoubtedly been others in former times. These four men of whom we write are young men, now in the prime of life, serving their respective states in a very capable and outstanding manner. Each one has made a place for himself in the legislature in which he serves, and all have served more than one term. From a political point of view this is perhaps the best evidence of achieve- ment, re-election term after term. In order to get direct information about the three men serving in the House of Representatives in Massa- chusetts, we visited the State House and talked with them. We were not only impressed with the places they occupy, but in the way in which members of the* House greeted them, revealing friendship and respect.

We were not able to go to Rhode Island to see the Honorable William E. Powers in his hall of legislation, but we know the place that he holds in that state. Perhaps the best record of his popularity is that in the last primaries in his state, he was a candidate for nomination as lieutenant governor. He did not win in this election, however, but time will tell that story. Powers was elected to the Rhode Island legislature in 1938, and a recent newspaper account re- ported that "he is a deputy floor leader, and one of the finest speakers and ablest members of the legislature. He is the Chairman of the hard-working Insurance Committee". Powers entered Perkins in January 1929 after an accident had destroyed his sight, and remained until graduation in June 1932. As an exception to the general rule, he was permitted to enter the Boston University School of Law with- out going through college. He was graduated third from the top of his class three years later. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1935, and in 1936 was appointed Judge of Probate for Cum- berland County in Rhode Island.

On the visit to the State House we first met the Hon. Richard Hull, who came to Perkins in September 1924 at the age of seven, and remained until June 1933, when he transferred to the High school in Rockport his home community. After graduation there he went

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL

FEATURING BLIND MEN who have achieved success, the Massa- chusetts Council of Organizations of the Blind held its Annual Meeting- at Perkins Institution on Monday, May 26. The speakers were the Hon. James E. Hannon, Perkins graduate and member of the Massachusetts legislature, Dr. Donald G. Morgan, associate pro- fessor of Political Science at Mount Holyoke College, and William McGreal, former sales manager for an American corporation in Europe. Officers for the ensuing year elected were: President: Gabriel Farrell; First Vice President: Fred B. Walsh; Second Vice President: Mrs. Edward Dangel and Secretary-Treasurer: Mrs. Sum- ner Jacobs.

The meeting began at three o'clock in the afternoon, when an interesting collection of devices under development for the blind by the American Foundation for the Blind was exhibited. At four-thirty the Perkins Chorus gave a concert, and later a picnic supper was en- joyed by those present in the court-yard of the Howe Building. The business meeting was held at seven in the evening.

PERKINS '47

THE CLASS GRADUATING this year is one of more than usual interest, not only because of the one boy among seven girls, but because so many of these pupils have had their entire education at Perkins. The sole boy in the class entered Perkins in 1933 at the age of eight after attending one year of public school. Four of the girls began their schooling in the kindergarten or the first grade, and have continued together ever since, forming a very close friendship. The three other girls entered Perkins in 1941, 1942 and 1943 respect- ively. Since the spring vacation the girls of the Senior Class have been living together in Bennett Cottage, which has helped to cement the friendships which have been developing through the years. As a climax for the year six of the girls went to New York over the

week end of May 30. They visited the Statue of Liberty, Radio City and other points of interest. They were accompanied by Miss Car- penter and Miss Pinkham.

THESE SENIORS WENT TO NEW YORK Marilyn Roode, Elana Landi, Lorraine Gaudreau, Mary Drake, Priscilla Blakely, Marjorie Drinkwine

THESE SENIORS STAYED HOME

Francis Cordeau

SOCIAL GRACE

THE SENIOR DANCES were held this year on the evening- of May 10 for the girls, and on the evening of May 24 for the boys. These were very happy occasions, with good music, plenty of partners and un- usually attractive decorations in Dwight Hall. Several other successful dances have been held this year by both the boys and the girls. At Perkins, the boys and the girls in the school do not have dances together. These social oc- casions are used as opportunities to invite see- ing boys to the girls dances and seeing girls to the boys' dances. This is part of the socialization plan to give Perkins pupils opportunity to meet seeing people of their own ages and to develop poise and social grace.

TRAVEL TECHNIQUES

OPPORTUNITY is being provided this spring for Perkins boys to try out some of the techniques developed at the Army Training Center for Blinded Soldiers at Valley Forge General Hospital. At that center considerable stress was put upon the right use of canes by the blind, and a special technique was worked out which proved helpful to many persons. Former Sergeant Gus Frye, a resident of Watertown and on duty during the war at Valley Forge, comes to the school afternoons and Saturdays to give training to the boys in the use of the cane. While Perkins has generally felt that its pupils could get about effectively with canes, it nevertheless is ready to give to its pupils opportunity to try out this special procedure.

UNDER SUSPICION

DONALD G. MORGAN, who spoke at the May meeting of the Massachusetts Council, reports that while traveling in London prior to the war he was investigated by Scotland Yard because of mysterious maps which he left in a taxi. They were ones which he had made for himself for guidance, marking out the places he wished to visit, and they were in Braille.

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Margaret Lally

GRADUATION, JUNE 12, 1947

GRADUATION EXERCISES were held in Dwight Hall on Thursday, June 12, at two o'clock. Diplomas were presented to the eight members of the Senior Class and certificates were given to four who had completed requirements in their respective departments. The diplomas this year bore for the first time the sig- nature of the new President, Dr. Reginald Fitz. An address of personal interest and value was given by the Rev'd John J. Connolly, now Pastor of St. Bridget's Church, Framingham, but for many years the Director of the Catholic Guild for the Blind. Father Connolly is a member of the Perkins Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor. The invocation was given by the Rev'd Walter Sillen, Minister of the Baptist Church in Watertown.

FOUR GIRLS of the Senior Class are planning to attend college: Priscilla Blakeley, Jackson College ; Lorraine Gaudreau, Syracuse University, School of Journalism; Marilyn Roode, Music Courses at Rivier College, Nashua, N. H. and Margaret Lally, New England Conservatory of Music. Mary Drake is to return to Perkins for post graduate work, while Marjorie Drinkwine and Elena Landi received certificates as proficient Ediphone operators and will seek employ- ment in that field. Francis Cordeau is to open a vending stand.

CERTIFICATES were awarded to nine members of the Harvard Class at assembly on Monday morning, May 26. Members of the class this year come from a wide geographical span. In this country, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania and Mississippi. Abroad, India, Norway, Chili, Cuba and South Africa.

NORMA FARRAR, Perkins '46 and post graduate student this year is going to the University of New Hampshire. Rose Miscio, a post graduate student from Pennsylvania, received a certificate from the Pianoforte Normal Department. Certificates as pianotuners were awarded to Joseph Piela and Bruno Kiwior.

THE SENIOR CLASS color is red and gold and the flower is the red rose. The Motto is "All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own."

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PERKINS VISITORS

Sven - Vosta Sjoberg, Director of Music in the School for the Blind in Sweden, who visited Perkins in the fall, has submitted an excellent report of his visit to this country with his re- actions to our program for the blind.

Miss Gudrun Pollan, teacher from the Daln Public School for the Blind in Norway, and who has been in the Harvard Class this year is returning to her own country by way of Seattle.

Victor Hugo Vaughan, Vice-Principal of the School for the Blind, Worcester, South Africa and in residence at Per- kins this year, is making an extensive visit to other centers of blind work throughout the country.

Dr. George B. Fryer, Head of the Institution of the Chinese Blind in Shanghai, and his daughter, spent a week at Perkins in May, to renew old friendships and to discuss mutual problems.

Dr. Wallace Kiang, Executive Secre- tary of the Chinese Welfare Council for the Blind in Shanghai, was also a visitor in May. He is studying this year at Columbia University.

Maria de Madraiaga and Maria Tereze, the former in charge of nurses specializing in the care of the blind in Spain, visited Perkins for a few days on their way to an International Con- gress of Nurses in Atlantic City.

Dorina M. de Goudea, Regina Diraga da Silva and Neith Moura, teachers in the School for the Blind in Brazil and studying at Columbia University, visited Perkins for a few days in May.

PUBLICATIONS

Edward J. Waterhouse's article on the Howe Memorial Press in the last issue of the LANTERN is to be re- printed in one of the publications of the New York Lighthouse at their re- quest.

The Child, published by the Chil- dren's Bureau of the Federal Govern- ment, gives in the May issue, an ex- cellent account of the National Con- ference on the Pre-school Child held in New York— March 13 - 15, 1947.

Nelson Coon, Superintendent of Buildings has had articles recently in four of the country's leading horti- cultural magazines, THE HOME GAR- DEN; GARDENER'S CHRONICLE; HORTICULTURE and RURAL NEW YORKER.

The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind has issued a valuable and at- tractive booklet called "A Blind Child in the Home" with the subtitle — ','Sug- gestions to Parents" which states its purpose.

Public Affairs Pamphlet No. 124, re- cently published, is "What do you know about Blindness?" by Herbert Yahraes. It is distributed by the New York As- sociation for the Blind. This pamphlet of thirty-two pages has been published to inform the public about the blind and is very comprehensive in its cover- age. It defines blindness, states the number of blind persons, and refers to certain characteristics of blind peo- ple. Common causes of blindness are reported, suggestions are made regard- ing the needs of the blind child, and considerable informatioon is given about the facilities and opportunities available to the blind. Altogether it is a very helpful handbook for those who want to know more about the blind in order to understand and to help them intelligently.

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MEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

(Continued from Page 3)

to Clark University, from which he received a degree in 1941, after specializing in government and history. He continued his education by attending seminar courses at Littauer Center of Public Adminis- tration at Harvard University. Hull was elected to the Massachusetts legislature in 1942 after being defeated in 1941. He represents the 17th District including the cities of Gloucester and Rockport. At the State House he serves on the Committee on Education, the Committee on Power and Light, and has been Chairman of the Recess Commis- sion on Education. Coming from the Gloucester district, one of his chief interests is the fishing industry, and he watches closely all legislation concerning fishing.

The Hon. George Green represents the district including Rox- bury which is a part of Boston. He was elected in 1942 and is now serving his third term. He is serving on the Legal Affairs Committee, being the ranking member, and the Committee on State Administra- tion. Green's special concern, coming as he does from a city district, is social legislation. He came to Perkins in 1913 after losing his sight through an accident at the age of thirteen. He left in 1918, and continued his secondary education at the Huntington School in Boston. After graduation therefrom he attended the Northeastern School of Law from which he was graduated cum laude. He practiced law in Boston until his election to the Legislature.

The Hon. James E. Hannon, the third member of the Massachu- setts legislature from Perkins, came from the floor to greet us, guided by his Seeing Eye dog Susie. He represents the 4th Berkshire Dis- trict which includes ten towns, centering in Lee where he makes his home. Hannon is a member of the Committee on Departmental Rules and Regulations and the Committee on Conservation. His special interest is conservation, because, he stated, sixty percent of the state's forests are in Berkshire County. Hannon entered Perkins in 1918 and continued through graduation in 1929. After that he went to Boston University from which he was graduated, and where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1933. He completed his law school work in 1935, and was the ranking scholar in his class. He was one of the students elected to the editorial staff of THE SCHOOL OF REVIEW.

The ftaiitern

THE PERKINS

VOLUME XVII., NO. 1

INSTITUTION

SEPTEMBER 15. 1947

Are Residential Schools Doomed?

TO HEAR some of our experts talk, one would think that the residential school for the blind has outlived its usefulness and stands doomed. And to our confusion they quote our first Director to support their claims. It is true that Dr. Howe back in 1866 warned against the dangers of great institutions, and stated that the "crucial test of excellence" would be "giving instruction, aid and assistance to the greatest number of blind persons, while keeping the least number within its walls, and away from their proper homes." Though educators of the blind generally are aware of the dangers of institutionalization and of segregation and seek within their means to avoid them, we doubt, however, if the solution is to be found in transferring our task to public day schools. Even if arrangements could be made (and they cannot) to include all blind children in public school systems, there are inherent dangers. Living on the fringe of activities of seeing children, as has been observed in day classes, may develop in blind children a frustration more harmful than segregation. There is also the question as to whether public schools represent all the parents want for their children. There is in the east especially, a long tradition of sending children "away to school" because many feel that adolescent boys and girls mature better in separate schools where there can be greater concentration on the forces that prepare for life.

However that may be, schools for the blind should never lose sight of Dr. Howe's "crucial test", and should remember that their task is to prepare blind youth for a seeing world. Any criticism which points out shortcomings in attaining that objective are well directed and should be valued.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for thk Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts

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Gabriel Farrjsll, Director

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Paul L. Bauguss, who since 1935 has been connected with the Music De- partment, has been appointed director, succeeding John F. Hartwell who re- tired after forty years at Perkins. Mr. Bauguss is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and has studied choral directing at Tangle- wood. While working at Perkins on a part time basis, he was instructor of instruments at St. Paul's School, Con- cord, New Hampshire, and has direct- ed orchestras and choral groups.

Ben Smith, who has been master of Potter Cottage and teacher of the sixth grade, has transferred to the Upper School where he will be acting director of physical education and master of Bridgman Cottage.

Shirley A. Drucker, graduate of State Teachers College, Montclair, New Jersey, with a master's degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, is a new teacher of the sixth grade in the Lower School.

Janet H. Chick, graduate of Sim- mons College, has been engaged as teacher of home economics in the Up- per School.

Leo Z. Gittzus of the Practical Arts Department and Maurine Nilsson of

the Deaf-Blind Department were mar- ried on June 28. Ben Smith, acting director of physical education, and Joan Baum, secretary to the social worker, were married on August 17.

With deep regret we announce the death of Dr. Anna G. Newell who last year was a member of the Harvard Class and taught biology, on June 22, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and of Miss Ada Crampton, Head of Services for the Blind in Vermont, on July 7.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Virginia Cole, formerly teacher at Perkins, has been appointed Director of Services for the Blind for the State of Vermont, succeeding the late Miss Ada Crampton.

Guy Marchisio, Perkins '33, and graduate of Boston University, former- ly Principal of the Blind Department of the Utah School, has accepted a position with the New Jersey State Commission for the Blind.

Faye George, Perkins '46 and a stu- dent at Middlebury College, where she was secretary of the Freshman Class last year, served during the summer months as secretary and Ediphone operator in the office of the Services for the Blind in Montpelier, Vermont.

Ralph Feliciano, Perkins '36 was graduated from Boston College in June, receiving the B. S. degree.

Martha Gurry, Perkins '41, will oper- ate the switchboard at Regis College, replacing Selma Tirocchi, Perkins '44, who is entering college in Seattle, Washington.

Theodore Leutz, Perkins '96, and Edward E. Schuerer, Perkins '99, asso- ciated with the Massachusetts Division of the Blind from its beginning in 1906, have recently retired.

The Western Conference of Home Teachers at a recent convention passed a resolution expressing appreciation of the Howe Memorial Press, for the Braille Map of the Month, and for the games and other devices which are made and sold to the blind at cost.

The Perkins Alumnae Association is

to hold a card party at Perkins on Friday, October 17, to raise money for the Perkins Alumnae Scholarship Fund. Hand made articles will be sold.

— 2

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

"The Other Side " Acclaims Its "Grads "

THE OTHER SIDE, speaking from the viewpoint of the boys' side of the school, feels that it has produced women of achieve- ment whose contribution to society should be acclaimed. And, if we are to sustain our editorial point of the last issue of THE LANTERN that we should tell more about the blind who have suc- ceeded, "the other side" should have its turn. That the men's record of four members in the legislature reported in the last issue cannot be duplicated is perhaps not so much a fault of the school as society's failure to recognize the legal talents of women generally. But in many fields, "the other side" can claim its quota of women who have achieved success.

Let us begin at Perkins where graduates of both sides have for many years made their influence felt both in policy and in teaching. Illustrative of this at the present time let us mention two. In the Upper School Gertrude S. Harlow has quietly and effectively helped many students as a teacher of English. Perhaps her greatest con- tribution has been with pupils who lost their sight while in the midst of schooling, and needed, not only specialized help with Braille and other tools, but the example of what can be accomplished, which Miss Harlow so well exemplifies. She has taught at Perkins since 1920. Going to the Lower School, let us tell of Margaret McKenzie, '11, who is truly a Perkins product. Entering in the kindergarten, she has been associated with Perkins ever since. During these years Miss McKenzie has taught the fundamental hand skills to children in the early grades. Many fingers have been made nimble and the paths of many sightless children have been lightened by her innate love and understanding of children who cannot see.

Turning to the field of adult education, Mary Eunice French, '89, heads the list. Her great achievement as a home teacher in Rhode Island received recognition in June, when Rhode Island College of Education awarded her the honorary degree of Master of Education. A still active worker in this field is Rose Trainer, '09, of the Massa- chusetts Division of the Blind, who has done an outstanding piece of work in organizing sales of articles made by blind persons in their homes. A more recent graduate doing successful work in this field

(Continued on Page 8)

— 3 —

MARY E. FRENCH See Page 7 C

THE 117th YEAR

CLASSES WERE RESUMED on Wednesday, Septem- ber 10 for the 117th year of continuous instruction to blind children by Perkins Institution. With the exception of Fisher Cottage where the deaf-blind children live, all cottages are filled to capacity. An unusually large number of pupils completed their work in June or were sent to other schools, and this made it possible to accept practically all children seeking admission. Once again in addition to the New England area Perkins normally serves, pupils are coming from several other parts of the country. The Harvard Class this year has representatives from Porto Rico, Haiti, Chili, Greece and one is expected from Egypt.

A NEW BRAILLE WRITER

THE PERKINS BRAILLER was exhibited at the con- vention of the American Association of Workers for the Blind held in Baltimore early in July, and has been shown to the officials of the Veterans Administration and the Federal Security Agency. All who have seen this newly developed braille writer are enthusiastic about its possibilities. Among the new features is a unique key action whereby all the dots in the cells will be absolutely uniform in height regardless of uneven finger pressure. Instead of the conventional moving carriage, the paper remains stationary and a small brailling unit travels from left to right across the page. This results in exceptional quietness and free- dom from vibration. The Brailler is a compact aluminum unit weigh- ing about eight and a half pounds. Tool- ing for the produc- tion of the braille writer is under way at the Howe Mem- orial Press, and it is hoped that machines will be ready for dis- tribution early in 1948.

Tl

pig Honorary Degree Ice Sunday Journal

THE MAGNIFYING DEVICES

THE PROJECT to study magnifying devices, which will enable the partially sighted to read ordinary ink print books, assigned to Perkins by the National Re- search Council, was completed June 30. Devices developed at the Dartmouth Eye Institute and at The Franklin In- stitute, as well as other devices, were studied. The conclu- sions reached have been presented in a report which has been submitted to the National Research Council. During this study the possibility of new devices was explored and a small projection device has been developed which Perkins hopes to complete shortly. This study was under the di- rection of Dr. Walter F. Dearborn, Head of the Psycho- Educational Clinic of Harvard University, and Dr. Philip L. Johnson of the Massachusetts Division of Health, as- sisted by members of the Perkins staff.

SUMMER IMPROVEMENTS

THE OUTSTANDING improvement of the summer to the physical plant has been an extension to the Power House which makes possible more space for the Appliance Department of the Howe Memorial Press. With this new space, all of the machine work and manufacturing of appliances will be carried on at Perkins. Em- bossing and printing will continue for the time being at South Boston. Another project of value has been the complete moderniza- tion of the shower rooms attached to the swimming pool and gym- nasium. These have had new plumbing, new tiling and light- ing, which makes them modern and sanitary. Classrooms and cottages have all been refurnished and were ready at the opening of school this fall.

,ER

TO SCHOOLS AT HOME

FIFTEEN BOYS and girls attending Perkins last year did not return this year. After a careful survey of the visual activities of all pupils they were found to have enough sight to warrant trial in public school classes either regular or sight-saving. After careful consideration of each case and consultation with parents and state workers arrangements were made for these children to enter schools in their home communities. They will be kept on the Perkins roll for a year so that if the trial does not prove successful they can be returned. Contact will be kept with them during the year to assist in adjustment and to give special help.

LOWER SCHOOL PLANS

NEW PLANS for the Lower School have been put into effect after careful study last year. All pupils below the fourth grade will be divided into two equal groups and assigned to Anagnos and Bradlee Cottages. A flexible program for each group will enable pupils to be advanced according to levels of achievement. Miss Morse will be in charge of the Bradlee group while Miss Davies will supervise the group in Anagnos. Pupils in the primary cottages, Potter and Glover, will be arranged according to grades with in- struction under the direction of Miss Evans. Under these plans more supervision will be provided and houses will be more self contained.

PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTE

A TWO DAY INSTITUTE for social welfare workers, nurses and the mothers of pre-school blind children was held at the University of Vermont, Burlington, June 26 and 27. Instead of the summer schools held for mothers and blind babies the past two years, a series of institutes of this type have been planned. Others are to be held in different parts of New England during the fall. While local physicians were asked to take part in the Vermont institute, a group of workers from Perkins and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary carried most of the program.

ftA CARDINAL RULE"

IT SHOULD BE a cardinal rule in *the education of the blind to keep ever in view the fact that they are to become members of general society and not a society of blind persons." Samuel G. Howe, 1849 Report of Perkins.

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HONORS LIST

Mary Eunice French, '89, forty-two years home teacher in Rhode Island, was awarded the honorary degree of Master of Education by Rhode Island College of Education in June.

Peter J. Salmon, '14, received on June 29, the Migel Medal awarded an- nually for outstanding service to the blind by the American Foundation for the Blind. On that evening a testi- monial dinner was given in New York by the Trustees of the Industrial Home for the Blind of which he is Director, in recognition of thirty years of service with that organization.

Florence E. Birchard, former place- ment officer in the Massachusetts Divi- sion of the Blind, received in July the Shotwell Medal awarded by the American Association of Workers for the Blind.

John Morrison, '39, graduate of Notre Dame, received the degree of Ph. D. from that university in June, and an appointment as instructor in philosophy in the Graduate School.

Francis B. Ierardi, '08, Director of the National Braille Press, was elected First Vice-President at the convention of the American Association of Work- ers for the Blind.

Edward W. Jenkins, '22, and George Faulkner, both of the music faculty, were made Fellows by Trinity College, University of London, after examina- tions on June 11.

Dr. Reginald Fitz, President of the Trustees, was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by Hahne- mann Medical College, Philadelphia, in June.

PUBLICATIONS

"Psychological Tests for Use of Blind

Adults in Vocational Rehabilitation" is the. title of Publication No. 19 in the Rehabilitation Series published by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Federal Security Agency. This is an excellent compilation and description of psychological tests divided into three parts: I. Evaluated Tests; II. Brailled Achievement Tests; III. Tests for the Sighted Adapted for Use with the Blind. Throughout this booklet there are many references to the develop- mental work in this field done at Perkins largely under the leadership of Dr. Samuel P. Hayes to whom generous recognition is given in the foreword for the assistance he gave in the pre- paration of the manuscript and making available unpublished experimental data. This booklet is a logical and helpful follow-up of Perkins Publica- tion No. 14 wherein Dr. Hayes gave the historical background and evalua- tion of many tests which have been tried out for the blind.

Perkins is publishing this fall the third supplement to the Catalog of the Special Reference Library of books relating to the blind. This supplement lists all books and materials added to the Blindiana Library since 1930, and with the original catalog published in 1907 and the two previous supplements, lists and briefly describes the vast amount of material in the Special Reference Library, totaling books in nineteen languages and thousands of articles and newspaper clippings. This library is the greatest source for ma- terial on the blind in the world, and there is value in having the catalog complete and up-to-date. This sup- plement has been compiled by Miss Mary Esther Sawyer, the present Li- brarian.

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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

(Continued from Page 3) is Wilma True, '39, who became the first home teacher in Maine in 1945, and is blazing new trails in the effective program for the blind in that state. A graduate of Bates College, she attended the course for home teachers at the Overbrook School for the Blind.

In the business world Perkins women have succeeded in such large numbers that it is difficult to make selection. There is Annie Mae Kennedy, '20, an Ediphone operator in a Boston insurance office ; Dorothy Ingersoll, '32, who after a few years in the offices at Perkins has made a place for herself as an Ediphonist at the Walworth Com- pany in Boston; Evelyn Crossman, '37, who after completing her training at Perkins became Ediphonist at the Springfield American Red Cross and Marion Knoll, after leaving Perkins in 1944, now takes dictation from several professors at Michigan State College.

In the mission field, Perkins has played its part. Teaching at Perkins for the past two years as an interlude caused by the war was Mary Burtt Knapp, '09, who after her graduation from Wellesley College went to China where she opened a school for the blind. Although not a Perkins graduate, but one who attended the teacher training course in 1914 is Genevieve Caulfield, who first went to Japan, and since 1940 has been in Siam, where according to a recent letter her school for blind children has survived the war. Sister Mary Alma, '12, who after several years as stenographer at S. S. Pierce's became a nun and is now a valued teacher at the Lavelle School in New York City.

In the professional field there is Dr. Muriel Anderson, '16, suc- cessful osteopath in David City, Nebraska; Geraldine Hinckley, '34, masseuse in Framingham ; Mary K. Allen, '08 of Longmeadow, lecturer on current events and an extensive traveler; Ruth Cox, '39, of Bel- mont, writer of children's stories and poems; Madeline Brooks Nor- cross, '20, of Waltham, singer and lecturer, and Faye Bresnahan, '40, who after graduation from a school of social work is a social worker in a Boston hospital.

"And what shall I more say?" (as the writer of the book of He- brews asked) "for the time would fail me to tell of" the many more that might be mentioned. "Wherefore seeing we are compassed with so great a crowd of witnesses", "the other side" can well be proud of its women of achievement.

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The ILantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVII.. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 194 7

Blind Lead Blind

AN INTERESTING observation as one studies the history of work for the blind, and one which should be more widely heralded, is the extent of the leadership of blind persons. This is as it should be for there are many areas where only the blind can speak with authority. Who else can interpret realistically, living in a darkened world? It is true, of course, that seeing people have also made contributions in this field, but too often what they write about blindness and the aids they develop are projected from the seeing person's point of view and need.

The transition from the line types of the seeing Hauy and Howe to the embossed dots of the blind Braille is an illustration of this. Dr. Howe, in laying the foundations for the education of the blind in America depended largely on two blind teachers brought from France and Scotland. Sir Francis Campbell opened the way to higher education. Robert B. Irwin was the first to try psychological tests for the blind.

The blind have also led where the seeing feared to tread. Piano tuning for the blind was the result of a prank of blind Claude Montal in the Paris School in 1830. He and a fellow student took apart a piano and were reprimanded. Securing an old piano they rebuilt and tuned it and convinced the seeing school authorities that here was a new vocation for the blind.

Can the Blind lead the Blind? Indeed they have done so and are doing so. The records of many leaders in the national an state fields and in the schools prove this. Those interested in the visually handicapped should not forget this as programs for those who c. not see are planned, if they want them to have reality and to succeed.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School fob the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

^a&t^/ 7&AA*£p

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Tom Breneman, noted broadcaster, visited Perkins on October 28, delight- ing the assembled school with his line of chatter.

Perkins pupils attended a presenta- tion of "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" by the Winchester Players on the evening of November 5.

Many girls of the Upper School visited the Navy Yard, seeing the ships and other historical features at that place, on Sunday afternoon, Novem- ber 9.

Perkins was host for Play Day, over the weekend of November 14, to five girls from each school in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Hartford. All had a happy time.

The annual Football Banquet was

held in Moulton Cottage on the eve- ning of November 22, marking the closing of the fall football tournament which was won this year by Eliot and Bridgman Cottages in a tie.

Contributions to the Community Fund were made practically one hun- dred percent by staff and pupils of Perkins, with a total collection of $853.40.

A bronze plaque of Mrs. John Chip- man Gray by Augustus St. Gauden has been placed in the Lower School central lobby. Mrs. Gray was for many years President of the Ladies Visiting Com- mittee to the Kindergarten. The plaque is the gift of Mrs. Gray's daughter, Mrs. Henry D. Tudor.

The Annual Meeting of the Perkins Corporation was held at the school on Monday, November 3, with the election of Dr. Reginald Fitz, President, Ralph Lowell, Vice-President, John P. Chase, Treasurer, and Gabriel Farrell, Secre- tary.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Willard W. McLeod, Jr., a post grad- uate student, 1942-1943, was graduated from Harvard in June, and now has a position as junior engineer in electron- ics at the Raytheon Manufacturing Company in Waltham.

Martha McLeod, also a post graduate student, 1942-1943, was graduated from Wheelock College in June, and now holds a position as a kindergarten teacher in the Springfield schools.

Lorraine McNamara, Perkins '39, en- tered the Framingham Normal School this fall, and is enrolled as a freshman.

Norma Farrer, post graduate student last year, has entered the University of New Hampshire.

Donald Walhout, a national scholar- ship student from Michigan, 1944-1945, is now a sophomore at Adrian College, Michigan.

John di Francesco, Perkins '40, New England Conservatory of Music, '44, is teaching at the Lavelle School for the Blind, New York, directing a chorus under the auspices of the Catholic Guild for the Blind in Brooklyn, and singing regularly over the radio station WOV.

Helen Schultz Hayes, former deaf- blind student at Perkins, now married, lives with her husband on a dairy farm in Baudette, Minnesota. She writes, "I have over five hundred cans of vege- tables, fruits and pickles, jellies and jams in my basement closet."

The Alumnae Association held a very successful game party in Dwight Hall on October 17, clearing over three hun- dred dollars for the Alumnae Scholar- ship Fund.

SAMUEL PERKINS HAYES

Pioneer in Psychology of the Blind

AT A NATIONAL conference held at the University of Michigan, November 17-19, on Psychological Diagnosis and Counseling of the Adult Blind there was such widespread recognition of the work of Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, director of research at Perkins, that it seems suitable to tell something of him and the important work that he has been carrying on for thirty years in adapting and develop- ing tests for the blind. The conference at Ann Arbor was presented by the Institute of Human Adjustment of the University in coopera- tion with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, FSA and the Michigan Division for the Blind. It indicated many psychological needs and made suggestions of how to meet them. In one area, that which included tests to measure intelligence and to reveal achieve- ment in school work, it was pointed out an adequate program prevails. This represents the pioneering work begun by Dr. Hayes thirty years ago and pursued to the present day.

Close students in the field of the blind are aware of Dr. Hayes work through his papers at many of the conferences of the past three decades and through his articles in professional publications. Dr. Hayes has published a volume entitled, "Contributions to a Psy- chology of Blindness" and he is the author of a chapter in each of the two volumes entitled "What of the Blind?" Two other publications showing special fields of research are "Sense of Obstacles" published in 1935 and "Aptitude Tests for the Blind" published in 1946.

In the early part of the century when the Binet tests had been first translated into English by Dr. H. H. Goddard of the Vineland Training School, workers with the blind became interested in their use. Robert B. Irwin, then Supervisor of the Department for the Blind in the Cleveland Public Schools, arranged the tests for use with blind children. Dr. O. H. Burritt of the school at Overbrook became interested and asked Dr. Goddard to suggest someone in the field of psychology to develop this area. Dr. Goddard suggested Dr. Hayes, a young professor of psychology at Mt. Holyoke College, who had made some interesting studies in color blindness. In 1916, Dr. Hayes spent a half year at Overbrook, became consultant in psychology at the school and took a similar position at Perkins. This part time

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

THE CONCERTS of Christmas music are to be held this year on Sunday afternoon, December 14 and on the evenings of the following Tuesday and Thursday, the last being planned pri- marily for the parents of the pupils and friends of the staff. The pro- gram will be presented by the choirs of the Lower and Upper School totalling over one hundred voices. The concerts this year will be the first under the direction of Paul L. Bauguss, new director of music. For these concerts Mr. Bauguss has arranged a program ranging from classical anthems by G. F. Handel and Mendelssohn to a modern chorus "Noel of Workers on Holiday" by Francis Devino, a Perkins senior, with words by Edward W. Jenkins of the music faculty. There are special carols for the children's chorus and one group of "old familiar carols you like to hear and sing" with opportunity for the audiences to sing. All three concerts are to be held in Dwight Hall at the school.

PROGRAMS AT PERKINS

OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR music produced by others than them- selves has been provided this year for the benefit of pupils and staff by Mr. Bauguss. He has invited a number of musicians and musical groups to come to Perkins to present programs in Dwight Hall. During the fall term Mr. Boris Goldovsky brought the entire New England Opera Company to Perkins on the evening of October 14 when they presented "The Marriage of Figaro." On October 20 Camille Girouard, baritone soloist, offered a delightful program and on the evening of November 14 Jules Wolf ers and his string orchestra gave a program of chamber music. On the afternoon of November 25 Charles Opper and his jazz orchestra delighted the pupils with popular music.

TEACHERS IN TRAINING

PERKINS IS BEING ASKED more and more by colleges and universities to accept their students for practice teaching and observation. This year there is for the whole year a young woman from Boston University School of Physical Education and there will be two in the field of Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan College of Education, Kalamazoo, Michigan each for two months. Last year and for a time this year there have been young

SAMUEL GRIDLEY HOWE BUILDING FROM ACROSS THE CHARLES

Photograph By Frank Carnes of the Watertown Police Department

men doing their field work from Boston University School of Social Work. A young woman from the Bridgewater State College was in residence here last year and arrangements are now being made for a student to come from the University of New Hampshire next year. Living at Perkins this year is a graduate student at Harvard who is coaching the Perkins wrestling team. There are two girls from Wellesley and one from Regis College who come an afternoon a week to work with Dr. Hayes as assigned work in their college courses.

VISITORS FROM SCHOOLS

COLLEGES AND TRAINING SCHOOLS in the metropolitan area and beyond have long been interested in having their students visit Perkins as a part of training requirements. October 31 Dr. John Yale Crouter, head of the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, brought eighteen teachers to visit the school and to observe work in the Deaf-blind Department, and on December 6 Prof. O. H. Mowrer

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brought his class in Educational Psychology to the school for a talk by the Director and a tour of class rooms. Other colleges which have sent delegations this year are Smith, Wellesley, Boston University, Lesley College, the School of Occupational Therapy and Pine Manor Junior College. The nurses training classes from five hospitals have each spent an afternoon at Perkins so far this year. One of the most interested collegiate groups was the Educational Buyers Association who spent the afternoon of October 23 at Perkins while holding its fall meeting.

THE HARVARD CLASS

PERKINS IS MAKING its contribution directly to the field of teaching through the Harvard Class. This program is now in its twenty-seventh year of training teachers for schools for the blind in cooperation with the Graduate School of Education of Harvard University. The class this year is not as large as pre-war classes but it is wide in its geographical spread. Of the nine members, four come from British Guiana, Greece, Haiti and Puerto Rico. One is a sight-saving teacher from Fall River, another a worke? at the Veterans Administration office in Boston while the others come from Yale School of Music, Westminster College in Illinois and Scripps Gollege in California.

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT NIGHT

THE ANNUAL APPEAL for the department of the deaf-blind was mailed at the end of November. Once again a calendar as a year round reminder of our Children of the Silent Night was sent out to friends of the department. Already the response has been gratifying indicating the interest people have in these doubly handi- capped children. There are eight children in the department this year necessarily restricted because of the inability to secure ade- quately trained teachers for this important work.

GRADES VS. BUNCHES

IN THE LOWER SCHOOL grades have been eliminated before the fourth grade and the children divided into smaller groups where the work is so planned that children can be advanced according to levels of achievement. This caused at first a little uncertainty of placement as indicated by one boy who asked another: "Do you know what grade we are in?" To which the other replied: "We are not in grades, we are in bunches !"

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FROM OUR MAIL

Recent letters included one addressed to Mr. Anagnos, taking him to task for something the writer had recently read. We had to inform the writer that Mr. Anagnos passed away in 1906.

Another came addressed to The New England Asylum for the Blind, the name under which Perkins was incor- porated in 1829, but which gave way to our present name in late years.

PUBLICATIONS

"I am sure you will be interested in knowing that the China Press, Shang- hai, November 6, carried an interesting story about Perkins and one of its deaf-blind pupils, Carmela Otero."

H. M. B.

The Victorian Association of Braille Writers in Australia liked the editorial •'Books are Bridges" in the March 15 issue of THE LANTERN so well, that they quoted it in their Annual Report almost word by word.

"THE LANTERN has reached my desk. Your article 'Are Residential Schools Doomed?' was very much en- joyed and is certainly timely. There are many who agree with this posi- tion." J. G. C.

"I cannot find words to tell you what distress I felt in reading the opening article in the last issue of THE LAN- TERN .... I am writing to try to convey to you as best I can my strong urgent feeling on behalf of our resi- dential schools. . . . 'By their fruits ye shall know them' " M. R. B.

"I am always interested in reading THE LANTERN and I am especially in- terested in your front page editorial of the issue of September 15 on the subject 'Are Residential Schools Doomed?' . . . There seems to be a wave of this criti- cism across the country.

W. G. S.

"The Proper Bostonians" by Cleve- land Amory, published by D. P. Dutton & Co., Inc. has much of interest to Perkins. It acclaims Thomas Handasyd Perkins whose name we bear, as "the acknowledged king of the merchant princes." "Offered the post of Secretary of the Navy by George Washington, he politely refused the position saying, with no exaggeration, he owned a larg- er fleet of vessels than that possessed by the Navy, and believed that it was more important to continue to manage his own property".

Col. Perkins' ships were the training school for many of Boston's first fam- ilies. One of the most outstanding of these young men was Robert Bennet Forbes, who on retirement "built him- self a house with portholes instead of windows on the top floor". Perhaps it was here that he built a model of a schooner named by him "Julia" after the wife of Mr. Anagnos, and presented to Perkins in 1884.

Perkins is mentioned in the book in connection with Mrs. Jack Gardner. Mrs. Gardner was preparing to open Fenway Court and was determined that no one would see the inside of the museum until the opening night. Con- fronted with the necessity of testing the acoustics of the music room, she "got in touch with the Director of the Perkins Institute for the Blind . . and procured a full-size audience of boys and girls for an afternoon concert."

The occasion was marred by an over careful attendant who picked up all the rubbers of the children and arranged them in one place. "In later years Mrs. Gardner used to say that to her the most vivid thing about the opening of the palace was the time she spent that afternoon on her hands and knees pair- ing rubbers together and trying them on the blind children".

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SAMUEL PERKINS HAYES

(Continued from Page 3)

arrangement continued until 1940 when Dr. Hayes came to Perkins on full time as director of research.

In 1916, Dr. Hayes introduced systematic testing in Overbrook and Perkins and in eight other residential schools. After the tests had been administered to 1600 subjects, Dr. Hayes felt that he was justified in standardizing them and the well known Hayes-Binet Tests were issued. In 1923 he prepared a provisional manual and in 1930 a formal guide making available for use with the blind, Terman's Stanford Revision of the Binet-Simon Intelligence Tests. Since then Dr. Hayes has also adapted the Weschler Tests which he now finds better for advanced pupils and for the adult blind, as they give a more favorable indication of the intelligence of young people. Dr. Hayes has also tried out and adapted group intelligence tests but feels that they have limited use.

Dr. Hayes has also been interested in making achievement tests available for the blind. Believing that school men want these tests not only for help in individual appraisement and grade placement but also to know how a class of blind children compares with a sim- ilar grade of seeing children, Dr. Hayes has concentrated on adapting standard tests rather than developing special tests for the blind. Under his direction all ten forms of the Stanford Achievement Tests nave oeen put into braille and he will soon have available the five forms of the Metropolitan Tests. He has also adapted the Sones- Harry and the Meyers-Ruck tests which rate the abilities of high school pupils.

Dr. Hayes is now working on growth scales for preschool chil- dren and has introduced at Perkins, the Motor Skills Tests developed at Philadelphia. He has also arranged for the group use in braille of the Kuder Preference Record which indicates fields of interest. These new developments for determining interests, motor skills and academic achievement added to the fundamental tests of intelligence give a well rounded battery to be used in schools and with blind young people in programs of adjustment and guidance. At the conference at Ann Arbor when this well-authenticated program was reported all present felt that here was one area where pioneer work had been done effectively with a well-rounded program available for wider use.

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

i

VOLUME XVII., NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1948

The Human Eye

THE HUMAN EYE is one of man's most precious possessions. With a good eye man can read the finest print and examine the smallest speck. With the same eye he can view the grandeur of the distant mountain range and can compass the beauty of an evening sunset. The human eye has a wide range of vision and can perceive a vast variety of color. Even more it can alert its possessor to an approaching danger and it can bring to him the warmth of a friendly smile. We take for granted all that the eye can do and sel- dom think how blessed we are. Too often we forget how precise and delicate the instrument of man's vision is and we fail to safeguard it. We overtax or neglect it, and then — sight begins to dim or suddenly darkness closes out the world and the faces we love to see.

While it is true that some eyes are inherently defective, most visual defects are the result of man's neglect of this precious gift. But in these modern days so much can be done to correct impaired vision or to better the faulty eye that the correction is almost as wonderful as sight itself. New skills make possible eye operations that restore lost sight and remedies are constantly being discovered to heal the tissues and to clear the opacities which obscure vision.

Despite all this, man needs to value more fully and to guard more carefully the instrument that makes sight the blessing that it is. A pledge to do so might, with profit, be ingrained in children as is the pledge to the flag — "I promise to guard with every care my eyes, so that I may see all things clearly and thereby think wisely and act nobly." True vision, both physical and spiritual, begins by seeing all things clearly.

Perkins Institution and Massa- ^^/ rP^rr\>tJLS\ *f7l A/i mJ^A

chusetts School for the Blind. * Cc^X/ / GslrT* r:

Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrexx, Director

INTRAMURAL NOTES

The annual Pop Concerts were held this year on the evenings of March 9, 10 and 12. Appreciative audiences en- joyed the fine program of music.

Perkins Institution was elected an in- stitutional member of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools at its meeting on December 12.

Robert Brink, talented young violin- ist of Watertown, gave a recital on the evening of February 27 in Dwight Hall, rendering the program previously played at his successful recital in Town Hall, New York, and played the follow- ing Monday night in Boston.

Eighteen girls and seven staff mem- bers were the guests on March 4, of the Boston Kiwanis Club which spon- sors the Allen Summer Camp for Blind Girls. All of the girls had attended the camp and the lunch proved to be a happy reunion, for other campers were also guests.

Morning assembly speakers during the winter term have included pupils se- lected by the Boys' and Girls' Councils on Tuesday mornings, staff members on Thursday mornings until February 5 and after that the clergy of the churches of Watertown.

Thirty persons from the neighborhood of the school come regularly to read to fourteen blind teachers and advanced pupils. As there is a good deal of ma- terial not in braille this service is valuable and more readers could be used to advantage.

Assisting in the school this year on part time are Mrs. Warner Stenquist in the deaf blind department; Mrs. Joy Robinowitz and Mrs. Isabel Wheeler in psychological testing; and Mrs. Mary Arnstein in the kindergarten.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Dr. Edward E. Allen, director emeri- tus, has been confined to his apartment since early in the year because of a fall. He has been getting about in a wheelchair which he calls his pony but recently has begun to walk.

John Conley who left Perkins in June 1945, is successfully engaged in poultry work at Great Oaks Farm, Medfield,

Mass.

Joseph M. Butler, Perkins '34, Boston College '40 and graduate of the Law School at the University of Vermont, has passed the bar examination in Ver- mont and has set up to practice law in St. Albans.

Marjorie Drinkwine, Perkins '47, has passed the Connecticut State Service examination with a rating of Typist- Grade I. This qualifies her for an ap- pointment in a state office as typist and ediphone operator.

The Eastern Athletic Association of

Schools for the Blind, made up of schools from Massachusetts to North Carolina, is planning to hold its annual track meet at Perkins Institution on Saturday, May 15. The meet will con- sist of seven events; broad and high jumps, hop, step and jump, three con- secutive jumps, shot put, fifty and seventy-five yard dashes. Each team may include seven members.

Mrs. Joseph (Mable Brown) Spencer,

who passed away at the Memorial Home, Worcester, on February 12, was the next to the last surviving former pupil who knew Dr. Howe, the first Director. Mrs. Spencer entered Perkins in 1875 one year before the death of Dr. Howe and left certified as a teacher of music in 1883. She was married in 1893 and for many years lived near Perkins.

I

THE OAK

A Study of Models and Methods

By Nelson Coon

N A BOOK on "museums" a recent writer has this to say of seeing children:

"It has become increasingly evident that what the children touch becomes a part of their personal experience more completely than anything they merely look at ... "

Now if this is true of the seeing, how much more so must it be for the children in our school whose education must perforce be primarily bookish. Our second director, Michael Anagnos, felt very strongly on this subject, and his writings are full of comments on the value of tactual education. It is to him that we are grateful for the great foundation purchases which have made our Perkins Museum possible.

We believe with Michael Anagnos when he wrote in 1879 that:

"This mode of instruction (the tactual method) is of inestimable value. It bridges over the chasm from the known to the unknown, from the concrete to the abstract, and lays a solid foundation for the mind to work upon. It raises the attention of the pupils and excites their interest. It appeals to experience, and stimulates their powers of observation to intense activity. It feeds the mind with real food and raises it out of the slough of inattention and listless inactivity."

And not only is it true that this stimulation through the sense

of touch is "educational" but its value is greater in other fields, for

it was the French philosopher, Diderot, who wrote after considerable

study of the blind, and especially after association with a famous

blind man, LeNotre, that

"of the senses the eye is the most superficial . . . . touch the most profound and philosophical."

There are, in other words, qualities that can be known only through the sense of touch. Textures such as that of fur or tree bark, of polished marble or plaster, of feathers or iron ; these are the things that no braille can explain, nor can the aesthetic value of them be judged except by contact. It is nature that has inspired man to great forms of artistic expression, from sculpture to poetry, but it must be a nature known and experienced. Pure, hard, cold facts can well be encompassed in even our braille textbooks, but that "something more"

(Continued on Page tf> — 3-

T

MUSEUM ACTIVITIES

HE PERKINS MUSEUM is a very live part of the school's program and is not, as many museums are, merely a collection of relics and reminders of the past. The past is on record and frequently on exhibition. Evidence of this is to be found in many of the cases which have been attrac- tively reorganized and modernly lighted to show off to advantage many aspects of our historical, economical and physical life. What keeps the Museum most alive are the monthly exhibits arranged by Mr. Coon and Miss McGaw. Each month a special field is selected, a bulletin telling of it prepared and distributed to all teachers and the items illustrating the subject are arranged in one of the alcoves. During the month every class in the school visits the Museum to broaden their knowledge by the special exhibits.

To tell how this works a portion of the bulletin for January ap- pears as the special article of this issue of The Lantern. In addition to what has been printed there are instructions to teachers on how to use the materials and what aspects of THE OAK apply to different school subjects. The main objective is to integrate these exhibits with class room work as well as to widen fields of interest.

During February a new experiment was tried with a visual exhibit. This was the splendid collection of photographs of Venice which LIFE Magazine loans schools. Many of the pupils could see the enlarged pictures and to the others teachers told the

story of this ancient city as revealed in the pictures. The March exhibit is The Making of Maple Syrup with trees on the ground actually tapped and samples of maple syrup and lumps of maple sugar for all comers. Taste, after all, is one of the senses of learning.

Girls Ai Angell Memorial Hospital

FIELD TRIPS

PERKINS IS NOT CONTENT with learning through the museum but wants also to provide actual experiences for its pupils. This is ac- complished by many trips to places of interest. Such a trip is illustrated by the picture on page four. These girls of the seventh grade were taken by their teacher to the Angell Memorial Hospital for Animals in Boston to see the care provided for animals and to have fun with the animals. This year Miss Carpenter is taking the members of the Senior class to have dinner at some of the famous restaurants around Boston. Each year it is fun to take some of the inlanders for their first experience with the ocean and this year some of the southerners have had their fill of snow. Before leaving Perkins all of the foreign students and the national scholarship pupils are taken on trips to visit historical sites about Boston.

WRESTLING CHAMPIONS

THE WRESTLING TEAM of nine boys with Mr. Sherman, prin- cipal, Mr. Smith, director of athletics and Mr. Mottelson, wrestling coach, journeyed to Staunton, Virginia to take part in the tournament of the Eastern Athletic Association of Schools for the Blind on Saturday, February 21 and brought home the champion- ship. All of the Perkins boys contributed to the twenty-four points scored by winning one first place, four seconds, three thirds and one fourth. Perkins had no outstanding wrestler, but a well-rounded team produced an unex- pected victory. Other scores were : Over- brook and Virginia (tied for second place) 22 points, Maryland 20, West Virginia 16 and Ken- tucky 8. On the way back the boys visited Charlottes- ville, Washington and other historic sites.

The Winners At Virginia

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PICTURE FROM VIENNA

THE PERKINS MUSEUM'S collection of pictures of blind persons and incidents involving the blind, which is the greatest in the world, has been enriched by the receipt of a steel engraving from Dr. Alfred Mell of Vienna. The engraving pictures the incident at the Cafe of Sainte Ovide in Paris which motivated Valentin Haiiy to take steps leading to the opening of the first school for the blind in the world. The incident took place in 1771 and the picture shows the blind men grotesquely clad, wearing spectacles of cardboard, and making a burlesque attempt to play on musical instruments for the amusement and laughter of bystanders and the couples at the cafe tables. So moved was Haiiy that he resolved to teach the blind to be- come talented musicians. Many of the pictures in the Museum have come through Dr. Mell, who is the director of the Army Museum of Austria, and his late father, who was the head of the great school for the blind in Vienna before the war.

MAP-OF-THE-MONTH

THE MAP-OF-THE-MONTH published by the Howe Press will make its one hundredth appearance with the May issue. To mark this event the editors have announced an essay contest open to all high school blind pupils. The subject is "What the braille map-of-the-month teaches me" and the essay is limited to 500 words. All entries must be in before May 1, 1948. Every month an embossed map for finger readers is prepared featuring an important event with an accompanying text in braille. This is mailed free to 77 schools, 23 libraries, 20 associations and 440 individuals in this country and to schools, libraries and individuals in seventeen foreign countries. The winner of the essay will be announced in the June LANTERN.

REPORT FROM ITALY

GIULIANO CABBIA, a little Italian boy who was at Perkins dur- ing the spring of 1946, according to a news clipping bearing a Padua, Italy date line, had a part in the welcome given in Padua on the arrival of an "American Friendship Train." "GI Joe" as the boy is called was sent to this country by the members of the 88th Division for an operation at Johns Hopkins and then came to Perkins for a term of schooling after which he returned to his home in Italy. The clipping states that Giuliano has just played the lead in an Italian film production of his own story entitled "Cabbia, Mascot of the Blue

Devils."

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FROM OUR MAIL

"We are now in preparation to estab- lish the new home for blind people and intend to have a little farming in al- liance with it. It is intended to be a place of residence, workroom and school for blind people of different ages. We should be very pleased to hear about your opinion regarding organizations of such a home as you have had so long experience in the assistance of the blind". K. J. — Iceland.

"The altered circumstances in my

country induce me to reform the train- ing of the children in my institute, es- pecially the vocational training. As your country is one of the foremost in this respect I apply to you for some informa- tion. . . . Your experience of so many years guarantees me a reply as an au- thority in this domain". C.M.W.Z. — Holland.

"I had a very important confer- ence in Madrid and really gave to the blind teachers, graduate nurses, student nurses and blind relations, a whole idea of the high, wonderful, sympathetic and helpful study and training of your in- stitution." M.B.B. — Spain.

"Having created a Braille department for the blind in the public library of the province of Buenos Aires, which is a branch of this department, I am asking the President of our institution to kindly consider the possibility of acquiring through your famous institu- tion some material for this new branch of our library." M.L. — Argentina.

"I am now an associate professor of psychology in Kwansei Gakuin Univer- sity near Kobe. . . . Every year I lec- ture on the great work of your Perkins. Students are inspired by your great achievement. I believe your kindness to help me will have far reaching effect in Japan." K.Y. — Japan.

PUBLICATIONS

Touch And Go is the name of the new magazine published for the deaf- blind by the American Foundation for the Blind. It appears in braille and multigraphed form.

The Preschool Blind Child is the title of a publication containing the papers read at the first national conference on that subject held in New York in Jan- uary 1947. The needs, problems and some of the solutions of this area of education are to be found in this at- tractive book edited by Dr. Berthold Lowenfeld and published by the Amer- ican Foundation for the Blind.

A careful study of the blind in Cali- fornia has just been published as a state document. It is one of the most comprehensive studies of this field with- in a state ever published. It analyzes the blind population, examines the wel- fare program and makes a good report of the educational facilities.

The North Carolina School for the Blind and the Deaf in its recent bi- annual report has an interesting ac- count of its "Century of Growth" in which reference is made to the part played by Samuel Gridley Howe, Perk- in's first director, in the origin of the North Carolina School.

We the Blind, publication of the Pennsylvania Federation of the Blind, in its fall issue, reprinted in full the editorial of the March, 1947, issue of THE LANTERN, Books are Bridges, and quoted sections of the account of the Perkins Library.

Magazine Digest, published in To- ronto, carries in its March issue a full account of the Perkins deaf-blind de- partment, telling of the methods used and the pupils now under instruction, who are called "Children of the Silent Night."

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THE OAK

(Continued from Page 3) of aesthetic appreciation which we must give our pupils if they are to learn to live happily and fully in this world, must come in great measure from a use of the unimpaired faculties of hearing and touch that are still at the command of our pupils.

Many of the things in our museum regarded coldly, have a purely factual or scientific meaning and in large measures it is up to the teacher, to so present them as to add something that will spell under- standing and appreciation of not only the thing itself but of its mean- ing in terms other than scientific. That great contemporary of Mr. Anagnos, whose writings were among the first to be put by him into braille, Thomas H. Huxley, has this to say:

"It is not a question whether one order of study or another should predominate. It is a question of what topics of education you shall select which will combine all the needful elements (of science and art) in such due proportion as to give the greatest amount of food, support, and encouragement to those faculties which enable us to appreciate truth, and to profit by those sources of innocent happi- ness which are open to us."

and (he might have added) to the blind as to the seeing.

As an exemplification of what we mean by all this we have placed in the museum case this month a little selection of items from our botanical section. The papier-mache model of the acorn and the oak tree are a part of our very fine collection of Auzoux's botanical models bought in France, by Mr. Anagnos, in 1880 at a great expense, but an expense justified by their value for those pupils who cannot ex- plore plants with a microscope. Other parts of this exhibit are acces- sions made from time to time and assembled here to show the variety of objects which can be produced from our cases. Parenthetically it should be noted that the Auzoux models are so carefully selected and designed that the whole ascending ladder of the plant world from fungi to composites can be demonstrated by their use.

Following is a list of the items we have selected:

Acorn — natural object Leaf — magnified cross section

Acorn — magnified about 100 times Winter buds of oak — natural object

Oak seedling — large model Tree trunk — arranged to show annual rings

Section of oak tree trunk — actual Oak leaves — dried

Section of oak trunk — dissected model Cork oak bark — natural object

Scaled "shape model" of white oak tree

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS

VOLUME XVII.. NO. 4

INSTITUTION

-. I

JUNE 15. 1948

Greetings to a Neighbor

A NEIGHBORING SCHOOL celebrated last month its 100th anniversary. The Walter E. Fernald School for the Feeble- minded at Waverly, which adjoins Watertown, is more than a neighbor. It is perhaps a half-brother, for it hails as its founder, Samuel Gridley Howe, the first Director of Perkins Institution. The centenary celebration was marked by holding in Boston the Seventy- second Annual Meeting of the American Association on Mental De- ficiency, and the First International Congress on Mental Deficiency.

This event is another piece of evidence of the wide range of the concern of Dr. Howe for human needs. After he had opened the first school for the blind in 1831, and had received world-wide acclaim for his accomplishments with Laura Bridgman, Dr. Howe became interest- ed in other phases of human deficiency. In the early 1840's, he took into Perkins some mentally retarded children and began to explore methods of training comparable with their simple needs. In 1848, through a grant from the legislature, a building adjacent to Perkins was opened, and it became the first school for the feeble-minded in America.

It is a strange fate that both of the schools, original in their respective fields, and which owe their greatness to Samuel Gridley Howe, should bear the names of other persons. An odd circumstance of fate now exists in that the present directors of the two schools, though unrelated, bear the same name. At this centennial time, blind Director Farrell greets heartily feeble-minded Director Farrell, and conveys to the Fernald School the best of wishes from Perkins Institution, both of which look to Samuel Gridley Howe as the foun- tain-head of their greatness.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts

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Gabriel Farrell, Director

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Mary H. Ferguson who has been a teacher at Perkins for twenty-seven years is retiring at the end of the school year under the Perkins Retirement Plan. A party in her honor was held in Brooks Cottage on May 20.

The five brides, staff members to be married at the close of the school year, were entertained at a tea held at the Director's house on Wednesday after- noon, May 19.

Bishop Haworth and three Chinese men and one woman, spent Friday. May 7 at Perkins. Bishop Haworth, who is the English Assistant Bishop at Hong Kong, spoke at morning assembly.

S. W. Hedger, M.B.E., Executive Di- rector of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, Melbourne, Australia is visiting Institutions for the Blind in this country and was at Perkins during the week of May 31.

Fred Lowery, the famed whistler, with his singing companion Dorothy Rae. came to Perkins on April 2 and gave a delightful concert at both the Upper and Lower Schools. Fred Lowery is a graduate of the Texas School for the Blind.

The Perkins Chorus joined with the Glee Club and the Symphony Orchestra of the Newton High School in a concert held in the High School Auditorium on Sunday afternoon. May 23. Over two hundred young people participated in the program.

Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, said by John Gunther to be the outstanding man in Peru and a candidate for presi- dent, spoke at a morning assembly at Perkins on Thursday, April 22, giving a very interesting account of his country.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Evan Rempel, Perkins '47, now at the University of Montana, ranks among the first 100 students in the college, of 3300 students enrolled.

Edward Murphy, Perkins '46, has re- ceived his state license as an insurance broker and plans to set up business for himself in Worcester.

Edmond E. Berube, Jr., Perkins '46. has been named to the Council of the Class of 1950 at Brown University. He is a candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree at Brown.

William F. Gallagher, Perkins '43 received his degree of Bachelor of Arts from Holy Cross in June. During the past year he has been vice-president of the Senior Class, and has been widely acclaimed in the public press as the cfficial "mascot" of the Holy Cross basketball team.

Albert Gayzagian who attended Per- kins from Kindergarten until he was transferred to the Watertown High School, from which he was graduated, received his B. A. degree Magna cum laude from Harvard University on June 10, and has been elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. .

James E. Hannon, Perkins '29, mem- ber of the Massachusetts House of Rep- resentatives, on April 21, according to the BOSTON HERALD, took over the Speaker's gavel and presided over the House. According to the news item, "the House gave Hannon an ovation".

Mrs. Mabel Knowles Gage, who had

been a Trustee of Perkins since 1933. died on Sunday, May 16. Throughout her life, Mrs. Gage showed great per- sonal interest in the blind. She was one of the early Trustees of the Ameri- can Foundation for the Blind, and a valued officer of the National Braille Press.

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MAUD HOWE ELLIOTT

The End of Ad Era

THE DEATH OF MAUD HOWE ELLIOTT on March 19 marked not only the loss of a great and distinguished woman, but also the close of a remarkable era. The youngest daughter of Samuel Gridley Howe, the first Director of Perkins, she lived to be ninety-three years old — a long expanse of years during which mo- mentous events took place. In all of them Mrs. Elliott took an active and alert interest, and in many of them she exercised a dominant part. Her many books tell the story of the events of these times, and her passing away marks the end of the era in which they occurred.

To get a full understanding of the life of Mrs. Elliott one must know something of her distinguished parents. Samuel Gridley Howe was not married when he undertook the organization of the first school for the blind in this country, immediately after his return from participation in the Greek Revolution. He was a colorful char- acter, interested in all good works, and was one of that group of men of the first half of the nineteenth century, who, because of their activities and interests were called "philanthropists."

It was after his great achievement with Laura Bridgman, first deaf-blind mute to be taught the use of language, that he met and was married to Julia Ward, a social beauty from New York. Mrs. Howe added lustre to the family name and rose to be one of the greatest women of that era, always engaged in great causes and ever crusading for the rights of people. Many of the causes in which she was interested are now forgotten, but Julia Ward Howe will always be remembered as the author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Dr. and Mrs. Howe had six children, three of whom retained life-long interest in Perkins Institution. The eldest daughter, Julia, accompanied her father to Greece at the time of the Cretan Insurrec- tion in 1867. On this mission she met Michael Anagnos, the young Greek who assisted Dr. Howe and who came back to Perkins to follow the story-book pattern of marrying the boss' daughter and later suc- ceeding him to become the second Director of Perkins in 1876.

While the daughter Laura was not as closely associated with the affairs of Perkins as her sister Julia, she did retain a constant interest

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

NEW LIBRARY PLANS

PLANS HAVE BEEN PREPARED for securing the much needed space for library services and it is hoped that the work will be completed this summer. Instead of erecting a new building especially for the library and other facilities space will be found through extensions and rearrangements within the Howe Building. Two new extensions providing rooms ninety feet long and eighteen feet wide with windows along the river side, will be built over the two terraces in the rear of Howe Building adjacent to the library on one side and Dwight Hall on the other side. The new rooms will be entered from the lobbies just outside of the library and Dwight Hall and will be used as reading and study rooms, each adequate in size to accommodate the boys' school and the girls' school.

The present library will be arranged, after the removal of the reading tables therein, so that stacks reaching up to the ceiling can be placed in the lower end. They will provide shelving for ten thous- and volumes of embossed and recorded books, and will make it pos- sible to keep the whole library within the school building. Space for the Harvard Class will be provided in the former girls' assembly room and the recreation center for the staff will be in the Board Room. The administration offices are to be grouped in the area now used for class rooms for the deaf blind. Class room space for this department will be provided in the cottage in which the pupils live.

MAP-OF-THE-MONTH

JON VAN DEMARK of the eighth grade braille class in the Sheridan Junior High School in Minneapolis won the first prize ($10) in the essay contest sponsored by the Howe Memorial Press to mark the issuance of the one hundredth map-of-the-month in the month of May. The contest was open to all blind high school pupils who were invited to write an essay on the subject "What the braille map-of-the-month teaches me." Jon felt that its great value to him was that it enabled him to keep up with events of importance in the world. These maps with accompanying texts in braille have been prepared month by month since December, 1937 by Edward J. Waterhouse, now manager of the Howe Memorial Press. The May map embossed with dots and lines depicted the countries of Western Europe and the text told of the Marshall Plan.

— 4 —

UTTtNG /SO JJBfTAClE

COVf?A6£OUS ev/s

Reprinted by permission from the Boston Herald, May 16. 1948 HIGH POINTS AT THE TRACK MEET

VIRGINIA WINS MEET

THE TRACK TEAM of the Virginia School for the Blind, spear- headed by Roland Fenwick who took four firsts, won permanent possession of the trophy offered by the Eastern Athletic Asso- ciation of Schools for the Blind at the annual track meet held at Perkins on Saturday, May 15. Teams of seven men each representing eight of the ten schools composing the association took part in the meet. Events in contest were broad and high standing jumps, hop, step and jump, three consecutive jumps, shot put, fifty and seventy- five yard dashes. The final scores were Virginia 21% points, Over- brook 191/!,, Perkins 12, New York 8, Maryland 6, Batavia and Connec- ticut 5 each. West Virginia won no points.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

SCHOLARSHIPS which entitle the holders to a year of graduate study at Perkins Institution have been awarded for next year to Gladys Weisenborn of the Overbrook School, Nila Hansen of the Idaho School, George Illingworth of the Michigan School and Nicholas di Caprio of the East High School of Cleveland.

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GRADUATION JUNE 15, 1948

GRADUATION EXERCISES were held on Tuesday, June 15, at three o'clock. Three boys and four girls who have completed the requirements for graduation from high school were award- ed diplomas. Four young men received certificates indicating that they are now qualified as pianoforte tuners. Two girls received Manual Training Department certificates and another was awarded a certificate of proficiency from the Commercial Department. The diplomas and certificates were awarded by Dr. Reginald Fitz, Presi- dent of the Corporation.

The commencement address was made by the Rev'd John Crocker, Litt. D., Headmaster of Groton School. The invocation was given by the Rev'd L. Wendell Hughes, Minister of the First Unitarian Parish in Watertown. At the graduation exercises, the chorus sang three anthems under the direction of Mr. Bauguss, and the organ prelude and postlude were rendered by Edward W. Jenkins, F.T.C.L. of the music faculty. Following the graduation exercises, a reception was held in the Museum where friends and Perkins staff members had opportunity to meet and congratulate the graduates.

PANAGHIOTIS THEODOROPOULOS, one of the graduates, is a young man from Greece, who has been at Perkins for two years. Two other young men who have been studying at Perkins during the past two years, are completing their work here. They are Emanuel Kephakis, who has, during the past year taken the Harvard Course, and John Papazoglou, who has studied music and has also received his certificate as a piano tuner. There are two other young men from Greece studying at the Barnes School for the Blind in New Hamp- shire. All five are returning to Greece, to take a part in providing trained leadership for the blind of their homeland.

CERTIFICATES WERE AWARDED to five members of the Harvard Class who have completed the requirements of the courses offered by the Graduate School of Education of Harvard University and conducted at Perkins Institution.

T

HE SENIOR CLASS colors are red, gold and blue. The flower is the red rose, and the motto is "Not what we give, but what we share."

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FROM OUR MAIL

"We believe you have not forgotten the three Brazilian girls that visited you last year. We spent the most wonderful days at Perkins learning from the experience that the first school for blind in America can give. We are now working very hard trying to spread what we learned in your coun- try." D. M. G., Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"We not only enjoy reading THE LANTERN, but covet the privilege now and again of quoting from it in our MEMBERSHIP NEWS. . . May we have permission to use "The Human Eye" which appeared in the March 15 issue, and "Are Residential Schools Doomed" in the issue of September 15, 1947. Proper credit will be given of course.'1 A. M., Baltimore.

"I was keenly interested in the last number of THE LANTERN in which someone wrote of the pupils being shown the specimens in the school museums and also many natural objects with a view to stimulating their interest in the world outside themselves. I can- not tell you how heartily I believe in this phase of education." A. T, New Hampshire.

"I want to express my warmest thanks for your continued generosity in send- ing us a Braille copy of THE LANTERN each quarter. I always look forward to the arrival of this magazine with great interest, and should miss it a lot if it were no longer available". J. J., London.

"While visiting at Perkins, I received an excellent impression of the school and I feel that I have learned a great deal. But most notably present was an ineffable feeling of "goodness" about which I can say nothing." E. Z., Jeru- salem.

FROM THE PRESS

Josephine Marrama, Perkins junior, was featured in a special article in the Boston Herald by Rudolph Elie, Jr. on April 6. She was the guest of Fred Lowery on his program at the Hotel Statler in Boston on April 9, where she sang two numbers which she had sung at the Perkins Pops Concerts.

Richard Clark of the Upper School received favorable mention in the BOSTON HERALD of May 9 regarding the part he took in a chess competition at the Boston City Club on April 24. The writer of the article was impressed by Richard's ability to play chess and "amazed" by the fact that he "kept his score flawlessly in Braille."

Wayne Moody, Perkins '44, is the author of an interesting article, "God Is Now My Shepherd" published in the May 6, 1948 issue of the CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

Priscilla Blakely, Perkins '47, is the subject of a special article in the BOS- TON GLOBE, of May 6. The article tells of Priscilla's successful work at Jackson College as well as her other interests, including membership in a sorority.

William H. Burke, who left Perkins in 1943, had his picture in the WORCESTER TELEGRAM of April 4, as he was getting set to bowl in a tournament being held in Worcester. In the trials of that day, Bill bowled 735 according to the news report.

Luis Julio Suarez, member of the 1946-47 Harvard Class, according to a news release of Pan American World Airways, flew from Havana, his home, to Buenos Aires in April. Suarez has won a scholarship offered by the Argen- tine government. In Argentina he will study local methods of instruction for the sightless and also lecture on psy- chology for two years.

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MAUD HOWE ELLIOTT

(Continued from Page 3) in the School even after her marriage to Mr. Henry Richards which caused her to live in Gardiner, Maine. Mrs. Richards endeared her- self to all at Perkins not only because of her lovable nature, but through her many books that thrilled blind children as much as they did the seeing children throughout the world who loved to read them.

The youngest daughter Maud, however, claimed that she was the only true child of Perkins because she was born at the Institution in South Boston. She traveled a great deal with her parents, and while she was too young to go on the trip to Crete, she did accom- pany her parents to Santo Domingo. She enjoyed many interesting trips throughout the country with her celebrated parents, including visits to the White House. Her marriage in 1887 to Mr. John Elliott, the distinguished artist, took her away from the Institution, and her life thereafter led to many interesting parts of the world.

To know fully the wonderful life of Mrs. Elliott one should read her book THREE GENERATIONS. In this book she states, "I can claim no credit for having been born the daughter of my famous parents, but a good deal of credit for my choice of a husband." As Mrs. John Elliott, the youngest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Gridley Howe added distinction to the family fame. After the death of her husband Mrs. Elliott made her home in Newport where the family had maintained a summer home for generations. During the latter years of her life she wove herself into the heart of that com- munity, being founder of the Art Association and interested in all good works.

Mrs. Elliott also continued her father's interest in the Greeks, and at celebrations of her birthday, or other occasions to honor her, the Greeks were always present adding color by their costumes. Until old age made travel difficult she came every year to the Howe Memorial Exercises at Perkins, and always brightened them with her cheer and thrilled the pupils by the stories that she could tell of the "Doctor" and of many incidents in the early school life which she shared so intimately. It is remarkable to think that there should have lived in 1948 one who could remember and tell vividly of Dr. Howe's first achievements with the Greeks in the 1820's, and of his establishment of Perkins in the 1830's. Mrs. Elliott's life covered nearly a century, and her passing marks the close of an era the like of which living man shall not see again. G. F.

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS 1 INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVIII.. NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 15, 194 8

A Notable Achievement

GREETINGS once more are extended to a neighbor. The Na- tional Braille Press has completed twenty-one years of notable service to the blind and is observing that anniversary in con- nection with the dedication of its new home in Boston on October 20, 21, 22. Perkins wishes to extend its congratulations and to express appreciation along with many others throughout the country for the many services which have been rendered by the National Braille Press. We also wish to congratulate them on their splendid new building, amply large for present services and with room for the expansion that is bound to come to such an enterprising organization.

During the first world war, Francis B. Ierardi, Perkins 1908, felt the need for blind people to have the news under their fingers. From this feeling of need has grown the National Braille Press. While he has gathered about him a notable group of directors and also a fine corps of workers, many of whom are volunteers, the inspiration ana the leadership comes directly from Mr. Ierardi himself. It is his dream fulfilled, and few men are able to see the realization of an aim so effective as the Press has become. This is the more remarkable in that the direction of the Press is an "after hours" venture, for Mr. Ierardi continues to fulfill his duties as senior field worker for the Division of the Blind.

Recognition of Mr. Ierardi's achievement has reached far, and acknowledgement of his contribution to the blind is to be made this fall, when the American Foundation for the Blind will award him the Migel Medal, which is granted annually to an outstanding blind person. On this, too, we extend congratulations to Mr. Ierardi.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

JzctsW**^ 7?oA*j^

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Sixteen girls attended Camp Allen, Bedford, New Hampshire, which is run by the Kiwanis Club of Boston.

Three boys attended summer camps through the generosity of the Boston Aid to the Blind and the Catholic Guild for the Blind.

The Perkins Alumnae Association is

planning a game party and sale to be held in Dwight Hall on October 15. Proceeds are to supplement the Scholar- ship Fund.

Miss Rosanna D. Thorndike was elect- ed a Trustee of Perkins at a meeting of the Board on June 15. Miss Thorn- dike was a member of the Board before going to France to work during the war. Her father was for many years Treasurer of Perkins.

Thirteen members of the Perkins staff attended the convention of the Ameri- can Association of Instructors of the Blind held in Austin, Texas, June 21 to 25. A review of the program shows that eleven papers or addresses were by Perkins' people.

Perkins teachers during the summer received a 5% bonus on their annual salaries, and an advance of 10% has been made on all teachers' salaries for the coming year. Two years ago, teach- ers' salaries formerly paid on a ten months' basis were put on a twelve months' basis.

Dr. Muriel S. Anderson, Perkins, 1916, a successful osteopath in David City, Nebraska, who came to Perkins for the Alumnae Association reunion in June, remained over to visit friends. On June 25, she was seriously injured when struck by an automobile in Medford. She is still a hospital patient and is making slow but encouraging recovery.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Jeanne Bryant, Perkins '48, is now Ediphonist at the Newton College of the Sacred Heart.

Faye George, Perkins '46. and now a junior at Middlebury College, is the recipient for the second time of the scholarship awarded annually by the Alumnae Association of Perkins.

Ruth Hayden, Perkins '13, Boston University '41, for many years teacher of the blind at the State Infirmary, is now teaching at the Northern Colony and Training School. Chippewa Falls. Wisconsin.

Lorraine Gaudreau, Perkins '47, has completed the Freshman year at the College of Liberal Arts, Syracuse Uni- versity, with a better than B average, according to a letter received by Perkins from the Dean.

Mary Burchey Perry, who left Per- kins in 1931, has opened in Newport a cottage school where she gives instruc- tion to seeing young people in type- writing. The school is described in a special article in the BOSTON POST MAGAZINE of August 1.

Francis M. Andrews, Superintendent of the Maryland School for the Blind and for seventeen years Principal at Perkins, was elected the next President of the American Association of In- structors of the Blind at the convention in Austin, Texas, in June.

The Excelsior Club of Massachusetts is staging a musical review and special features program in the Somerville High School auditorium on Wednesday eve- ning, October 20. Part of the proceeds, are for the American Overseas Founda- tion for the Blind.

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NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS By Francis B. Ierardi

DURING THE EARLY DAYS of World War I when momentous things were taking place and world news was in the making, I realized for the first time how inadequate was the source of information for those who could not read daily newspapers or weekly reviews. The blind and deaf-blind were dependent upon others to keep them posted on what was going on about them. Naturally this medium of information was colored with personal opinions and the Braille reader could not discuss very intelligently topics of the day.

After joining the staff of the Massachusetts Division of the Blind, my contact with other blind people through the state revealed many who, like myself, wondered why someone could not sponsor a Braille weekly newspaper. This made me realize more fully the urgent need for such a periodical, and in 1927 it was decided to launch an experimental weekly for Massachusetts. To carry on such an experiment for three months, it was necessary to obtain $500.00. The Massachusetts Association for Promoting the Interests of the Adult Blind gave $200.00 and the late Mrs. Homer Gage of Worcester, then President of the Worcester County Association for the Blind, furnished the additional $300.00 needed to launch the venture. Perkins Institution loaned us the equipment and provided space in the old workshop in South Boston. Thus on March 17, 1927, the first issue of THE WEEKLY NEWS was published.

Word of this new publication soon spread throughout the other states and requests for the magazine were greater than we, with our meager funds, could possibly fill. At the end of our experimental period, the circulation had increased from two hundred to six hun- dred copies. Perkins Institution furnished sufficient funds to complete the year. A campaign to raise funds was so successful that our ven- ture grew by leaps and bounds and with this growth came greater responsibility for me. As I felt that this was too much for one per- son to assume, I undertook to enlist the interest of a few public spirit- ed citizens who would be willing to incorporate the project. This was accomplished in May, 1929.

In 1930, we launched a woman's magazine, OUR SPECIAL, which is to my best knowledge, the only woman's magazine published in Braille in the world. A few years later, we developed a third periodi-

( Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH YEAR

CLASSES RESUME on the date of this issue, September 15, for the one hundred and eighteenth year. The staff returned on Monday the 13th, and the pupils came on Tuesday the 14th. Upon return all were impressed by the important changes that have been made during the summer. As reported in the June issue of THE LANTERN, two extensions have been built to the Howe Build- ing, one adjoining the library and the other adjoining Dwight Hall. These large rooms with windows looking over the river are to be reading rooms for boys and girls respectively.

During the summer, progress has continued with reasonable satisfaction, but it has not been possible to complete all of the work. In a few weeks, however, the final interior arrangements will be completed and the rooms used for their planned purpose. Walled in silver gray with dark gray rubber tiling on the floor and an arched acoustical ceiling they will make attractive and comfortable study halls. Gray metal chairs with light green backs and seats add spots of color. At the end of each hall are talking 'book facilities, and in one hall is a fully equipped room for recording.

Work within the library has been practically completed. This called for moving the former stacks closer together and building at the lower end a balcony which provides shelving on two levels. This new space allows the stacking of 10,000 Braille and Talking Book volumes. During the summer while these changes were being made, the library continued to serve its large number of readers throughout New England. Stacks were set up temporarily in Dwight Hall, where the books were housed while the changes were underway. This sum- mer the library service reached a new high peak, and in one week almost one hundred volumes per day were sent out to readers.

WORKSHOP CHANGES

THE WORKSHOP in South Boston is now undergoing changes which will vitally affect its future program. Since the con- struction of the large modern plant, it has housed the Workshop for the renovating of mattresses and other work by blind persons,

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Mattress Makers at Workshop

The Workshop at South Boston

the Howe Memorial Press, and the Na- tional Braille Press. The work of the Work- shop and the Howe Press has been under the direction of Frank C. Bryan, who on Oc- tober 1 is to retire after forty years of fine constructive lead- ership.

To succeed Mr. Bryan as manager of

the Workshop, Fred G. Marsh has been selected. He began work in August and brings to the Workshop a wide experience in business, and a personal interest in people, which promise the leadership needed to carry out an expanding program. The removal of the National Braille Press to its new building a year ago and the transfer of the remaining part of the Howe Press from South Boston to Watertown gives ample space for new developments and will enable the Workshop to provide employment for blind persons on a much larger scale than formerly.

OFFICE AND OTHER CHANGES

AS PART of the plan to secure the facilities that were to be included in the proposed separate building for the library, a con- siderable change in the offices has been made during the sum- mer. The section of the Howe Building formerly used by the Deaf- Blind Department for classrooms has been entirely redesigned to in- clude all the administrative offices. The similar area on the other side of the building has been redesigned to make more space for the in- creased business operations brought about by the transfer to Water- town of considerable work done in the Treasurer's office in Boston. These changes will bring together in one area offices formerly distri- buted about the building, and will add greatly to the efficiency of opera- tion. The Board Room formerly used by the Director as an office is be- ing entirely redecorated for use as the teachers' recreational lounge. New furniture and hangings have been installed, and a small adjoining

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room has been equipped with a combination gas stove, sink and refrigerator. This will provide a very pleasant center for staff mem- bers to gather and to build up a closer community life.

A NEW CURRICULUM

THE UPPER SCHOOL this year will operate under a curriculum which was planned during the past year by a committee made up of several members of the faculty. The Upper School course of study is divided into Junior High of three years and Senior High of four years. Most of the work in the Junior High is required and is exploratory of pupils' aptitudes and interests. The Senior High course of study is built around a core of general education areas re- quired of all pupils and supplemented by a large choice of specialized subjects. Most of these are prevocational but definite vocational training is offered in three fields: pianoforte tuning, pianoforte nor- mal, and the commercial course. Increasing emphasis is being placed upon guidance, consumer education and orientation broadly con- ceived in order to enable our pupils better to meet practical life problems. A two year sequence in salesmanship courses will be added to the program this year. For graduation a pupil must secure a minimum of eighty unit credits in four years.

THE PERKINS BRAILLER

THE PREPARATION for large production of the Perkins' Brailler is progressing although it is impeded by difficulties in getting precision parts and by problems in developing tooling. Mr. Abraham, its inventor, was in England during the summer and had opportunity to compare problems with those working on a new writer over there. Mr. Waterhouse demonstrated the Perkins' Brailler at the AAIB and the AAWB conventions, and many orders have been received. At the latter convention a demonstration was televised.

CHINESE VALUES

THE NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS sent through The Howe Press, ten Braille slates to a person in China. Receipt was acknowledged with a statement that customs duty amounted to TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS!! ($4.50 U. S. money)

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OBITUARY

Elwyn H. Fowler who passed away on July 29 was such a modest man, that few who knew him in his later years could recognize the greatness of his early contribution to the field of the blind. Graduating from Perkins in 1889, he went to live in Worcester where he established a fine private practice in pianoforte tuning, and he also secured the contract for the servicing of all pianos in the Worcester public schools. In 1911 he came to Perkins to become the head of the Tuning Department. Many of the young men who have taken the piano tuning course owe their suc- cess and livelihood to the competent teaching of Mr. Fowler.

The "battle of the types" was raging furiously at the time of Mr. Fowler's schooling and the years of his early professional life. He took an active in- terest in this contest and was through- out his life a firm believer in the supe- rior efficiency of the American Braille. It is reported that he frequently re- ferred to the final uniform type as "that British Braille". Despite his personal opinion, Mr. Fowler was one of the chief workers for uniformity. Henry Randolph Latimer in his book states, "The real credit for initiating and focusing the uniform type movement in America must, forever and unequivocally, go to Mr. and Mrs. Elwyn H. Fowler ..." and others whom he named.

Mr. Fowler was a member of the first committee appointed by the American Association of Workers for the Blind in 1905 to communicate with the English Braille Committee, and to work with them toward a final solution. The late Mrs. Fowler, as secretary of the com- mittee, also made a very great contri- bution to this cause, the final success of which has meant so much in provid- ing the uniform type which all English speaking people enjoy today.

NEW TEACHERS

Winifred G. Ellis, Mount Holyoke, '13, teacher of commercial subjects.

Margaret G. Bigelow, Bridgewater Teachers College, '47, last year teacher in the Iowa School for the Blind, teach- er of physical education for girls in the Upper School.

Bernard T. Barbeau, New England Conservatory of Music, '48, for a time in the Army, voice teacher in the Upper School.

Margaret F. Bishop, Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing, '48, and who previously attended Pennsyl- vania College for Women and Massa- chusetts State College, resident nurse.

Adeline Dale, Jamestown College, North Dakota, for more than three years communications officer U. S. Navy, teacher of physical education in the Lower School.

Nancy C. Jones, Wheelock College, '48, teacher of kindergarten in the Lower School.

Emily E. Greene, Nursery Training School of Boston, and Boston Univer- sity, teacher in the Lower School.

Marion K. Liversidge, Modern School of Fashion and Design, teacher of sew- ing and practical arts.

Samuel E. Price, University of Massa- chusetts '48, teacher of physical educa- tion and poultry.

Maurie Edelstein, Indiana University '48, assistant in psychology. Mrs. Edel- stein will teach in the Upper School.

Patricia M. Huddleston, Western Michigan College, '48, teacher of deaf- blind.

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NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS

(Continued from Page 31 cal, THE HOME TEACHER, a magazine for home teachers and social workers of the blind. After a few years we were sufficiently organized to publish Braille periodicals for other private organizations and to- day we are embossing and printing nine separate magazines. Our monthly production is 29,161 volumes of Braille material, reaching the blind throughout the English speaking world.

In the early days of . /oriel War II, the American Red Cross felt it necessary to discontinue its training program for Hand Braille transcribers, in order to carry on more urgently needed projects. Friends and associates of the National Braille Press realized that blind students in the field of higher education were dependent upon such a group of workers for brailled material which was not obtain- able from the printing houses, and in 1943 the National Braille Press decided to sponsor a program for the training of volunteer Hand Braille transcribers. To date, we have trained approximately 1250 students, 228 of whom are certified.

It is obvious that such production could not be carried on in the limited space at our disposal in the Perkins Workshop in South Boston. A suitable building for our activities at 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, was purchased in December, 1946, and has been occupied for more than a year. The additional space in the new plant is a great improvement in assisting the workers to get out the periodicals on schedule. Our purpose in accepting the work for other organiza- tions is to provide steady employment for the blind and it is earn- estly hoped that more people can be taken on as our funds permit further expansion.

When the National Braille Press was incorporated, some felt that it was a duplicating effort, but those of us who had the responsibility of encouraging this organization felt that there was room for such a plant if it did not attempt to compete with existing printing houses. It has always been the policy of this organization not to compete in any way with other printing houses but to give the blind reading material that is unobtainable elsewhere. It is our intention to continue this policy even though we may expand further in the field of Braille periodicals. What success the National Braille Press, Inc. has achieved during the twenty-one years of its existence, it owes to the friends of the blind and to my Alma Mater.

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The gLantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVIII.. NO. 2 rffc DECEMBER 1 5. 1 948

Leadership In Our Field

BLIND LEADERSHIP of the blind was discussed on this page a year ago. In this issue we should like to talk about general leader- ship in our field. There seems at the present time to be a growing competition as to who will have the opportunity and the responsibility for formulating and directing programs for the blind. For a hundred years leadership of work for the blind has been in the hands of educators. More recently there is a growing ascendency of leadership of social workers, and now arising on the horizon is a new group who feel that they have a contribution to make — the rehabilitation workers. These facts make us believe that the time has come when those interested in the blind should fairly face this varied leadership and at least make it cooperative rather than competitive.

We are not minimizing the contribution the social case work- ers can make within their field of helping persons in need, but when they feel competent to determine the educational program for blind children without consulting school men, we are concerned. There is also the danger that social work leadership may throw the em- phasis on the receiving end. Educators have as their goal contribu- tory service. This is historic and must be maintained. In accom- plishing this the rehabilitation workers have something definite to offer for expanded legislation in this field makes possible wide oppor- tunity for special training. With all these facilities and by working together we should build up a leadership which will provide our people not only with training to become contributory, but with the idealism that "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Musical events this fall included an interesting recital on two pianos by Andrew Heath, Jr. and Karl Kohn, ac- companists of the Harvard Glee Club on the evening of October 22, and a thirty piece Veterans Orchestra under the leadership of Sayard Stone, on the evening of November 8.

A football banquet marking the close of the inter-cottage series of games was held on the evening of November 9, in Moulton Cottage. The Director's Cup was presented to Eliot Cottage, the win- ner, and a most interesting talk was given by Nils "Swede" Nelson, former Harvard football coach.

A Chess Tournament is now waging between the Perkins Chess Club and the chess club of the California School for the Blind, with the United States Postal Service coordinating the moves.

THE LANTERN editorial, "Are Resi- dential Schools Doomed" of the Septem- ber 1947 LANTERN, was reprinted in the August 1948 issue of THE CHRON- ICLE of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind.

Marion A. Woodworth, Registrar at Perkins has an article "The One Hun- dred Books that best interpret America" in the November ''Outlook for the Blind."

A new calendar featuring the Chil- dren of the Silent Night has been distri- buted in the annual appeal for the deaf-blind.

The deaf-blind pupils with their teachers visited the Boston School for the Deaf in Randolph on November 18.

Mrs. Agnes Stone Hayes, the wife of Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, director of the Department of Personnel and Research, and formerly Professor of Psychology at Mt. Holyoke College passed away suddenly on October 29.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Dr. Edward E. Allen, Director Emeri- tus, has written an article on his early days in the Royal Normal College in the October OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND, and an article on early sight- saving classes in the November issue of THE TOWERS, published by the Overbrook School.

Dr. Ras Mohun Haider, member of the Harvard Class in '31-'32, has pub- lished a second book, "Society and the Visually Handicapped". Dr. Haider is now associated with the Office of Edu- cation in the Government of India.

Cora Withrow, Perkins '34, while vis- iting in New York in September, won the jackpot with fifty gifts in a radio broadcast by correctly answering the question, "What was the longest num- ber of years the world has been without a war"? (Answer 300.)

Pauline M. Moor, field worker for pre- school blind children at the Eye and Ear Infirmary and associated with Perkins in the summer schools, has an article on the educational service for the blind child of pre-school age in the October issue of OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND.

Merrill Maynard, Perkins '38, is the editor of a book of poetry by blind persons — "They Sing In The Night," published under the direction of the Braille Poets' Guild.

Priscilla Blakely, Perkins '47. a fresh- man at Jackson College, was awarded the Greenwood Oratory prize at an honors ceremony held at Tufts College on November 3.

Lester Stott, Perkins '33, has become a senior worker in the office of the Massachusetts Division of the Blind.

William E. Powers, Perkins '32, was elected in November to the office of Attorney General in Rhode Island.

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THE YOUNG BLIND AND NEW HORIZONS

By Gabriel Farrell

A contribution to the panel discussion of Community Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Blind at the Convention of the National Rehabilitation Association at Madison. Wisconsin. December 9, 1948.

THE GROWING PROGRAM of Vocational Rehabilitation and its special facilities for the visually handicapped has a definite bearing upon the education of the young blind even though it is planned primarily for the adult blind. It offers new horizons em- blazoned with hope even though it says to the schools "keep your eyes fixed on the center." These demarcations, however, are organiza- tional and must not be functional because both Rehabilitation workers and Educators know there must be continuous lines of growth from infancy to old age, from early habit training through job competency and completion. Historically, all work for the blind in this country stems from education and the conviction that with schooling, a blind person can take a contributory place in life. We are not sure that that historic position has been maintained, and if not, it is for two rea- sons: Schools for the blind (1) have not done enough, and (2) have tried to do too much.

Vocational Rehabilitation enters the field new, fresh and well financed. It affords the opportunity for schools to overcome these two weaknesses. It says to school men (1) "Keep your eyes and your efforts at the center. Do better work there." (2) "Leave the horizons to us and don't try to do things in that area because we can do them better." In other words, do a superior job with the young blind. Drill them well in the core subjects, teach them to face life hopefully, early find their aptitudes and head them on their way. Then Reha- bilitation will take over and by guidance, specialized training and placement, speed them onward toward the bright horizons of life- work and happiness.

To accomplish this successfully, there must be no "no man's land" where the change in leadership takes place, as there has been in the past, nor any break in the transition from one agency to the other. There must be co-operation, or better still integration. School men must look ahead to know the open fields and the job opportunities. The "Rehabs" must come to the schools and learn to know those who will be their clients. In many ways they can give practical help. There

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JUNIOR RED CROSS AT PERKINS

AS THE CHRISTMAS season draws near members of the Junior Red Cross all over the nation are packing gift boxes to send to boys and girls overseas. Although these boxes appear to be very small, it is possible to fill them with many useful articles such as pencils, paper, pins, toothbrushes and small toys. At Perkins the girl and boy who represent the school at the meetings of the Boston Chapter of the Junior Red Cross are responsible for the gift boxes. In the Upper School the student councilor in each cottage with the assistance of one or more of his cottage mates fills the boxes, and fifteen have been turned over to the Red Cross representatives. The children of the Lower School raised enough money to fill thirteen boxes. Some of this money was raised by a group of children who sold candy bars, thus gaining a sense of the importance of money and one unselfish use to which it may be put.

Mary Ethel Bull '48

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LIBRARY CHANGES

THE PERKINS LIBRARY for many years cramped and crowded, now enjoys ample storage and working space. The new gallery erected in the rear third of the library with metal shelves on the floor and balcony levels, gives addi- tional space for 25,000 volumes. With this new area, and the extensive space for shelving in the basement, the library can now accommodate over 50,000 volumes in both recorded and embossed form. In addition, there are in the teachers' li- brary, in the old balcony, at the front of the li- brary nearly 10,000 volumes of ink print books. In the reference library housed beyond the stacks in a fireproof room is the valuable reference li- brary with over 7,000 volumes in nineteen lan- guages, the greatest collection of material about the blind in the world. Since the opening of school these new facilities have been organized so that the library is now functioning in high order. Be- sides serving the school, the library is one of the circulating centers for books provided by the Li-

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brary of Congress for the adult blind of the New England area. Total circulation last year was 34,728 volumes, of which 16,324 were out- side of the school.

LIBRARIAN CHANGES

A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP is now to follow the changes in facilities for the library. Miss Mary Esther Sawyer, who has been associated with Perkins since 1911, is retiring from active duty on December 31, 1948. Miss Sawyer first came to Perkins as teacher of physical education in the girls' school. She went to Wash- ington to do war work during World War I and remained there until 1925, returning to Perkins to take up the position of Librarian. Dur- ing all these years she has given loyal and devoted service, and al- though she will be missed, her many friends feel that she is entitled to freedom from many duties involved.

Miss Sawyer is to be succeeded by Nelson Coon, the present Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. In addition to the duties which his title implies, Mr. Coon has done a notable service in reorganizing the Perkins Museum and developing Exhibits of the Month, which have attracted na- tion-wide attention both in schools for the blind and among museums. It is expected that he will carry some of these modern plans of widening use over to the library. Mr. Coon has written several articles on museums and library work, but in the field of writing is chiefly known for his authoritative books on horticulture. For some years he has written columns in leading mag- azines in the horticultural field. Miss Woodworth, who has been in the library for ten years is now the school registrar, and has been succeeded in the library by Mrs. Julia Edelstein. Miss Florence J. Worth ably and quietly carries on her work in the library, where she has been since 1921.

D

PUBLIC SPEAKING ALE CARNEGIE, author of the current best seller "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living," and the book "How to Win

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Friends and Influence People," spoke at Perkins to the Upper School pupils and staff on Thursday afternoon, November 18. Mr. Carnegie came to Perkins because of his interest in the fact that his course in public speaking is being given at Perkins, the first class being Mon- day, November 15. The class is made up of the post graduates, sen- ior and junior boys and the course will continue for sixteen weeks. It is the regular course sponsored by Mr. Carnegie, and will be in- structed by one of his trained teachers. Effective speaking will be stressed, together with the acquirement of poise and instruction in how to organize facts for presentation.

COURSE CORRELATION

THE JUNIOR CLASS course in American literature and the course in United States history have been planned by the two teachers, Miss Carpenter and Mr. Stone, to correlate. Programs have been arranged so that the classes will be working on the same historical period at the same time. In order to correlate even further several field trips are being planned so that the pupils will have the advantage of an acquaintance on the spot with places involved in both American literature and history. Already two trips have been taken. The first was to the Old North Church, Paul Revere's house, the Old State House and other points of historical interest in Boston. The second trip was to the Charlestown Navy Yard, where the classes visited the frigate "Constitution" and also went to Bunker Hill.

LARGE MATTRESS ORDER

THE LARGEST ORDER for mattresses ever received is now in the works at the Workshop in South Boston. Three hundred and sixty-two mattresses and 374 pillows have been ordered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for use in the Senior Dormi- tory now under construction. This building is one of the most unique ever designed for collegiate use. The mattresses have inner springs which are provided by the Webster Spring Company.

A

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

RECENT LETTER referred to Perkins as "The Frances Per- kins School for the Blind." An overseas journal in our field made reference to us as "Peck's Institute for the Blind".

THE YOUNG BLIND AND NEW HORIZONS

(Continued from Page 3) is need for testing, guidance and job analysis for which few schools have adequate facilities. There are other forms of mutual helpful- ness which should be explored and which will make continuous the advance from school boy to working man, from the center to the horizon.

My part in this panel is to suggest the schools' role in this pro- cess of growth. Rehabilitation, I feel, can first relieve the schools of the "too much" which we have tried to do in the past. We have tried to introduce definite vocational training, and to develop our pupils to employment status in specialized skills. Except in a few well-established areas, such as college preparation and pianoforte tuning, I would advise schools for the blind not to attempt to prepare their pupils for definite jobs. Few of our schools can do it adequately. Let us pass that responsibility over to Rehabilitation. They can provide trade training leading to employment either in special schools or "on the job."

If we do this the "Rehabs" can turn to the school men and say, "All right, but we will require you to do a better job with your pupils before sending them to us." Last year a committee of the AAIB of which our Principal, Allan Sherman, happened to be chairman, sent out a questionnaire to seventy vocational rehabilitation agencies ask- ing them to state specifically what they had found to be the weak- nesses of our pupils as they entered the labor market, and to make suggestions as to how schools for the blind could organize their courses so that their pupils, when leaving will make good placement material. The response was good and a vast amount of material was compiled. I have not time to go into further details, but I hope that when the report is published all interested will study it. It is a fine first-step piece of co-operation between our two areas.

A review of this material, however, indicates that the state agencies feel that our pupils are not adequately prepared in orienta- tion, in their personal attitudes and in their basic skills. This is quite an indictment, but it points up our statement that the schools "have tried to do too much" in specialized training, and "have not done enough" in fundamental training. It also definitely indicates the school's function now that it can pass on its vocational training to Rehabilitation.

(Continued on next Page) — 7 —

On the basis of these findings and from our own observance, we feel that our schools and indeed all schools in the primary and elemen- tary years must concentrate on sounder training in the fundamental fields and the basic skills. Western Reserve University is advocating a program of Basic Arts, which they group in two categories, arts of reception and arts of expression. In the former are reading, observ- ing and listening, and in the latter, talking, writing, doing and mak- ing. Perhaps an intensive curriculum stressing these arts is our answer.

Schools for the blind, however, need more than that. The "Rehabs" say we are weak in orientation and attitudes. The former is vital in our field and involves elimination of blindisms, better travel skills, and more effective methods of compensating for loss of sight. This is truly an area where better work must be done. In the area of attitudes, we have against us all of modern life and youth, and here we may have to be on the defensive to protect our young people. Right attitudes, however, must be established, and this is an area where the residential school has the advantage. We must never for- get that in addition to making our pupils economically competent, we must make them well-adjusted and socially acceptable.

The famous Harvard report "General Education in a Free So- ciety" states : "Education seeks to do two things : help young persons fulfill the unique, particular functions in life which it is in them to fulfill, and fit them so far as it can for those common spheres which, as citizens and heirs of a joint culture, they will share with others." President Conant of Harvard, who was responsible for this report, is now advocating a plan which may be worth considering.

He is urging the formation of two-year Junior Colleges with ter- minal courses. These will free the high schools of specialized train- ing and will hold young people in school until they are more mature. Perhaps the time has come to consider such a program for the blind for the two reasons stated and for the added purpose of providing our friends the "Rehabs" with facilities for the specialized training we have calmly assigned to them. Education may then emerge from the center to which it has been relegated. Rehabilitation need not restrict itself to adults. The old "no man's land" may be wiped out, and combining the resources of both groups our young people may have a better chance of reaching the horizons emblazoned with hope.

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The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVIII.. NO. 3

I

k MARCH 15. 1949

The Factor of Selflessness

A PERKINS GRADUATE after reading the December issue of THE LANTERN wrote: "Of special interest to me was the short article on Junior Red Cross at Perkins . . . No other activity that I know of can be so constructive, not only for the pupils at Perkins, but for all school children. Perhaps most important is the fact that true Red Cross membership means that all school children have the opportunity to develop within themselves the factor of selflessness, which is so necessary for a well-balanced attitude. Too, children have a chance to contribute . . . contribution in itself is educational to say the least." ""*

This letter throws out two challenges. Are we developing a "factor of selflessness" and are we providing "a chance to contrib- ute"? The latter is perhaps more apparent than the former. In schools for the blind there is need for so much individual -instruction that we may neglect what pupils can and should do for themselves. It is often easier to do the task than make the child do it himself. In society generally, there is so much readiness to help the blind that the chance for them to contribute is often a losing battle.

The development within themselves of a "factor of selflessness" is not easy for blind persons. For them to be over-concerned with self is understandable. Many become over-cautious, some self- centered, others definitely selfish. These factors of self-interest, how- ever, must not be allowed by the individuals themselves to become the dominant aspects of character. Schools and society generally can and must help our people attain the factor which our writer states "is so necessary for a well-balanced attitude."

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72. Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Girl Scout Troop No. 31 of Perkins recently baked and sold enough cookies to make over twenty dollars. This money will be used to send CARE pack- ages to Kyriaki Nicolaidou in Greece.

Dr. Marinus James of Norwood, well known blind lecturer, spoke before the staff and pupils on February 14 .

The Upper School boys were guests for tea of Simmons College students on Sunday afternoon, February 2 and in re- turn the Simmons Students came to Perkins for a swimming party.

The Upper School girls had a "Shmoo Hop" on Saturday, February 26 with guests from nearby colleges and schools. The younger girls had a party in Ben- nett Cottage the same evening.

The Clergy of Watertown are again speaking at Chapel on Thursday morn- ings during the season of Lent.

Scholarship pupils from schools in this country and from foreign countries are bringing to the pupils at our Tuesday morning assemblies, interest- ing accounts of their parts of the world.

The Lower School had a long week- end from Friday, February 18 through February 22, and The Upper School had a long week-end from Friday, March 4 through Sunday the 6th.

The Lower School pupils broadcast a program of music with some of the children telling of the school and cot- tage life at Perkins on February 26 over station WORL.

An Institute on the care of blind babies was conducted at the Falmouth Hotel, Portland, Maine on February 24. It was presented by the Perkins and the Eye and Ear Infirmary team of specialists in this field.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Four Perkins former pupils are now regularly scheduled for weekly broad- casts over local radio stations.

Ethel I. Parker for several years has been telling of interesting facts about the blind on Thursdays at 1:30 P.M. over station WLAW.

Merrill Maynard of the Braille Poets Guild, reads poetry and tells of Guild activities on Saturday nights at 6:15 over station WVOM.

Edith Maynard began a program Jan- uary 30 called "Let there be Light" which is heard every Monday after- noon at 2:30 over station WNBH.

Gerald S. Paice and Dominick F. Mar- inello are conducting a series of in- terviews with blind persons on Mon- days at 5:00 P.M. over station WBMS.

Edward P. Murphy, Perkins '45, is now a general insurance broker with offices in Worcester.

Robert Giggey, at Perkins from 193S to 1942 has opened a vending stand in the lobby of the Quincy Post Office, assisted by the Massachusetts Associa- tion for Promoting the interests of the Adult Blind.

Francis E. Devino, Perkins '48, has gone to Arizona to join Miguel Ruiz in the business of tuning. "Mike" was a scholarship student here in 1947-43, and received a tuning certificate as did Francis.

Hervey Rainville, Perkins '33. N.E. Conservatory '36, has taken a position with the B.I.A. transcribing division. His headquarters will be San Fran- cisco. He will play a Hammond Organ before schools and clubs to stimulate interest in Braille transcribing.

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THANK YOU, MR. DICKENS

By Edward J. Waterhouse

THE HOWE PRESS of Perkins Institution has recently received $31.65 from Charles Dickens. The history of this gift goes back over eighty years to the days when Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe was Director. In addition to his many other duties, Dr. Howe was personally responsible for raising money for embossing books. It was considered unwise to use Institution funds for some- thing which was for the benefit of blind people everywhere, and so he had to appeal to men and women of means.

The philanthropists of the nineteenth century regarded the blind more seriously than people do today. They could not conceive of them needing any literature other than the most moral. What little money was available for fiction was spent on books with such themes as the evils of alcohol and the triumph of virtues in distress. During its first thirty-eight years of operation the Perkins Printing De- partment produced no work of fiction which would be considered pleasantly readable today.

On February 18, 1868, Dr. Howe sat down to write a long letter to Charles Dickens, then at the height of his fame. Dr. Howe and Perkins Institution were no strangers to Dickens, who had visited the South Boston school in 1842 and published an appreciative ac- count of the fine work Dr. Howe was doing with Laura Bridgman. The letter opened ''Lend me your heart for a moment" and recounted the discouraging history of the first half century of embossed books for the blind in both Europe and America. He explained how the blind needed "happier views of life" than could be found in the "lugubrious food" provided. Would Mr. Dickens make the blind happy by providing the cost of embossing one of his books?

Dr. Howe suggested "A Christmas Carol" but Dickens chose to provide for "The Old Curiosity Shop" which is far longer and ran to three thick volumes in Line Type totaling over six hundred pages. For over fifty years, Dickens' generosity must have given joy to many blind persons, but it is no longer effective.

In spite of its many excellent features, the Boston Line Type which Dr. Howe designed himself during the first few months of his school's history, and which was widely used for almost a century,

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

STUDY HALLS

THE NEW STUDY HALLS erected at the Howe Building ad- joining- the Library and Dwight Hall are now in full use. They are fulfilling a long-felt need for rooms large enough to assemble all the boys and all the girls separately in single rooms for study and reading. The two halls, ninety feet long and twenty feet wide with large windows overlooking the river are attractively finished in silver grey with light green trim. The rooms are ceiled with acoustical plaster and have soft cone lighting with intensive lamps on a few tables for visual work. The tables are topped with non-reflecting grey linoleum, and the grey steel chairs are upholstered in green. Each pupil has a drawer in the study table for paper, slate and stylus, and a section in the wall cases for books. The floors are laid with grey rubber tiles. At the end of each of the rooms there is a section for Talking Book reading. The machines are built in with turn tables and controls in the counter top. Listening is through ear phones, with arm chairs for the readers. Stairs from these two ends of the halls lead to typewriting rooms for those needing these facilities.

WRESTLING as the major winter sport, has brought into training this year twenty-four boys. A full sched- ule made an active season, but the results in terms of victory were not up to hopes. Perkins won in the meet with Attleboro High School, tied with Wellesley High, lost with Browne and Nichols, Needham High, Phillips Academy, Noble and Greenough, Tabor Academy, St. Marks and the New York In- stitute, and took third place in the all blind school tournament which they won last year. While the culminating event was participation with eight other schools in the meet of the Eastern Athletic Association of Schools for the Blind held at Overbrook, Pennsylvania, March 4-5, perhaps one of the most enjoyed was the trip to Phillips Andover Academy. The Student Council at Andover invited the Perkins Chorus to sing at assembly. Fifty boys and girls, members of the chorus, went

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by bus with the wrestlers, gave the concert, lunched with the 750 boys, cheered the Perkins Team, and were escorted about the beau- tiful campus by the Andover boys.

OPERETTAS

TWO OPERETTAS are being offered this term by the Music Department. The children of the Lower School are presenting Hansel & Gretel on Wednesday and Friday evenings, March 30 and April 1. On the evenings of Thursday and Friday, April 7 and 8, the Upper School will produce the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "Patience." This will be in place of the Pop Concerts of previous years. This change has been made to give the pupils a wider ex- perience in musical production and to familiarize them with music of this character. Persons attending may expect the same high quality found in other musical offerings by the Perkins chorus.

DEAF-BLIND

A COURSE FOR PERSONS wishing to teach the deaf-blind is to be held at the Horace H. Rackham School of Special Education of the Michigan State Normal Col- lege, Ypsilanti, Michigan. This will be in- cluded in the extensive program of courses for teachers offered each summer, and will be conducted by Mrs. Maurine Gittzus, M.A., head-teacher of the Deaf-Blind Department at Perkins. There will also be courses for the blind sponsored by the American Founda- tion for the Blind. For qualified students, graduate credit can be obtained through the University of Michigan Graduate Center.

The course will carry two or three hours credit and will be divided into two parts — lectures, and laboratory work. The latter will include actual instruction of deaf-blind children resident at the school and demonstra- tions of accomplishment through a deaf-blind pupil from Perkins. The course is sponsored — 5 —

by Perkins and the Helen Keller Committee for the Deaf-blind of the American Foundation for the Blind. It is hoped that this course will be the means of bringing much-needed, trained personnel into this highly specialized field.

WHILE WRITING of the deaf-blind, readers may be interested in reports recently received on two Children of the Silent Night, who completed their training at Perkins last June. Both of them (Leonard Dowdy and Gloria Shipman) are now back in their home state of Missouri, although Leonard spent from June to December in special training at the Industrial Home for the Blind Workshop in Brooklyn. About Leonard the Missouri authorities wrote :

"Since Mrs. Dowdy (mother) and Leonard both decided that they wish to live on a farm and were able to secure one from Mrs. Dowdy's father-in-law, we feel that we are indeed fortunate in having an ex- cellent Agricultural Counselor for the Blind in our Kansas City office. He plans to see Leonard at least three times a week during the initial processes, and has already trained him in some of the ordinary farm tasks, such as, milking a cow, tending chickens, etc."

And about Gloria:

"She is making a very nice adjustment in her home in St. Louis. We have secured a loom for her . . . She is also doing some knitting which she learned to do at Perkins and was able to secure a price of $20.00 for a white shawl which she knitted. Gloria is surrounded by people who love her and who give her the feeling of being wanted in the home. She helps with the household tasks and seems to be a very normal happy girl."

Robert Smithdas, deaf -blind graduate in June 1946 writes: "College (St. John's, Brooklyn) is still an adventure for me. Early in the autumn, I was made a member of the literary society, Sigma Tau Alpha . . .At the beginning of the year I checked up on my standing in the Junior class and was surprised to find that I stood eighteenth. There are over five hundred and eighty students in this one class. My over-all average for the first two years is eighty-eight.

THE ANNUAL APPEAL for the Children of the Silent Night is bringing a good response. Already 1600 contributions, total- ing $16,500, have been received. Significant is the number of friends who give year by year, but this year there seems to be a larger proportion of new friends. To all — thanks and appreciation.

RECENTLY GREETING Leonard Dowdy I asked my long time opening question — "Are you a good boy?", but immediately corrected it, asking "Are you a grown man?" To which quickly came the answer "Oh, about fifty-fifty."

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FROM OUR MAIL

"The December issue of THE LAN- TERN has just come to my attention and I hasten to congratulate you on the splendid article entitled "The Young Blind and New Horizons". You have indeed stated the problem very well." Washington, D.C.

"I read with interest your article in the December 15 issue of THE LAN- TERN, entitled 'The Young Blind and New Horizons'. We are thankful that the A.A.I.B. committee has gone to considerable effort to supply schools with the answers we badly need to many of our questions." Oklahoma.

"Have read with much interest your article regarding schools and rehabilita- tion workers. I heartily agree with the contents of these articles. . . . Since you have made some study in this subject, I wonder if you could devote a little more time to it and present an article clearly showing the relation- ship which should exist between the schools and vocational rehabilitation workers for the blind." Ohio.

"Your article on the 'Young Blind and New Horizons' is full of excellent suggestions and a very extensive pro- gram is outlined by you both for the schools and the rehabilitation agencies. I want to let you know how much I enjoyed reading this article." Maine.

"I am very glad that those interested in helping the blind toward employment begin to see that it is putting no small burden on the schools to educate the young and then have to hunt up some thing for them to do after preparing

them to do it Workers for the

blind are very right when they say that the young people must be better trained in getting about both in familiar ter- ritory and on the outside, and have also learned where they cannot go alone without help." New Hampshire.

PUBLICATION

Howe Memorial Press is publishing in Braille the digest of "The Hundred Books" made by Marion A. Woodworth and published in the November issue of the "Outlook for the Blind". Eighty- three of these books are in Braille, sixty are recorded and fifty-one are in both media.

Hector Cadavid Alvarez, Harvard Class 1942-43, now a teacher in the Medellin School for the Blind in Co- lombia, has an article in the Mag- azine "Nuestra Ucha" published in that country, which reflects his Perkins training.

Sir Clutha Mackenzie has published a pamphlet "The Braille the Blind Want'' which tells of his efforts to develop a phonetic Braille that will meet the needs of the many languages in India and other Asiatic Countries.

The American Medical Journal for

March contains a report on the in- cidence of Retrolental Fibroplasia in different localities by V. Everett Kinsey, Ph.D. and Leona Zacharias, Ph.D., which gives a very encouraging ac- count of the progress being made in research on this recently discovered cause of blindness among children prematurely born.

Pauline M. Moor's article on "An Educational Service for the Blind Child of Preschool Age", published in the October issue of the "Outlook for the Blind" is now available in reprint form.

Dr, Edward E. Allen's article on his early days in the Royal Normal Col- lege, published in the October issue of "The Outlook for the Blind" was re- printed in the English Magazine the "New Beacon" of January 15, 1949.

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THANK YOU, MR. DICKENS

(Continued from Page 3)

finally bowed before the more compact, more economical and easier- to-read braille system now in general use.

The faded correspondence between Howe and Dickens is in the Perkins files, and is still legible. A set of "The Old Curiosity Shop" in Boston Line Type is still on our shelves and in excellent condition. It is in the museum, however, and not in the library, for there are very few blind people now who could read it. There is a braille edition in current use.

Charles Dickens paid $1700 for embossing 250 copies of his work, but apparently this did not altogether cover the cost. Many copies were distributed free of charge, some of them to "meritorious gradu- ates" of the seventeen schools for the blind then existing in America. Others were sold for cost.

Those were days before free mailing privileges had been granted to blind readers, and before the federal government had assumed the responsibility of supplying them with free books of all kinds. Read- ing was often an expensive luxury, and those who could afford it were expected to purchase their own books. Bound sets of "The Old Curiosity Shop" sold for $15, while sets unbound and packed in cardboard boxes cost half that sum.

For over eighty years the plates Charles Dickens provided have rested in storerooms of the Howe Press. Somehow or other they escaped notice during successive sales of scrap metal. Recently they came to light, and since they no longer had practical value they went with others to the foundry. They weighed over two hundred pounds and brought in $31.65. This seems to close the account.

Thank you again, Mr. Dickens. Your books are now enjoyed in braille and on talking book records, and enjoyed all the more by those who recall your generosity in 1868.

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>

The Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XVIII., NO. 4 JUNE 15, 1949

Welcome to Workers

PERKINS is happy to extend a welcome to the American Associ- ation of Workers for the Blind who are to be in Boston July 18-22

for their annual convention. It is forty-two years since the "Workers" have met in this city. The host for the present convention is the Massachusetts Council of Organizations for the Blind. Perkins is glad to share with this organization in preparing the plans and providing the hospitality to make the stay of our guests profitable and pleasurable. We hope that many of them will visit Perkins.

In the field of the blind there are two outstanding representative organizations, the "Workers", meeting this year, and the "Instruc- tors", who met at Perkins three years ago. The latter group is made up of those who work in the schools for the blind while the former are those who conduct the programs for the adult blind. Attendants at the convention will come from all parts of the country and also from Canada. Papers of value will be presented at the meetings.

Massachusetts has an historic interest in this gathering because the first state program for the adult blind began in this state in 1906. Many of the early activities of the state program were first promoted by Perkins and in this state there has always been close relationship between the programs for children and those for adults. Both the Division and Perkins have a personal interest in the coming conven- tion because Francis B. Ierardi, Perkins '08 and a worker at the Division, is the first vice-president of the AAWB and in charge of the arrangements for the convention. If the normal promotion of officers takes place at the convention, this Boston man will be elected president and will become the head of this great national association of workers for the blind.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Parrbll, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Senior Class dances were held by the girls on Saturday evening May 14 and by the boys on Friday evening, June 3.

The Upper School was entertained on the afternoon of May 5 by a delightful concert by Burl Ives, singer of ballads.

Four girls drove to New York with teachers to spend the weekend of May 6 at the Annual Play Day attended by groups from many schools for the blind.

Six boys with two teachers went to the Overbrook School for the Blind, Philadelphia, on the weekend of April 29.

The Upper School Girls' Council had a party on the afternoon of May 23 for the Lower School girls who are coming to the Upper School next year. Big sisters will be appointed for each of these girls from the Lower School to help them next year.

The Tenth Grade visited on May 6 the Harvard Observatory, where the positions of planets and stars were demonstrated to them by raised di- agrams. Some with sight looked through the telescope to view the moon.

Perkins sent a track team of seven boys to the Connecticut School at Hart- ford for the track meet of the Eastern Athletic Association of Schools for the Blind, held on Saturday, May 14. Per- kins won third place.

Spring picnics were held by the Upper School in cottage groups on the after- noon of Wednesday, June 1, each going to a different resort or beach, for an afternoon of fun.

Retreats and conferences planned by the Catholic and Protestant Guilds for the Blind provided valuable opportun- ities for the boys and girls over the weekend of May 7.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

William J. Richard, Jr., a blind senior at Harvard University, has been elected first marshall of the graduating class. Richard prepared for Harvard at Pel- ham High School. He secures Braille books- from the Perkins Library.

Rose Miscio, 1945-47 a post graduate student at Perkins, has been elected recording secretary of the Sophomore Class at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Carl King, Perkins '41, has been elected Student Council Representative from the Senior Class of the New Eng- land Conservatory of Music.

Joseph Roberge, Perkins '41, now liv- ing in Nyack, N.Y., is studying voice under the Metropolitan baritone, Rob- ert Weede, and expects to be ready for concert work next spring.

John DiFrancesco, Perkins '39, of New

York City, returned to Watertown as the guest soloist of the annual meeting of the Thursday Morning Musicale Club held in Watertown on May 19.

Lorraine Gaudreau, Perkins '47, is on the Dean's List at Syracuse University, having maintained a B average during the first term of 1948-1949.

Miss Helen Smith was the guest on May 14 of the Massachusetts Sight Con- servation Association at the Hotel Ken- more in Boston, when she was pre- sented a certificate enrolling her as an honorary life member of the National Society for the Prevention of Blind- ness. This was granted to her as the teacher of the first sight saving class in America, which was opened in Boston in 1913. Miss Smith prior to that, had been for eight years a teacher at Per- kins Institution.

—2—

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

OF WORKERS FOR THE BLIND

By Alfred Allen

NOW IN ITS FIFTY-FIFTH YEAR, the American Association of Workers for the Blind will meet in Boston for its twenty- third national convention. This will be the third successive annual conference since the Association returned to its original custom of holding annual conventions, after having abandoned this custom in 1900 in favor of biennial conferences.

Throughout the years since the Association was founded in 1885 (as the Missouri National College for the Blind, and changed in 1896 to The American Blind People's Higher Education and General Im- provement Association and in 1905 to its present name), the Associa- tion has remained the largest and most representative organization of men and women, blind and sighted, serving and working with the blind on the professional level. Its almost 600 individual members include representation from every field of work for the blind, public and pri- vate, on the national, state and local level, and the democratic charac- ter of its constitution provides a forum for the expression of views of anyone who may feel moved to raise his voice and to contribute to the thinking and to the philosophy of our work.

Looking through the roster of members of years ago, we find it dotted with illustrious names of many pioneers in our work, men whose names are imperishably enshrined in our hearts : Edward J. Nolan of Chicago, Wallace McGill of Kansas (founder and editor of THE PROBLEM— at one time the official organ of the A.A.W.B.), Ambrose M. Shotwell (for whom the present Shotwell Memorial Award is named), E. P. Morford of Brooklyn (Founder of the In- dustrial Home for the Blind), Sherman C. Swift of Toronto, Chief Librarian of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, John B. Curtis (now living in Chicago), founder of the first day-school classes for the blind in the United States, H. Randolph Latimer of Pittsburgh and Newel Perry, still living in California. All these were themselves sightless leaders of the blind.

Among outstanding achievements of the Association may be mentioned its work in connection with the development of a Uniform Braille Type. Its committees of the early years labored long and faith- fully and the reports of their work constitute an invaluable record of and testimony to the tremendous difficulties which had to be overcome,

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

AT THE BABY SCHOOL

MOTHERS AND BABIES

SUMMER SCHOOL for mothers and their blind babies is to be held at Perkins under the aus- pices of the Foundation for Vision. Twenty mothers and their children be- tween the ages of two and four and a half years, will assemble on Sunday afternoon, June 19 and will remain in residence through June 30. The plan followed in summer schools of previous years will be continued. There will be a play school for the babies under the direction of Miss Pauline Moor, field worker for pre- school children, and associated with the Eye and Ear Infirmary. Each morning and afternoon and occasional evenings, there will be con- ferences by leaders in the various fields of child growth, blindness, nutrition and health. These conferences will be under the direction of Miss Frances E. Marshall, social worker at Perkins. All of the sessions will be held in Bradlee and Glover Cottages.

COLLEGE STUDENTS

PERKINS has at the present time twenty graduates attending college. They are scattered in seven states and include a wide variety of collegiate education. Three are in the New England Conservatory of Music, one is studying philosophy at Harvard, and another theology in Kentucky. State colleges represented are the Universities of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Michigan and Mon- tana. Other colleges attended are Middlebury, Syracuse, Brown and Holy Cross. Two of these students, both at Harvard, will terminate their work this year. Ralph Savio, expects to receive the A.B. degree June 23 and Albert K. Gayzagian will receive the M.A. degree on that date. Albert received his A.B. last June, magna cum laude.

FOREIGN STUDENTS

PERKINS students from other countries are this year enjoying opportunity to meet fellow countrymen and women through the Northern New England Region of the International Commission U.S. N.A.S.A., which has a headquarters in Cambridge. At Perkins this year

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THE HARVARD CLASS

:* J

STUDENTS FROM CHINA

there are seven foreign students. Three are from China, one a young woman j in the Harvard Class and two blind girls from the Ming Sum School in ■ Canton, China. Two other pupils in the school are a young man from Mex- ico and one from Haiti. The remaining , two are in the Harvard Class, a man from Egypt and a young woman from

Nicaragua. The presence of these students from other countries adds a great deal to the life at Perkins as they make interesting contribu- tions and acquaint the pupils with the cultures of other nations.

THE HARVARD COURSE

DR. EDWARD E. ALLEN, who was responsible for the teacher training course which has been conducted at Perkins since 1921, is unable, because of his advanced years to continue the lectures which he has carried on for so many years. The historical lectures, formerly by Dr. Allen, will be given this coming year by Dr. R. S. French, recently retired head of the California School for the Blind, and lecturer at the University of California. Dr. French is widely known in the field of the blind, and his book "From Homer to Helen Keller" is one of the outstanding contributions in this area.

The other lectures and conferences of this course will continue to be given by Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, formerly head of the Department of Psychology at Mount Holyoke College, and at present director of research and personnel at Perkins, and by the present Director, Dr. Gabriel Farrell, with many visiting specialists in the field of the blind. The courses which make up this training are offered by the Graduate School of Education of Harvard University. Over three hundred persons have taken these courses during the twenty-eight years of their existence.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

SCHOLARSHIPS providing a year of study at Perkins for out- standing graduates of schools for the blind throughout the country this June, have been assigned to James W. Scoggins of Kentucky and Paul Susko of Pennsylvania.

GRADUATION, JUNE 16, 1949

DIPLOMAS will be given to fourteen pupils, seven girls and seven boys, who have met the requirements for graduation from high school. Of this group four are planning to enter college, two will return to Perkins for post-graduate work in music, and one for a special course in insurance offered in Boston. Others will return to their respective states for job placement. Certificates of efficiency in Ediphone operating, issued by the Ediphone Corporation will be awarded to two girls, one a special student in Ediphone Operating and the other, one of the holders of a National Scholarship. The diplomas and certificates will be awarded by Dr. Reginald Fitz, President of the Corporation. Following the Graduation Exercises, a reception will be held in the Museum.

THE HON. WILLIAM E. POWERS, Perkins '32, and a graduate of Boston University School of Law, will make the Commence- ment address at the Graduation Exercises. Now the Attorney General of Rhode Island, having been elected to that office last Novem- ber, Mr. Powers has had a rapidly rising successful career, and in the political life of his native state he is held in very high esteem. The invocation at the Graduation Exercises will be given by the Rev. Edgar W. Anderson of the Watertown Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

PERKINS is becoming a center for examinations pertaining to col- lege. This spring three Perkins seniors took the College Board subject examinations for the first time. The Scholastic Aptitude Tests were administered at Perkins for one veteran and three pupils who came down from the Connecticut School for the Blind. A Per- kins senior went to the Harvard Law School to put a final examination into Braille for a blind law student.

CERTIFICATES were awarded on June 10 to eleven members of the Harvard Class. Seven have completed the full year of work, while four are receiving credit for a half year. Of the eleven members, four are from Hawaii, Nicaragua, Egypt and China.

T

HE SENIOR CLASS colors this year are red and gold, the flower is the red rose, and the motto is "Deserve success, and you shall command it."

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LIBRARY NOTES

The concern of many people in work for the blind that the use of the radio and talking books would inhibit the learning and use of braille, will be lessened now that the facts are known about the attitude of the blind on read- ing mediums.

In New England, our Library has over three hundred blind people who read both braille and talking books- and who feel much the same as this reader who wrote recently, "I much prefer braille to the talking books as I think every_ one does who masters it."

The circulation of braille has dropped only some 3% in the 15 years since talk- ing books were first introduced, while a new group of nearly 1000 adult blind persons are satisfying their longing for literature at the rate of about 100 books per day.

The Blindiana reference library has been widely used during the past few months, having served since January, research students from Harvard, Bos- ton University, Simmons, Wheelock, The Conservatory of Music and The School of Occupational Therapy, in ad- dition to constant use by our own staff and Harvard students. The thousands of books, pamphlets, reports and pic- tures which are here assembled relating to the blind, form a reference library unequaled anywhere in this country.

"Foreign Aid" to the work for the blind is an almost daily reality at the Perkins Library. An exhibit from our Blindiana collection is now showing in Peru, an exhibit of pictures is being readied for Sweden, acknowledgement has just been received of a shipment of special braille books sent to a blind boy in China, a box of reference books on the blind went recently to a former Harvard student in Japan.

HOWE PRESS NOTES

With the removal of the printing presses to Watertown during April, the transfer of operations from South Bos- ton was completed. Readers please note that our only mailing address now is WATERTOWN 72, MASSACHUSETTS.

The Howe Press machine shop is now fully equipped with new tools. Both for development work and production of appliances, we have a completely mod- ern plant. The new Braille writer is being made almost entirely from dies of our own design and manufacture.

Manufacture of parts for the Perkins Brailler is going ahead satisfactorily. Those whose names head our order list should receive delivery this fall, though we cannot predict the exact date. Although most of the 2,000 ma- chines in production have been sold, orders continue to reach us without abatement.

Looking ahead to the Christmas sea- son, we are developing a Bingo set which we believe will prove popular. We hope we can produce it at a reasonable cost — perhaps about $5.

Human Destiny by the late Lecomte du Nouy is to have a Braille edition through the generosity of Madame du Nouy. This book has been described as one "that well may mark a new epoch in the study of the development of man." It is already available on Talking Book records.

Wilderness Adventures and Wild Brother, excellent stories of nature in the north woods by William L. Under- wood, are to be available to blind readers through Braille editions-. Pub- lication has been made possible by the generous contributions of Mrs. Under- wood long a friend of Perkins and the blind.

— 7 —

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

(Continued from Page 3) through conferences here and abroad, before the Type question could be considered as reasonably well settled.

Another achievement for which the A.A.W.B. should receive credit is the establishing of The American Foundation for the Blind. For many years, thoughtful workers for the blind had recognized the need of a national organization to serve the interests of the blind, and so on June 28th, 1921, during its ninth biennial convention at Vinton, Iowa, the American Association of Workers for the Blind passed unanimously an enabling resolution which set in motion the machinery which led to the formation of The American Foundation for the Blind, on September 21, 1921.

One other important accomplishment of the A.A.W.B. worthy of mention has been its work in raising standards for the professional workers in the field of work for the blind. Already standards have been established for home teachers of the blind and provision made for the granting of Class I and Class II Certificates by the Board of Certification of Home Teachers of the Blind to those home teachers able to satisfy the requirements for certification. It is hoped that this summer the convention will ratify standards proposed for seven key positions in the field of rehabilitation of the blind.

The Purpose of the A.A.W.B. is "to render all possible assistance to the promotion of all phases of work for, and in the interest of, the Blind, and to the prevention of blindness, throughout the whole of the Americas and the Territory of Hawaii and insular possessions of the United States." All persons in the Americas and the Territory of Hawaii and the insular possessions of the United States interested in the welfare of the blind or in the prevention of blindness are eligible to membership in the Association and are invited to apply for such membership. The membership is divided into sectional groups of specific interests for the purpose of representation on the Board of Directors and for group meeting discussions.

Authority to govern the Association by directing its policies and operations in all matters relating to the purpose for which it has been formed is vested in a Board of thirteen Directors composed of the five elected officers and one representative from each of the eight sectional groups. New officers are to be elected at Boston, and four sections will each elect a new Board member. President since 1947 is Dr. Francis J. Cummings, Executive Secretary of the Delaware Commission for the Blind, Wilmington, Delaware.

— 8 —

The Laritern

THE PERKINS I INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIX.. NO. 1 E ' .s: -.- i SEPTEMBER 15. 1949

Massachusetts . . . There She Is !

DANIEL WEBSTER, in making this stirring reference, was pointing to Massachusetts with pride. All want to feel that way about our state, especially in our own field of work for the blind where we have a long and distinguished record. The first legislation for the sightless in this country took place on March 2, 1829 when Massachusetts voted an Act of Incorporation for what is now Perkins Institution. One of the first private organizations — The Massachusetts Association for Promoting the Interests of the Adult Blind — was created in 1903. The first public commission for the blind was formed here in 1906.

No state, however, nor any organizations within it, can continue to live effectively on its record of past accomplishments. Even being first, is of little value beyond historical interest, if, in the lapse of years, newer organizations surpass the older in accomplishment and program. This point is well illustrated in the field of rehabilitation. Not long ago we heard Massachusetts cited because it was the first state to inaugurate services for the handicapped. At almost the same time we read in the Survey of the Community Fund that in 1946-1947 "Massachusetts ranked . . . 47th from the top among forty-eight states in the per capita expenditure of state appropriations for vocational rehabilitation . . . the blind not included". In the field of the blind we have no functioning program of rehabilitation.

Daniel Webster followed the words quoted with these — "The past at least is secure." So it is in our field and to dwell too long on it will avail little. Let us rather look ahead and in doing this we have in mind the state program for the adult blind. Circumstances have made possible new leadership and it is our hope that this leadership will be forward moving and one to which we can all point with pride.

Perkin's Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

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SCHOOL NOTES

The Welfare Reporter of Illinois for July contained portions of the address of the Director of Perkins at the cen- tennial celebration of the Illinois School for the Blind, June 2.

The Boston Post of July 25 had a special article on museums for the blind featuring the Perkins. Museum and telling its history.

Nils Johansen, Perkins '48, a promis- ing piano tuner of Water town, Mass- achusetts, died June 25, 1949, a victim of polio.

Miss Jennie L. Kinsman, for many years before retirement in 1940, matron of Fisher Cottage, passed away June 24 at a Nursing Home in Brookline. She is survived by her sister, Miss Lizzie Kinsman, a teacher in the Boys' Upper School from 1920 to 1931.

Arthur F. Sullivan, Perkins '98, re- signed in July, as Director of the Mass- achusetts Division of the Blind, an office he had held for six years.

Francis B. Ierardi, Perkins '08, and Director of the National Braille Press, was elected president of the AAWB at its meeting in Boston in July.

The Director attended the second International Conference on the Ed- ucation of Maladjusted Children, held in Amsterdam, Holland, July 18-22. He read a paper on Vocational Education of the Blind which will be published in the proceedings of the Conference.

Mrs. Helen Grant, secretary to the principal, resigned in June and was married July 14 to Robert Gavin of Winthrop.

The school for mothers and their blind babies, planned for the last week in June at Perkins was cancelled.

NEW APPOINTMENTS

Mrs. Janet Hancock, matron of Moul- ton Cottage last year, returns to Anag- nos Cottage, where she had been matron since September 1936.

Mrs. Charles Amadon, the new ma- tron in Tompkins. Cottage, is the widow of a Perkins' graduate who was Dean of the School of Music at York College, York, Nebraska.

Miss Valerie C. Payne, who was grad- uated from Massachusetts General Hos- pital in 1947 will be assistant resident nurse.

Miss Jean Gray of Watertown, Mass- achusetts, who received her A. B. de- gree from Wheaton College this year has been added to the Kindergarten teaching staff.

William W. Howat of Manchester, Massachusetts, B. S. Ed. 1949 from State Teachers' College, Fitchburg, has become one of the Manual Training- teachers.

Edmund J. Jusczyk, a graduate of Springfield College in June and a vet- eran of the air corps, has been en- gaged as director of Physical Education in the Boys' Upper School.

Mrs. Annetta R. Castle, who began work in July as assistant in the library, was formerly associated with the Lynn Public Library.

Miss Phyllis E. Gordon and Mrs. Elizabeth North, both of Watertown, have joined the staff in the Business Office.

Donald Remick was appointed man- ager of the Perkins Workshop in June. He brings to this position a wide ex- perience in the mattress business and has already stimulated work at the South Boston Shop.

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HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND

By Dorothy Steinert

(A summary of a study made at the School of Social Work, Simmons College, prepared for THE HOME TEACHER magazine, and used here by permission.)

IS HIGHER EDUCATION for the blind worth while from a vocational point of view? This question is the concern of educators and workers for the blind, of school personnel accepting blind stu- dents, of parents of blind children, and particularly of blind students themselves. A study on the subject was made of a group of former Perkins students who were known by that school to have gone on to some school of higher education after completion of their high school curriculum. The following specific questions were posed : Were these persons able to secure positions in their chosen vocations? If they were not able to secure such positions, what occupations, if any, did they have? Were their occupations satisfying to them? If they were not employed, what were the reasons for their unemploy- ment?

The study group embraced a total of 68 persons, but, for the purposes of this paper, only the 58 persons between the ages of twenty and sixty (the normally employable age group) will be considered. The amount and type of higher education which these persons had was extremely varied, ranging from one to two years in a liberal arts college or specialized vocational school to the holding of advanced degrees in law, osteopathy, social work, etc. Approximately one- half of the 58 persons had attended graduate schools after the com- pletion of their undergraduate studies.

At the time this study was made (October, 1948), 48 of the 58 persons were employed. The majority were engaged in some type of business or professional work. Education was the field in which the largest number were employed; the great majority of whom were teachers in residential schools for the blind or engaged in some phase of education for the adult blind. Because of the problems of school- room discipline, it seems to be extremely difficult for blind persons to secure positions in the public schools. Only one person in the group was able to obtain such a position. She attributed her ability to do so to the fact that she had a high degree of traveling vision.

Law was another profession in which a large number were en- gaged. Ten men, 8 of whom were totally blind, had established their own private law practices. Two of these lawyers were also members

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ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH YEAR

PERKINS OPENS on September 20 for its one hundred and nine- teenth year. Enrollment will be somewhat larger than last year particularly in the lower grades, due to the increasing number of retrolental fibroplasia children seeking admission. Staff changes this year are fewer than in recent years, while physical improvements during the summer exceed those of any year since before the war. Chief among the physical changes is the complete reconstruction of the electrical facilities. New generators replaced those in service since the school was built and new wiring reaches from them to every building on the grounds. The new current will be AC rather than DC which will be more convenient for the many electrical appliances now used, and there will be increased capacity to meet the larger demands of modern service. Other improvements are acoustical ceilings and new lighting in the boys' manual training shops, complete painting of the corridors and class rooms of Howe Building, the enclosing of the chapel organ and sound proofing of Glover Cottage play room.

PERSONNEL CHANGES

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT change in personnel is the resignation of Allan W. Sherman, principal of Perkins, to become Director

of the Cleveland Society for the Blind. During his seven years at Perkins, Mr. Sherman has done much to build up the academic standards of the school, and his friendliness will be greatly missed by his associates and students. The opportunity to be head of such a notable organization as the Cleveland Society is one that Mr. Sherman could not pass by and all will wish him success in his new undertaking.

For the coming year, Mr. Sherman's work will be assigned to present staff members through a distribution of his duties. Orin A. Stone, for four years a teacher at Perkins, and for nine years prior to that Principal of the Connecticut School for the Blind, will be in charge of curriculum planning, supervision of teaching, and generally responsible for the academic program. Benjamin F. Smith, for twelve years a teacher at Perkins, will be in charge of pupil relations on the boys' side, and his duties will correspond with those carried on by Dr. Alice M. Carpenter on the girls' side, as Dean of Girls. Miss Shirley A. Drucker, teacher in the Lower School for two years, will have charge of pupil relations and general supervision of activities in the Lower School with Mr. Stone responsible for the planning and co-ordination with the Upper School program.

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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

REPRESENTATIVES of workers for the blind in nineteen countries conferred at Merton College, Oxford, England from

August 3 to 13. Planned by an Organizing Committee appointed by the American Foundation for Overseas Blind of New York and Paris, and the National Institute for the Blind of London, standards of work in the adult field were discussed. A minimum program of what should be attained was agreed upon and will be presented to the Governments of the nations represented and to the United Nations Committee on Social and Economic Activities. Representatives of the UN and UNESCO attended all sessions.

Among the delegates were twelve persons connected with schools for the blind. Several meetings were held to discuss educational prob- lems. Out of their meetings grew a desire for an international gath- ering of educators of the young blind, similar to the Oxford Con- ference, at which welfare was the chief concern. A committee to consider this possibility with power to convene a conference, probably in 1951, was appointed, with the Director of Perkins designated as Chairman and Convener of the Conference.

DEAF-BLIND COURSE

THE FIRST CLASS to train teachers of the deaf-blind was held at the Horace H. Rackham School of Special Education at the summer session of the Michigan State Normal College at Ypsil- anti. Four teachers enrolled for the six weeks of instruction under Mrs. Leo Gittzus, head of the Deaf-Blind Department at Perkins. Three deaf -blind children from the middle-west were in residence for instruction under observation, while a demonstration of what can be accomplished was given during the first week with Juanita Morgan of Colorado, a Perkins' pupil.

THE HARVARD CLASS

PERKINS WELCOMES to its family this term, Dr. and Mrs. Richard S. French. Dr. French is to give the historical lectures formerly given by Dr. Allen, to the Harvard Class and others who wish to attend. Dr. French was, until his retirement last year, Superintendent of the California School for the Blind, and lecturer on psychology at the University of California. He is the author of "From Homer to Helen Keller" one of the outstanding books on the blind.

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Dr. Hayes will continue to direct the program of the Harvard Class, giving lectures, holding conferences with the students and planning their practice work. Ten persons are already enrolled for the class this year. Coming from outside of the United States are persons from Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil and Germany. The student from Germany is being sent by the United States Military Government.

PEOPLE OF INDIA

THE FIRST of a series of exhibits being arranged by Mr. Coon of the library this year is about the people of India. An interest- ing collection of photographs taken by Margaret Bourke- White and provided by Life Magazine will be on display in the Museum during September. There will be a special interest in these because Miss Bourke- White took some fine views of Perkins when her mother was a member of the Perkins staff. For the benefit of those who see only with their fingers, a collection of Indian household and religious objects of high artistic merit will be included. These will be explained in a bulletin and further interpreted in an address by Mrs. Anna L. Coomara Swamy, widow of the late curator of Eastern Art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

RECORDS FOR STUDENTS

ANEW SERVICE of the library especially for college students has been inaugurated during the summer. College text books, not already embossed or recorded, will be recorded on request on Soundscriber discs. These will be available for local use or sent to any college where blind students are attending. The reading is done by volunteers whose voices have been tested as suitable. Form- erly, this service has been rendered by direct reading by volunteers, and on many occasions it has been difficult to find a common time and place for reader and readee. Under the new plan reading may be done at any time and the records will be on hand for rereading.

LANTERN LAUDS LISTEN

LISTEN, a paper of tabloid form, filled with news of and for the blind, is being published by the Catholic Guild for the Blind. Edited by Father Carroll, it has all the verve and swing, as well as "on the spot" freshness that could be expected of one who writes his copy as he speeds over the road. (Instead of television, Father Carroll has a dictating machine in his car.) THE LANTERN salutes LISTEN !

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HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND

(Continued from page 3) of state legislatures. Only one man who had begun the practice of law was unable to continue it, finding it necessary to secure a position as a clerical worker. It is significant that all others found practices successful enough to warrant their continuance over a period of years.

The remaining persons in the study group were employed in the fields of osteopathy, social work, insurance, public relations, retail selling, legislature, clerical work, and music. There were from one to four persons in each of these fields. Only one of the 48 employed persons found it necessary to secure employment in sheltered in- dustry for the blind. It is significant that the great majority were engaged in business or professional fields in which they would be in competition with sighted workers. Forty of the 48 employed persons had maintained their positions for from three to twenty years ; a sufficient period of time to demonstrate their ability to adequately handle the requirements of the work.

A comparison was made in the study between the types of oc- cupations and the college degrees which these persons had received. Twenty-two persons held the degrees of Bachelor of Laws, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Osteopathy, Fellow in Music, and Master in Arts, Education, and Social Work. Only two of these persons were not employed in the general field for which they were trained. Eleven of the 13 persons who had received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Science, and Music were working in the fields of education, music, state legislature, public relations, and insurance.

One aim of the study was to discover in so far as possible how satisfying the occupations of these persons were to them. The factors constituting a satisfactory occupation are, however, highly complex and individual. For some, regular employment which provides some degree of economic security and financial support for dependents is all that is necessary; while for others, employment in the field of their choice with opportunity for creative expression is essential. It was found that 36 of the 48 employed persons were working in the general field of their choice. This statement may, nevertheless, be somewhat misleading. While some persons reported having positions in the general field of their choice, they did not have the type of posi- tion they would have liked and which might have been theirs had they been sighted. On the other hand, many others expressed complete satisfaction with the work they were doing and did not feel that their

(Continued on Page 8) — 7 —

HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND

(Continued from Page 7)

visual handicap had hindered them in any way vocationally. Of the 11 persons who reported they were not working in the field of their choice, 4 had been professional workers who were unable to maintain their positions while the remaining 7 had never secured employment in the field for which they were trained.

The degree to which their occupations afforded these persons economic independence was an important consideration in the analysis of their vocational success. While a particular occupation may not have been in the field of the person's choice, the degree to which it allowed him to be self-supporting and provide for the support of his dependents may have been a compensating factor. It was found that 44 of the 48 persons who were working at the time of this study were entirely independent financially, and that 20 of these persons had sufficient income to provide for the support of others. Of the 4 persons who reported that they were only partially self-supporting, one wo- man was married and her husband was contributing to her support. Thus only 3 persons, 2 teachers and an organist, were not able to earn an adequate income from their work. It is significant that all others were able to maintain an entirely independent economic status.

Ten persons between the ages of twenty and sixty were not work- ing at the time this study was made. Of these 10, 4 persons were still studying in undergraduate or graduate schools; 2 women were married and homemakers, and one person was unemployed because of illness. It was, therefore, found that only three persons were desirous of, and unable to find, employment. They attributed inability to do so to their visual handicap.

It was concluded that, for the majority of persons under study, their course in higher education did benefit them vocationally. The majority were employed in business or professional fields for which some course in higher education was essential ; 36 of the 48 employed persons had positions in the general field of their choice, 44 were self- supporting, half of whom were able to contribute to the support of others; and all enjoyed the work they were doing. It was true, how- ever, that many did not have positions which are generally open to sighted persons with the same qualifications. It would appear that there is still need for individual guidance and more consideration of suitable vocations for the college-trained blind.

The ?Lantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIX., NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 194 9

Lengthened Shadows

EMERSON WROTE, "the life of an institution is the lengthened shadow of a great man". Perkins abides under the shadows of

two great leaders, whose birthdays are observed each November. On the eleventh, that of Samuel Gridley Howe, first Director of the Institution, and on the seventh, that of Michael Anagnos, founder of the Kindergarten.

At the Lower School each year the pupils enact incidents in the life of our Greek second Director and his part in the founding of the Kindergarten. No member of the Kindergarten will ever forget the story of the one overcoat shared by the four Greek boys, and of Mich- ael's aspirations to achieve as he watched his father's sheep on the Greek hillsides. Spectators are always deeply moved as the little children walk under crossed flags to place garlands at the bust of the Founder, singing "Anagnos, Dear Founder".

The exercises in honor of Dr. Howe in the Upper School take a more dignified form as suitable for older boys and girls. Again, the life of the first Director is depicted through recitation of events in his career. Letters are read from the Howe family, some of whom, even unto the third and fourth generation, attend the exercises. The pro- gram always closes with the stirring singing of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" by Julia Ward Howe, who in her lifetime always graced these occasions as the wife and widow of the first Director.

An institution does well to keep alive these shadows as they lengthen through the years. We not only revere the memories of the great men who were our founders, but we plant in the hearts of the young people who participate something of the character and integrity of the men who made possible this institution.

Perkin's Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

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SCHOOL NOTES

Perkins pupils, members of the Jun- ior Red Cross, filled nineteen gift boxes this year for distribution in foreign countries.

Elizabeth Accorsi, post graduate, and Lillian Rothermel, junior, took part in Mother Parker's broadcast over Station WEEI, Saturday, November 19.

Jimmy Osborn, Upper School pupil, broadcast and was televised in the pro- gram of WE THE PEOPLE, on the evening of November 10.

Successful dances were held in Dwight Hall by the girls on Saturday evening, November 12, and by the boys on Saturday evening, November 19.

The Victory banquet marking the close of the football tournament was held in Moulton Cottage, on November 19. Leo Eagan, sports broadcaster, was the guest speaker.

Robert Brereton, a blind pianist from Chicago, gave a delightful concert for the Staff and students in Dwight Hall on October 18.

The Director lectured on "Modern Trends in the Education of the Blind" in the course given for teachers of the blind at Teachers College, Columbia University, November 1.

The Corporation of Perkins Institu- tion, at its Annual Meeting held No- vember 1, re-elected as officers, Regin- ald Fitz, M.D., President; Ralph Lowell, Vice President; John P. Chase, Treas- urer; Gabriel Parrell, Secretary. Eight trustees were also elected to serve with the four who were appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth. The Treasurer reported that the Institution had an operating deficit of $39,921.18 but the Workshop had a profit of $244.46 for the past year.

NEW APPOINTMENTS

Richard Evensen, Perkins, '49, now a freshman at Harvard, has been made a member of the Harvard Glee Club.

Helen Cordeau, Perkins '49, is an inspector of parts in a gun assembly plant in South Boston.

Shirley Farnham, who left Perkins in June, 1949, is now engaged as a nurse's aide at the Mt. Auburn Hos- pital, Cambridge.

Mildred Lovejoy, Perkins '41, is oper- ating a lunch stand in Vickery & Hill Building, Augusta, Maine.

John Di Francesco, Perkins '39, New England Conservatory of Music, '43, is director of the Glee Club of the Cath- olic Guild for the Blind, New York City, which held its Christmas Concert on December 13.

Ethel I. Parker and Evelyn Crossman, Perkins, '37, home teachers in Massa- chusetts, were the speakers in a panel discussion at the meeting of the Pro- testant Guild for the Blind held in Boston on November 16.

Alice (Terrien) Henry, who attended Regis College after leaving Perkins and is now a home teacher in Pennsylvania, read a paper at the Interbranch Con- ference of the Pennsylvania Associa- tion for the Blind held in Philadelphia on October 20-22. The Director spoke on the Oxford Conference for the Blind at the Saturday luncheon.

Clarence Hawkes Day, December 16. will be widely observed in western Mas- sachusetts. His neighbors in Hadley and his readers around the world are to pay tribute to this distinguished graduate of Perkins on his eightieth birthday. Author of over fifty books his nature stories are known everywhere.

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(jlljnstmaa H wk at pprktttH

When morning chimes proclaim the hour of praise, And carols sing their way to every heart ; Then gift-preparing "packs the crowded days, And loving labors give each child a part. At dusk each candle throws its tiny dart From windows banked with spruces' green display. Soon morning chimes proclaim the hour of praise, And carols sing their way to every heart. What wealth of thought the memory portrays For these school folk who generously impart The blessings of their Christmas songs and plays ; How poor are jostling traders in the mart Until the chimes proclaim their hour of praise, And carols sing their way to every heart!

— Gertrude S. Harlow

Perkins '16

EMBOSSED PRINTING

An Exhibit of types for the Blind

AN EXHIBIT of nearly forty different types which have been developed for the use of blind people has been prepared by the Perkins Library. Each form is illustrated by an actual page of copy taken from a book of the date when the type was in use. These range from the first book ever embossed for the blind, printed in Paris in 1786, up to standard English braille, which was adopted by England and the United States by agreement in 1932. This exhibit shows the wealth of material that is contained in the Perkins Blind- iana Library, which is unsurpassed in the world. Exhibited also were the first four books of Perkins Library which were brought from Europe by Dr. Howe in 1831, as well as copies of the first and third books ever embossed for the blind. The second book prepared for the blind was printed in Amsterdam but Perkins does not have a copy.

The exhibit falls into the two alignments which waged war for nearly a century and constituted the well known "battle of the types." On one side were those who stoutly maintained that any type to be read by touch must also be such that it can be read by the eye, in order

(Continued on Page 8) — 3 —

CONCERT

c

Children of the Silent Night

,AROLS both ^ancient and modern, some for the more mature voices of the boys' and girls' groups in the Upper School and others for the little children of the Lower School cho- rus to sing from the balcony, are includ- ed in the program which has been arranged for the annual Christmas Concert. The con- cert this year will take place on Friday evening, December 16, Sunday afternoon, the 18th and Tuesday evening, the 20th. After the last concert the School will close for Christmas, reopening January 4.

DEAF-BLIND

FIVE NEW PUPILS were admitted to the Deaf-Blind Department this year ; two from Massachusetts, one from Ohio, one from Mis- souri and one from Vermont. With these additions the depart- ment has had a very busy and active autumn. Acceptance of so many new pupils was made possible by the return of a former teacher, Mrs. Rose Vivian. There have been an unusually large number of visitors to the department ranging from those who come in for a day, to one teacher who was here for six weeks and several who spent several days. These visitors represent a new trend in this special field — that of schools for the blind and in some cases for the deaf, undertaking constructive programs for the instruction of the doubly handicapped. Late in November the annual appeal which Perkins makes to friends throughout the country for the support of this special work was sent out. A calendar picturing the five new children went with the letters of appeal, and already many generous responses are being made.

GYMNASIUM

FORMER STUDENTS and others will remember the gymnasium roof and its frequent leaks. Originally planned for roller skating, that facility had to be given up as roof after roof was put upon the concrete slab to prevent infiltration. This fall it was determined to

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get to the bottom of the situation and all of the old roofs were re- moved, and a new one, with insulating tile covered by tar and gravel, now tops the gym. In order to do a complete job, the concrete walls, the exterior of which were spalled, i.e., eroded or chipped, were patched or replaced. All the joints were re-pointed and new flashings gleam from all the edges. As a finishing touch the grounds on the boys' side were bulldozed into a flowing contour so that hereafter, water will drain down toward the river and away from the gym. Now with impregnable walls and impenetrable roof, it is hoped that run- ners and wrestlers can carry on drily and successfully.

WRESTLING

WRESTLING, now a major sport at Perkins, is underway for the winter season. Coached by Eugene Hill, pre-medical stu- dent at Harvard, who has coached wrestling in the Army, and at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, the Perkins boys look forward to a good season. A strong schedule has been arranged with wrestling teams in the neighboring public and private schools, opening with the meet with Attleboro High School on January 6, and concluding with the tournament of the Eastern Athletic Association of Schools for the Blind to be held at State School in Romney, West Virginia, on March 3 and 4.

KINDERGARTEN

PERKINS kindergarten children were featured in the illustration of an article in the December issue of MADEMOISELLE . En- titled "You Open a Door" the article pointed out "jobs and futures in teaching exceptional children." One of the ways to enter this field, the article said, was through the Harvard Course offered at Perkins. Similar information was given for train- ing in other handi- capped groups. The Kindergarten has this year many alert and attractive chil- dren as this picture will show.

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and Kindergarteners have fun

LECTURES

DR. RICHARD S. FRENCH, retired Superintendent of the Cal- ifornia School for the Blind, has been in residence at Perkins this fall, giving the lectures on the "Education of the Blind", formerly given by Dr. Allen, who this year, for the first time in twenty- nine years, was unable because of health to conduct them. Dr. French has made a rich contribution to the Harvard Class and has also been helpful to all groups within Perkins. He has talked to the teachers and the pupils at several meetings and also addressed the Massachu- setts Council of Organizations for the Blind. His lecture on "Spanish Poets" with their messages and translations by himself will long be remembered.

OPPORTUNITY

AN EXHIBIT on display during November was that of a possible center for blind pre-school children and their parents. Prepared by James L. Harris, as partial requirement for his degree in the Graduate School of Design at Harvard, it includes a model of the building in modern design, aerial photos showing a possible location and full plans for construction with color illustrations of sections. Facilities are provided for twelve mothers and babies for a program of study, observation, diagnoses and guidance to be available to par- ents of young blind children and also to be a center for the preparation of literature in this field. The design is alluring, the need is tremen- dous, but a possible donor has not been found.

LIGHTING

THE BRIGHT SPOT in the Institution now is the boys' manual training shop which is the first unit in the relighting program made possible by the installing of new generators with A.C. current during the summer months. Fluorescent lighting, scientif- cally planned, has brought the illumination up to the required candle power for shop use, and with the re-arrangement of equipment, Per- kins now has one of the finest equipped shops to be found in any school.

FAMILIARITY

OLDER PERSONS at the Lower School were a bit astounded at the supper following the Michael Anagnos exercises, when a birthday cake was being served, and the children burst out with the singing "Happy birthday to you, dear Michael, and not "dear Founder" as in former times.

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RECENT VISITORS

Superintendent Peeler and four teachers from the North Carolina School for the Blind were at Perkins November 7-10 to observe methods and our cottage life.

Miss Virginia Wiehn, who is to head the department for the deaf-blind in the Michigan School for the Blind, ob- served in the deaf-blind department September 21 — November 2.

Miss Mabel Talbot spent two days, September 26-27, in the deaf-blind de- partment. She comes from the Iowa School for the Deaf where she has some deaf-blind pupils.

Mr. Daniel T. Cloud, Superintendent of the Illinois School for the Deaf, spent part of the week of November 28 at Perkins, as he is planning to set up a department for deaf-blind children in his school.

Dr. Milton T. Stauffer of the John Milton Society and Mrs. Stauffer were at Perkins October 17 and 18. Dr. Stauf- fer told of his trip around the world at the school assembly.

Dr. Ross E. Hamilton, Director of the education of handicapped children for the state of Washington, visited No- vember 11 to confer on matters of edu- cational policy.

Howard Hopkirk of the Russell Sage Foundation, author of a notable book on institutional living, spent November 17 here to observe our Cottage Plan for the living of our pupils.

Foreign visitors included: Miss Sermsri Kasemsri, Siam; Mrs. Maria V. Francisco, the Philippines; Miss Maria E. Forseca, Guatemala; Miss Agatha A. Buriks, The Netherlands; and Miss- Madeleine Regnier, France.

PUBLICATIONS

The Goat is the school paper, pub- lished by Perkins pupils. With an ed- itorial board working under the di- rection of Miss Florence W. Barbour, it has made a place for itself among student publications.

Braille editions have been published for sixteen years. This year, for the benefit of non-finger readers, an ink print edition in multigraphed form, has been prepared by the second year typing students.

Jeanne F. Kenney, a senior, as editor- in-chief opens the issue with an ac- count of the new year at school. Jeanne also conducts the Alumnae De- partment and has given an account of "The Gold-Diggers" — i.e. the class of 1949.

Sports Briefs are provided appropri- ately by Gene Raschi, a senior, brother of the famed pitcher of the New York Yankees. This issue spotlights the cot- tage intra-mural football season.

Graduates have also contributed. Tad Chapman, totally deaf-blind graduate of 1938, has presented a poem entitled "Mountains". Robert McNally '49, gives the history of baseball, of which he is a master mind.

Looking ahead, a new section ap- propriately called "The Kids", to be made up of contributions from the Lower School pupils, is announced.

Humor has place and point. For ex- ample: (Question) "How shall we cele- brate Kindness to Animals Week?" (Answer) "Renew your subscription to THE GOAT." (But that's no joke!— or is it?)

Subscriptions are seventy-five cents a year for ringer or eye readers. See Howard Surette, business manager.

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EMBOSSED PRINTING

(Continued from page 3)

to prevent segregation of the blind from their seeing friends and families. The other side claimed that an arbitrary system of embossed characters designed primarily for finger reading rather than eye reading would best serve those with sight.

Viewing the exhibit, it is interesting to observe the progress made in the development of line-type. Valentine Hauy is credited with producing the first book for the blind in 1786. This is embossed in a delicate, italic print, having been inspired by the accidental dis- covery that one of his pupils could read the slight impress on the back of a sheet of regular printing. Klein's book, printed in Germany in 1811, used heavily embossed, half-inch block letters. Philadelphia in 1833 produced a book in a fine form of script printing, while Boston developed the famous line-type in 1835 made up of compact Roman letters in angular form. Alston in 1837, developed in Glasgow a Roman type of normally formed letters, while William Moon of Eng- land in 1847 devised an adaptation of block letters so extreme as to make it an almost arbitrary system.

The exhibit of types developed by the supporters of arbitrary characters begins and ends witn the original dot system offered by Louis Braille in 1829. This was adopted by the Paris School for the Blind in 1854 and introduced in America by the St. Louis School in 1860. Louis Braille's cell of six dots is based on what he called the principle of "logical sequence". The first ten letters of the alphabet were an arbitrary arrangement of dots in two rows. For the next ten, one dot was placed in a lower row and for the remaining letters, a second dot was added to this row. When this system came to Amer- ica a new principle — that of "frequency of occurrence" wherein the letter used most had the fewest dots, was introduced first in New York Point in 1860. The exhibit shows that this type had two rows of dots of indefinite length. American Braille, developed in Boston in 1870, followed the New York principle, but adapted it to the six-point cell of Louis Braille. These differences led to the battle of the dots.

England, in its development, adhered to the French system, and in the exhibit there are specimens of the three grades of Revised Braille offered in 1905. This country, in 1917, compromised with this system in presenting Grade l1/*, falling between the English Grades I and II. In the English reading world of the blind, the battle culminated in 1932 by the adoption of Standard English Braille, based on the cell of Louis Braille.

^Zl^^f

The Lantern

THE PERKIXS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIX.. NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1950

World Wide Hope

BLINDNESS is no respecter of persons, or of boundaries. No one knows when sight may be lost from disease, inherited ten- dencies or the unexpected accident. No nation is able to contend with blindness alone. Unsanitary factors near the border and car- riers from one country to another may be the unsuspected causes of loss of sight. This is especially true in those parts of the world where visual impairment is due to causes of epidemic or endemic proportions such as trachoma.

It is, therefore, encouraging to note that the United Nations, at the meeting of the fifth session of the Social Commission, recognized blindness as coming within its competence. If a comprehensive pro- gram is adopted at the next session of the Social Commisson and im- plemented by the Assembly through adequate personnel and financial support, it is hard to imagine what may be accomplished through a plan which transcends national boundaries.

While every effort must be made to help persons laboring under the handicap of blindness, greater stress must be put on measures which will prevent a new generation of sight defrauded people. Nearly three quarters of all blindness is preventable. The realization of this objective calls for the care and concern of every individual. But to have world-wide effectiveness, means of correction, cure and control that reach beyond national boundaries must be activated and programs that span the whole of the problem not only a part must be promoted. Only the United Nations and its allied organizations such as WHO can accomplish this. The fact that these organizations have indicated interest fills us with hope. Workers for the blind and the blind themselves must not rest content until that hope is fully realized.

Perkin's Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72. Massachusetts Gab-i-l Farrell, Director

^OsffatL/ ^xAAj^

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Assembly speakers during the winter term are pupils on Monday mornings, the clergy of Water town on Thursday mornings and Mr. Stone, the Principal, on Wednesday mornings.

The Director spoke on the Interna- tional Conference at Oxford and his summer abroad, at the meeting of the Massachusetts Council of Organiza- tions for the Blind on Monday, Jan- uary 30.

Following- the wrestling meet with the New York Institute at Perkins on January 28, a small dance was held for the two teams in Bridgman Cottage.

A long week-end was given over Lin- coln's Birthday and more than half of the pupils returned to their homes.

Pupils interested in dramatics were the guests of the Winchester Players at the presentation of "Tomorrow the World" on February 7, and have an invitation to attend the performance of "Miranda" on April 19.

Senior Class girls and members of the Junior class attended a perfor- mance of "King Lear" at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge on March 10.

Vic Damone, popular vocalist, came out to Perkins on Tuesday, February 28, and sang for the pupils of the Up- per School.

Mrs. Sidney E. Pollack, Executive Di- rector of the New York Guild for the Jewish Blind, told of the work of that organization at the staff meeting on Monday, March 13.

John P. Chase, Treasurer of Perkins since 1945, resigned in January. His successor will be elected at the March meeting of the Trustees.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Harriet Tuttle, Perkins '19 was honored on February 10, the 30th anniversary of her employment at 'the Phoenix Insurance Company in Hart- ford by her fellow workers. She now transcribes dictation from eight mem- bers of the staff. The Connecticut Board of Education of the Blind recalls that she was their first placement of a blind dictaphone operator.

Horatio W. Hendrick, Perkins '29, and the way he conducts his ninety acre farm in Plainfield, New Hamp- shire, were featured in an illustrated article published in several newspapers throughout New England.

Catherine Pickett, Perkins '42, is on the staff of the Mission School, work- ing in Utah with the Navaho Indians. A recent letter told of her most inter- esting activities.

Frederick T. Hayashi, Perkins '43, now living in Hawaii, reports, "The piano teaching profession has been ex- ceptionally good out here. I have thirty-seven pupils studying with me — the income is handsome and there is opportunity to make many contacts in the community."

Hideko . Shimokawa, Perkins '47, writes, "I am happily employed as worker for the blind at the Library of Hawaii . . . circulation records and in- formation . . . are kept in Braille as well as in typewritten form."

Gudrun Pollan, Harvard Class '48, writes, "I am now Director of a voca- tional school for blind girls. ... I am flying to Germany and Austria in a few days to choose fifty blind displaced persons and their families living in camps. Norway has decided to take care of them and give them a perma- nent home here."

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ALEXANDER MELL

One of the Pioneers in Blind Education

THE 100th ANNIVERSARY of the birth of Alexander Mell was observed in Vienna just a month ago with exercises commens- urate with his contribution to the education of the blind. On Wednesday, February 15, there was a radio broadcast giving an account of his life. On the following day a musical program in his memory, with greetings and messages from Dr. Mell's son, Mr. Max Mell, and the present Director of the Vienna school, Dr. Carl Trapny, was held in the Church of the Little Child Jesus. On Friday the seventeenth, services in memory of Alexander Mell were held at his grave in the cemetery in Vienna.

Perkins can well add its tribute to Alexander Mell because we are indebted to him for many features which have made our school renowned. Dr. Mell was a close friend of Michael Anagnos, our second Director, and through a visit in June 1889, Mr. Anagnos was inspired to start the foundation of what has become our museum and also our collection on books on the blind, usually referred to as the "Blindiana Library". Dr. Allen continued this friendship and through his ad- ministration the Perkins museum was enriched by articles and objects sent here by Dr. Mell. While the present Director did not have the privilege of knowing Dr. Alexander Mell, he has continued in contact with his son Dr. Alfred Mell, Director of the Army Museum in Vienna, and through him the stream of contributions to our museum has con- tinued to flow. The present Director also recalls happily meeting and becoming acquainted with Dr. Carl Trapny, the present Director of the Vienna Institute, at the Oxford Conference.

Mr. Anagnos, in the Perkins Report for 1900, writing about the year which he spent in Vienna at that time states : "From Budapest I went directly to Vienna where, after some inquiry, I found my friend Professor Alexander Mell, Director of the Imperial Institution for the Blind, carrying on his work in a very fine new building, situated close by the famous park of the capital of Austria". He then described the new school, referring to its many classrooms "and a fine new mu- seum." This latter department, he continued, "constitutes a valuable adjunct to the institution and one of its most attractive features to the student of history in the education of the blind. Although in some of its collections and specimens of appliances and apparatus it is not so rich as that of Paris, in systematic arrangement, classification and

(Continued on Page 8)

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UNITED NATIONS

Dr. Hayes B. A. Fraleigh M. L. Gonial* Massachusetts Vermont Brazil

THE RESOLUTIONS adopted at the International Conference of Workers for the Blind held in Oxford in August, were pre- sented with recommendations of adoption at the Fifth Session of the Social Commission of the United Nations at its meeting on December 9. After presentation of these resolutions which cover a miminum program for the blind, which might be adopted by any nation, the Social Commission requested "The Secretary General in cooperation with appropriate specialized agencies to develop a pro- gram of work in this field, including a plan for a demonstration project (or an alternative to meet the same end) for social rehabilitation of the blind and to report to the Social Commission at its Sixth Session." The Secretary General has had prepared a comprehensive pro- gram for the blind including details for a rehabilitation program as well as two al- ternatives, one a center for specialized services or home teaching, and the other a center for the preparation and dissemina- tion of reading matter for the blind. This report was studied at a meeting held in Geneva in March, and will be referred with recommendations to the Sixth Session of the Social Commission in April. If favor- able action is secured here, this may well be as THE NEW BEACON, an English paper, states, "one of the most important stages in the progress of international work for the blind".

W. A. Fredell Minnesota

F. Benzi^ei Switzerland

THE HARVARD CLAStf One student from Germany I.

UNESCO

SIR CLUTHA MACKENZIE, who was appointed by UNESCO some time ago, as consultant on Braille has compiled a large amount of information on the history of the Braille system and its possible adaptation to more than eighty languages of the world. For six days during December seven members of an international committee under his leadership discussed the possibility of attaining world-wide uniformity in the use of Braille. The American member of the committee was Miss Marjorie S. Hooper, Braille Editor of the

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Bergfels M Jers°v

S. Griggs Ohio

Dr. French California

American Printing House for the Blind. This study will be continued at a larger conference to be held late in March, for final presentation to UNESCO at its next session to be held in Florence in May.

GREAT BRITAIN

WORKERS for the blind throughout the English-speaking world are conscious of a vital change in leadership in the retirement on December 31, 1949 of Mr. W. McG. Eagar as Secretary- General of the National Institute for the Blind of England. Reaching

retirement age, Mr. Eagar has relin- quished a post which he has held with great distinction since 1928. He is well known to many in this country and it is the hope of many here that retirement will provide opportunity for him to visit the United States and share his wide knowledge of the blind with workers here. Mr. Eagar was the secretary of the International Con- ference held in Oxford and contributed largely to the success of its planning and management. Perkins shares with many, deep appreciation of what Mr. Eagar has done for this special field and especially sends rfes best wishes to the new Secretary- Gene/al, Mr. J. C. Colligan.

UNITED STATES

THIS COUNTRY, in the field of the blind, is beginning to feel the change of leadership which has taken place at the American Foundation for the Blind. After twenty-six years of notable service, Dr. Robert B. Irwin retired in September and the new plans of his successor, Mr. M. Robert Barnett, are being an- nounced. Mr. Barnett has made changes in the structure of the Foundation, which has grown through the years, and whose effective- ness may be improved by reorganization and re-assignment of duties and personnel. Announced as assistant directors are Miss Kathern F. Gruber, widely known for her services with the war blinded, Mr. Alfred Allen, long the secretary-general of the A.A.W.B., and Mr. C. H. Whittington, who brings technical leadership to the Foundation.

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/IDE IN MEMBERSHIP United States not in picture.

MASSACHUSETTS

THE RECESS COMMISSION appointed by the legislature and the Governor of the Commonwealth to study certain matters pertaining to the blind, has had a series of meetings and con- ferences with leaders in this field within the state. At the opening of the legislature on December 1, a report reviewing the work accom- plished up to that time was presented. The legislature has re- appointed the same commission to continue its study. Perkins is represented on the commission through two members of its Board of Trustees, Dr. Dorothy L. Book, Dean of Boston College School of Social Work, and Mr. Paul L. Neal, a former teacher. The third member of the section representing the public is the Rev. Thomas J. Carroll, Director of the Catholic Guild for the Blind.

UPPER SCHOOL

WRESTLING HAS been the active sport for the winter term. The wrestling team of the Boys' Upper School has met with the teams of the public high schools at Attleboro, Needham and Wellesley and at several private schools, including Milton, Browne & Nichols, Tabor, Exeter and Andover. From the point of view of victories and scores, the season has not been too successful, but the opportunity for our boys to meet with boys from outside schools has been of great value. While the team was set back by the resignation of the coach in mid-season, few wrestling teams can boast of more loyal and vocal support than is given by the girls of the Upper School with their songs and cheers at all of the local games.

LOWER SCHOOL

ANEW FEATURE introduced to bring the parents into closer contact with the Lower School has been undertaken through a series of meetings and teas held on the Friday afternoons of March. The program for each afternoon provides opportunity for the parents to visit the class-rooms where their children are studying, followed by a meeting with a talk by administration officers and songs by the children of the cottages. Tea and refreshments are served and opportunity given for parents to talk informally with the teachers of their children. The series began with a meeting in Anagnos Cot- tage on Friday, March 3, followed by Bradlee Cottage, on March 10, with meetings planned for Glover Cottage on March 17 and Potter on March 24.

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FROM OUR VISITORS

"Our teachers were delighted with the very fine manner in which you and your staff made it possible for us to observe your work. We think you are doing a fine job and hope to copy some of the practices we found. Please let me thank you for everything you did for us." E. N. P.

"Thank you again for your help and your hospitality . . . Staff members at Fisher Cottage gave me outlines and suggestions for sense-training. The suggestions enabled us to take advan- tage of the training and make an esti- mate of the children." M. T.

"This will express hearty thanks for the hospitality extended to us while at Perkins and for all the many kind- nesses you and members of the Per- kins staff showed us." M. T. S.

"This was my first visit to Perkins Institution, and I found it very exciting to be able to visit a program of which I have heard so much. The wonderful work which is being done in your school provides excellent leadership to the development of educational prac- tices throughout the nation." R. E. H.

"I am most appreciative of the hos- pitality I received at Perkins Institu- tion. Perkins has had wonderful lead- ers whom you should be proud of. The atmosphere of Perkins is very inspiring. I returned to New York with hope, courage and joy that I have never had before." S. K.

"I wish to express to you all my thanks and appreciation for having been permitted to visit your most in- teresting and so beautiful institution. Certainly the day spent at Perkins will be one of the high spots of my trip to the States." M. R.

FROM THE PRESS

B. W. Busways, published by the Bos- ton, Worcester and New York Street Railway Company, in its November is- sue featured Perkins Institution with a picture of the Main Building on the cover.

Employer's Pioneer, published by the Employers Group Agency School in Boston, in the December number cited John T. Flynn, Perkins '48, as one of the outstanding members of the class taking their special course for training insurance underwriters.

J-Man Reporter, house organ of the George T. Johnson, Company, manu- facturer of floor treating preparations, had an account of Perkins in a recent issue, including an excellent picture of one of the study halls, as an illustra- tion of what their products can do to make rooms attractive.

Underwood News, the publication of the typewriter concern of that name, had a special article on the employ- ment of blind persons as Ediphone operators, pointing out the success of Ethel Murray, who was trained at Per- kins and is now secretary at the Maun- sell Company, Montpelier, Vt.

Princeton University Press is offer- ing among its spring publications a book entitled "Blindness in the Modern World." This book has been prepared under the auspices of the National Council, and will be one of the most comprehensive volumes on the blind that has ever been published. In ad- dition to a large amount of historical background, there will be a full pres- entation of all the research work un- dertaken for the blind as part of the war program sponsored by the Office of Sensory Devices of the National Re- search Council.

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ALEXANDER MELL

(Continued from page 3) proper display of its content, it is the best museum in Europe of this kind. I went through and examined carefully every part of the estab- lishment and wherever I went my inspection gave rise to a feeling of real pleasure and satisfaction in the thought that such a beautiful center has been erected and dedicated to the cause of the education of the blind in Vienna".

The collection of material which Dr. Mell built up in Vienna did become the greatest in the world. It is one of the unfortunate tragedies of war that the entire contents of the museum and library were destroyed, although the library building remained and was used for war purposes. The pupils of this famous school during the war were dispersed and the buildings converted to a home for old people. Now the present director is valiantly reorganizing the school, but he can never replace the Blindiana collection. Duplicates of much of what was contained in the Vienna library as well as material which Vienna did not have are now to be found in the Perkins library due to Dr. Alexander Mell's constant acquiring of valuable material and sending it to this country. His achievement, therefore, is not entirely wiped out, although it has transferred the scene of the greatest collec- tion of material on the blind from Vienna to Watertown, thereby greatly enhancing the importance and the value of our great Blindiana collection.

Alexander Mell was born on February 17, 1850 in Prague, Czech- oslovakia. He was the son of a captain in the Austrian army. After graduation from the Technical University in Graz, Austria, he became teacher of natural history, first in agricultural schools, and in 1879 professor in the State Training School for Teachers at Marberg, Austria. In 1886 he became Director of the Imperial Institution for the Education of the Blind in Vienna. Here he remained until his death on September 30, 1931. In addition to the administration of Ins school which he made one of the outstanding institutions in the v/orld, he was a voluminous writer, and his annual reports are doc- uments of authoritative value. His greatest achievement in the lit- erary field, however, was the publication of the extensive "Encyklo- padisches Handbuch des Blindenwessens", a work of almost a thous- and pages. This book is, as the name implies, encyclopedic in its in- formation regarding the education of the blind and is still the most outstanding work of its kind, although its information only reaches up to the year 1900.

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iAmi

WWERm

The iLaritern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XIX.. NO. 4 [, JUNE15. 1950

The Great Triumvirate

PERKINS MOURNS the loss of its distinguished Director-Emeri- tus, but it rejoices in his long years of leadership and the happy memory of his great accomplishments. Edward Ellis Allen put an impress upon the education of the blind that can never be eradi- cated. To those who visit Perkins it can be said, as was written of Sir Christopher Wren in St. Paul's Cathedral, "if you would see his mon- ument, look around you."

Dr. Allen was not the founder of any school, but he rebuilt two of the pioneer schools for the blind, Overbrook and Perkins, and set their ways in new channels. Because of his close friendship with the principal of the New York Institute it is probable that he had some part in the transition of that school from down-town New York to its beautiful location on Pelham Parkway. These three schools were not only the pioneers in the education of the blind, in the United States, but also in mid-stream, these leaders turned the direction of this form of education into new ways, both in physical plants and in educational objectives.

Now the last of "the great triumvirate", Drs. Allen, Burritt, and Van Cleve, whom not many of this generation knew, is gone. In their day they wrestled with the problems of their times, and while they contributed to the strength of our program, they did not solidify it. Education of the blind is and must remain in a fluid state so that it can be bent to the needs of the present. Leadership, of the type ex- emplified by these men, now gone, is needed in our field — and never more than at the present moment, when so many problems created by new trends in education and new causes of blindness confront us.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

-^<2^*^ 7?Lvu^5f

EDWARD ELLIS ALLEN

August 1, 1861— April 14, 1950

EDUCATION : Newton, Massachusetts ; Germany and Switzer- land; graduated Harvard College, cum laude, 1884. TEACHER : Royal Normal College for the Blind, London, 1885-1888 ; Perkins Institution, 1888-1890. PRINCIPAL: Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind, 1890-1907. DIRECTOR: Perkins Institution, 1907-1931; DIRECTOR EMERITUS: 1931-1950. ORGANIZER and LECTURER : The "Harvard Course" in the Education of the Blind, 1920-1949. HONORS and AWARDS : Honorary de- gree— D.Sc. University of Pennsylvania, 1931 ; Leslie Dana Gold Medal, National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, 1931; Gold Medal, Institute of Social Sciences, 1932; Shotwell Gold Medal, American Association of Workers for the Blind, 1945.

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SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS

Factors of Fluctuation

ENROLLMENTS in all schools are subject to fluctuations caused by many factors; the supply of teachers, the adequacy of build- ings, birth rates, and even war. Back in 1939 Stuart Chase, in an article in the Atlantic Monthly, stated that there were one million empty school desks in the elementary schools, and predicted that if present trends continued, there would be ten million empty desks in the schools of the country by 1960. War broke that trend, increased the birth rate, and, in 1949, the Census Bureau predicted that by 1960 enrollments in the country's elementary and high schools would jump by ten million pupils. This prediction is sustained by figures from the Federal Security Agency, as published in School Life for May, 1950. Enrollments in schools from Kindergarten through grade twelve are listed from 1926 to 1950. The peak of these years was 1936, when the decline which caused Mr. Chase's concern, began. The maximum of twenty-nine million has again been reached, and it is now estimated that there will be over thirty-seven million children enrolled in the schools of the country by 1960.

Schools for the blind share in these variant factors as lists of our enrollments over the years indicate. In addition we have some factors which do not affect the seeing schools such as reduction through pre- vention and increase through new causes of blindness. Until ten years ago statistics showed that prevention was reducing enrollments, and in 1939 we were talking in terms of gradual liquidation. Within the decade, however, that trend has been broken, and at the present time there are indications that new causes of blindness are offsetting the gains made through prevention. There is some reason to question whether this change is permanent, and in fact whether or not it is actual. There must be serious study made of the reality of the ap- parent increases, and the possibility of adjusting our present accom- modations to meet the prevailing situation.

An analysis of enrollments in schools for the blind as listed in the reports of the American Printing House for the Blind shows a range in population from 5,577 in 1930 to a peak of 6,031 in 1939, and a decline to 5,606 as of January 1, 1950. At Perkins Institution, figures covering the same period show that the peak of enrollment was reached in 1934 with 276 pupils listed, 247 in 1939 and 237 in 1949. The peak

(Continued on Page 8)

MAJOR REPAIRS

AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAM of replacement and repairs is being carried on at Perkins during the summer months. The largest item is the replacement of all of the boilers in the power house following the replacement of the generators and electrical equip- ment last summer. This will complete the renovation of that part of the plant and will give considerably better service to the school in heating, lighting, and power. The new power system makes possible modern lighting. The program of fluorescent lighting begun last year in the school shops will be continued during the summer months. The Howe Building will be the chief center of reconstruction work as the entire masonry of that building will be renovated and repointed. Con- siderable work on roofs including gutters will be carried out and a crew of nine painters will refurbish the interior of the Howe Build- ing and the cottages of the Upper School. The entire boundary fence is to be rebuilt and a new fence will be erected around the pond.

TRACK MEET

PERKINS WAS HOST to the eighth annual meet of the Eastern Athletic Association of Schools for the Blind held on Saturday, May 13. Seven teams made up of seven members from seven states participated in seven events. The final scores were Overbrook 27, Per- kins 20, Virginia 15, New York, Batavia School 10, Maryland 4, West Virginia 1, and Connecticut 0. Alfred Flowers from Overbrook won high individual honor of 11 points. For this distinction he was pre- sented with a gold trophy by Ralph Maddocks, Commander of the Newton Post of the Disabled Veterans Association. William Day, captain of the Overbrook team received from the same organization a trophy for the winning school.

PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTE

AN INSTITUTE on the pre-school blind child was held in the Rhode Island Society's Medical Library, Providence on Wednes- day, May 3. This was presented by the Governor's advisory council for the blind, the Bureau for the Blind of the state of Rhode Island and Perkins Institution. A full day's program was largely attended by parents, social workers, and educators. Papers were presented on the various aspects of problems concerning the pre-school blind child by physicians from Providence and Perkins staff members.

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PERKINS PROM THE AIR

Fairchild Aerial Surveys, Inc.

TEACHERS RETIRING

FIVE TEACHERS who have given to Perkins one hundred and fifty-two years of teaching service are retiring this June. They are: Miss Elsie H. Simonds, former principal and teacher in the Girls' Upper School for forty-two years; Miss Genevieve H. Haven, teacher of English in the Upper School for thirty-eight years; Miss Feodore M. Nicholls, teacher in the Lower School for thirty-one years ; Miss Susan E. Morse, teacher in the Lower School for twenty- four years, and Mrs. Jessie W. Mayshark, teacher in the Lower School for seventeen years.

STUDY HALLS

THE NEW STUDY HALLS have, by the vote of the trustees, been named to honor two staff members who have given many years of loyal service to Perkins. The boys study hall, which adjoins the library, has been named to honor Mary Esther Sawyer who taught for ten years and was librarian for twenty-four years. The study hall on the girls' side has been dedicated the Elsie H. Simonds Hall. Miss Simonds, at the end of this year, is completing forty-two years as teacher in the Girls' School. Tablets stating these dedications were unveiled at the meeting of the Alumnae Association on June 3 and of the Alumni Association on June 17.

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GRADUATION~JUNE 20, 1950

GRADUATION EXERCISES will be held in Dwight Hall at two o'clock on June 20. Perkins will at that time award diplomas to the largest number of graduates in its history. Nineteen young people, twelve boys and seven girls, will have met the require- ments for graduation from high school. Diplomas giving this recogni- tion will be presented by Dr. Reginald Fitz, President of the Corpora- tion. The Commencement speaker will be Dr. Richard M. Gummere, Chairman of the Committee on Admission, Harvard University, and the invocation will be by Rev. Paul B. Myers of the Phillips Con- gregational Church.

CERTIFICATES in proficiency in several areas will be awarded at the graduation exercises as follows: Manual Training De- partment: four girls; Piano Tuning Department: three boys; Pianoforte Normal Department: one girl; Commercial Department: one boy and one girl (Certificates issued by the Ediphone Company). Six girls will receive Certificates from the American Red Cross in- dicating the completion of their course on the home care of the sick, while sixteen boys will receive Red Cross Swimming certificates — four for passing the intermediate and twelve for the beginning test.

PERKINS GRADUATES completing their work in college are: John C. King, '38, the Swedenborgian Theological School ; William F. Gallagher, '44, Boston College of Social Work; Stephen Gar- abedian, '46, Rhode Island State College, and Faye George, '46, Mid- dlebury College. Robert J. Smithdas, '46, who is deaf and blind, will receive his degree from St. John's University, Brooklyn ; while Sabra Oulton, '39, received in May a special certificate for a two year course in agriculture at the University of New Hampshire.

CERTIFICATES will be awarded on Monday, June 19 to fifteen members of the Harvard Class. Nine have completed the work of the full year, while two were present only for the first half year and four for the second half year. Members of this year's class have come from Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, and five states in this country.

T

HE SENIOR CLASS colors this year are blue and gold ; the class flower red carnation ; and the motto : "Confidence is the compan- ion of success."

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Carl Reynolds of the sixth grade won the national short story contest conducted by "The Searchlight" braille magazine of The New York Lighthouse, Who wrote, "We have not had such a youthful winner before."

Square dancing has become a popular pastime at Perkins, and several dances under the leadership of Mr. Bill Dunckle have been held by the boys and by the girls.

The senior proms of the boys and of the girls making up the Class of 1950 were held in Dwight Hall; by the girls on Saturday evening, May 20, and by the boys on Friday evening, June 2.

Members of the graduating class held a picnic on June 6 at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Waterhouse.

The Upper School girls held their annual track meet on Friday, May 26. The banquet marking the close of the girls' athletic program was held in Oliver Cottage, Thursday, June 1.

The annual retreat for Catholic pupils and conferences for the Protestant pupils of the Upper School were held over the week-end of May 6.

David Gallagher, talented young or- ganist from Waltham gave a recital for the benefit of the school and guests on Friday evening, May 12.

A portrait of Miss Bennett, former home economics teacher, was dedicated by members of the senior class on Tuesday, May 16 in Bennett Cottage, the home economics cottage named in honor of Miss Bennett.

A Pops Revue offered by the music department as its spring feature was presented before large audiences on the evenings of April 25, 27 and 28.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The American Association of Instruc- tors of the Blind holds its biennial meeting at the Overbrook School for the Blind, Philadelphia June 26-29. A large delegation from Perkins is ex- pected to attend, and several Perkins Staff members are on the program.

The Massachusetts Council of Organ- izations of the Blind held its annual spring meeting at Perkins on the after- noon and evening of Monday, May 22. A memorial service as a tribute to Dr. Edward E. Allen was a part of the afternoon program.

A course to train teachers of the deaf-blind is to be held at the Horace H. Rackham School, Ypsilanti, Mich- igan, opening June 19. The instructor this year will be Mrs. Maurine Gittzus, head of the Perkins deaf-blind depart- ment.

Miss Joan Shields is coming from England early in June to take the Michigan course for the training of teachers of deaf-blind, and to spend next year studying in the deaf- blind department at Perkins preparatory to undertaking work for the doubly-handi- capped in the British Isles.

Ralph B. Williams, associated with the Fiduciary Trust Company in Boston, has been elected treasurer of Perkins Institution succeeding John P. Chase who resigned in January. John W. Bryant of the same office has been appointed assistant treasurer.

The Director spent the month of April in Iran, where he went at the invitation of the Imperial Organization of Social Welfare to lay out a program for the education of the blind in that country. On the way over he stopped in Paris to discuss matters pertaining to the blind with officials of UNESCO.

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SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS

(Continued from page 3)

enrollment at Perkins came two years prior to that in seeing schools, which could indicate that prevention of blindness was then on the gain.

Another enrollment factor in our schools which cannot be over- looked is the growing tendency within the last decade to bring in, or to retain, in schools for the blind, children who are not legally blind, but who come within the classification of partially-sighted. This weak- ens any valid comparison with the enrollment listed for 1949 and that of a decade ago. The report for the current year, however, required a separation between those coming within the definition of blindness and those who are in the partially-sighted category. These figures show that of the total enrollment of 5,606 only 5,014 are legally blind.

The most recent factor causing increased enrollment in our schools, and representing an advance whose full impact is not yet felt, is for the admission of children whose loss of sight is due to premature birth. Since 1945, when Dr. Theodore L. Terry indicated that there would probably be between four and five hundred children a year blinded by retrolental fibroplasia, the figure seems to be increasing. There is no escaping the reality of this situation, and the need for provision for these children. There are some factors, however, that ought to be kept in mind before going into any large program of ex- pansion of facilities. The first and most important is that extensive research into cause is being carried on. On several occasions, the outlook for its elimination has been highly hopeful, but at the present time the outlook is not so promising.

The fact remains, however, that research is continuing, and as one of the leading men in the field stated recently, at almost any mo- ment the cause may be discovered and the number of children losing their sight may thereafter be completely reduced. While we hope and pray for that day, we do still have the present number of children with limited vision due to premature birth, and we must make provision for them. This may require an adjustment in our present facilities, possibly the curtailment of the admission of partially-sighted children which many would commend, or temporary expedients until the out- come of the research is determined. Certainly, every effort must be pressed, until once again, prevention is on the gain, and our schools are in process of reduction, for this means fewer blind children — our primary objective.

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The tLantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOL,U]MKXX..NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 1 5. 1950

Our New Pupils

FACTORS OF FLUCTUATION in enrollments of schools for the blind were presented in the last issue of The Lantern. The most

recent and disturbing factor is the large number of children who are visually handicapped because of premature birth. Throughout the country, schools for the blind are feeling the first impact of these children, which is likely to assume larger proportions until the cause of this loss of sight is discovered and its consequences prevented. The only encouraging factor is that extensive research is going on and there is every reason to hope that it will be successful.

In order that our readers may have authentic information regard- ing this situation, we are printing in this issue an account of the re- search being conducted at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary under the direction of Dr. V. Everett Kinsey. This project, started by the late Dr. Theodore L. Terry, who first diagnosed this form of loss of vision, is financed by Foundation for Vision, Inc. which was founded by Dr. Terry to receive and disburse funds for research into causes of blindness and in developing methods of solving psychological and emotional problems found in children with impaired vision.

For the children whose sight is already impaired by this new and disturbing cause there is little that can be done to restore or improve their vision. There is much, however, which can and must be done to enable them, with their impaired sight, to meet life adequately. Schools for the blind throughout the country which are and will continue to receive these children until the cause is discovered and eliminated, must be prepared to meet their needs and to give them the training which will enable them to overcome their handicaps and to find a rightful place in life.

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Benjamin F. Smith, Dean of Boys, after attending the A.A.I.B. Convention went to the University of Washington to complete his work for a master's degree.

Paul L. Bauguss, head of the Music Department, has been taking courses at the summer school of Boston Uni- versity in the field of education.

Maurine N. Gittzus, head of the Deaf-Blind Department, conducted the course on the Education of Deaf- Blind Children at the summer session of the Michigan State Normal School at Ypsilanti.

Gertrude S. Harlow, Upper School teacher, has attended the Fitchburg Normal School concentrating on courses in psychology and methods of teach- ing slow-learning children.

Evelyn Kaufman, teacher in the Lower School, this summer received a master's degree in education at the University of Pittsburgh.

Adeline Dale, in charge of the Recre- ation Program in the Lower School, has been studying at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Louise Bergfels, a member of last year's Harvard Class, attended the summer session at Columbia Univer- sity and this fall joins the staff of the Lower School.

Shirlie L. Smith, physiotherapist, has been head guide at Rest Haven, sum- mer vacation center for blind women at Monroe, New York.

Margaret F. Bishop and Valerie Payne, school nurses, have been serv- ing during the summer at the Massa- chusetts General Hospital.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

Fred C. Ward, who left Perkins in 1917, and who conducts a farm school for the blind in Ohio, is featured in a picture-story in the "Interesting Peo- ple" section of the September issue of the American Magazine.

Joseph Jablonski, Perkins '28 and formerly a teacher is now manager of a vending stand at the Novocol Chemical Company, Brooklyn.

Helen AntuI, Perkins 1939, is a Gray Lady doing supplementary work at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital, Rutland Heights, Massachusetts. An account of her work was given in the Worcester Daily Telegram, July 25, 1950.

William F. Gallagher, Perkins 1944, who received his Master's Degree in Social Work at Boston College in June, has accepted a position as social worker with the Boston City Depart- ment of Welfare in the Division of Child Guidance.

Mary Robbins, who left Perkins in 1945, now sings on a fifteen minute program each Saturday evening at 7:15 p.m. over Station WFAU, Augusta.

John C. King, Perkins 1938, who was graduated in June from a theological school in Boston has accepted a posi- tion as teacher in a junior college and pastor of a church connected with the college in Urbana, Ohio.

Frank V. Weaver, Perkins 1899, died at Franklin on May 10. He was a suc- cessful public pianist, played in several concerts at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and was church organist in Franklin for 39 years. 2 —

RETROLENTAL FIBROPLASIA

By V. Everett Kinsey, Ph.D.

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

RETROLENTAL FIBROPLASIA is a disease in which an opaque membrane forms behind the lens, thereby preventing a child

from seeing. The membrane, which consists in part of the retina, begins to form four to six weeks after birth and is usually complete by the end of fourteen weeks. The disease affects almost exclusively infants who have been born prematurely, and the chances of its developing are greater the more premature the birth.

In most cases both eyes are involved, although the amount of useful vision remaining may differ considerably in the two eyes. There is little evidence that retrolental fibroplasia is ordinarily accompanied by other disorders. The belief that children affected with this condi- tion are frequently retarded mentally does not take into account the natural delay in development of children visually handicapped, and the wide variation of mental capacity in other children, particularly in those born prematurely.

The increase in the incidence of retrolental fibroplasia not only in this area but elsewhere in this country, and in Europe, since 1940 has been accounted for on the basis that more premature infants survive now than formerly, and that the disease was not correctly diagnosed. Appealing as these arguments are, the relatively constant high rate of survival of premature infants since 1932 at the Boston Lying-in Hospital, for instance, casts doubt on increased survival as the probable explanation. Equally incomplete is the argument that retrolental fibroplasia was formerly unrecognized. This is true be- cause the number of individuals now in their teens or older, blinded from any cause which could in retrospect be classified as retrolental fibroplasia, is far too small to represent a large number of cases. Thus it appears that if retrolental fibroplasia existed at all it was probably extremely rare.

The apparent recent appearance of retrolental fibroplasia greatly influenced the course of research aimed at prevention because it gave rise to the hypothesis that some new factor operating on either the mother or the infant during the past decade and a half might be responsible for the disease. It was with the object of learning the nature of such a factor that a research team at the Massachusetts Eye

(Continued on Page 8)

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c

THE 120TH YFAR

iLASSES RESUME on Wednes- day, September 20, for the one hundred ana twentieth year of Perkins training for blind children, and the twentieth year of the pres- ent administration. While a score of years is but a small parr of the life of the school, many changes have taken place in these years so event- ful in world affairs. The retirement in June of five teachers reduced to seven the number of professional staff members here in 1930. There are, however, more "old timers" in the maintenance and other departments. The most decisive change has been in the pupil enrollment ranging from a high of 278 in 1931 to a low of 234 in 1943. The enrollment for the coming year will exceed 240.

last year's

THE KINDERGARTENERS

IN COMMON with all schools, enrollment in the lower grades is high while in the upper grades it is low. This normal situation is augmented in schools for the blind by the large influx of children whose visual impairment is due to premature birth. Among the 56 new pupils expected 28 are retrolentals. This has caused a profound change in the housing situation. May Cottage in the girls' upper school, not needed for its usual age group, has been converted into a kindergarten unit. In this house twenty-six kindergarteners will live and have their schooling. Because of space limitations the teachers of this unit will not live in and the children outside of school hours will be under the full care of three house mothers.

THE TEACHERS

THE CHANGE in pupil enrollment has brought about a change in the teacher set-up. There will be fewer teachers in the upper grades while there will be four additional kindergarten instruc- tors. When it was ascertained that these teachers would be necessary the places were filled from candidates for the Harvard Course, the

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NERS IN A PLAY

teacher-training program conducted at Perkins. In order to get this un- usual set-up off to a good start all of the new teachers, as well as the regular teachers in the early grades, were asked to return a week early for a course on orientation, a study of methods and for the integration of programs. General lectures were given by the Director ; Mr. Stone, the principal ; Miss Drucker, super- visor of the Lower School ; Dr. Hayes, psychologist and Miss Mar- shall, Social Worker, and personal conferences were held with the lead- ers of each group.

THE HARVARD CLASS

THE ASSIGNMENT of teaching duties to several members of the Harvard Class necessitated changes in the conduct of that program. For those who are teaching there will be what may be called "on the job" training. The usual assignments of lectures and reading will be required but the former broad opportunity for observa- tion and practice teaching will be restricted. Another change in the Harvard Class this year will be that the series of historical lectures, formerly given by the late Dr. Allen and offered last year by Dr. Richard S. French will be given by the Director.

THE BUILDINGS

THE PERKINS BUILDINGS underwent this summer the most extensive program of repairs and betterments since their con- struction 1912-3. The largest item was the replacement of the four coal-burning boilers at the power plant with boilers equipped for oil burning. With these boilers and the new generators and electrical equipment installed last summer Perkins now has completely new and modern facilities for heat, light and power. An item appreciated by the domestic staff was the installation of new and larger stainless steel refrigerators in all of the twelve cottages, each supplemented by a separate freezing unit. Other repairs were extensive new roofing, the repointing of the outside of Howe Building and the repainting of the interiors of the cottages and school buildings. Also the entire fence enclosing the thirty-four acres of grounds was repaired and repainted.

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GUIDANCE DEVICE

D WIGHT HALL was the scene this summer of interesting ex- perimentation with a guidance device being developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This device differs from others in that it does not detect obstacles but rather indicates ways that are clear. This seemed to give to the nineteen former Perkins pupils who took part in the experiments more assurance in walking ahead knowing that the path indicated by the device was clear. This idea is being worked out by Nathan 0. Sokal, a graduate student at MIT assisted by Dr. Oliver Straus, research associate. Unfortunately further developments will have to await better days because Mr. Sokal has been sent to Bikini and Dr. Straus assigned to war work.

WORLD SURVEY

A SURVEY OF conditions among blind children throughout the world has been authorized by the Social Commission of the United Nations. This is the first section of a study of the social aspects of handicapped children. Questionnaires asking for data have been sent to countries which will be used as samples, and a special research worker has been assembling material from the Per- kins blindiana library. The Director of Perkins is serving as consul- tant on the study.

BRAILLE BOOKS

SEVEN HUNDRED bundles of braille books containing over twenty-six hundred volumes have been packed and shipped this summer to schools and institutions for the blind in twelve countries in Asia and Africa. This has been a joint project of Perkins, The Howe Press and the John Milton Society of New York, initiated by Dr. Milton T. Stauffer of the Milton Society on the basis of the need for the books and the possibility of their use discovered on his recent trip around the world visiting centers of the blind. The books came from discontinued texts owned by Perkins with the postage paid by the John Milton Society.

WORDS OF APPRECIATION

IN WRITING of the project Dr. Stauffer expressed appreciation of the cooperation of Mr. Coon and Miss Miller of the library staff for the selection and shipping of the books, adding "the receipt of these volumes will prompt words of gratitude,"

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FROM OUR MAIL

The members of the staff of the Oregon State School for the Blind have followed the comments in "The Lan- tern" with interest. The article in Volume XIX, NO. 4 entitled, "School Enrollments," was pertinent although one of the factors of fluctuation was neglected.

An enrollment statistic that should not be overlooked is the number of pupils in the public schools who are legally blind yet are not listed in the reports to the American Printing House for the Blind referred to in your article.

As an example, in addition to the seventy pupils enrolled with the Oregon State School for the Blind during 1949-1950, twenty pupils under eighteen years of age were enrolled with the public schools in Oregon all of whom came within the definition of blind- ness.

For the current year reports to the American Printing House for the Blind, in addition to the requirement for a separation between those coming within the definition of blindness and those in the partially-sighted cate- gory, those defined as blind who are enrolled in the public school in other than Braille classes should be inclu- ded in the tabulation.

In view of the trend toward early integration of the blind society, with 20 per cent of the blind enrollees in public school in at least one state, would it not be advisable to consider this factor in the projection of fu- ture enrollments?

Everett Wilcox, Principal Oregon School for the Blind A point on which we fully concur. We doubt, however, if any state can exceed Oregon, certainly percentage- wise. G.F.

NEW STAFF MEMBERS

LOWER SCHOOL teachers: Felicitas M. Benziger, Diploma in Education, University of Geneva '49, Harvard Class '50 . . . Louise R. Bergfels, Newark, N.J. Normal School '19, Harvard Class '50

. . . Alice Batchelder, Briarcliff Jr. College '47 . . . Marjorie A. Lagemann, B.A. Oberlin College '50 . . . Wilma Wichern, B.A. St. Lawrence University '49, Harvard Class '50 . . . Thelma Johnsen, B.S. Hillyer College '50 . . .

Eunice Werner, B.A. Wellesley College '50 . . . Elsie M. Parmenter, State Teachers College at Framingham '26 . . . Florentina C. Gonzales, B.A. M.A. Institute National of Secondary Edu- cation, Barcelona, Spain '30 Harvard Class, '50 . . . Richard R. Hull, B.A. University of Connecticut '50.

UPPER SCHOOL teachers: A. Claude Ellis, B.S. Boston University '50, Phys- ical Education . . . Vahram Kashman- ian, B.S. Boston University '50, Social Studies . . . Alice B. Ogden, A.B. Uni- versity of Cincinnati '41, English . . . Carl Davis, B.S. Clark University '50, Science.

OTHER APPOINTMENTS: Beatrice F. Pinkham, formerly teacher in the girls' school returns to teach in the Deaf- blind Department . . . Mrs. Charlotte O. Coues, Radcliffe '21 is to be assist- ant in the library.

MATRONS: Mrs. Eva K. Plotner,

Bradlee Cottage . . . Mrs. Belle San- born, Moulton Cottage . . . Mrs. Edith V. Nickerson, May Cottage . . . Mrs. Nellie E. Hamil, matron of May is transferred to Tompkins Cottage . . . Miss Fanny Durfee matron of Moulton Cottage is to be assistant matron of May Cottage.

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RETROLENTAL FIBROPLASIA

(Continued from page 3) and Ear Infirmary investigated various environmental factors affect- ing the mothers and premature infants at the Boston Lying-in Hos- pital during the course of the past twelve years.

These and other similar studies elsewhere showed that the disease is not hereditary, does not seem to depend upon the cause of prema- turity, age of the mother, type of pain-relieving drugs administered the mother, single or multiple births, or RH type. The incidence of the disease did not correlate with the presence of other abnormalities of eye infections of either the mother or infant. Certain kinds of vitamin preparations and iron given the infants did correlate positively with the frequency of the disease. However, withdrawal of these food supplements from the diets of the premature infants had no influence on the incidence of the disease, so that these substances may now be said to have been innocuous.

The possibility that retrolental fibroplasia may result from a de- ficiency of some substance in the premature infant is also under in- vestigation. For example, a group in Baltimore recommended early administration of vitamin E to the infants. Preliminary results sug- gested that this vitamin may have been instrumental in reducing the frequency of occurrence of the disease.

Because of this favorable report vitamin E was given in this community, and while the incidence of the disease appeared to be somewhat lower during the time at which vitamin E prophylaxis was used, there is considerable doubt as to whether the vitamin was re- sponsible.

Research, designed to find a substance which ordinarily would be supplied by the mother but which might be partially or totally missing in the premature infant, consists in giving the infants weekly transfusions of whole blood obtained from mothers in their third trimester of pregnancy. This program has been in progress too short a time to permit evaluation.

Other current research on retrolental fibroplasia includes the early treatment of the disease with ACTH or cortisone. Here, also, it is too early to say whether the drugs have been effective.

While as yet it has not been possible to prevent retrolental fibro- plasia, and the chances of appreciably improving the vision of children who have this disease are small indeed, what has been learned during the past eight years concerning its nature suggests that continued re- search can eventually lead to the elimination of this cause of blindness.

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ThelLantern

THE PERKINS I INSTITUTION

I

VOLUME XX.. NO. 2 DECEMBER 15. 1950

Fifty Years

THE PROPONENTS of the day classes for the blind, who are legion and usually articulate, ought to be holding a semi-centen- nial celebration. The first class for blind children, as part of a public school system in this country, was started in Chicago in 1900. So important do we consider this venture in education that we cannot let it pass without recognition, even though some of its most ardent advocates seem to be letting it go by default. Perhaps they may be un- aware that what some hail as a new way, is really well along in years.

To us, the significant point is that in half a century, day classes in this country have not grown more. This, coupled with the fact that they have had their day and have been discarded in England and other European countries, makes us feel that their proclaimed merits must be weighed with care. Perhaps the fault may not lie in the principle or even in the methods. Certainly the objectives of keeping alive home ties and integrating the growing child's life into the community in which he must live, are sound. It may, therefore, behoove us to look into environmental factors. Are the homes strong and secure enough to absorb the shock of a blind child? Is the community doing its part to make a rightful place for the handicapped including the blind?

Day classes have their place, we grant, but before we can feel that our job is done we want to see more understanding homes, and better equipped schools to care for our blind children. We will subscribe to the statement of Dr. Howe, made in 1874, that the training of blind children "in the common schools is to be one of the improvements of the future."

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

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INTRAMURAL NOTES

Edward Burlingame, graduate stu- dent at Tufts College, has been en- gaged as coach of the Perkins wrestling- team. A full schedule has been ar- ranged, mostly with seeing schools, for the winter's meets.

Alexander Houston, swimming and water safety instructor of the American Red Cross, is again giving a course of lessons and instruction in swimming to the Perkins boys.

Mrs. Mary B. Banner, graduate of Vassar, has been engaged as kinder- garten teacher, taking the place of Mrs. Linda M. Blum, whose husband, Dr. Alexander Blum, has been re-called to the Navy and sent overseas.

Five Perkins girls, accompanied by two teachers went to Maryland School at Overlea, for the "playday" weekend, to join with girls from several other eastern schools for the blind October 13 and 14. On Sunday the 15th, they visited Washington.

The Victory Banquet, celebrating the winning by Moulton Cottage of the annual fall series of football games, was held on Tuesday, November 14, with Frank Fallon radio sports an- nouncer as the principal speaker.

The Boy's Council held its annual service of investiture on the evening of November 9, at which time new members were invested in office. The ceremony was conducted by the Direc- tor.

November 10 was marked by the ob- servance of Founder's Day at the Lower School at two thirty, and the Howe Memorial exercises in the Upper School at three thirty. For the first time both programs were held on the same day.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

The Corporation of Perkins Insti- tution and Massachusetts School for the Blind held its annual meeting on Monday, November 6. After hearing reports, the following officers were elected: Reginald Fitz, M.D., President; Ralph Lowell, Vice-President; Ralph B, Williams, Treasurer, and Gabriel Far- rell, Secretary.

Trustees elected were: David Cheever, Jr., Mrs. Richard E. Danielson, Reginald Fitz, M.D., Robert H. Hallowell, Henry W. Holmes, LL.D., Mrs. Frederick J. Leviseur, Warren Motley, and Richard Saltonstall.

The Massachusetts Council of Organ- izations for the Blind, at its meeting on October 30, elected as officers for the ensuing year: Herman A. Blair, Per- kins, '21, President; Charles Little and Mrs. Sumner C. Jacobs, Vice-Pres- idents; Mrs. Frederick J. Leviseur, Secretary-Treasurer.

The Foundation for Vision, which was founded by the late Dr. Theodore L. Terry, had its annual meeting on October 19 and elected the following officers: George L. Pew, President; Mrs. Max Ascoli, S. Judd Beach, M.D. and Julius S. Bixler, Vice-Presidents; Ralph Lowell, Treasurer, and Gabriel Farrell, Clerk. This Foundation supports re- seach into causes of blindness and other services, for the benefit of blind children, including the Home Teacher.

"Parents of Blind Children" is the

name of the organized group of parents which has been meeting for the last two or three years. The last meeting was held at Perkins on Thursday, Novem- ber 16. Its officers are: Warren Burns, President; W. I. Middleton, Vice-Pres- ident; Ernest Wallis, Treasurer; Mrs, John O'Hara, Corresponding Secretary, and Mrs. James Downing, Recording Secretary. 2 —

DAY CLASSES FOR THE BLIND

Fifty Years in the United States

FIFTY YEARS AGO the first day class for blind children in this country was opened in Chicago. While it solved the problem of

parents in the Chicago area who did not wish to send their sight- less children to the state school in the southern part of the state, the determining factor was lack of money to build a second school in the northern part. Frank B. Hall, able superintendent of the state school in Jacksonville, is generally credited with the happy solution of the financial problem, although he was ably abetted, if not pressurized by a blind attorney, E. J. Nolen. John B. Curtis was appointed the first supervisor, and continued to direct the Chicago classes until his retire- ment in 1935.

The idea of educating blind children outside of residential schools was not new even half a century ago. In 1874, Perkins first Director, Samuel Gridley Howe, prophesied that "the practice of training and teaching a considerable portion of blind and mute children in the common schools is to be one of the improvements of the future." And in 1875, Dr. A. Barnhill of the Glasgow Mission to the Outdoor Blind, was so enthusiastic about this type of education that he wrote a paper entitled "A New Era in the Education of the Blind." Day classes for blind children were open in London schools in 1875. Berlin, in 1878 set up a special day school for blind children, but not as a part of a seeing school. Adjacent to this day school there was a school to train girls for domestic service, whose students took the blind children back and forth to their homes.

Following the Chicago experiment, day classes were started in several cities. In addition to the motive of keeping the children at home, the classes were supposed to integrate the instruction of the blind with the activities of the sighted. This proved difficult, and it was found to be hard to crowd into the short school day the many activities offered in the residential schools. Robert B. Irwin, who introduced day classes in Cleveland, tried to overcome this problem by keeping the visually handicapped children in school an hour longer each day, and having them return on Saturday morning for instruction in crafts and music. Dr. Irwin also introduced week-end hikes and bummer camps for his children and at the latter made one of the first attempts at parental education by inviting the fathers and mothers to meetings at the camp on Sunday afternoons. Some time later

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CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS, to which the public is invited to apply for tickets, will be held in Dwight Hall on Thursday evening, December 14, and Sunday afternoon, December 17. The program of these concerts will be repeated on Tuesday evening, December 19, but this concert is restricted to the parents of the pupils in the school. Following this concert, pupils will leave with their parents for the Christmas holiday, returning on Tuesday, January 2. The program at these concerts will follow the usual pattern of ancient and modern carols.

HARVARD CLASS

THIS YEAR is a notable one, in the long history of teaching train- ing, as offered by the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University and conducted at Perkins Institution. There are twenty-five members in the class, the largest in its history, with representatives from nine states and seven foreign countries — Eng- land, Germany, Italy, India, Iran, Haiti and the Philippines. This is also the thirtieth year of the course and to commemorate this anniver- sary Dr. Henry W. Holmes, Dean Emeritus of the Graduate School of Education of Harvard University, spoke to the class on October 20. He gave the opening lecture to the first class on October 22, 1920. Two other persons who gave lectures during the opening year, have been invited to lecture this year ; Mrs. Winifred Hathaway, formerly Associate Director of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, and Miss Grace S. Harper, Executive Director of the New York State Commission for the Blind. Mrs. Hathaway will speak on Prevention and Sight Saving, on Friday and Saturday, December 8 and 9, and Miss Harper will speak on "State Commissions" some time in January. The only other surviving person who lectured in the original course is Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, who is now in charge of the Harvard Class.

PARENTS MEETING

PARENTS OF all the pupils were invited to be the guests of the school on the afternoon of October 12, Columbus Day. The real hosts were the boys and girls, and the purpose was to have the parents shown by their children about the parts of the school in which they were particularly interested, and about which they wanted their parents to know. For the first hour the school band made merry music while the parents assembled in Dwight Hall. At three o'clock the

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NATIONS UNITED AT PERKINS Left to right:

China, Iran, England, India, Germany, United States, Switzerland, Argentina, Iran, Spain, Italy, Greece (Deaf-Blind Child)

Haiti,

Director talked to the assembled parents, telling the purpose of the meeting, the program and the desire of the administration for the building up of a stronger program of cooperation between the school and the homes. Following this, the pupils took their parents to their respective parts of the school, showing them about the grounds, buildings, classrooms and cottages where they lived.

At four o'clock the parents gathered in the cottages where their children lived for a social hour and refreshments. Members of the staff and the parents were labeled with nametags, and encouraged to talk to one another about their children. Further plans to strengthen home and school relationships are being developed by a committee made up of Mr. David H. Angney, Mrs. Robert Welch, Mrs. Howard D. Wood, representing the parents ; Miss Frances E. Marshall and Mr. Edward J. Waterhouse, representing the school ; and Mrs. Frederick J. Leviseur, representing the Trustees.

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DEAF-BLIND

TWO NEW PUPILS from abroad have joined the Deaf -Blind Department since school opened. On October 2, Angeliki, a

twelve year old girl, without sight or hearing and the ability to speak, came to Perkins under the sponsorship of the American Foundation for the Blind, having been admitted to this country under parole to Mrs. Mary Bonnlander of Chester, Vermont. Picked up in the streets of Athens serveral years ago, Angeliki had been at the Home for Incurables in Athens until a year ago when she was brought to London by Miss Avarillia Vlachou, with the hope that surgical care might improve her vision. When this was not successful, Angeliki was brought to the United States.

On November 7, Donald Prentice, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Prentice of Dublin, Eire, arrived at the Boston airport, accompanied by Miss Sylvia Pitt. Dr. Farrell had seen this boy while in Ireland in the summer of 1949, and arrangements had been made for him to come to Perkins when he was ready for school, and teaching facilities could be provided. Donnie, is to be under special direction of Miss Joan Shields, who is studying at Perkins, under an arrangement with the National Institute for the Blind in London.

FEBRUARY TWENTY-SECOND

A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION of pupil activities will be held at Perkins on the afternoon of Washington's Birthday. This demonstration began in the early days of the school, over a hun- dred years ago, but it was given up during the war because of difficulty in transportation. The time has now come to revive this opportunity to visit the school and to have a glimpse of the type of training which Perkins offers visually handicapped young people to enable them to find their places in the seeing world after school is completed. Tickets of admission may be secured by sending a stamped addressed envelope.

CHRISTMAS WREATHS

PERKINS BOYS who are members of the salesmanship class con- ducted by Mr. Smith, are making a house to house canvass in the neighborhood for the sale of Christmas wreaths. This has been carried on for several years with growing success. Persons upon whom they call have been glad to place orders, but Mr. Smith wants it understood that purchase must be made on the basis of the individuals need for wreaths, and the effectiveness of the sales talk.

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PUBLICATIONS

The LANTERN, in its last issue, ran through three editions, the original run of 2100 was soon exhausted because of the many demands for the issue which came from all over the country. A sec- ond run of 250 copies did not meet this demand and an additional run of 500 copies has recently been run off. In- terest was due largely to the eagerness of the people throughout the country to have authentic information on retro- lental fibroplasia which is causing blindness among so many children born prematurely, and which was featured in that issue.

"Psychological Diagnoses and Coun- seling of the Adult Blind" is the title of a volume published by the American Foundation for the Blind. This book is made up of selected papers from the proceedings of the Conference for the Blind, held at the University of Michi- gan, in December 1947, and is edited by Dr. Wilma Donahue of the Univer- sity of Michigan and Donald Dabelstein of the Office of Vocational Rehabilita- tion, F.S.A. These papers present prob- lems of the blind in the area of diag- nosis and counseling from the psycho- logical point of view. Perkins is rep- resented by chapters on, Community and Family Problems by Gabriel Far- rell; Measuring the Intelligence of the Blind by Dr. Samuel P. Hayes, and Adjustment and Employment of Blind Persons by Peter J. Salmon, Perkins '14.

The National Psychological Council

for the Blind, of which Dr. Samuel P. Hayes was president last year, and Dr. Wilma Donahue of the University of Michigan, president this year, has pub- lished A Bibliography on Unpublished Research on the Blind on File in Uni- versity Libraries. This has great interest and value because it brings to light a considerable amount of valuable ma- terial previously unknown.

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VISITORS

The Rev. and Mrs. Clayton Keener

from Refton, Pennsylvania, visited Per- kins on September 25, prior to sailing to Ethiopia where they are to establish a school for the blind at Addis Ababa.

John Barclay, Organizing Secretary of International Help for Children, with headquarters in London, was at Perkins on October 13, in connection with the Greek deaf-blind girl whom he brought to this country and who is now at Perkins.

Fritz Michael Hartman, Chief of Special Care Section, Ministry of Social Welfare of Denmark, was here Oc- tober 20-24. Mr. Hartman is visiting American centers of education and rehabilitation for the blind.

Dr. Guy Dingemans, who is in this country on a scholarship from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, studying methods of re-training of han- dicapped children, was here October 24-30. His home is in Paris.

Professor Tatsukichi Konagaya, in

charge of teacher training at the Na- tional School for the Education of the Blind, in Tokyo, visited the school on November 6-18. He stated his course is modeled after the Harvard Class.

Helen B. Hugo, who is in charge of the school for the blind and who is a missionary in Southern Rhodesia, was here November 9-18, just before sailing for her own country.

Oudi Harant, of Istanbul, Turkey, came to the school on November 13, and gave an interesting concert, play- ing a Turkish stringed instrument called oud. He had given a successful concert in John Hancock Hall, Boston, the day before.

DAY CLASSES FOR THE BLIND

(Continued from page 3)

Detroit tried to overcome the problem of children in whose interest removal from home was necessary by maintaining a residence adjacent to one of the schools with classes for the blind.

While the argument of keeping blind children at home during the formative years has great appeal and the thesis that through day classes visually handicapped children are more effectively integrated into the sighted world has sound merit, there are difficulties in their attainment. This has led to attempts to combine the advantages of both forms of education. Nearly all educators see value in having little blind children attend community nursery schools. Many wish that some way could be found to keep them in the local schools for a few years longer without imperilling early training in the fundamental skills of reading and writing, which must of necessity be taught by unique methods.

As we are presenting this form of education more from a histor- ical than an evaluating angle, it might be well to look at the record. The early classes in Scotland and also those in England have been given up. A very able study made by the Advisory Council on Educa- tion in Scotland analyzed three methods of education for blind chil- dren; 1. Day classes in seeing schools; 2. Schools for all handicapped groups, and 3. residential schools. Their conclusion was. "that all blind children in Scotland should receive their education at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh." Likewise England has written into the Education Act of 1944, the requirement that all blind children must be educated in residential schools.

The Scottish report states that "the day class may well be adapted to the American scene and may indeed have the values that its sup- porters claim, but it cannot be recommended as a means of meeting the needs of blind children in Scotland." The Scots have been generous in granting that the day class may be well adapted and may have values, but, not for them. The American scene is dotted with day classes, but they thrive best in urban areas where there are enough children to make workable groups and where progressive school sys- tems operate. And yet it is surprising that an enterprise so widely hailed today, and pronounced as "a new era" seventy-five years ago, has not grown more. To-day, less than ten percent of all blind children in school are in day classes and only twenty-three communities offer them to parents and their blind children.

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The iLantern

THE PERKINS INSTITUTION

VOLUME XX., NO. 3 MARCH 15. 1951

"They Also Serve"

*CT7 VEN GOOD NEWS IS NEWS," was the title of the leading

particle in the "Saturday Review of Literature" for January 6,

1951. Listed under this caption were many items gleaned from

the public press in 1950, reporting courage, success and cheer. Among

them was the following :

"William E. Powers was blinded at seventeen and rose to become Attorney General of Rhode Island. He credits his wife, who put him through law school by reading 3000 books to him."

We were interested in this item, not only because William E. Powers is a graduate of Perkins, but also because the wife who read the 3000 books was one of our most devoted teachers before she transferred her attentions and her reading ability to the future Attorney General of Rhode Island as he left Perkins to enter the Boston University School of Law.

The Good News item also focused attention on the many seeing people who make their eyes available to the blind as readers of books. While in these days there are Talking Books, recorded books and other mechanical forms of conveying words, there is still a need for the human voice to bring to the blind the content of books. Here in Massa- chusetts, this service has been for many years on a volunteer basis. Perkins has played a large part in providing readers for its advanced students and for young men and women in college. There are also many devoted persons who read to the elderly blind, and who through the human voice and the friendship that it engenders give a warmth to reading that no machine can convey. To all of these we would like to give with some modification, the accolade of blind John Milton, "They also serve who only sit and read."

Perkins Institution and Massa- chusetts School for the Blind. Watertown 72, Massachusetts Gabriel Farrell, Director

^OsV^u^f J&Ah^f

INTRAMURAL NOTES

Square dances under the leadership of Mr. Bill Duncle and his musicians have been enjoyed at Perkins during the winter term. There have been four dances for boys and three for girls, with seeing girls and boys coming in.

An amateur show held by the junior and senior boys in Dwight Hall on the evening of January 3. gave considerable entertainment to those present and some profit to those taking part.

The Girls' Glee Club, as one of its

engagements this year, gave a concert en the evening of January 22 at Dana Hall, a girls school in Wellesley.

A long- weekend over Lincoln's Birth- day, enabled nearly all of the pupils to go home in the middle of the winter term.

The girls' junior prom was held in Dwight Hall on the evening of February 24, as a formal dance, with a number of ycung men from nearby colleges attend- ing.

The staff party this year was in the form of a circus held in the gymnasium, with the teachers in the Lower School being the hosts.

With deep regret we report the death on January 11, of Prank C. Bryan, at the age of 75. Until his retirement in 1948. Mr. Bryan was manager of the Howe Press, and head of the Perkins Workshop in South Boston. In 1897, while working with Dr. Allen at the Philadelphia School, he produced the first interpoint book embossed in Amer- ica. In 1924 he was one of a committee of three who toured printing establish- ments in Europe to study methods of embossing, and he had a large part in the struggle which led to the adoption of a uniform embossed type in the English speaking world.

EXTRAMURAL NOTES

John F. Mungovan has been ap- pointed Director of the Division of the Blind. He was a Colonel in World War II and was for sixteen years with the Department of Welfare in Boston.

Ellen A. Curran, a student of Perkirs from 1926 until 1930, and who for the past several years has been engaged in Home Teaching in Rhode Island, has resigned to take up a position as Home Teacher in New Hampshire.

Evelyn M. Crossman, Perkins 1937, has resigned as Home Teacher in the Bcston area, and has accepted a posi- tion as Home Teacher in Rhode Island, taking over her new duties February 16.

Kenneth Morris of Athol, who at- tended Perkins from 1926 until 1943, after competing in a series of contests, called "Talent Shop" over Station WTHE of Worcester, came to the finals on February 21 and won an all expense paid ocean cruise to Bermuda.

Carl F. King, Jr., Perkins '41, who has obtained the degree of B.M. from the New England Conservatory of Music, is now director of music and musical occupational therapy at the Butler Hos- pital, Providence.

Edmund E. Berube, Perkins '46, was granted the degree of Bachelor of Arts at a mid-year commencement of Brown University on Tuesday, January 30. During his sophomore year, he was a member of the council of his class.

Jackie Corkum, Perkins '50, has re- ceived a certificate as a masseuse from the Nylin School of Swedish Massage. She is now working for a hospital cer- tificate which will make her eligible for work in hospitals. 2 —

RECESS COMMISSION REPORT

"A Study of Matters Related to the Blind "

THE SPECIAL COMMISSION appointed by the Commonwealth to "make a study of certain matters related to the blind" has

submitted its report. This is a comprehensive and competent document. The report will be discussed at a public hearing of the legislative committee on March 13, falling between the writing of this article and the date of publication. As the report has been published in ink print and also in Braille, its contents should be thoroughly digested before consideration at the hearing. If all in- terested in the welfare of the blind in Massachusetts give to this report the attention that it deserves and support its recommendations, then the outlook for the program of the blind in this state should be greatly strengthened, and attain the stature of its historic background.

The proposal to create by legislative act the "Massachusetts Au- thority for the Blind" is perhaps the most radical in the report. It proposes to bring under one management the six workshops now main- tained by the Division ,the vending stand program, the home industries program, and the sales program. The report focuses attention upon the ineffectiveness of the present sheltered shops which employ only 105 persons and which operated in the year 1949, with a net deficit of $188,177.97, due not to the lack of interest or the integrity of the persons administering them, but to the inflexible rules and regulations under which they must operate. The possibilities of vending stand employment have hardly been scratched in Massachusetts, while the heme industries, with a long history of activity, lack supervision, and the sales program needs modernization. All these needs, the Com- mission feels, could be attained through this special authority.

Somewhat related is the strong recommendation for an adequate program of rehabilitation for the blind. This, however, has had legal provision and approval, but lacks implementation. Steps are now being taken to bring Massachusetts in line with the forty-seven other states of this country in the operation of an effective vocational rehabilita- tion program. Such a program should have a relationship to shops, because they should be used as training centers. There should be a relationship also with the program of aid to the needy blind, because through rehabilitation, placement in outside industry and full utiliza- tion of the intellectual and economic abilities of blind people, costs there could be materially reduced.

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M

Better Understanding of Pood

'ORNING ASSEMBLY is held at the Upper School at Perkins every week- d a y morning at 8:15. For over a hundred years, this gathering has fol- lowed the same pat- tern, even though in the earlier years as- sembly was as early as 6:00 A.M. This gathering has not only the value of bringing together at the beginning of each day all of the pupils and most of the staff members, but it provides opportunity for Perkins pupils to hear a wide range of speakers. During this winter term, on Monday mornings, the speakers have been members of the staff and Harvard Class coming from foreign lands. Already, mes- sages have been heard from representatives of England, Switzerland, Iran, India, Italy, Spain and the Philippines. On Friday mornings, the speakers are boys and girls of the Upper School, selected by the Student Councils. They usually speak on subjects dealing with their own experiences or present matters pertaining to school life. The speakers on Thursday mornings have been the Clergy of Watertown, who, in turn, come to Perkins each year during Lent.

LITERARY PILGRIMAGES

ALL MEMBERS of the English classes in the senior High School, attended the performance of "Romeo and Juliet" at a Boston Theatre on the evening of February 19. This was done in con- nection with their study of Shakespeare, and is illustrative of the attempt on the part of the Perkins faculty to relate their teaching with actual experiences. Other occasions of this type were the attendance by the Senior Class and some of the post-graduate students at a per- formance of "Hamlet", while a larger group attended a presentation of "Cyrano de Bergerac". As part of their history study, the Senior Class went to the Wayside Inn, where, besides the Inn, they visited the many other exhibits gathered at that center by the late Henry Ford; while the Junior Class made a pilgrimage to the Old North Church, Paul Revere's home and Faneuil Hall.

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LIBRARY EXHIBITS

EXHIBITS ARRANGED by the library during the winter term have been concentrated on the general subject of "Food." These have been very realistic and have given to the pupils, especially those who live in cities, some unique experiences. When the subject of bread was under consideration, its process from wheat to the baked loaf was shown, and pupils were given an opportunity to taste several varieties. Maple sugar proved to be a most alluring study, beginning with actual sap being drawn from the trees on the grounds and ending with a piece of the finished product to nibble. One of the most valuable exhibits in the series was that of milk. There was a model cow, and the importance of milk as a food was stressed.

SOCIAL SECURITY

UNDER THE LEGISLATION which made it possible for em- ployees of non-profit and educational institutions to benefit by the opportunities of Social Security, practically all of Perkins' employees were enrolled, as of January 1, 1951, in the Old Age and Survivors Insurance plan, under which employees and the Institution each pay one and one half percent of compensation. Perkins has had, since 1932, a retirement plan, carried on with Equitable Life Assur- ance Society, of which most of the professional and maintenance members of the staff are members.

SPRING CONCERT

THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT is planning a concert of a popular nature, to be held on Monday, May 28 and Tuesday, May 29. This will take the place of the Pops Concerts, which were form- erly held earlier in the spring. The performance on Monday will be largely for the benefit of the members of the Massachusetts Council of Organizations for the

Blind, whose annual Leads to Better Eating

meeting is held on that day, while the concert on Tuesday will be in the after- noon, and especially for members of the Corporation and their guests as well as for the families and friends of the pupils. —5—

WRESTLING TEAM

THE PERKINS WRESTLING TEAM has had a full season with engagements beginning on January 6 and extending through the wrestling tournament of the Eastern Athletic Association of Schools for the Blind, held at the School for the Blind in Raleigh, North Carolina, Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3. Twelve boys, Charles Dunbar, teacher of physical education and Ben F. Smith, Dean of Boys, made the journey to North Carolina by bus. In com- petition with eight other schools, Perkins won second place. With the exception of the meet with New York Institute, held in New York City, all of the other tournaments were with local high schools.

SUMMER SCHOOL

A SUMMER SCHOOL for mothers and blind babies is being planned to be held the last week in June after the close of school. This session will follow the pattern of the schools held in 1945 and 1946. About twenty mothers and their babies will be in residence, while provision will be made for as many parents as possible to attend afternoon and evening lectures and conferences. The babies who will be admitted with their mothers will be between one and a half and four years of age. This year, there will be no restriction as to the cause of blindness. The original sessions had been planned primarily for children with retrolental fibroplasia.

MUSIC POLL

PERKINS has been participating in the "Poll of Popular Music" which is sponsored by the program, "The Boston Ballroom" broadcast over station WHDH. To conduct the poll at Perkins, Marjorie Doyen, Joan Berarducci, Gene Raschi and Alfred Gasper were elected by the student body. Each of the Upper School pupils cast a vote indicating his favorite music and composer. On the broad- cast held on March 2, these four pupils spoke over the radio as repre- sentatives of Perkins.

OPEN HOUSE

OVER 1500 PEOPLE attended the Open House held on the after- noon of Washington's Birthday, proving thereby that these programs, given up during the war, meet with popular favor. All of the Upper School pupils participated and had some interesting experiences in demonstrating what blind boys and girls can do.

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PRESS ITEMS

Don Copple, Perkins '40, Manager of Copple Music Sales, Bangor, Maine, is pictured tuning a piano, in the Feb- ruary 14 issue of the Bangor Daily News. It tells of his success in tuning, and in writing he urges blind boys to enter this profession, pointing out that it is suitable and lucrative.

Merrill A. Maynard, Perkins '38, di- rector of the Biraille Poets' Guild, was the subject of an illustrated article in "Yankee" Magazine for February, which included pictures of the Perkins Tower, blind persons- reading Braille, typing and using a Braille writer, as well as a print of John Milton.

Helen Antul, Perkins '39, is featured in an article, entitled "Red Cross Serv- ices for the Blind" in the February issue of the "Outlook for the Blind". It tells of Miss Antul's services as a Gray Lady at the Rutland Heights Veterans Ad- ministration Hospital near Worcester. Massachusetts.

Kathryn Coutcher, nee Gibalerio. Perkins '42, is featured in an almost entire page spread in the Providence Evening Bulletin of February 15. Text and pictures depict her singing in a night club, reading Braille and as a "meticulous housekeeper" and "play- mate for her two children."

Anthony Cirella, Perkins '40, has com- pleted his thesis for his Master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music, Entitled "The problems of the Blind in Music", it approaches the topic from the point of view of a blind organ- ist and choirmaster. An excellent chap- ter relates the place that blind persons have found in the music profession. A copy of the thesis has been filed in the Perkins Blindiana Library.

PUBLICATIONS

"Journey into Light" is the title of a new book which tells the story of the education of the blind. It was written by Ishbel Ross, a professional writer with large experience and no previous knowledge of the blind. She spent over two years in intensive research, and as a result has assembled a wealth of ma- terial regarding blind persons surpas- sing any previous book on the blind. Following the biographical method, Miss Ross tells the dramatic stories of the men and women who have opened up new horizons for the blind. She has attached to the stories of these individuals, comprehensive accounts of their means of achievement and has woven into stories the many movements which developed in the onward pro- gress of blind persons throughout the centuries.

This book will give to the general reader, a broad conception of the early struggles and the more recent achieve- ments of people without sight. It does not, as Helen Keller points out in the Foreword present blindness and "its victims as objects of compassion", but rather the point of view that "The blind man's mind and his four senses are like their own, that his consciousness need not be influenced by lack of sight and that his world can be made as pleasant as the sunlit blooming one they know."

Professional workers may find some slight inaccuracies here and there, and feel that proper stress has not been given either to individuals or activities. The value of the book, however, is that it is not written with the idea of sup- porting one school as against another, or of interpreting the motivations of some of the people. Miss Ross is not pleading a cause. She is telling a story as she found it through intensive and deep research, and because of that it will be a welcome and helpful addition to the field of Blindiania. 7 —

RECESS COMMISSION REPORT

(Continued from page 3)

While the Commission did not feel that a study of the educational facilities for blind children came within its competence, it has re- viewed this area, making kindly references to the program of school- ing which Perkins Institution has provided for blind children. It points out, however, that providing an educational program, even of the superior type which Perkins offers, does not in any way cover all the needs of blind children. It also points out that parents in other states have an element of choice and can send their children to public school classes, and it recommends that the Department of Education make a study of this form of education for blind children. Better medical care for blind children, consideration of financial aid when necessary, special interest in their guidance and future careers, as well as making provision for children not competent to enter the pres- ent educational program, are all recommended as areas which adequate provision for the blind should cover.

An interesting section of the report concerns "services recom- mended to be taken out of the Division." The Commission recom- mends that the planning, supervision and direction of the education of blind and partially seeing children should be taken out of the Divis- ion and placed within the Division of Special Schools and Classes of the Department of Education, in the same way in which the education of deaf children is administered. While the Division of the Blind would continue to keep a register of blind and partially seeing children, and administer a program of medical eye care, the Commission feels that the educational problems should be referred to the Division of Special Education and the program of prevention and restoration to the State Department of Health.

It is not possible in this brief review to cover in full measure the many recommendations, nor, in fact, to put on record any attitude toward them. The democratic process of preparing and presenting a report to a legislative committee with public hearings, gives opportun- ity for all persons interested to share in the formulation of the final program. Massachusetts now has a chance to retrieve the high place which it once held in its program for the blind, and it is hoped that this opportunity will not be marred by divisional opposition, nor lost for lack of support by those who are more ready to criticize than to construct.

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