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REMARKS ON THE PECULIAR POSITION OF

BLIND WOMEN.

In taking into consideration the position of blind females, it is necessary to bear in mind that the marriage state is a normal condition of human happiness,

In the case of men without sight, this almost indispensable requisite is not exceptionally wanting, for they certainly enter into the bonds of matrimony quite as frequently, in proportion to their numbers, as their sighted neighbours; but with blind women it is far otherwise, and as single life generally involves the necessity of their providing for their own maintenance, it is evident that the position of females suffering from blindness must be bad in the extreme. Want of muscular strength prevents their following many employments open to men. Generally, they have to endure a state of wretched dependence on poor relatives, who have barely sufficient of the necessaries of life to provide for their own daily wants, or they have to seek shelter in a workhouse, where companionship with the vile and debased makes life so insupportable that the prayer of many and many a poor blind creature has nightly been that she might not live till the morning. Yes, reader! this picture is not coloured, for the writer has known many such cases. What, then, is the problem before us? It is simply this: What can be done to remedy the exceedingly heavy sufferings that now press so grievously upon the greater number of blind females? Woman without the aid of man is naturally weak, and how incomparably so must they be who are not only debarred from having man's aid, but are also deprived of the inestimable blessing of sight! Weak in body, fearful in mind, utterly without friends and pecuniary resources, and their condition almost rendered hopeless by that greatest of all afflictions, blindness, the position of the greater number of our poor sightless sisters is indeed exceedingly wretched. What,

then, can be done to help these children of misfortune? Let us see. That which blind women specially need is a home—a happy home, where their joys and sorrows will be dear to some one; and is it impossible to give them this? Certainly not! and let those who imagine it is think well over these words of Christ, viz. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets," and "Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it not to me."

Various institutions have at different times been opened in this and other countries for the reception of females without sight, but these establishments for the most part are for educational purposes, into which persons are received for a few years, and are then dismissed without resources, to get through the world as best they may. There are, however, a few asylums for women in which the inmates are kept during their lives, and these establishments certainly confer greater happiness on those committed to their charge than could be found in a workhouse. The absence, however, of the family tie or anything approaching to it, the want of the free exercise of religious conviction, and enforced restraint, often very injudiciously administered, prevent asylums from fully meeting the wants of the class of persons for whom they are intended, and accordingly instances are not rare in which women have left an institution that had sheltered them for years, and braved the evils of abject poverty, rather than be deprived of the exercise of those personal rights so dear to every human being. The plan adopted in this matter by the Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind, London, is to allow the women connected with the society to live where they please with their relatives, if they have any, and if not with any one else they may choose, and to permit them to attend any place of worship they may desire, the Association only reserving to itself the right of interfe

rence whenever it is shown to the satisfaction of the committee that any one is living in a disreputable house. The amount of good effected by this means is beyond appreciation, for none but Him who knows the secret springs of happiness in the human heart can estimate the joy experienced by those who have an object in life for which to live, and who have some place, however humble, that they can really call their own home, and over which they reign supreme, even though it may only occupy the space of a few square feet. How the Association before named affords instruction, gives work, and grants pensions to the blind, according to their circumstances, is so fully detailed in another part of this book, that any further notice of it here would be superfluous, and we therefore proceed to remark that the means of obtaining a subsistence open to blind women are few and unremunerative, and that, as a general rule, their earnings have to be supplemented by charity, even to a greater extent than in the case of men. The employments carried on by females are brush-drawing, fine basket-work, repairing chairs, tying firewood, making sash-line, knitting, netting, crochet, needlework by hand and by machine; and for remarks on these and other similar occupations the reader is referred to the part of this volume which treats specially of industrial employments.

Some years ago many blind women obtained a respectable livelihood as organists and teachers of the pianoforte; but since the growth of the prejudice against female organists in general and all blind musicians, a woman who has the misfortune to be deprived of sight has scarcely the shadow of a chance, whatever her talents may be, of obtaining a subsistence by the musical profession.

The training of young girls in domestic pursuits is a matter of the greatest importance. Home is the true sphere of woman, and she who can produce do

mestic comfort possesses the surest passport to the affections of a household. To the attainment of this most desirable object, blindness does not present an insuperable barrier. Many women without sight have proved skilful housewives, and in the matters of plain cooking, cleaning, washing, repairing clothes, and in doing the thousand and one things which go to make up the perfection of domestic happiness, they have shown themselves the equals and in many cases the superiors of their sighted neighbours.

It is a fact worthy of the widest circulation that the eminent Dr. Johnson entrusted the entire management of his domestic affairs to a blind person, namely, Miss Williams, the poetess. This lady, the daughter of an ingenious Welsh physician, and a woman of more than ordinary talent, having come to London in the hope of being cured of cataract which affected both eyes, and which ended in total blindness, was kindly received as a constant visitor at the doctor's house while Mrs. Johnson lived, and after her death Miss Williams, having taken up her temporary abode with Johnson, in order that an operation might be performed for the recovery of sight, eventually became a permanent resident with him whenever he had a house; and it may be mentioned that Miss. Williams often remarked, when astonishment was expressed at her domestic performances, that "Persons who could not do those common offices without sight, did but little when they enjoyed that blessing."

There have been many blind women remarkable as clever housewives besides Miss Williams, and some have even obtained a reputation as good nurses. One of the most successful of the latter class was Martha Brass, of Liverpool, who, in addition to possessing great abilities as a nurse, was remarkable for her success as a shampooer. She was born at Richmond, Yorkshire, and was for thirteen years in the Liverpool Blind Asylum. On leaving that institution and find

ing she could not obtain a living by any art acquired there, she struck out a new path for herself by the adoption of the professions of a nurse and shampooer. In this undertaking she had the good fortune to obtain the patronage of Lord Derby (grandfather of the present earl), who having employed her as shampooer for upwards of twelve years, settled upon her an annuity which she enjoyed until her death. It is recorded that Martha used to sit up with patients at night and give them their medicine, and that when an article was required from any part of the house she obtained it herself without difficulty. She died in 1868, aged seventy-one, leaving £2000, saved from her earnings and the benefactions of her patrons. Although Martha succeeded in amassing so large a sum she was no miser, as memoranda left by her show that during her life various sums, amounting to £900, were given away in charity. She was never married, but had several offers which she pertinaciously refused. She left by will the following legacies :-The Blind Asylum, £250; the Orphan Boys' Asylum, the Female Orphan Asylum, the Infant School, the Workshops for the Out-door Blind, the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Northern Hospital and the Southern Hospital, each £10. All these charities are in Liverpool. She also left £20 to the School for the Blind, York.

It is much to be wished that the various institutions that undertake the training of blind females should give to their pupils useful instruction in household matters; but in doing this care should be taken to procure the services of instructors above the standard of ordinary servants. It is also greatly to be desired that a small work should be printed in relief, giving practical hints and suggestions respecting cooking and general domestic economy. No fears need be entertained regarding the blind being allowed to light fires, as hundreds of persons have constantly done so