ing tact, business qualities, or the physical essentials, should be admitted to industrial homes. In the general work division, the trades, carpet weaving, caneseating, mattress making, hammock and fly net work, are taught. The object here is to cultivate a spirit of industry. No one of these occupations, nor indeed all of them, will provide a living income, yet they may add greatly to the family support. All little girls from ten to fifteen years of age, spend one hour a day with the sewing teacher. Those advancing regularly in school work, remain in a sewing class six years. At the end of that time, a pupil of average ability and industry, will be able to sew neatly and rapidly. The impatient teacher is out of place here. Pupils frequently spend six months in learning to thread a needle. Older pupils showing some dexterity with the needle, anxious to learn to sew with the machine, are given the opportunity. Very few of our entirely blind pupils have derived any practical benefit from the sewing machine. Pupils having completed sewing, or failing to learn it, are required to spend one hour a day in the fancy-work division. Knitting is · taught in this class. Tuning is one of the leading branches taught in city schools. Blind persons may become experts, and exceptional ones may become good repairers. But the tuner in Iowa must have a circuit embracing several towns. During at least three months in the year, the difficulties of traveling really close the business to the blind. It should be remembered that the industries taught here, are studies; that the different shops are in fact class rooms; that no students after having completed the course of study, whether in the manual school alone or in the literary, musical and manual schools combined, are retained as journeymen. Hence there is no pecuniary profit from this department. The drift of thought now among the blind and their friends, is toward the establishment of industrial homes. Ohio, Illinois and California have each made appropriations for this purpose. The Pennsylvania Working Home for Blind Men was established in 1874, in Philadelphia. The appended summary of the work done in that institution during the year 1886, will show how successful such homes may be made under proper management: By June 30, 1887, 639 pupils had been admitted to this Institution. Of this number 461 by graduation, discharge, or voluntary retirement, have gone out into the world. One hundred and seventy-eight may be considered enrolled pupils still. Of the old pupils, 34 are dead; 107 are making their own living. From facts gathered, I am led to believe that at least 150 are partially supporting themselves. The following newspapers have been sent gratuitously to the College. We express our thanks to the publishers, with the hope that they will continue to remember us: Vinton Age, Vinton Observer, Vinton Times, State Press of Iowa City, Cedar Rapids Republican, Cedar Rapids Times, Marengo Republican, Goodson Gazette, Belle Plaine Independent, Decorah Journal, Dysart Reporter, Tipton Advertiser, Electric Light of Marshalltown, Oskaloosa Herald. I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, THOMAS F. McCUNE. |