REPORT ON THE MODES OF PRINTING FOR THE BLIND. 91 
About that time several schools or asylums for the blind were 
established in America. In Philadelphia the Gospel of Saint 
Mark was published in a raised type and printed on both sides 
the leaf as before mentioned ; the letters are something between 
the Italic and written characters. I am not aware that much 
more has been done there; but at Boston printing in raised 
characters for the blind has been carried to a great state of per- 
fection under the direction and superintendence of that able and 
zealous friend to the blind, Dr. S. G. Howe. The form of the 
letter differs a little from the “ lower case ” used in this country, 
but the impressions are exceedingly sharp and good. Many 
books have been published there, and at a very cheap rate, as 
will appear from the following extracts from Dr. Howe’s ex- 
cellent letter to the British and Foreign Bible Society. 
From the “ Monthly Extracts from the Correspondence of the 
British and Foreign Bible Society.” 
From the Rev. Dr. Howe, Director of the New England Insti- 
tution for the Education of the Blind. 
‘“ Boston, U.S., Nov. 20, 1886. 
*T now forward you a box containing two complete copies of 
the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour in raised charac- 
ters, one bound in 4 vols. the other copy in 2 vols. For adults 
and persons who would use them carefully the copy in 2 vols. 
would be best; for children the one in 4 vols. 
“You ask, what would be the cost of a hundred or athousand 
copies of the New Testament? I answer that they may be 
_ printed and bound for 1/. 10s. But you will observe that the 
_ paper on which the copies I send you are printed is very tough 
_ and peculiar in its fabric ; it was made for the purpose, and is 
_ saturated with animal size, so that it will be very durable. If 
_ you depress one of the letters you will observe the paper will 
bi spring back again, which I fear will not be the case with the 
_kind of printing you sent tome. The cost of our Testament was 
. little over 2/. sterling, another edition might be had cheaper. I 
~ Tejoice to learn that an interest is beginning to be felt on the 
] subject of printing for the blind, for ijt has been the object near- 
est my heart for the last four years.”’ 
___ After urging the desirableness of using the common letter, 
_ Dr. H. proceeds : 
a « I have known of several cases where blind persons had 
learned to read at home: we had one boy enter our institution 
who knew how to read and spell in our first books, though he 
ras but seven years old and was born blind. His mother, a small 
mer’s wife, had procured a book a year before and taught him. 
