292 NOTICES OF THE MEETINGS [April 8, 
On the Continent, and in some English schools, the proportion of 
males to females is nearly as two to one. This arises perhaps from 
boys being more exposed to accidents than girls, in their occupations, 
&c. There are many more ways of gaining a livelihood open to the 
males than to the females; they are, therefore, more easily provided 
for, when they leave an institution. They may learn basket-making, 
weaving, rope-making, and many other trades; the females however 
learn to knit, sew, spin, net, crochet, plait hair, straw, &c., make 
sash-cord, fringe, paper boxes for jewellers, hatters, druggists, &c. ; 
and should be taught household work. All may learn to read em- 
bossed characters and to write. 
For the blind, who are incapable of working, from age or otherwise, 
especially the females, an additional number of asylums is much 
needed. There is also much wanted a college or school for the blind 
of the wealthier classes, where they could be educated amongst those 
of their own rank in life. If such an institution were once established 
and properly officered, there is no doubt of its being well supported, 
as there are many parents who would not object to pay liberally for 
the advantage of having their blind children regularly educated in an 
establishment of that kind, where they would have the opportunity of 
being instructed in the higher branches of knowledge. That these 
are within their reach, has been proved by Blacklock, Baczko, Knie, 
Saunderson, Weissenburg, Huber, Gough, Paradies, Milton, Moyes, 
Pfeffel, Kiferle, and many others.— Modelling in clay, wax, &c., 
and sculpture, carving in wood, and even engraving, have all been 
accomplished by the blind. Amusements such as chess and other 
games are also most desirable for them, as they feel a delight in not 
being dependent upon the seeing either for their employments or 
their pleasures. The poorer blind should have some mental cultiva- 
tion as well as mechanical; for a certain quantity of the former 
makes the acquirement of the latter more easy. All blind persons 
would derive great advantage from being well drilled in Arithmetic. 
It is an admirable exercise for the mind — enables them to arrange 
their ideas, furnishes them with amusement, and renders them more 
apt at acquiring other kinds of information. 
There is another class of our fellow creatures who have a large 
claim upon our sympathy and benevolence — those who, in addition 
to their blindness, are deaf and dumb. One of the most remarkable 
of these is Laura Bridgeman, of Boston in America, who has been 
some years under the care of the famous Dr. Howe, and whose case 
is related by Dr. Kitto in his book ‘‘ On the Lost Senses,” in 
which he states that she had acquired some knowledge not only of 
things around her, but also of God and Religion. She writes a good 
hand and expresses her ideas in language which would not dis- 
grace one in possession of his five senses.* There is a blind, deaf 
* In the Second Volume of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge 
is a Paper by F. Lieber on the Vocal Sounds of Laura Bridgeman, with a 
fac-simile letter. 
A te 
