FOR THE BLIND

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 20

FOR THE BLIND

THE BRAILLE SYSTEM

, The hard' lot of tho blind has been appreciably-lightened by the invention of Braille, the system of "embossed w'ritnig based on arrangements of .'dots These dots, .winch are felt by'the -fingers, represent letters or combinations o± letters. - ■■• Either because their circumstances put them outside the scope-of State and charitable, assistance or beeauso they are too sensitive -to: seek help ' many-blind people: never learn Ho read Braille: .To. meet the-need of •thcreducKt.qd. -blind, ■a' booklet,- ' ' Training ' the Angers, to Feel Braille,". by.C. Amslwor.th t - has-been': issued'by. -the-Nationail Institute for the: Blind, says-the "Daily Mail." .-.:. ..-.; ;'. :, .-.- ; . ■ -.-"f ■■ The booklet, is. fbr the use'of homo tcaehei's, and.' it is' claimed that the' method-.of. teaching -Wiiicli it' fo'llqws has me.t ;with: marked success.■";:, V. ■ ..The. signs '.are' introduced-ijp.t- alphabetically, but in. th«' ; order -in' which they are .best distinguished -by touch. Braillle is a, system of dots: arranged-in three horizontal 'rows of two like a doinin o six. .l-. . -.17 '■: 'i :?. /:' ■' 1 t. . Sometimes o,ri<3 dot "is omitted,1 sometimesL several,: and 63 ■ cbmbinations are possible:-: Twenty-six of'these repre-' sent- letters of - the' 'alphabetj the rerri^inaef.wbrd^.sßdh as'.f.fo.r;*' ":'and :j:> "'with,I', 'and"p'the'r.-.common, combina,tiona: of:letters,: marks' .of •.'punctuatio.n ancj-flgures.-■ j ": ■. ; ' ■ .-.."-.• '!. .-'■ - A dot in the top left-hand corner of the dpmino or cell, as itis called, represents^ "a";; .three-dots--in a-verticar row-represent- "!.' All' six! dots stand fbr " ; f6T.V -' . -"; . '„.- -.--■: ..,-::, ':: Finger-reading lsr*He'fly::ji "matter '-ot: Jnemory..,.and_ lightness'-pf". ipuchV *^- ''■ : • ; ,The : , handc3should-lie Mflatlc'oir :the; Braille -: page, , parallel: to. the '-maTglfis - A ;meth«d -of-ehsuHng-;fch& corroct-ppsi-tipn by means, of guiding- lines-has been ■ followedrin. ,this.=b,6p;k.':':' ..'" ' ■ :l Speed .'.in:, reading,. Ibg^iids W' ability; to detect" rapia.ly:.,ihe "variations" in: shape between;.the different signs. One; gi-o.up v of,.letters,, fpr. : -example,-is -char;.' i 1A t.? ris?A,J'y::.the,;absinee- oj,tiie: SeeQnd: horizontal row r of dots; aapther by ha.v-1 ing no, dots on; the .rigli'b-hand. side. No endeavour has been made •in :. Braillb to reproduce tho shape of printed letters. '■ '. ■. . : ■ . . ..:■:.-. .-. .• . - The avt oi finger-reading is evidently one that- ftu intelligent man or woman can- master :without "undue difficulty ' ■ '■ The notes in this book should be of great assistaneo to teachers, of', the' blind, and ; tlierQ seems no reasoai why :!hoy should" not 'oii-iliTe lil'iifd "pVrsoiiK ■«-itli (lie help of friends to leach themselves Bruillu.