TICKET BUREAU FOR THE BLIND. ore THE EDITOR OF THE

"SPECTATOR."] SIE,"—Some years ago a Bureau was founded in New York for distributing free tickets for concerts and plays to suitable blind people. It sent out over six thousand free tickets to persons known to the secretary. It grew into the New York Association for the Blind, which has a workshop for blind men, classes for blind women, three blind stenographers, blind switchboard operators, and ten blind people on its staff. Nine other Bureaux have been founded, the latest in Svritzerland. Managers, subscribers, and other people with

tickets which they cannot sell or use are glad to be thus relieved of the trouble and responsibility of benevolence.

The third Ticket Bureau was founded in London, and, principally through the generosity of the readers of the

Spectator, has done much good. Being in public acts as a

mental stimulus to the blind. It makes them careful of their personal appearance, as they know that otherwise they will receive no more invitations. One blind man writes :—

"Such music is a delight to the sighted, but to the blind it is a joy for ever."

Another says :—

"There is no one that realises the horror of blindness but those who are afflicted with it. We love music, and these concerts carry us through many a lonely day when we have no oue to talk to. God bless you for your loving work."

Will not your readers co-operate in this work by sending spare tickets to the secretary, Baroness Arild Roseukrantz,

18 Clareville Grove, South Kensington, who will gladly give further particulars ? Without further funds the Bureau must cease. It must have a small permanent working capital to ensure its continuance. The treasurer is Sir James Mac- grigor, Bart., to whom cheques may be drawn and sent, care of the secretary. The writer is a member of the Committee of the Ticket Bureau, which includes :—

The Countess of Bective (President). The Right Hon. James Bryce, The Lady Northcliffe.

M.P. The Lady St. Helier.

Sir Anderson Critchett. Mrs. Stillman.

The Countess Feodora Gleiclien. Mr. J. St. Loe Strachey. Mrs. Holman Hunt. Mr. John Tennant.

Mr. Eudyard Kipling. Mr. Lewis Waller.

If this letter leaves its readers indifferent, let them close their eyes for one minute and think what blindness and

poverty (most of the blind are poor), what darkness, unrelieved darkness, must be, and consider that they can help to make it what Helen Keller calls in her recent poem, "Dark—wise, vital, thought-giving dark."—I am, Sir, &c., WINIFRED HOLT, Hon. Secretary of the New York Association for the Blind, 128 Piccadilly, W.

[We sincerely trust that the admirable organisation for which Miss Holt pleads so eloquently will again receive the support of our readers.—ED. Spectator.]