THE TICKET BUREAU FOR THE BLIND.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I have great pleasure in telling you of the excellent and successful work done by the Ticket Bureau for the Blind since it was started in England a year ago under its able secretary. The Committee's object has been to obtain tickets for concerts, theatres, lectures, and readings to distribute among blind people who cannot afford the artistic and intellectual pleasures which they often appreciate more than others. Helen Keller says : " To know what the blind man needs you who can see must imagine what it would be not to see; and you can imagine it more vividly if you remember that, before your journey's end, you may have to go the dark way yourself." For four years I have supervised the work of the New York Ticket Bureaux (there are six in America). Through these, blind people, almost stupefied by their affliction, have been given new senses and a new life. The enclosed is an extract from one of many letters received. One man, after his first concert, said that for the first time during twelve years of 'blindness he forgot that he was blind.' Now, money is essential to the London Bureau's further utility and success. Those who contribute, no matter how little, will be helping to bring light into darkness.' The treasurer is the Baroness Arild Rosenkrantz, 18 Clareville Grove, South Kensington, S.W.—I am, Sir, &c.,
WINIFRED HOLT. •
"During the whole twelve years of my blindness, I think I have never spent so thoroughly enjoyable a time as yesterday at the Imperial Theatre. I had always felt a little shy of plays without music. It seemed to me that a man would find his pleasure spoiled, by reason of the fact that his blindness would continually be in evidence. To hear, and not to see—particularly when sight appeared so essential—reminds one far too often of one's infirmity. But I seemed to have left one very potent item out of my calculation. This was a revelation to me last night, I became so engrossed in Brigadier Gerard,' that not once did I even realise that I could not see."
[Though we are as a rule unable to open our correspondence columns to charitable appeals—if we did we could find room
for little else—we publish with great pleasure. Miss Holt's letter and its touching enclosure. We sincerely trust that the. Bureau will obtain the funds it requires. No one who helps a blind man or woman to a pleasure will ever regret it. —ED. Spectator.]
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