SHAKESPEARE AND THE BLIND.
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—We, the undersigned blind members of the Council of the British and Foreign Blind Association, venture to appeal to your readers for donations to enable the Association to issue to the blind, in the embossed Braille type, a new and complete edition of Shakespeare's works. Ten plays of this new edition (each occupying one foolscap volume) have already been published, and another is well in hand. The initial cost of preparing the plates will be 2350, but if a further sum of 2150 could be raised the Association would be enabled to present full sets to many libraries, schools, and societies for the blind. 2160 has already been subscribed, and we believe this need has only to be made known to bring forth a ready response from all those who, through the inestimable blessing of sight, are enabled to enjoy an ever-increasing field of literature from which, at present, the blind are largely excluded. This Association has accomplished more than any other society in giving to the blind a variety of books and music in the Braille type. Its catalogue now extends to forty pages and is steadily increasing, but even so, the store of literature for the blind is infinitesimal when com- pared with that available for the seeing. "Books," writes Helen Keller, the well-known blind-deaf authoress, "open to the blind a world where things are for ever new, bright, brimful of interest; they create a new life and make the old life endurable. Everyone who helps to provide books will help to make the blind happy and resourceful beneath the shadow of an irreparable calamity." We feel sure that these words, which we can fully endorse, will not reach unresponsive hearts. Contributions marked "Braille Shakespeare Fund" should be Bent to the British and Foreign Blind Association, 206 Great Portland Street, W.—We are, Sir, &c., A. W. G. RANGER, M.A., D.O.L., Chairman.
E. B. B. Towsz, Captain, Vice-Chairman, H. M. TAYLOR, M.A., F.R.S., chairman of the Technical and Book Committee.
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