GYMNASTICS BY THE BLIND.
ON Saturday last there was to be seen at the Crystal Palace a spectacle which we are hardly using too strong a term in calling a marvellous one. We allude to the gymnastic display of the pupils of the Royal Normal College and Academy of Music for the Blind, at Upper Norwood. We have called the spectacle a marvellous one, and by trying to describe it we must justify the use of such a term. The performance took place on the boarded floor of the Palace, in front of the Handel orchestra, the whole of the square space between the orchestra and the theatre opposite being called into use. The proceedings began with the marching, in various formations, of the sixteen girls— ranging in age, apparently, from eight to sixteen or eighteen— who formed the female contingent of the gymnasts. The ladies who teach the pupils, and who in turn took command of the "squad" on Saturday, stood in the centre of the open space; with the voices of these ladies only to guide them, the girls went with unerring accuracy through movements which, without the aid of diagrams and technical phraseo- logy, it is difficult clearly to describe. Close observation was really needed to convince one that the performers were blind. Beginning with simple marching in column of fours and eights (i.e., each rank numbering four and eight in turn), the girls moved about in all directions ; first marching straight along the right-hand edge of the area to the very end; and then, when one dreaded that they would encounter some obstacle, at the simple words "left wheel" turning suddenly to the left and marching straight to the opposite corner. Here the word of command was repeated, and so on until the starting-point was reached. This simple marching was followed by the marching of the girls from the corner of the square towards the centre—a much more complicated affair, because, instead of describing a right-angle at the wheeling-point, they had to describe an angle of forty-five degrees. This was succeeded by movements in which the squad divided itself into two companies, which wheeled about each other, the ranks formed never becoming uneven; then square, reformed column, until there seemed to be no limit to the changing positions which they could assume.
The marching exercises of the girls being completed, the turn came of the boys and young men, to the number of about thirty- six. By these were performed similar, but, if possible, still more complicated, evolutions, including perhaps the most remark- able exploit of all—" the intersection of columns of fours and eights." The squad having formed into two companies, these marched, first in ranks of four and then of eight, from the corners of the square near the orchestra towards the centre, intersecting each other as they proceeded,—i.e., the first rank of the left-hand column having passed a given point, the first rank of the right-hand column passed the same point before the second rank of the left-hand column reached it, and so on. At one moment it appeared inevitable that one of the ranks of the left column would collide with one of the ranks of the right; the lads seemed, however, to divine their nearness to each other. At the critical moment those at the end of one of the ranks swerved a little aside, and tints the collision was averted.
These movements completed, the girls reappeared, and went through various ring and Swedish exercises. Then followed the " apparatus " work, i.e., gymnastics on the parallel bars and vaulting-horse, in which the young men who performed them acquitted themselves with a boldness and precision that would have done credit to sighted gymnasts. They were led by Mr. G. M. Campbell, son of the Principal of the College, and director of the performances, who proved himself a practised gymnast, and to whom, we believe, the pupils are indebted for the training that enables them to perform such wonders. Next in order came dumb-bell exercises by the girls to the accompaniment of a hunting chorus, sung, in perfect time and tune, by the male squad. The grace of these exercises, and the beautiful precision with which they accorded with the rhythm of the singing, made the performance perhaps the prettiest of all. The display terminated with a "grand mass exercise," in which the whole of the performers took part, using Indian clubs, dumb-bells, poles, dkc., where the combined exercises produced a very quaint and picturesque effect.
After the singing by the College choir of Mendelssohn's setting of the psalm, "Judge me, 0 God," in which they dis- tinguished themselves by their purity of tone, perfect time, and that simplicity of method which is the truest mark of artistic feeling, came the second great event of the day, the distribution of prizes by H.R.H. Princess Frederica of Hanover. The pupils were ranged on the floor in front of the orchestra, and from among them came in their turn the prize-winners, many of them little boys and girls of eight or nine, who, ascending the stairs leading to the orchestra on the left- hand side, passed along until they were opposite the Prin- cess, received their prizes, and descended the stairs on the right, going through the ceremony with a sureness of foot and sim- plicity of demeanour which again made the spectator find it difficult to believe that they were blind. The prizes consisted almost entirely of books printed in the Braille type, a large pro- portion of them appearing from the programme to be given by Dr. Armitage, President of the "British and Foreign Blind Association for Promoting the Education and Employment of the Blind," a gentleman well-known for the generous and self- sacrificing manner in which he devotes himself to the improve- ment of their condition. These books are necessarily of large size, so that it was as much as the more distinguished prize- winners could do to carry the volumes with which they were presented. The present writer was sitting at the edge of the orchestra just above two rows of chairs to which the girls among the prize-winners were led. He thus had full opportunity of observing them, and he is sure that no one could do so unmoved. The pleasure with which their faces were lit up, the eagerness with which they talked to each other of the books they had received, and handed them about for mutual inspection—if we may use such a word—made up a very touching picture. One pretty, intelligent-looking little girl was the bearer of three volumes of a size which might almost be termed colossal. The instant she was seated she felt for the titles of the books, which appeared to be embossed on slips of paper or cardboard gummed to the covers. From the first to the second book she passed with increasing eagerness ; and when she had mastered the title of the last—which for her apt and nimble fingers was the work of but a moment—she clapped her hands with an exclamation of delight, and with a look of joy which it did one good to see. She was evidently longing to be at home again, and to begin reading her treasures ; and we could not help fancying that the last book must be "Robinson Crusoe."
• Our readers may like to know something of the institution in which all these wonders are brought about. The main facts of its history can soon be told. From the Report now before us of the Executive Committee, of which Lord Richard Grosvenor is chairman, we learn that the work of this "National College for the Higher and Musical Education of the Blind" began in the spring of 1872, in three hired houses on Anerley Hill; and that in 1873 the present freehold site at Upper Norwood was secured, subject, however, to a mortgage, which the committee have not yet been able to pay off. On this site the present buildings have been erected, while two dwelling-houses have been taken for a Preparatory and Kindergarten School for little children, and two other houses for the Technical School. The pressure for admission is increasing; and although many have been refused for want of accommodation, one hundred and seventy-six pupils are now under instruction. Every possible corner is crowded. The Committee, therefore, are appealing to their friends and to the public to help them to complete the building according to a well-prepared plan, which, they say, can be seen by any one interested in the project.
The main objects to which the energies of Dr. Campbell the Principal of the College from its foundation, who was said 15y Mr. Fawcett to possess what amounted to genius in the education and training of the blind) are directed, are, first, to secure the thorough physical training of his pupils, and then, by preparing them for "practical business life," to enable them to earn their own livelihood. They are thus freed from what Mr. Fawcett used to describe as the chief evil which is in most cases associated with blindness—" the depressing feeling of dependence." Dr. Campbell, than whom there can be no better or more experienced judge on such a matter, says in his report on the work of the year :--" The blind as a class have less vitality than seeing persons. From infancy, circumstances
compel them to lead sedentary lives Notwithstanding the excellent instruction in all other departments of the College, Our practical success would certainly fall off more than one- half if we only gave ordinary attention to physical training, or did not make unusual provision for healthful exercise." Of the success achieved in securing this physical training, we hope our account of the performance last Saturday may help our readers to judge. A few facts will show that the College is not less successful in bringing about the other object mentioned above. The following extract from the appeal issued by the Committee of the National Fawcett Memorial is sufficient evidence on the point:—
" The great majority of the pupils—about 80 per cent.—become self-supporting, and make incomes of from 250 to £300 a year. Of these about 60 per cent, practise music as teachers, organists, choir- masters, and tuners; about 10 per cent, support themselves as literary teachers ; and about 10 per cent, follow various mercantile pursuits. Inquiries have lately been made as to the earnings of former pupils, and, although many who are known to be making good incomes have not yet sent in returns, the aggregate yearly incomes of forty who have replied was 24,500."
These figures may be supplemented by the following extract from the Principal's report :—
" Fourteen pupils have left during the past year, all of whom are doing well ; of the four girls, three are employed by School Boards, and one as a teacher of music ; of the young men, five are organists and teachers, one a teacher and missionary, and the others pianoforte- tuners. The continued success of our past pupils is very encouraging. We have recently had information from Afty.mne old pupils, whose aggregate earnings for the year are £6,111. We know that others are doing equally well; but as we have not had any statement of their earnings, we cannot give the figures."
If anything more were needed to prove the value of the work done by the Normal College for the Blind, it is only necessary to remark that Mr. Fawcett, whose career afforded them so bright an exaniple, and who was unwearying in his efforts to bring about the adoption of wise principles with regard to their training, "evinced," to use the words of the Committee, "from the founda- tion of the College, the liveliest interest in the work, and was always ready to further it by every means in his power." It is for this reason that the Committee of the National Fawcett Memorial state that they have decided, after placing a memorial tablet in Westminster Abbey, and founding a scholarship to be held by a blind person at some University or Women's College, to devote the rest of the funds that they may succeed in raising to promote the higher education of the blind in connection with the Normal College.
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