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Then many a case of blindness, or deafness, or infirmity, instead of being looked upon as a mysterious dispensation of Providence, will be seen to be only the penalty of a violated law which was enacted in kindness and love.

Then the love of God to men will be manifested even in afflictions, and his praise will be perfected out of disease and suffering, as well as out of health and enjoyment.

Then it will be seen, that, if this world is a vale of tears, if it is full of deformity, and suffering, and sickness, and crime, it is man, and not God, that maketh it so.

Another way in which institutions for the blind can be useful to the community, and diminish the number of the class of persons whom they take under their care, is in spreading abroad a knowledge of the best means of preventing the calamity of blindness in those who are strongly disposed to it hereditarily. This has been done somewhat in former Reports. The means consist in avoidance of sedentary occupations, especially those which try the eyes; great care about reading or working for a long-continued time, or by a feeble light; strict temperance in food and drink; and constant and active exercise in the open air. By these means many a one will have tolerable eye-sight at threescore years, who would otherwise have been purblind at twenty, and quite blind at thirty.

Moreover, great good will be done, if persons having the care of the blind can be persuaded that the way to give them intellectual strength, vigor of purpose, and persevering courage, is to begin by training the body to hardihood and health.

It is not my purpose to dwell upon this subject now, nor, indeed, to lengthen out this already too long Report. I have shown that the infirmity of blindness is greater, even, than is generally supposed; not, however, directly as an affliction, not as a cause of repining and sorrow, but as an obstacle to the development of bodily and mental vigor; a serious and almost insurmountable obstacle, in most cases, to the independence of the sufferers.

It follows that we should do more for them than to teach and train them in schools; we should endeavour to provide them with means for putting themselves more nearly upon a footing with others in the struggle for a livelihood than they can be if dismissed to make their way unaided. I do not dwell now upon the duty of properly directing their moral and religious training, for this is not the place.

I close by earnestly recommending to your attention the suggestions in my Report upon the workshop, about providing aid to those blind who must depend upon the labor of their hands. Many of the considerations urged in this paper will strengthen those urged there.

Very respectfully,

S. G. HOWE.