learned their names, etc. It is no uncommon thing to see a
pupil throw these blocks into a confused heap, mix them all up, and, then
picking them up one by one, put each in its place with as much accuracy as
the most accomplished pianist will strike each key in a simple march or
polka.

The philosophical apparatus consists of miniature machinery: the spring,
the simple and compound lever, the wheel, the cog, the cam, etc., even to
the miniature engine are brought into use, and the pupils examine them by
themselves, and in their various applications and relations to each other.
In teaching those who never could see great difficulty is experienced in
conveying the nature and properties of gases, vapors, etc., but with those
who have any recollection of what they have seen the task is comparatively
easy.

Where the apparatus is possessed the teaching of physiology and natural
history are comparatively easy, the pupil handling and examining
skeletons, skulls and models of the various parts of the human system,
learning their various offices, etc., but many schools do not possess
them, while others have fine collections including busts of eminent or
notorious personages, zoological collections, plaster models, etc., by
which the loss of sight is largely compensated for.

Music is taught by raised notes until the rudiments are mastered. It forms
a great part of the course in all the institutions, and is cultivated with
great assiduity. When the rudiments have been mastered and the pupil is
familiar with the instrument, the music is read to them, the notes
indicated by names and value, and they memorize the music. So thoroughly
do many of the blind master the art that several are now, within my
knowledge, successful teachers of the art to large numbers of seeing
pupils. On the other hand much valuable time is wasted in the effort to
teach music to those who have no talent for it, and whose time might be
more profitably employed in the pursuit of other studies.

In the education of the blind the greatest care is given to the
cultivation and strengthening of the memory and the success that is met
with is truly marvelous, for the amount and variety of knowledge with
which some minds have been stored is to many almost incredible.

The industrial education of the blind is perhaps the most important of
all, and all the institutions are provided with workshops, in which the
inmates learn some useful mechanical or domestic art. Th