CHAPTER XXIII.

INSTITUTIONS FOR EDUCATING THE BLIND.

N placing in the ranks of illustrious artisans the authors of inventions and discoveries useful to the mechanic arts, we have not exceeded the limits of our subject, which are so extended that we have no need of digression. We are sure,

however, that our readers will not regret that our popular Pantheon contains an account of the charitable efforts of those who have been the sincere friends of the poor and labouring classes, -the benefactors of humanity. Honour to the glorious inventions of genius! honour also to those of the generous heart!

We speak of the institution for the education of the blind, and of the excellent and modest philanthropist who founded it. Valentine Hauy, brother of the celebrated mineralogist of that name, was much interested in the efforts of the Abbé de l'Epée in favour of the deaf and dumb.

A new idea struck him; would it not be possible to instruct the blind also? Under the influence of this idea, Hauy examined the biography of the blind, and sought out with diligence all facts tending to throw light upon this subject.

"The blind man," said he, " gains a knowledge of different objects by means of the touch, and can distinguish one piece of money from another. Why could he not also distinguish one note in music from another, or one letter in the alphabet from another, if these were rendered palpable? Would it not be advantageous to offer to the blind man's fingers a sign in relief, equivalent to that presented to the eyes of others?"

This theory once admitted, Hauy began immediately to put it

(99)

in practice, procuring raised letters and ciphers, and made his first experiment on a young blind man named Lesueur, an orphan, who was in the habit of asking alms at a church door, and whom he had sometimes questioned and found intelligent. To him he explained his project; invited him to come and live at his house, and offered to compensate him for what he would thereby lose of public charity. The proposal was accepted, and the young blind man followed his new protector home.

The zeal of this good man was not long without reward. Lesueur, at the end of six months, could read and cast up figures with his skilful fingers; and had besides learned a little geography and music. Such success excited attention; the public desired to witness so novel a sight. Hauy having occasion to read a memoir upon the writings of the ancients and moderns, and the mode of correspondence by means of ciphers, before an academic assembly, took this opportunity for producing his pupil. The intelligence of the pupil, and the zeal of the master, were loudly applauded. Hauy's method was admired and encouraged. Twelve young blind men were confided to his care, forming a growing institution, which increased rapidly under the auspices of the Philanthropic Society. This was in 1784. Two years afterwards, his number of pupils had doubled itself. evinced a desire to behold them at their studies. took them to Versailles, where, for the space of two weeks, they excited great interest. The king took the institution under his protection, making a liberal provision, enabling Hauy to receive as many as one hundred and twenty pupils, and gave this worthy man the title of secretary-interpreter to the king, and to the admiralty of France.

The court Their master

The Revolution deprived Hauy of this generous assistance, and the whole expenses of the establishment again devolved upon him. Nevertheless, by dint of great zeal and great sacrifices, he was able to sustain it, although in a very inferior

manner.

The Directory restored the protection of government to this

institution, and the education of the blind received a new and ardent impulse, which it has never lost.

There is no more interesting sight than that of these young people, whose sense of touch, brought by education to great perfection, compensates, in a great degree, for the loss of sight, and enables them to study many of our arts and sciences. Some occupy themselves with geographical globes, others read or write, decipher music, or perform on some instrument.

Before closing his honourable career, Hauy had the satisfaction of founding similar institutions at Berlin and St. Petersburg. In testimony of his gratitude, the Emperor Alexander decorated him with the cross of Saint Uladimir, and retained him in Russia eleven years; but the desire of revisiting his native soil brought him back to France in 1817, where he died at an advanced age in 1822.

Whoever has visited Clermont, (Oise) has no doubt made a pilgrimage to Liancourt, a small town, agreeably situated on a declivity, at the foot of which spreads a beautiful plain called the golden valley, from the fertility of its soil, and the richness of its verdure.

Before the Revolution, the Chateau Liancourt was finely situated in the midst of this beautiful country, and the gardens attached to it were a beautiful example of the combined attractions of nature and art. Long shady groves, lakes, fountains, and water-falls, contributed to the charms of this beautiful place. The Duke of La Rochefoucauld Liancourt, having directed his attention to the study of agriculture when in England, established a farm at Liancourt upon the English plan, and stocked it with fine Swiss and English cattle. It was through him, that the culture of artificial meadows was introduced into France; a useful means of feeding cattle in winter.

9*

CHAPTER XXIV.

ROCHEFOUCAULD.

OCHEFOUCAULD founded a school of arts and sciences for the instruction of the sons of poor soldiers, where he spent much of his time, applauding and encouraging the pupils. This school was, in some sort,

the cradle of that at Châlons sur Marne: a practical school, where various mechanical trades were taught, such as carpentry, cabinet-making, and various kinds of work in wood and iron, clock-making, &c.; and which, having for the basis of all instruction the analytic method, drawing and mathematics, has furnished France with many able workmen.

La Rochefoucauld Liancourt also established three important manufactories near his chateau. One of these was for making cards for carding wool, the second was for cotton-spinning, and the third for pottery; employing, in all, three hundred workmen. In the year 1801, the cards introduced by him into France, obtained the bronze medal at the exhibition.

Sent into exile during the reign of terror, La Rochefoucauld Liancourt turned his misfortune to the profit of France. At his return, he introduced vaccination into his own country, and checked the ravages of the small-pox, which was desolating towns and villages. He neglected no means of propagating this wonderful discovery made by Jenner, to whom succeeding generations owe an enormous debt of gratitude.

At home again, this excellent man endeavoured, by various means, to ameliorate the condition of the poor. He taught them the principles of modern agriculture, notwithstanding the brutal opposition which met him at every step. He was one of the principal founders of the Savings Fund, an institution whose

benefits are now experienced by all the labouring classes of France. The venerable name of Rochefoucauld Liancourt was seen at the head of every association for the assistance of the lower classes, were it for educating them, lightening their labour, raising their wages, or impressing upon them the importance of order and economy. At his death in 1827, a number of the workmen of Paris, amongst whom were, no doubt, some old pupils from Liancourt, Compiègne, or Châlons, insisted upon bearing his coffin upon their shoulders. Meeting with a troop of soldiers, a dispute arose, and the coffin was precipitated into the mud. The tumult which ensued was a prelude to the catastrophes of 1830.

Notwithstanding this disgraceful scene at the funeral of the virtuous Duke of Rochefoucauld Liancourt, nothing can ever efface the memory of his public benefits. The introduction of vaccination; the creation of a Savings Fund; the establishment of the Society for Elementary Instruction, and of the School of Arts and Trades (which alone has done so much for the improvement of France, and has been followed by numerous similar institutions), are all so many claims upon the eternal gratitude of mechanics and artisans, to whose service his whole life was devoted.

A like spirit actuated Bachelier, a French painter, of moderate abilities, but especially remarkable for the signal services rendered to the mechanic arts. The institution which does him so much honour, has now been established nearly twenty-four years, and, withstanding all the shocks of our political troubles, still exerts a salutary influence over a great part of the products of Parisian labour. If you have ever had occasion to visit the populous neighbourhood of the School of Medicine, you have, no doubt, observed a crowd of boys hastening onward, each bearing a portfolio of drawings, which, as you may also have observed, serves as a shield in the frequent street combats.

Now and then two walk along together, arm in arm, or leaning on each other's shoulder; and on the newly-plastered wall