The Project Gutenberg EBook of Elizabeth Gilbert and Her Work for the Blind, by
Frances Martin

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Title: Elizabeth Gilbert and Her Work for the Blind

Author: Frances Martin

Release Date: March 21, 2010 [EBook #31721]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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ELIZABETH GILBERT

[Illustration: Logo]

[Illustration: (signed) Elizabeth Gilbert]

ELIZABETH GILBERT AND HER WORK FOR THE BLIND

BY FRANCES MARTIN

AUTHOR OF 'ANGELIQUE ARNAULD,' ETC. ETC.

London
MACMILLAN AND CO.
AND NEW YORK
1887

_All rights reserved_

INTRODUCTION

There is a sacred privacy in the life of a blind person. It is led apart
from much of the ordinary work of the world, and is unaffected by many
external incidents which help to make up the important events of other
lives. It is passed in the shade and not in the open sunlight of eager
activity. At first we should be disposed to say that such a life, with
its inevitable restrictions and compulsory isolation, could offer little
of public interest, and might well remain unchronicled. But in the rare
cases where blindness, feeble health, and suffering form scarcely any
bar to activity; where they are not only borne with patience, but by
heroic effort are compelled to minister to great aims, we are eager to
learn the secret of such a life. No details connected with it are devoid
of interest; and we are stimulated, encouraged, and strengthened by
seeing obstacles overcome which appeared insurmountable, and watching
triumph where we dreaded defeat.

Elizabeth Gilbert was born at a time when kindly and intelligent men
and women could gravely implore "the Almighty" to "take away" a child
merely because it was blind; when they could argue that to teach the
blind to read, or to attempt to teach them to work, was to fly in the
face of Providence. And her whole life was given to the endeavour to
overcome prejudice and su