on him from his youth upwards, and upon all
around him.

Living in an institution, and able to measure himself by no higher
standard than that which it offered, he had not, however, realised the
actual limitations of blindness. It is doubtful whether he ever did
realise them. He would, therefore, have been an unsafe guide, but he was
an excellent follower. He would have resented interference from those
whom he called "the sighted," but he submitted to the blind lady; her
nurture, training, and delicate sense of the fitness of things gave her
a strong hold over him. He accepted her judgment when it was opposed to
his own will, and faithfully carried out her views and wishes.

During this first interview in Queen Anne Street he told her of the
various institutions in Great Britain and their work, and especially of
the work done in London. At her request he investigated carefully, and
obtained dates, facts, and figures that were reliable. Bessie found that
the institutions for the blind provided instruction for the young, and
for them only. Statistics showed, however, that by far the greater
number of blind persons lose their sight as adults, from such causes as
fever, smallpox, and accidental injury. They lose sight when others are
dependent upon them, and when blindness means either the life of a
beggar or life in the workhouse. And again she learnt that the existing
institutions dismiss young men and women who have been fairly educated
and taught a trade, on the assumption that, as adults, they can practise
their trade and earn a living. This conjecture tells cruelly upon the
blind. They leave many of the institutions with an adequate stock of
clothes, and either with tools or with money to purchase tools; and then
begins a hopeless struggle. Private friends diminish in numbers, and are
gradually lost. The blind men and women cannot go about from place to
place in search of work, cannot work without special contrivances, which
are not to be found in ordinary workshops, and have no market for their
goods if they work at home.

But do blind people wish to work, or would they not rather beg? asked
many to whom Bessie spoke on this subject. To this she replied that she
did not know; must try to find this out. For some months, at her
request, Levy went into the streets and accosted every blind beggar whom
he met, asking him or her to tell the story of life to a blind man.
"Which would you rather do, work or beg?" he would