f one or two blind persons to be
taught brush-making and other trades, with a view to becoming teachers.
She explained fully the objects of the Association, and expressed her
opinion that an attempt to acquire any trade "in a few days" could only
result in misconception and failure.

There were several letters on both sides, but neither yielded. Bessie
would not consent to train "sighted" teachers "in a few days," and
Brighton would not send blind pupils.

Three years previously the Davenport Institution had applied for a blind
teacher. A man trained by the Association had been sent, and had given
entire satisfaction. He succeeded a "sighted" teacher, and was said to
have done more in six months than his predecessor in two years. Bessie
always urged the necessity of employing blind teachers, on the ground
that they alone could know all the difficulties of the blind; and it
would have been impossible for her to sanction so retrograde a step as
the training of "sighted" teachers in an institution full of blind
persons, many of whom were quite capable of teaching others.

Bessie left London much exhausted by the labours and sorrow of the
spring.

She required a long rest to restore her strength. We have a short
account of her summer in the following letter to Miss Butler, written in
October, from Queen Anne Street.

MY DEAR MISS BUTLER--... I am sure you must have thought it
strange that I have not answered your letter long before this, but
I wanted to have the pleasure of writing to you myself, and I have
just lately had a good deal of work, I mean handy-work, which has
prevented my so doing. Added to which I only returned home about a
fortnight ago after, for me, a wonderfully long absence, about
which I must tell you presently.

I have come up to-day from Chichester for our Committee to-morrow,
and am talking to you in this way in the evening. I too am very
sorry not to have seen you this year, but I hope we may see you
still. How are you after all your nursing and anxiety. You must
want some refreshment, I should think.

Now with regard to Mr. ---- I shall be very glad to do anything I
can, but I really hardly see what I can say or do. My father
generally likes these sort of things to be official, and I really
don't think I should do any good by mentioning Mr. ----'s name
before the ordination. Papa would only say to me: "The