PRINTING FOR THE BLIND.—The first embossed book for the use of the blind was printed in Paris in 1754, by M. Valentine Ilouy, from that movable letters, which his pupils had been previously taught to put together and read. Founts of types were cast and books printed; and having been approved by the academy of sciences, and exhibited before the royal family at Versailles, the art created at the time a great sensation. Large editions of a few volumes were printed at great expense; but as they were not easily read, and were used only for exhibition in the Paris institution, the interest soon died away, and the greater part of the editions was long after sold for waste-paper.
Printing can never be to the B. what it is to the seeing, and is chiefly of use for those gems of literature which can he read and re-read with interest. It is questionable, there fore, whether the art, after falling into abeyance for about 40 years, would have been permanently revived had it not been for the bible, the book least wanted in Paris, but most wanted in Britain and America.
The merit of reviving it in this country is due to Mr. James Gall, of Edinburgh, who in 1820 seen specimens of the Parisian books, and obtained a box of the types, was deeplyimpressed with the importance of putting the Bible into the hands of the blind, to employ their vacant hours. Being himself a printer and publisher, he at once saw the cause of the failure in France, and set himself to improve the alphabet, so as to make it more sensible to the touch. The following is a specimen of the Parisian type at that time:* ti• • mg of crust:dem • The principles which he laid down for his guidance were these: 17rst, that the com mon alphabet (modified so as to be easily felt) is the only sate basis on which a literature for the blind can rest. He did not believe that any arbitrary character would be uni versally adopted or permanently adhered to; and as lie looked forward to the blind being taught in common schools. not only to read, but to communicate with their seeing friends, he thought it indispensable that the books should be legible to all. Second, that the printing should be so large and legible that the adult blind should be able to read it fluently. It would have been easy to print books in is small type, which could be read by children only, and which. besides being much cheaper, would have astonished the public more; but lie was of opinion that unless the adults were able to read easily, the books would not be read in private, and the object lie had in view would not be attained. Ile also unhesitatingly preferred the common (low-ease) alphabet to the capitals, which, thouell sufficiently well-known. are not fitted for the use of the blind. Their symmetry
and general uniformity, which specially adapt them for titles and inscriptions, render them unsuited for common and easy reading, either for the blind or those who see. They are even less adapted for the than the eye, because the eye can see the interior parts of the letters by which they are distinguished; whereas the finger can feel only the exterior form. Thus E H K M N X Z appear to the finger as a succession of squares, 0 C G Q as a succession of rounds.
In 1827, after much study and many experiments, Mr. Gall printed his "first book" for teaching the blind to read in a triangular modification of the common alphabet. The embossing was in high relief, and although it presented rather is rude appearance, being printed from wooden types, it excited great interest and wonder when it was found that the blind could read it easily with their fingers. This was followed by other little volumes, including a series of Scripture ,•qatemente, and a condensed Epitome of 0.7d Testament History. These were received with so much favor, that, in 1829. lie issued a prospectus for the publication of the Gospel of St. John, at one guinea, which was to pay not only for the copies, but preliminary expenses. This work was printed in 1832, but was not published till 1834; the delay being caused by the efforts of some zealous friends to induce him to adopt sonic arbitrary alphabet before printing the Bible, which, however, he firmly declined to do. The consequence was that, in 1832, the Scottish society of arts offered a gold medal, value £20, for the bcst alphabet for the band; and this, although it increased the public interest in the newly revived art, had ako the effect of paralyzing Mr. Gall's efforts, by preventing the public from giving hint support until the result of the competition thus created had been ascertained. It would have greatly strengthened his hands if, as he hoped, they had awarded hint the prize, for there was no other iu the field; but, after waiting two years, he could wait no and in 1834* he published his great work, The Gospel by St. John, which was the first book of the Bible which had ever been printed for the blind in any language. This volume was printed in a type so large and legible, that some of those whom he had taught were able at the public meetings to read any passage put before them through six plies of silk between the book and their fingers.