A fifth system has been recently imported from Paris, invented by 31. Braille, which consists of the sixty-two varieties of form which six dots, ii, can be made to assume by the omission of one or more of them. This supplies not only the letters of the alphabet, : :0 % : a *a se Illi . . ' ' but numerous other signs, of which he makes valuable use. There are two ea vantages which itpossesses over all the others, and which it is supposed will cause it to supersede them. The first is, that it can be written easily by the blind themselves, by au appa ratus to be afterwards described. The other is, that it affords the best method of writing and printing music for the blind which has yet been discovered.
A sixth system is an improvement on Braille, by 31r. Wait of New York, which, it is confidently predicted, will supersede all the others. The signs, like 31. Braille's, are produced by six dots, but they are placed horizontally, thus, ::: At present, it is impossible to predict the triumph of an of these systems, as their respective advocates are not only determined, but able to keep their ground. But as recent legislation has made provision for the education of the blind in common schools, where the influence of rival societies and extraordinary geniuses, who are not the best guides for their less talented brethren, will not be felt, it is not improbable that. soube common system will gradually come into Feneral use. In the report of the royal com missioners of the exhibition of 1851, surprise is expressed that Mr. Gall's labors should have been so summarily set aside, and they recommend now the universal adoption of Dr. Howe's books.
WitiTrso FOR TUE is of two kinds; first, writing to be read by the blind; and, second, writing by the blind, to be read by the seeing. Messrs. Milne and 3113sine of the Edinburgh asylum invented the "string alphabet," by which they were enabled to communicate with one another. The letters were represented by different kinds of knots tied upon a cord singly or combined. This was superseded in 1838 by Mr. Gall's writing stamps, which, as they can be made to any pattern, have been much used. The paper is placed on a cushion frame, and a barred guide placed over it. The stamps are made of pins fixed in wood, and when pressed through thick writing-paper, produce a raised letter on the other side.
31. Braille's system of writing corresponds with his alphabet. Cartridge paper is placed over a grooved plate, with guide having two rows of oblong holes. A blunt point forces the paper into the grooves, so as-ta produce the dots which form the letters on the other side. This is by far the most legible writing which has yet been provided for the blind, and is a strong recommendation of his alphabet for printing.
There are two methods of writing by the blind to be read by the seeing. The first is by Mr. St. Clair, a teacher of music in Edinburgh; the other is 3[r. Gall's typlograph. In both processes the writing is produced by a hard pencil with a fine point, or by a blunt bodkin moving over carbonized paper, which deposits the blacking on the paper wherever it is pressed. Mr. St. Clair's guide consists of a line of small square holes, each of which represents a letter or a space. The steel point enters each hole, and makes