The art of writing, which, to those not acquainted with the educating of the blind, is considered the most difficult task, becomes comparatively easy.  It is a two-fold art, including the art of writing for blind readers and the ordinary Roman script.  Of the “blind writing” there are several systems, but in this I shall be content to describe but two—­the pin type and the “New York Point System.”  The first consists of movable types, the letters on which are formed of pin points, and with which the writer impresses the paper one letter at a time, producing the letter raised on the opposite side of the paper, which, on being reversed, may be read with eye or fingers.  The point system is the arrangement and combination of six dots on two lines.  Those on the upper line are numbered 1, 3 and 5, and those on the lower 2, 4 and 6.  These are made within spaces about three-sixteenths of an inch square each, by a styles which resembles a small, dull awl or centre punch.  To prevent the dots being confused the writer uses a writing board, to which the paper is clamped by a metallic guide-rule perforated with two or more rows of these squares.  The pupils make these punctured letters with great precision and rapidity, and frequently conduct their correspondence with their friends by that means, giving them the alphabet and key by which to learn to read them.

The writing of ordinary script is performed with more difficulty.  A grooved pasteboard is used for the purpose, the grooves being of the width of the smaller letters.  The letters extending above or below the line are gauged by the ridge.  The right hand is followed close by the left, which guards the written lines from a second tracing of the pencil, and marks the spaces.  By these methods correspondence is maintained between the blind and their distant friends, and it is even possible for a blind merchant to keep his own books if necessary.

In writing the common script the pencil is always used, the pen never.  Care has to be taken to keep the pencil pointed, or much care and labor may be lost.  An incident which Mr. Loughery, founder of the Maryland Institution, used to relate of himself, shows how necessary it is to observe great care in this matter.  When a student he wrote a long, gossipy letter to a friend, and in a short time was surprised, and for the time greatly annoyed, at receiving a reply asking him if he had gone mad.  It enclosed his own letter, and on examination of it the two words “Dear Ed.” were found to be its sole contents.  In his absorbed condition of mind he had not noticed the breaking of his pencil, and had proceeded with his writing, as the scratched paper, on which the traces of the wood of the pencil were visible, but not legible, indicated.