Darwin Correspondence Project

I was at Worcester yesterday, & went to the blind school, which I found very interesting; the Master Mr Blair seemed a sensible man. he said positively that he had two boys in the school born blind who blushed when corrected &c (he only has 7 or 8) & his wife said he had observed the boy I came to see (who was born blind) blush the day before on coming into the room where a lady was waiting to see him (the boy is 9 or 10), I afterwards asked him if he knew what blushing was, & he seemed to know perfectly & said he had often felt his face tingle with it. Mr Blair is going to ask the Master of a large blind school at Worcester, & is going to write me a line.

I am sure any other questions you might put to him, he would be very glad to answer; he said he was reading some German book on the blind, & if he came across anything he would let me know.

The way they do arithmetic algebra trigonometry is wonderful. he has one boy now staying with him on vacation from Dublin University, & he hopes he will take a very high degree & become professor of something or other.

Please tell Hen. I went to the Worcester porcelain works, & was smit with a small triplet flower-vase, & as a chip had take the edge off the price, I yielded after a struggle, & she will receive it in a day or so

It is splendid your getting a new edition out in America so soon.

I hope you are all brisk.

I am better, & only have one bath a day.

Your affect son | W E Darwin

Mr Blair said that tho' the blind are born unconscious of being observed, that to teach them they are so is a great part of their education.