BLIND GIRLS IN CHINA by Edwin Hines Wilbur

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 3, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 31.

BLIND GIRLS IN CHINA.

By Edwin Hines Wilbur

BY EDWIN HINES WILBUR.

It is said that, in proportion to the population, there are more blind people in China than in any other country in the world.

In Chinese towns it is a common sight to see blind men and boys begging in the streets. But the condition of the blind girls is far more distressing. They are counted of little value, and are often sold to a life of shame. Cruelly treated by their keepers, many become weary of their hard lot, and commit suicide. To prevent this, every precaution has to be taken to remove from the bed-rooms of the girls knives, cords, the ties with which their clothes are fastened, and everything which might possibly be used as an instrument of self-destruction. When we think of the countless thousands of these poor creatures in China, we can but ask, Is it not time some one came to their rescue? I am glad that true hearts in other lands have been touched, and that a beginning has been made to help these poor unfortunates.

A Christian school for Chinese blind girls was opened in Hongkong seven years ago. At first only four pupils were taken, but now they have a fine, new building and about forty blind girls in the school-home. I have just had the privilege of visiting this school, and, through the kindness of the lady in charge, Miss M. Postler, the SIGNS readers can also have a view of this happy family.

Indeed they are a happy company of children, for God has given them a pleasant home and kind instructors. The girls are taught to do housework, knitting, and sewing. We were shown some beautiful garments that they had made. All who are old enough are taught to read and write by the Brail system. It is indeed interesting to hear these little blind girls reading Bible stories in their own language, and to hear them singing Gospel songs, while one of their own number plays upon the organ. Surely this is a noble work. There ought to be hundreds of such schools in China, but where are the teachers? Miss Postler is a German lady, and was formerly for several years a hospital nurse. She enjoyed that work very much, and was loath to give it up. It seemed at first almost like burying her talents to come out to China, and give all of her time to a few poor, blind girls, but God has used this humanitarian effort as a means of touching many hearts in the “home lands,” and of vivifying the churches, as she herself could not possibly have done in any other way.

Hongkong, China.