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When the time is ripe for the establishment of a haven for homeless blind women, we believe that the members of this Union, and of other organizations in the State, will heartily co-operate with the Association in this beneficent work. We have letters from the matrons of the Homes for Blind Women in New York, Philadelphia, Mt. Healthy, O., Chicago and St. Louis, and from each comes only praise of the cheerful, industrious women, who, relieved from the dread of helpless dependence, do all in their power to make their community life self-supporting. The blind women of Massachusetts have been encouraged by the work already done in the State. Some of them have turned their hopes toward an Industrial Home where they can earn enough to free them from painful dependence; one cries to us from Connecticut, where she cannot stay much longer, "Will Massachusetts let me sink back into the Almshouse and despair when I have to leave this pleasant home?" Others write, "O work for us, who would so gladly work for ourselves!"

About the time that the Committee on Ethics began its work for the blind of Boston, and the Hon. Elihu B. Hayes and committee of women were beginning their efforts which have resulted in a reading room for the blind in Lynn, the Misses Trader of Cincinnati, O., bethought them of the blind of their city and suburban towns, and persuaded the Public Library to purchase books, and set aside a room for their use. Like ourselves they found few readers or listeners among the class whom they sought to help, until they made direct personal efforts. Then they found, as we did, that few could read, and fewer still could pay car fares and guides to take them to the library.

Next they called upon the officers of all the tramways entering their city, and were given a free pass for every blind person who was able to visit the library. Since then the reading of the books has greatly increased. In their calls upon the blind in their homes, the sisters found able-bodied men pining for work. These were sent to Columbus to the school for the blind, which has a trade department where the older pupils are trained, and where adults may go for instruction at the expense of the State.

Then the Misses Trader were confronted with the problem of self-support for blind women. They had seen them lonely and neglected in homes of dependence, and they went to the wealthy people of Cincinnati and told the story. Aid was given at once. "Clovernook," the old home of Alice and Phoebe Cary was purchased, and its doors opened to homeless blind women. Miss Trader writes us that there never was a happier or more industrious family gathered together for mutual aid, than the blind women at "Clovernook."

We, too, have had a notable literary woman whose home should be preserved by women, and for women. It has been empty for years, and is for sale now. Could the "Old Orchard" home of Louisa May Alcott, where she wrought so faithfully for her family, ever serve a better purpose than to give a home to the blind women of Massachusetts! Another work for the year has been the selection and discussion of excerpts for compiling a second volume of "The Marching Morrows."