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The matter of closer organization or cooperation in work for the blind seems to come hand in hand with recognition of the needs of the blind outside institutions. Scotland, with its blind population closely paralleling that of Massachusetts (2) in numbers, has worked out a very cooperative plan for the "outside blind," and the English unions promise to accomplish the same end. The first session of the conference was devoted to this subject, under the title, "The Housing of the Blind, Residential and Holiday Homes, Improved Methods of Visitation and Home Teaching, the Promotion of After Care and Visitation Committees." Miss Heywood, honorary secretary of the North of England Union of All Agencies for the Blind, the recent organization to which I have referred, says: "When the young blind who arc being educated and about 8,000 who are earning a livelihood in workshops and institutions have been deducted, there remains an enormous number to be dealt with. Nearly 10,000 are receiving parish relief, and of these probably as many as 5,000 are in workhouses." Miss Heywood recognizes with us the need of a register as a basis for such work. She quotes many differing opinions as to the best ways of handling the various problems outlined in her subject, but inclines herself, in a disappointing way, to special institutions, and even concludes with the proposition that "colonies for the blind," on a smaller scale but on much the same lines as the one which the Queen of Roumania has already founded, be established. While it is clear that certain temperaments cannot stand the strain of competition with the seeing, and a large per cent of blind workers require supervision, the wishes and welfare of the blind seem to demand the minimizing of special institutions and the greatest possible use of institutions in common with the seeing, whether in matters of education, recreation, employment, or permanent homes. Here, again, we may be under differing conditions, for Miss Heywood speaks of the blind of England as "in the grip of poverty, often of destitution." While the economic loss to our families, under the condition of blindness, is almost paralyzing, I believe that our very varied group represent, as a whole, more comfortable homes.

There were sessions on lines of work less familiar to me personally which were most inspiring and enjoyable. Every one who was at the conference recalls, with pleasure, the cheerful session on "recreations," held at Liverpool. The most scholarly paper of the conference was that on the "Psychology of Blindness," and together with interesting discussion of the subject made up a most valuable session. Music as a profession was another subject, handled with equal enthusiasm both by English speakers and in Mlle. Chevenin's paper.

Much was left to be desired in the form of organization at the conference. The program as it stands, I think, reflects honestly the somewhat chaotic state of the general subject of work for the blind the world over. There are so many forms of specialization in the work that a conference arranged in sections, under sub-committees, to bring together workers in the same field for getting a little more thoroughly and closely at their chosen subject would seem profitable for another conference.