Part 6 (1/2)
Bessie listened to the facts which were set before her of the need that existed for so hand to the blind in London She htless, and then thought out a sche thereat mistake for her to undertake such a mission ”Don't work yourself to death,” said one of her acquaintances
”Work to death!” she replied with a happy laugh ”I a to life”
But if a feere opposed, her parents, brothers, sisters, and the majority of those she loved, were in hearty sympathy
So in May, 1854, Bessie coiven employment at their own homes in London; materials were supplied to them at cost price, they manufactured them, and received the full price that the articles were sold for
This, of course, entailed a loss; but Bessie had been left a legacy by her Gode portion of this she continued to devote throughout her life to helping the blind
A cellar was rented in New Turnstile Street, Holborn, at a charge of eighteenpence a week A ed at a salary of half a croeek and a commission on sales He was a blind ed to assist in inning, certainly, but it was not long ere Levy's wages were largely increased, and trade began to grow in response to Miss Gilbert's efforts From the cellar in Holborn ahalf a croeek; and then, within little more than a year from the commencement, a house and shop were taken at a rent of 26 a year
The increase in expenses as the scheme developed rendered it necessary to ask for public assistance By the bishop's advice a committee was forht her work far enough advanced to bring it under the notice of Her Majesty, who, having asked for and received full particulars, sent a very kind letter of encourageave sincere pleasure to the blind lady herself, but helped on her scheme immensely And the Queen did more than contribute money: orders for ere sent from Windsor Castle, Osborne and Bal that they werebrooms for the Queen The benefit to the blind was not confined to what Miss Gilbert was doing herself, but general interest in their welfare was excited in all parts of the kingdom
Naturally, many difficulties had to be encountered Blind people applied for ished for al out so large a scheood deal of labour on Miss Gilbert's part Yet she was very happy in herpositions of eave 2000 to the association as an endowment fund, and others contributed liberally too One day a strange old lady came to see her, and left with her 500 in bank notes She did not even give her naift of 500 was received the saentleman who felt interested in the work
Up to the close of her life, which ended in 1885, Elizabeth Gilbert continued to take an active interest in the affairs of the association Notwithstanding her oeak and failing health she laboured on, winning the love and gratitude of the blind, and accoht feel justly proud
A GREAT TRAVELLER IN THE AIR
SOME ANECDOTES OF JAMES GLAISHER
Forfar up a out as much as possible about the various currents of air, the electrical state of the atmosphere, the different kinds of clouds, sound, temperature and such matters
One of the most eminent balloonists of er of losing his life whilst in pursuit of knowledge miles above the earth
His first ascent was made from Wolverhampton on the 17th of July, 1862 It was very stor Before he and Mr
coxwell got fairly off they very nearly caed the car along near the ground, so that if they had co they would probably have been killed
However, fortunately, they got clear and were soon high up above the clouds, with a beautiful blue sky, and the air so pleasantly war, as is usually the case when in the upper region of the ath Mr Glaisher found the beating of his heart become very distinct, his hands and lips turned to a dark bluish colour, and he could hardly read the instruh he felt a kind of sea sickness
Mr coxwell began to think theytoo near the Wash for safety, and they therefore came down quickly, and reached the earth with such force that the scientific instruments were nearly all broken In their descent they passed through a cloud 8000 feet (or over a mile and a half) thick!
On the 5th of September, 1862, Mr Glaisher and Mr coxwell made one of theIt nearly proved fatal to both
Up to the time they reached the fifth mile Mr Glaisher felt pretty well What happened afterwards is best described by hiht of 26,000 feet I could not see the fine column of the mercury in the tube; then the fine divisions on the scale of the instrument became invisible At that time I asked Mr coxwell to help me to read the instru them In consequence of the rotarysince the earth was left, the valve line had become twisted, and he had to leave the car, and toabove to adjust it At that time I had no suspicion of other than te Shortly afterwards I laid our but directly after, being desirous of using it, I found it powerless It must have lost its power momentarily I then tried to move the other arm, but found it powerless also I next tried to shakes I could only shake my body I then looked at the baro so led, and shook ht, but for an instant only, when it fell onagainst the side of the car, and e In that positionWhen I shook my body I seemed to have full power over the muscles of the back, and considerable power over those of the neck, but none over , and endeavoured to speak, but could not do so; when in an instant black darkness came over me, and the optic nerve lost power suddenly I was still conscious, with as active a brain as whilst writing this I thought I had been seized with asphyxia, and that I should experience no more, as death would cohts were actively enteringto sleep