              A VISIT TO LOUIS BRAILLE'S BIRTHPLACE
                       by Kenneth Jernigan

     The French have a well-known proverb: The more things
change, the more they stay the same. I thought of that proverb on
Tuesday, May 17, 1994, when I went to the birthplace of Louis
Braille (1809-1852) in Coupvray, France, and read the guide book
provided to visitors. It says on page nine:

     "At the age of thirteen Louis Braille began his research
with a view to designing an alphabet based on a cell of six
raised dots. The system was enthusiastically acclaimed by the
pupils but was rejected by the teachers (1826). Being sighted
themselves, they refused to countenance a form of writing which
they could not read."

     In reading that passage I was, of course, mindful of the
fact that not all teachers are chauvinistic nor all students
enthusiastic, but the parallel between the 1820's in France and
the 1990's in the United States is remarkable and noteworthy. The
road to Braille literacy for the blind has been long and, in more
than one sense, bumpy--and the end is not yet discernible. If we
do our work well, it can probably be reached some time early in
the next century.
     My trip to Coupvray was part of the effort which the
National Federation of the Blind is making to try to help repair
and restore the Louis Braille birthplace and museum. Mrs.
Jernigan and I left Dulles Airport Sunday evening, May 15, and
arrived in Paris the next morning. That afternoon we met with
Marcel Herb, President of the French Federation of the Blind;
Rodolfo Cattani of Italy, Vice President of the World Blind
Union; and Franois Bentz, the mayor of Coupvray. Mr. Bentz is a
no-nonsense fellow, who attended college in the United States and
speaks fluent English. I believe he operates a factory for the
making of blue jeans and engages in other enterprises. He made it
clear that he wants the Louis Braille birthplace thoroughly
restored and that he is prepared to take a leading part in
getting it done.
     Earlier this year at the meeting of the World Blind Union
Executive Committee in Melbourne, Australia, we were told that
architectural studies had been made and that approximately
$110,000 would be needed to do a thorough job of repairing and
renovating the Louis Braille home. As Monitor readers know, I
pledged on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind to try
to raise half of the needed money. When I returned to the United
States, the Board of the NFB agreed to undertake the project. 
     At the May 16 meeting Mr. Bentz said that the actual
estimates would be closer to $170,000 than $110,000 but that his
plan might not require more than $26,000 from us. Here is how he
outlined it: $26,000 from the Town of Coupvray; another $26,000
from Coupvray, which it would receive back as a tax refund;
$26,000 from us; $70,000 from a French governmental authority;
and the remaining $22,000 from another governmental authority. He
said that appropriate applications were underway and that he felt
that the work of repair and renovation should not begin until a
response had been received from the governmental authorities. "If
we start the work before getting a commitment from them," he
said, "they will think we don't need the government money, and
there will be no chance of getting it."
     When I told him that the National Federation of the Blind
was prepared to make an immediate contribution of $10,000 to show
that we were serious and meant business, he was delighted and
responded with a proposal that underscores his good judgment and
understanding of politics and public relations. He suggested that
officials of the World Blind Union, leaders of the French
Federation of the Blind, and I go to the Louis Braille birthplace
on Wednesday afternoon, where the $10,000 check would be
presented in a public ceremony. Pictures would be taken;
journalists would be present; and an article would be written
saying that if the blind of America could give money to restore
Braille's birthplace (and not only give the money but come all
the way to France to bring it), surely the French government
could be forthcoming. This is exactly what we did, but there were
intervening activities and meetings.
     On Tuesday, May 17, the leaders of the French Federation,
Dr. Cattani, Mrs. Jernigan, and I drove to Coupvray to inspect
Louis Braille's birthplace. I examined the house in great detail,
from the third floor area to the wine barrel in the cellar, and I
talked at length with the architect to see what was planned, and
why. Here is a summary of what I learned:
     Let me begin by saying that I went to Coupvray with a number
of misconceptions. I don't know why, but I had thought the Louis
Braille home was made of wood and that it was probably about to
fall down. It isn't. It is made of stone. The first floor of one
part of the house (the workshop and the entry room adjoining it)
is made of concrete. The second and third floors are wood. The
interior walls are stone with no paneling on them.
     The house, which was built sometime in the latter part of
the 1700's, is basically in sound condition. However, certain
things need to be done. The roof is made of clay tiles. Some of
these have deteriorated, and others are missing. Water is coming
through. Where necessary, the roof must be re-tiled. There is
leakage around the base of the chimney, which must be repaired.
Below ground, the walls and foundation must have a layer of
waterproofing material; and above ground, plastering and repair
must be done as required. Original exterior shutters have been
replaced by more modern ones. There is nothing wrong with these
modern shutters, but a return to the original style will be made.
     Inside the house the walls must be thoroughly dried,
scraped, and painted, and the doors and windows must also be
painted and refurbished. Originally the structure was two houses
with a common interior wall. As I understand it, the two houses
had, by the time of Louis Braille, become one by means of a door
cut through the common wall at the third-floor stair landing.
This creates a hazardous situation since the step through the
wall does not open directly onto a level area but another
stairway, one that is steep and narrow. It would be easy to lose
your balance and go tumbling. In fact, I had to reach around the
corner to find footing as I stepped through the doorway. This
situation must be remedied with a slight alteration and the
addition of a step.
     As to other inside repairs, all stairways will be removed,
reinforced, and then reinstalled. There is a fairly good-sized
hole in the floor of one of the rooms at the third floor level,
and there may be other less obvious damage. All floors must be
examined and, where needed, repaired. At the first floor level,
the entry room and adjoining workshop (the one used by Louis
Braille's father, who was a saddle and harness maker) were
originally floored with brick. Later, the bricks were removed and
replaced with concrete. It is planned to remove the concrete and
replace it with brick.
     I was as thorough and careful as I knew how to be, and of
course I was moved by the spirit of the place. I sat in a chair
with a leather strap seat by the workbench in the saddle shop and
felt the worn surface. I looked at the tools of the saddle
maker's trade and held in my hands an awl (or curved narrow
blade) of the type that blinded Louis Braille in that very room
at that very bench. I reached into the stone oven in the kitchen,
which is part of the living room. I touched the table and chairs-
-not, I suppose, the originals but certainly of the type and
period of the originals. I went to the cellar and looked at the
accoutrements of wine making--particularly, the huge barrel and
old wine bottles.
     As I went through the house and communed with the essence of
the place, I thought of Louis Braille's letters to his family
when he was living in Paris:

     "Paris, 10th September, 1847

     Dear Mother,

          I do so long to see you. Staying in the big town
     bores me and I shall be happy to breathe the air of our
     countryside and to wander with you through the
     vineyards. . . ."

     "Paris, 15th November, 1848

     Dear Mother,

          I was happy to note that the weather was fine for
     the grape harvest, as fine as one could wish for, but
     today the sun is very pale. The cold season has begun
     and we have to stay indoors. As for me, I do not go out
     and while the Parisians were receiving snow on their
     heads as they went to the Feast of the Constitution, I
     was content to listen to the cannon from my well-heated
     room. . . ."

     "Paris, 5th October, 1851

     My dear nephew, my dear niece,

          I have just sent off to you by train a small box
     of jujubes. I hope it will keep you safe from the colds
     which the winter season will bring you. . . . I have
     just spent three days in Coupvray and have now returned
     [to Paris], not to leave it again before next summer. .
     . ."

     For Louis Braille there was no next summer since he was to
die three months after he wrote this letter--January 6, 1852.
     The visit to Louis Braille's home and the reading of his
letters caused me to wonder what he thought as he was growing up
and how he felt, but it also caused me to think about my own
childhood and how I felt and thought. It strengthened my
determination to do all I can to preserve and continue the Louis
Braille heritage, for except for him I might still be living as a
virtual prisoner on the farm where I grew up in Tennessee,
hungering to know and longing for freedom. Instead, I escaped to
a broader world of books and achievement, to a life of
opportunity and hope, and to a distant day in France when I stood
at the birthplace of my benefactor and reached across the years
to a common bond. Yes, the home of Louis Braille will survive.
The blind of today will make it happen, and the blind of future
generations will keep the commitment.
     David Blyth of Australia, President of the World Blind
Union; Pedro Zurita of Spain, Secretary General of the World
Blind Union; and Pierre Paul Blanger of the Canadian National
Institute for the Blind, who came as a representative of Dr.
Euclid Herie, arrived in Paris late Tuesday afternoon, May 17.
They, along with those of us who had gone to Coupvray the day
before, met on Wednesday morning with officials of the French
government who deal with museums. Mr. Herb had previously been
given assurances that help would be available from the department
responsible for museums, but from the outset of our meeting it
was clear that we would get pleasant speeches and little else.
The officials said that there were only about 31 national museums
in France and that there was no possibility that the Louis
Braille birthplace could be added to the list. They said that
there were two other kinds of museums: those that are run by
local government authorities, and those that are run by
associations. They said that the Louis Braille Museum could fit
into either category but that regardless of category they could
give no help with repair and renovation. As I saw it, they were
saying that they might give help in finding new objects for the
Louis Braille Museum, but not until repairs were made and money
was available for ongoing upkeep--and that they might help with
ongoing upkeep but not until more objects had been collected.
     Mr. Herb was outraged and told them so--and David Blyth, who
is capable of succinct (one might almost say sparse)
communication, said: "There is no point in continuing this
meeting. We should not waste your time or ours." With that and
Mr. Herb's remarks we left. Let me make it clear that this
discussion with the museum officials had nothing to do with the
government assistance that the mayor of Coupvray is seeking, and
thinks he can get. Let me also say at this point that Mr. Herb
publicly and unequivocally pledged that the French Federation of
the Blind would make sizable financial contributions to help with
the work.
     On Wednesday afternoon our expanded company boarded a mini-
bus and headed once more for Coupvray. At the Louis Braille
birthplace we met the mayor, and I presented NFB's check for
$10,000. It was done amid the flashing of cameras and the
scribbling of journalists. I have not seen the article, but I
suspect that Mr. Bentz will guide it to fulsome nature and wide
distribution.
     In any event, when the deed was done, we headed for the town
hall, where the mayor served up champagne and toasts. He is a
suitable leader for his town, which is located about forty miles
southeast of Paris and has been designated a historic district.
The houses and public buildings (even those of more modern
vintage) are of the style and appearance of the early 1800s.
Everywhere there are stone walls, tile roofs, and a flavor of the
past.
     The only thing left to say about the visit to France is that
it was pleasant as well as productive. Mr. and Mrs. Herb and
Madame Yvonne Torres, Mr. Herb's charming and capable assistant,
were excellent hosts. On Tuesday we went for lunch to a
restaurant in the Meaux area, where Meaux mustard and Brie cheese
abound. There were also other enjoyable experiences, but I will
leave it at that.
     On Thursday morning, May 19, Mrs. Jernigan and I headed for
London, where we talked with officials of the Royal National
Institute for the Blind. It is good to go abroad to work on a
constructive project, but it is even better to come home to help
bring the project to completion.
     The task before us is clear cut and doable. As I have said
before, in the Monitor and on Presidential Releases, those who
want to participate in this project should make checks payable to
the National Federation of the Blind and send them to the
National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21230. Such contributions should not be made by reducing
other contributions which would have been made to the Federation.
Our ongoing work must continue. Contributions may be made by
check or credit card, and there should be an indication that the
money is for the repair of the Louis Braille birthplace.
     The job will require effort. Maybe we will need to raise
only $26,000--maybe the entire $55,000. Maybe more. Whatever sums
are needed, we the blind, along with our sighted friends and
colleagues, will see that Louis Braille's home is fully restored
and given its proper place among the museums of the world and the
historic places of humanity. We can, and we will. Let nobody
doubt it.





                      ____________________

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Louis Braille's birthplace]
[PHOTO: Dr. Jernigan stands beside the wooden workbench with a display of
saddle maker's tools in the background. CAPTION: The workbench and tools in
the saddle shop at Louis Braille's home]

             FACTS ABOUT LOUIS BRAILLE'S BIRTHPLACE

     From Kenneth Jernigan: In the accompanying article I have
told you about my visit to Louis Braille's birthplace in
Coupvray, France. I thought you might like to have additional
information, so here are excerpts from the guidebook given to
visitors:

     It is obviously impossible to do justice to a life as
exceptional as that of Louis Braille in the few pages of a
booklet; the many souvenirs and testimonials contained in his
home could in themselves provide the material for more than one
book.
     The purpose of these few lines is to be for some people a
reminder of a visit both moving and enriching--and for those who
are not yet acquainted with Louis Braille and Coupvray, an
encouragement to visit here.

                     THE VILLAGE OF COUPVRAY

     The village of Coupvray is situated on the slopes of a
grassy hill set between the Brie region of France and that of the
Champagne province. In spite of the proximity of the Marne
Valley, it retains even today . . . the character of a rural
village. One may still see the small brown-tiled roofs, the
farmyards, the farmhouses and a village green surrounded by trees
where are clustered together St. Pierre Church (where Louis
Braille was christened on January 8, 1809), the village hall, and
the monument by tienne Leroux set up in 1887 and topped by a
bust of the inventor of the alphabet for the blind. The body of
Louis Braille rested in the village cemetery till 1952. On his
tomb can be seen a casket in which the remains of his hands are
preserved--those hands which were the first in the world to
finger the raised dots of the Braille alphabet. All around is
still open country. High above is the farm of the chteau. Here
and there amid the gardens and orchards, small grassy paths
meander across the hillside. And, on the lower slopes, is an old
wash-house with wooden posts and mossy tiles where the clear
waters of the Frminette flow swiftly by, gently murmuring.

                     THE BRAILLE FAMILY HOME

     The Braille family home is in the lower part of Coupvray at
the end of a small street which in the past went by the name of
Knoll Street. . . . It is a large solid house, built in the
latter half of the 18th century and restored at various times
since then. The Braille family also owned several farm buildings
in the yard and on the opposite side of the street. A marble
tablet was affixed in 1952 to the wall of the house facing the
yard. The text, in French and English, reads:

                          In this house
                   on January 4, 1809 was born
                          Louis Braille
                       inventor of writing
                         in raised dots
                      for use of the blind.
                     He opened the doors of
                       knowledge to those
                         who cannot see.

                         THE LIVING ROOM

     This room is really the heart of the house, both by reason
of the memories it evokes and on account of the very well-
preserved Briard-style architecture. On entering, we find
ourselves in the warm, cozy atmosphere of the homes of
yesteryear. Here in this one living room, Simon-Ren Braille, the
saddler, lived with his whole family: his wife Monique and their
four childrenMonique-Catherine, Louis-Simon, Marie-Cline, and
their youngest, Louis. It is here that are gathered together all
the essentials of daily living.

Under the mantelpiece:

      The fireplace with its fireback bearing the arms of
France, dated 1659.
      The bread oven built of small tiles. Its arch fits under
the winding staircase. It used to be heated by burning dry vine
shoots. Then after the embers had been pushed back, pies and
loaves were placed in the oven.
      The cheese recess. The warmth of the oven enabled the
successful processing of the renowned Brie cheese to be carried
out; this was later further "refined" in the cellar.
      The door into the loft [or upstairs]. This stands between
the alcove and the bread oven. In the past the term "granary" was
used--where the grain would be stored.
      The alcove is very typical of the Brie region--oak-framed,
adorned with roundels and ears of corn; the latter are symbols of
the Brie region.

To the left, as you enter:

      The sink. The Briards used to call it "the washer." It is
a large flat stone, slightly concave, where the wooden pail was
set down. [By means of a hole in the bottom], the water drained
away through the wall straight into the yard.
      The stove-setter. This consisted of crossed wooden slats
on which frying pans and sauce pans were hung. A recess above the
sink provided storage space for jugs, pots, and other utensils.

     Also of note in this room are: the oak beams on the ceiling;
the doors of the 18th-century wardrobe; the "maie" or bread bin,
in which the loaves were stored; the warming pan used to warm the
bed; the oak table; the gun; the lantern; the cross; and, above
the door leading to the [upstairs], the portrait of Louis
Braille--the only photograph of the celebrated inventor.

           THE WORKSHOP OF SIMON-REN BRAILLE, SADDLER

     For over a century the Braille family carried on the craft
of saddler from father to son. Louis Braille's grandfather, Simon
Braille, had settled in Coupvray early in the 18th century. He
had taken over his father-in-law's business which was already
established in the village in the 17th century.
     Some of the equipment and furniture used by the Brailles in
their craft may be seen in this workshop:

      The wooden workbench, much worn from long use; the typical
chair with its seat consisting of crossed leathern thongs.
      The horse collar block. This enabled the saddler to shape
the collar to fit the horse's neck.
      The sewing clamp, which the saddler gripped tightly
between his knees to hold the leather firm.
      The branding iron. Heated, the iron was used to brand the
owner's initials on the horse's rump.
      The saddler's tools: paring knives, awls, tool for
stuffing, moulds, etc.

On the walls of the room:

      A grape harvester's basket. Simon-Ren Braille owned some
vines in Coupvray.
      The Accident. A painting by Andr Harfort.

     Here we come to the tragedy which cost young Louis Braille
his sight. In 1812, he is a happy little three-year old. He loves
to come and watch his father handle those mysterious tools laid
out on the work bench. Mysterious and attractive. One day, taking
advantage of his parents' absence, he seizes a [tool] and tries
to cut a piece of leather, but his small hands are clumsy. The
leather is tough. Suddenly, the blade slips and penetrates the
child's eye. Nothing can arrest the infection which sets in, and
the other eye becomes infected. At the age of five, Louis Braille
[becomes totally blind].

                   LOUIS BRAILLE'S ACHIEVEMENT

     When we speak of Louis Braille's work, we should not forget
two men who, in one way or another, were his forerunners. The
first is Valentin Hay. In the 18th century this philanthropist
had founded a school for the blind and invented an embossed
alphabet for them. If Louis Braille was able to enter a special
school in 1819, it was thanks to the pioneering work of Valentin
Hay. The second is Charles Barbier de la Serre, a captain in the
artillery [during the Napoleonic Wars]. He had found a way to
communicate with his brother officers at night by means of a
system of raised dots. The pupils at the . . . Royal Institution
for the Young Blind . . . tried out this "Sonography," which took
no account of spelling and, in addition, was most complicated. At
the age of thirteen Louis Braille began his research with a view
to designing an alphabet based on a cell of six raised dots. This
system was enthusiastically acclaimed by the pupils but was
rejected by the teachers (1826). Being sighted themselves, they
refused to countenance a form of writing which they could not
read. It was not till 1844 that, at the inauguration of some new
buildings in the Boulevard des Invalides, the governors at last
recognized the undeniable value of the system. Since then
Braille, adapted to many of the languages of the world, has
become for the blind a universal written language.
     In the room which is devoted to Louis Braille's work,
various pieces of equipment and documents have been assembled,
showing the birth of raised dot writing, its development and use.

      Barbier rule (1819)
      Barbier slate with wooden frame (end of 19th century)
      Slate with removable frame (end of 19th century)
      Raphigraph device invented by Braille and Foucault, making
it possible for the shape of normal handwriting to be reproduced
by means of a succession of raised dots. Braille used this method
to write to his family.
      Braille writer [the Hall writer] manufactured in Chicago
(beginning of 20th century).

     Books written in linear relief following Valentin Hay's
method:

      Elements of Spanish Grammar, for the blind, by M. Guilli
(1819)
      Manual of Ancient History (1841)

     Several books written in French and other languages, printed
in Braille, books for educational or cultural use, are shown
here. Among other titles, attention is drawn to:

      The Imitation of Christ, one of the first books published
in raised dots (1849)
      The Constitution of the United States of Brazil (1946)

     Gifts and Distinctions received by the Louis Braille Museum:

      Open Book in bronze, gift of Argentina (1948)
      Commemorative Medal, struck by the Paris Mint to mark the
occasion of the transfer of the remains of Louis Braille to the
Panthon (1952)
      Book of Gold, gift of the town of Chicago (1952)
      Louis Braille. Sculpture by Raika (1954)
      Louis Braille. Miniature on ivory by Lucienne Filippi
(1966)

                    LOUIS BRAILLE IN COUPVRAY

     First a pupil and later a teacher at the Royal Institution
for the Young Blind in Paris, Louis Braille always remained
deeply attached to his native village. Letters written in
"raphigraphy," preserved by the family Lecouvey-Braille are proof
of the interest he always took in his family and friends in
Coupvray.
     When, weakened by illness, he was forced to rest for long
periods of time, it is here that he sought the impossible cure.
He had one of the rooms of the family home, facing the street and
with a fireplace, prepared for his own use. In this room where,
close to his family, he lived out some months of respite, some
touching mementoes have been assembled.

      Arithmetic prize awarded to Louis Braille and bearing the
signature of Pignier, the principal of the Royal Institution.
      Some dominoes from a set he once possessed.
      Marie-Thrse Marniesse, born 1828, daughter of Marie-
Cline Braille. Painted portrait.
     Silver tumbler bearing the arms of old Paris, initialled
F.G. (Franois Gronon, Louis Braille's foster sister).
      Decorated plates from the home of Louis-Simon Braille
(middle of 19th century).
      Family Group of the Marniesse and Maurice families.
Photograph (end of 19th century).
      Clock with wooden column casing, Braille family (middle of
19th century).

Documents from the village archives:

      Document appointing Simon-Ren Braille as inspector of
taxes for year 13 [1804-05].
      Passport (for travel in the interior of the kingdom) in
the name of Monique Baron, wife of [Louis Braille's father].
      Roll of pupils of the primary school of Coupvray. "10 -
BRAILLE Louis" (November 23, 1818).
      Transfer of Louis Braille's body to Coupvray. Notice
issued by the Paris Prfecture Headquarters (January 9, 1852). .
. . .




         DAILY LIFE IN COUPVRAY IN LOUIS BRAILLE'S TIME

     From this house, a real witness in stone, we are able to
recreate the daily life of a 19th-century village. There is a
strong emotional bond between Louis Braille, his family, and
Coupvray. Ties were forged with inhabitants of the little market
town. Childhood ties: Louis went to the village school; his two
sisters, Monique-Catherine and Marie-Cline, married two of the
local boysJean Franois Caron and Louis-Franois Marniesse.
Civic ties: Ren, the father, was appointed several times to
posts of local authority. Ties due to shared experiences:
together they endured the war, the Russian occupation. Religious
ties: Louis's christening, the various feasts of the Christian
liturgy: Christmas, Easter, the Assumption, and, of course, St.
Peter's (the local patronal festival). The bonds of tradition,
too: the evenings 'round the fireside at the homes of friends and
neighbors.
     In order to bring to life anew these vanished village
activities and old customs, the Louis Braille Museum presents--in
four distinct exhibitions--a variety of objects, documents,
pictures, and articles of furniture, revealing clearly another
way of life.

     The attic (the old granary store):

      Childhood: games, books, clothing.
      Religion: religious articles, books, pictures.
      Marriage: a bridal bouquet, the jewel case.
      Dress: the dress of a young girl of the Brie region, caps,
scarves.
      Furnishings: the dresser, the bread bin.
      Tableware: china, glasses, pots.
      Household goods: irons.
      Pictures: portraits, colored pictures sold by traveling
peddlers.
      History: the monks of Saint-Maur, the Rohan family,
Cardinal Collier, the lectern.

     The loft:

      Agricultural work: field work, harvesting.
      Women's work: laundry, butter making, making straw mats
for Brie cheeses.
      Memorabilia: the trunk, railings of Braille monument,
15th-century door, spiral staircase, the bed warmer.

     The cellar:

      The wood pile: axes, pruning knives, wood-splitting
wedges.
      Cooperage: various tools for manufacturing and marking
barrels.
      The vines: field work, planting, care of the vineyard.
      Grape harvesting, picking grapes: carrying baskets, wine
press tools, casks, taps, old bottles.

              FULL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTHPLACE

     After the death of Louis Braille and his direct heirs, the
house became the property of the Maurice, Marniesse, and Braille
familieshis nieces and nephewwho administered  the property
jointly until 1878. At that time Mr. Toupet bought the house
which overlooked the courtyard and in 1889 the Baudin family
purchased the one facing onto the street. From 1898, the whole
became the property of the Crapart family. The Braille home was
sold on March 29, 1952, to the association "The Friends of Louis
Braille," which was represented by Mr. Pierre Henri Monnet, the
Mayor of Coupvray; it was then fitted up as a museum and opened
to the public. With a view to acquiring for it the status of a
municipal museum under government control, the association
decided to donate all its assets to the Parish, recommending that
the museum should be administered by an international
organization (November 23, 1956). The Deed of Covenant setting
out the agreement between the W.C.W.B. (World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind) and Coupvray was signed on July 27, 1957.
     Since that time the World Council for the Welfare of the
Blind (now the World Blind Union) has proudly devoted itself to
caring for this shrine which the blind of the whole world value
as the birthplace of their benefactor.
