St Francis Xavier Academy - Xavier Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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schools, Father Stadleman hopes that his books may reach non-Catholic institutions, so that Catholics there may learn something of their religion. Realizing the scope of Father Stadleman’s work, the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae has responded to his appeal. The Federation has established, in its Department of Education, a bureau of Revised Braille. This was accomplished through the efforts of Miss Louise Banton of Emmitsburg, Maryland. During the World War she contributed her quota of service to our Country by mastering the Revised Braille System and transcribing books for the soldiers who had become blind. Just after the War, May, 1919, the I. F. C. A. held its third biennial convention, at which Miss Banton suggested a resolution that Catholic blind children be provided with Catholic literature. She generously offered her knowledge to the Federation, even proposing to teach the course by correspondence. The Federation gladly adopted her plan, and Miss Banton began work at once. Before the close of the year she had issued twenty- eight certificates, and the recipients of these commenced the work of transcription. Some of the books transcribed were Joyce Kilmer’s “Memoirs, “The Life of Cardinal New- man,” “Blind Rosa, and The Life of Saint Anthony.” The course required to fit one for the work of transcribing extends over a period of three months. The student first memorizes the Braille alphabet, then transcribes ordi- nary print into the Revised Braille. These transcriptions are corrected by a proof- reader and, when perfect, are presented to Reverend Father Stadleman, who arranges for the printing, binding, and circulation of books. He leaves the transcriber free to select whatever Catholic book she may wish to offer, provided it has not already been done. The printing of books is only one feature of the work undertaken by the I. F. C. A. The Chairman also wishes that members of the Federation locate the Catholic blind in their neighborhood so that they may be given the opportunity of learning Chris- tian Doctrine and of receiving books which are lent free by the Xavier Free Publication Society. I am happy to be able to complete this little account by reporting that a class in Revised Braille has been formed at our own beloved Academy. Miss Trainor, a blind teacher, and Mrs. Taff of the I. F. C. A. come to Saint Xavier’s every Saturday from Boston to conduct the class work. The class consists of four Sisters of St. Xavier’s Con- vent and members of the three federated Alumnae Associations of Rhode Island—Elm- hurst, Bayview and St. Xavier’s. We congratulate these members on their noble, self-sacrificing spirit and we trust that their generous labors will inspire many others to follow them. —Elizabeth Williams ‘There is so much bad in the best of us. And so much good in the worst of us. That it hardly behooves any of us. To talk about the rest of us. Page Twenty-Two “The Xavier

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Ojlip Stmseft Iraillp 6 gstem FOR many years the Catholics of the United States have been called upon, for various reasons, to help their less fortunate brethren. The most recent appeal is a plea for the study of the Revised Braille, a system by which the blind are taught to read. This appeal comes from Reverend Joseph Stadleman, S. J., of the Xavier Free Publishing Society for the Blind, New York City. Reverend Father Stadleman has been the apostle of the Blind for more than twenty years. During those years he transcribed hundreds of Catholic books into the New York Point and into the American Braille, among them the Bible in fourteen volumes—a stupendous task. He placed these books in state libraries where he believed they would be of best service, and he began to feel that the greatest part of his struggle was completed and that his voyage would henceforth be “smooth sailing.' when a new condition of affairs overwhelmed him. The Commission on Uniform Type for the Blind decided upon a new system, to be known as the Revised Braille for Reading and Writing. This meant that the life-labor of the American pioneer Apostle of the Blind ceased to be of value except to the present generation. It was truly a tragic climax to twenty years of unwearied self-sacrifice. Many another would have despaired in seeing his life work crumbling before his eyes, but not so this noble Crusader. It was as if he saw future generations calling to him for light—for books from which they might learn the truths of our holy Religion, for books through which they could maintain their position in the world— and with this vision the ardor of youth seemed to return to him. He began work again. He mastered the Revised Braille System, and he has today an extensive library of books transcribed according to the improved method. But the demand for books is far greater than the out-put. Reverend Father Stadleman needs co-laborers in his vineyard, for there are three special classes of blind people that he desires to benefit: those desirous of higher education, soldiers who have returned blind from the World War, and children in public institutions. The benefit of text books was clearly shown by the fact that two blind girls recently graduated with honors from Trinity College, Washington, because all their class books had been trans- cribed into Braille. The second class will undoubtedly appeal to us. The lonely hours of our soldiers who gave their sight that we might enjoy liberty can be made bright and cheerful if we are able to provide them with profitable reading. And thirdly, the fate of Catholic blind children is indeed a serious problem. There are but three Catholic institutions for the blind in the United States, two in New York and one in New Jersey. Since it is impossible for all blind children to be accommodated in these three “The Xavier' Page Twenty-One

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(Jlje Gllaas {fropeqj JUNE. 1931 SISTER Mary Blanche was in her office and was very busy. She was the registrar at the College, and so each day's mail brought her an additional task. Uncle Sam had reminded her many times of late that the tenth anniversary of her graduation from Saint Xavier’s was close at hand, and that she must soon begin prepara- tions to carry out the work assigned her by her Class, the famous forty-one. On graduation day at St. Xavier’s, June, 1921, the class appointed a reunion committee and persuaded Cath- erine Louth, now Sister Mary Blanche, to continue to be the Chronicler of the class in the years to come, as she had so faithfully kept the record of events during the school years. Catherine promised that she would keep herself informed as to the destiny of the dear forty-one in order to be able to assist the Committee appointed on that day. to plan for a reunion at the end of a decade of years. How remarkably Providence had come to her assistance! When Catherine left dear Saint Xavier’s, she regretted very much that the Sisters of Mercy had no college in Providence where she might complete her education with them. Since there was no alternative, she went to Pembroke for her college career, and in June, 1925, was graduated with distinctive honors from that institution. Lady Day of the same year found her back at her old Alma Mater, loved St. Xavier’s, this time in the ranks of the Sisterhood. While Catherine, now Sister Mary Blanche, was making her novitiate—was it her prayers that had brought it about?—Mercy College, the first Catholic Woman’s College of Rhode Island, was begun at Mount Saint Rita’s. It was formally opened in 1928, and three members of the class of 1921, who had joined Catherine in the Novitiate, were appointed as members of the staff. Sister Mary Blanche. Registrar and teacher of Latin; Gertrude Fitzpatrick, now Sister Mary Naomi, teacher of English, and Madeline Manning, Sister Mary Josabeth, teacher of French. The work of the Sister Registrar for the first year was to file the record of all the members of Saint Xavier’s Alumnae (might not some of the senior members have daughters who were leady for college?) to communicate with them, and to assure them that sin e it was “ The Xavier” Page Tn en y-Three