The education of blind children had occupied Bessie"s thoughts for many years. So far back as 1863 she had been in communication with Mr.
Lonsdale of the National Society, inquiring as to the State aid given to industrial schools, and the conditions under which schools for the blind could be certified so as to secure the benefit of the Acts. She had begun in her usual careful and systematic way by obtaining all the available statistics of existing schools; and now in view of a new and enlarged scheme for the general education of the poor, the time seemed to have arrived for action. She resolved to lay before those in authority the needs of the blind, their number, the possibility of minimising their affliction, and by means of adequate education opening to them avenues of employment and independence. This work engrossed her time and thoughts in 1869 and the early months of 1870.
The co-operation of all societies working on behalf of the blind was necessary. It was essential to submit to the ministers of the Crown such reliable evidence as to the number of blind children, and the urgency of their claims, as to make it impossible that they should be overlooked in any adequate system of education for the people.
Bessie sent out in the first place a Memorandum to all inst.i.tutions for the blind in Great Britain, and to several influential and friendly members of Parliament. In this she set forth the step she proposed to take, asked for suggestions, conditions, additions, alterations, or proposed omissions in the pet.i.tion, of which a copy was enclosed; for information as to presenting it, for support and a.s.sistance in the labour involved. She also asked the opinion of those to whom she wrote as to the best method of procedure, whether by pet.i.tion to Parliament or by a memorial to the Lords of the Privy Council.
The replies which she received were very encouraging, and she found that general opinion was in favour of a Memorial. The doc.u.ment was prepared, and copies of it were submitted for approval, together with a circular letter. A private letter written by Bessie herself to the authorities, and to all influential friends, accompanied the printed doc.u.ments. She sent these papers to the Oxford Street shop to be folded and addressed, and as an example of her minute care, the following episode is of interest.
Amongst her papers there is the copy of instructions sent to Oxford Street, after she had inspected the circulars. She writes that the t.i.tles of inst.i.tutions must be copied from the list she had previously furnished, that full t.i.tles must be used in the Memorials to inst.i.tutions and to private individuals, and that abbreviations are only admissible on the envelopes. She gives instructions for writing out afresh all those memorials in which she had found the t.i.tles to be abbreviated.
These preliminaries occupied the early months of 1869. The Memorial was completed and sent up in July, and Lord de Grey promised to receive a Deputation in support of it. Bessie drew up a list of the names of those members of Parliament and influential members of her own and of kindred inst.i.tutions who should be invited to form the Deputation. All arrangements being made, the Deputation met at the Westminster Palace Hotel, on the 10th of February 1870, and proceeded thence to the Education Office. Bessie, with other ladies, remained at the hotel, and subsequently received a report of the proceedings.
Earl de Grey and Ripon, Lord President of the Privy Council, with whom was Mr. Forster, received the Deputation. The representatives of twenty-nine inst.i.tutions for the blind were present, and also Lord Houghton, Lord Manvers, Dean Hook, Sir James Hamilton, Admiral Ryder, Admiral Sotheby, General J. Graham, and the following members of Parliament: Messrs. D. M"Laren", Beresford Hope, H. Woods, W. J.
Mitford, W. D. Murphy, F. Wheelhouse, Sir J. Anson, and Lt.-Colonel Gray.
Lord Houghton introduced the Deputation, and said they desired to impress on Lord de Grey the advisability of giving all possible consideration to the Memorial presented by Miss Gilbert in the previous July, praying that a large number of Her Majesty"s subjects who, at birth or afterwards, were deprived of sight, should have a fair share of protection and interest in any measure of general education which might be designed by the Government. It was most desirable that a cla.s.s which was so helpless should receive the best consideration which could be given to their condition.
Dean Hook spoke in support of the object of the Deputation, and many of the members of Parliament and others who were present gave information as to the condition of the blind in different parts of the country.
Lord de Grey asked several questions as to the instruction which the blind received, and said he would carefully consider the representations made to him by so important and influential a Deputation. He said there were many points connected with inst.i.tutions for the blind which placed them in a different category from the elementary schools which it was the object of the parliamentary grant to aid. Other questions were involved, and other inst.i.tutions might put forth claims, as, for example, those for the deaf and dumb. It would be the duty of the Council to weigh most seriously the practicability of the Memorial, and he a.s.sured the Deputation that they had the utmost sympathy of Mr.
Forster and himself.
Upon this Lord Houghton thanked Lord de Grey for his courtesy, and the Deputation withdrew.
There was no immediate action as the result of the labour of a whole year, and probably no special action on behalf of a cla.s.s, however afflicted, can be expected from the Government of a country. But Bessie"s work was not unproductive. She tried to show, and succeeded in showing, that the blind need not be separated and isolated. Her own example and her own life demonstrated this, and pleaded more powerfully than words could do. If the time ever comes when blind children are duly provided for in our schools, and blind men and women in our workshops, it will be chiefly owing to the lifelong endeavours of Bessie Gilbert, and to her unfaltering and earnest devotion to a cause that she thought worthy of living for and, if need be, of dying for.
The condition of her own health had now become very serious. After the Memorial had been sent in and before the Deputation was received Bessie was so exhausted, and movement had become so difficult and painful, that Dr. Little was consulted on her behalf.
He p.r.o.nounced the spine to be in fault, ordered a mechanical support, tonics, regular exercise, much rest in a rec.u.mbent position, and recommended Folkstone and sea air for some months. Bessie followed his directions most obediently. She was very brave in bearing the discomfort and oftentimes the pain of the c.u.mbersome "support." She persevered in walking for an hour daily according to his orders, dragging herself along with great difficulty, and getting so heated and overtired that the sister who accompanied her thought the walk did more harm than good.
But she had been told to do it, and with the old submission to authority she did it. Her faithful attendant, Charlotte Gadney, was also with her at Folkstone from the end of July to October. She spent much time out of doors, on the Lees, in a bath chair. By the autumn she and those with her were convinced that, in spite of rest and care, she could not walk so well as she had done in the spring. There was much reading aloud, for she was compelled to allow herself more time than usual for relaxation.
The sisters especially remember her enjoyment of George MacDonald"s _Robert Falconer_. In later times, if any one spoke of violins or violinists, she would say "Ah, do you remember _My Beautiful Lady_?" She heard parts of _Sir Gibbie_ also; and said of _Janet_, "She realises most fully the truth that we are indeed all members one of another."
There were several pleasant days to stand out in after years as a.s.sociated with the months spent at Folkstone. One of these was a day at Saltwood with Canon and Mrs. Erskine Knollys. Bessie drove there, and then the Canon himself wheeled her in an arm-chair to the American Garden. Even in late autumn this was very beautiful, and she enjoyed the description of it. An afternoon at Cheriton with Mr. and Mrs.
Knatchbull-Hugessen was also a great pleasure to her. At this time riding in a carriage was not only no fatigue, but she was able to enjoy long drives and all that they brought within her reach.
She returned to Chichester and London in somewhat better health, and resumed work on behalf of the Deputation.
Whilst she was at Folkstone her time was chiefly occupied in writing letters, and in reply to one of her pet.i.tions she heard from General Knollys that "it would afford the Prince of Wales much satisfaction to be placed on the list of Vice-Patrons of the Society in aid of the Blind;" and also "that H. R. H. had been pleased to direct him to enclose a cheque for twenty-five guineas in aid of the funds of the Society."
The following letter, which she received at this time from Pennsylvania, interested her:
TO MISS GILBERT.
NO. 1040 PENN STREET, READING, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., _13th September 1869_.
I take the liberty of addressing you as one who has taken so philanthropic an interest in the blind. About the mid-winter of "62-3 I was travelling in Idaho Territory, and, owing to the severe effects of the "glare" produced by the sun"s rays upon the snow, my sight received so severe a shock that I became temporarily blind.
Afterwards I partially recovered my sight; but through the want of skill in my medical attendant and general improper treatment, the optic nerve became entirely and, as I fear, hopelessly paralysed.
I am now completely deprived of sight. Being thus, unfortunately, among those with whom you so greatly sympathise, I too, losing in my full-grown manhood, this perhaps most benign of the Great Father"s gifts to poor humanity, feel a strong personal interest in my fellow-sufferers.
Understanding then that you have successfully established an "a.s.sociation for the General Welfare of the Blind," in which each occupant is finally paid for his labour, in contradistinction to the usual plan of blind asylums, where there is no remuneration, except what education may afford, I purpose attempting a similar enterprise.
Will I therefore be taxing your kindness too much in asking you to forward to me to this place (as headed) the last report of your n.o.ble inst.i.tution, and, if not contained therein, such instructions as will enable me to establish such inst.i.tution in this country?
And praying that the Good G.o.d may prosper you in your benevolent designs, I remain, with the greatest respect, your obt. servt., THEODORE B. VACHE.
A bright letter to the present writer shows Bessie in a playful mood. It was written after her return from Folkstone, and when health and spirits were much better than they had been in July. But locomotion had become very difficult; and it was painful to witness her laboured efforts to move and walk, and the difficulty she experienced in getting into or out of a cab or carriage.
THE PALACE, CHICHESTER, _October 1869_.
MY DEAR F.--I hope you will soon receive another polling paper. I suppose you did not pay your subscription last year, and so paid for two years in one. If I were as clever as Mr. Lowe perhaps I should contrive to squeeze a little more out of our subscribers, and make them all the while feel that it was the most natural thing in the world that they should make double payments. This is the way to do business, is it not? Double payments, bringing about double receipts; very nice thing, you know, for the receivers; and as to the other side of the question, why, you know, we needn"t look too closely into that. You see many persons are quite unable to look at more than one side of a question, so that limited views have their advantages. Does Mr. Lowe think so?
Well, I should hope very much to see you and Miss B. on Thursday, and if you can"t have me, please just write to 210 Oxford Street and say so, and then I will tell you where to come. I don"t know yet where I shall be, but very probably at Miss R."s at 117 Gloster Terrace. Love to Miss B. From yours affectionately, E. GILBERT.
At this time Bessie was warmly interested in, and very hopeful as to the results of, Mr. Gladstone"s efforts on behalf of Ireland, and referred frequently to the subject. In the following letter to her sister, Mrs.
Elliot, there is a mention of orders for work. She was unable on account of the state of her health to write as much as usual, and therefore gave more time to knitting vests and m.u.f.fetees, and making watch chains. The money received for them went to her "work-bag," and helped to relieve the necessities of deserving blind people:
THE PALACE, CHICHESTER, _23d December 1869_.
MY DEAR KATE--I send you my loving Christmas greetings with some of the home violets to sweeten them withal. It was very tantalising seeing you, or rather not seeing you, like that in London. I was so glad you thought I moved better. I do, and it is such a comfort I can"t tell you. Still I find a difference directly if I get too much tired. I had hoped to have had some m.u.f.fetees ready for you, but must do them afterwards, as I have had to knit two under-vests as an order, and have not yet finished the second. You cannot think how wonderfully well papa got through the ordination. Dr. Heurtley, who presided, was quite astonished. Only think of it, H. is coming on Monday for a week. I am so very glad of it. No time for more, your loving sister, BESSIE GILBERT.
Bishop Gilbert"s health had slowly but very steadily declined after the death of his wife in 1863. He was surrounded by the loving care of daughters devoted to him. But the loss of the friend and partner of his whole life was one from which he never recovered.
Bessie was the only member of the family not keenly alive to the failure of her father"s health. Partly, no doubt, owing to her blindness, and partly to the effort that the Bishop always made to be bright and cheerful in the society of his "dear child Bessie," she did not perceive how seriously the burden of work and responsibility told upon him. The sisters at home were glad to spare her the anxiety which they felt, and she pa.s.sed the Christmas time of 1869-70 without alarm and without that sense of impending loss which was weighing heavily upon others. When at last the blow came it fell suddenly, and fell heavily upon her, and was not softened by any sense of relief that the burden of his life was removed.
She had gone to London for the Deputation to Lord de Grey on the 10th of February 1870, and was still there when she was summoned to Chichester by telegram on Sunday the 20th.
The sisters at home had been conscious for some days of a greater sense of uneasiness than usual, but there was nothing definite to take hold of. The Bishop came down as usual to the dining-room on Friday the 18th.
On Sat.u.r.day the 19th he kept his room for the early part of the day, and dined in the morning-room, that room adjoining his own in which Bessie used to spend so much time with her mother when first they went to Chichester. The absent sons and daughters were informed of this failure of strength on Sat.u.r.day morning, but there were no alarming symptoms until the evening. Then and on the following morning, Sunday the 20th, telegrams summoned them to Chichester without delay. Bessie reached the palace about 10 P.M. on Sunday. Her father recognised her, but he was by that time too weak to speak. There were no last words, and he sank peacefully to his rest, dying at 5 A.M. on Monday, 21st February 1870.
Bessie had left home without even a suspicion that she might be recalled by a sudden summons, and now it seemed to her impossible that her father"s death should precede her own, and that a loss that she had not dared even to think of, should have fallen upon her. She was stunned by the blow, but she bore it with characteristic and Christian courage, patience, and submission.
CHAPTER XIX
IN TIME OF NEED
"The grave is heaven"s golden gate, And rich and poor around it wait."--BLAKE.