The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-26
THE BLIND BABY FUND.
II Has Now Rrhched Nearly One Hundred
and Fifty Dollars.

II Has Now Renched Nearly One Hundred
and Fifty Dollars.
The total Of the Thanksgiving offerings
and the amount contributed by the alder
men for Eva Webster, the blind baby, in
whose behalf Alderman Lissuer has inter
ested himself. amounted yesterday to $40.
Strange AZ il may appear the offerinQs on
Thanksgiving and yesterday all came
either from poor people, or those In inoder-
ate circumstances. In the subscription list
there does not appear the name of one
wealthy man or woman. Mr.. Lissner will
have the subscription paper at the Mineral
Springs hotel for Il day or so longer and
those who desire to contribute may do 40.
Talking of his Intentions yesterday, MIR.
Lissnef said that on Monday he would have
two or three Helena physicians examine the
child's eyes; if they were sure they could re-
store her sight he would then take the baby
to hospital, employ nurse. and have the
local physicians operate on her. II the
physicians were not sure they could
restore her sight, he would then
take the baby east no matter what
1t might cost, and have some specialist in
Philadelphia treat her. Mr.. Iissner's sym
pathies in behalf of the child have been
aroused, and he is determined that her
sight ehall be restored if such n thing ls
possible. He told yesterday bow he first
became interested in the baby. Last Tues
day he went to see Mis-. Garvey. who lives
on jackson street, on business. While
there he noticed little one crawling on the
floor, acting peculiarly. closer inspection
showed him the child WAS blind, and Mrs.
Garvey told him the little one's history.
He made up his mind in an instant what he
would do. and that night he had the baby
at the council meeting. Readers of The
INDEPENDENT know what he has done for 1t
since, and those who know Mr.. Lissner
know he will not quit until he accom-
plished what he set out to do--permanently
benefit the child.
An INDEPENDENT reporter went yesterday
to see Mrs. Garvey and the baby. The
former is n motherly colored woman whose
every act shows that the blind baby ia as
near her heart as though she we're her own
flesh and blood. The baby is seventeen
months old. blonde. with good features,
| stout and hearty. and is just making its
first attempt to stand alone. She can say q
| few words, such as papa" mamma"
| bread and goodbye" and despite her
about the rooms. 1t is pitiful to watch her
| in an endsavor to locate a strange voice.
| The instant she hears stranger speak she
| turns her head in that peculiar way the
blind have; then, when she has located the
owner, she begins to crawl toward him.
She supports herself on her right hand and
her knees. putting the left hand little in
front of her face, literally feeling her way.
| In this manner she goes all about the place,
and fortunately has not yet met with an ac-
cident. She is a friendly little thing, and
will pat a-cake' whenever she is asked.
| Those who have children know what a care
they are when endowed with all theil
senses, and they Can appreciate the noble
part Foster Mother Garvey has played in
the short life of the blind baby.
| Little Eva was not born blind. Wher
she was three days old she took cold anG
it affected her eyes. The treatment she re-
ceived possibly because she was 30 young
and the cold together, affected her sight sc
! that when she was two weeks OLD Bhe was
almost totally blind. 1t is probable she
can tell light from darkness, but that il
all. If allowed to continue without treat
ment the affection may get beyond medca
Skill but by being attended to now it is be
lieved her sight can be restored. Mrs
Garvey talking of her charge yesterday
said that when Eva WAS three months ole
sne was the tniest baby, weighing only
three and a half pounds. When she was
seven months old she weighed only five anc
and half pounds and folks said she woulG
not live. But Mrs. Garvey took the bes
care of her charge and now at seventeen
months Eva is as large as the average chile
of her age.
The case is one that should appeal t.
every charitable person in the city.