The Washington times., 1908-06-01
GORE SEEKS SIGHT
LOST 50 YEARS AGO
Blind Senator Begins Treat
ment Tonight, Though
With Little Hope.

Imbued with but a f0rIorn hope. and
with physician and family discouraging
too much confidence. Senator Thomas T..
Gore, the blind statesman from Okla
homa viii bsgin tonight d fight 60 re-
gain the eyesight he lost nearly thirty
years ago.
There's just A chance; that is all. 20
said Senator Gore this morning. II am
not indulging In any fs'-e hopes, but
no harm can come OF the effort. and I
have consented TO the Trial, although
other oculists have held out no hope
whatever. / shall not grow too optimis-
tic, and If the experiment fails. VIII
not take IL 20 heart
Senator Gore win go at o'clock TO
the Episcopal I.ye, Ear, and Throat
Hospital where, Tor a week, he viii
undergo preliminary treatment by an
eminent Washington 5cdIisr. If at the
end OF that time beneficial results are
noted, a slight operation viii be per
formed upon his left eye. in the hope
OF restoring the sight
This eye was put out when the SEN
ator was eight years old, through an
accident. Three years later, also through
accident, he completely destroyed the
right eye and there Is, accord 'ngly, no
hope Of restoring that.
Il is largely through the opportunities
of his vile that Senator Gore VIII un-
dergo trs8tmenJ. as he practically
abandoned all hope Of rega'nlug his eye
sight wears ego. Upon the opening Of
Congress last fall, he consented to
visit a local Ocuiist who held out a
slight ray OF nope
wait until the session IS over and I
have my work cleaned up" said the
Senator, "and I viii devote few days
10 The effort
Today Senator Gore Is winding up his
Official business, and informed the
physician that he viii place himself
under his care at O'Clock tonight.
Senator Gore has not allowed him
self 10 be too. optimistic said Mrs.
Gore this morning. should the e1Speri-
ment fafl. ne will not be greatly dis
appointed; should IL succeed we viii
be overjOyed. although both the Sen
ator and I have become so accustomed
TO his blindness tEst it would be like
starting i'm life again almost"
Accustomed 10 Affection.
.'The Senator has become accustomed
to his afiction, and SO have l. He is
not sensitive about his blindness, unless
some one grows impertinent I'm asking
how it came about. When eight years
old while playing with a boy compan.
ion. he was struck in the left eye with
a stick. Three years later he bought
g.p a- gift for friend
II worked imperfeCtly, and. boy like, ne
/ looked down the barrel to ascertain the
trouble The gun was accidentally dis
/ charged and the arrow entered his eye
! coupIetely destroying #.
Later he went to New Orleans, and
after STAYING in hospital eight months
the sigh; was sufficiently restored 10 his
| Ieft eve to enable him t. play games
/ and 10 distinguish objects Gradually
| fbe sight dimmed again. however. and
! ne was totally blind within a few
| months.
bis blindness. once he visited Chicago
I 70 soc An oculist, and became engaged
/ in ofber matters, returning home with
out seeing him at aU'
Wife to Be Near,
/ Mrs. Gore viii spend most OF her time
with the Senator while he remains al
ltne hospital. having engaged apartments
IN that section or the city.
The specialist who has held out some
hone to the blind Senator. while declln-
/ ing the use Of his name. said today:
"Our effort viii consist ia supplying
nutrition to the retina of ihe left eve.
] n. at the end Of a week, # is apparent
/ that the nerves are not dead and benefit
! from the nutritious treatment, 8 SLIGHT
/ operation will be performed upon the
/ crystalline lens. Senator Gore also has
! Continued on Second Page.l