The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-10-08
MISS HOLT.

Miss Winifred Holt, secretary of the
New York Association For the Blind.
writes from Paris, where she has gone
to establish with the help Of French
military authorities permanent sur
r%oundings and occupations for soldiers
blinded by war:
1.-The purposes of the committee are
to find the blind sufferers, some Of
whom are marooned In %improvised hos
pitfalls, ~farmhouses or %chateaux, and
many of whom are segregated in the
large hospitals or Red Cross stations.
"The committee will send visitors
and teachers to these blind soldiers,
furnish them with entertainment
through reading, games, etc, and for
those physically able it will start the
task of putting eyes on their finger
tips and giving them light through
work
I'VE have found all the blind men in
the hospitals of Paris and some in their
homes. l estimate that there must be
from 5000 to 1900 blind soldiers in
| this immediate neighborhood.
we have begun teaching in the hos
pitfalls here and have among our pupils
two very interesting and grateful blind
officers who will make good teachers
! and attractive agents for the Paris
Lighthouse when it is opened.
1.-The committee will seek to consider
the mems individual interests and abil-
tiles and as far as possible to train
them in trades and occupations for
which their blindness has temporarily
untitled them or to find new openings
in which they may become wage earn
ers.
when they have become proficient
it is hoped wherever possible to re-
turn them to their home surroundings
with the knowledge and tools to make
them self helpful. When this is not
practical it is hoped to establish them
in congenia; surroundings, where they
may again have a feeling Of indie
penaence and well being. Without
prompt expert assistance o o after
loss of sight the blind man is apt to
become respondent. to lose his intelli-
gence or to drift into an apathy from
which it is difficult, II not impossible.
to arouse him later.
'"The work is very heartrending, but
~unspeakably essential. We found u
blind soldier the other day who had not
left his DOL in the hospital since the
accident and was afraid to walk. After
we told him of Fawcett's wonderful
life the man jumped up, looking a new
human being. and. ito the amaZement
of his nurse and everybody else, strobe
forth, with his head lifted high. into
the corridor and walked up and down
with bis hands behind his back like
any other proud That Is what
hope does for these people. who were
desperate until we brought them light
II wrote you last week Of the young
officer who was blind. had lost his arm
and had on. two fingers remaining OF
his right hand. He is doing wonder
fully and is full of hope and light. His
fiancee comes from Corsica to see him
ut the end of the week. l am to see
fer before she has the shock of recelv-
ing what remains of her soldier, SO as
to prepare her to appreciate what life
may still hold for them both"
Miss Holt wrote that there should be
a corps Of at least fifty teachers to cope
with the work and that funds were
badly needed for materials for work
and clothes. She hopes her American
friends will send her q million dollars.
II can use. all Of 1t and to good pur-
pose." she writes.