The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-31
BLINDED SOLDIERS
 ARE CHEERF LII LOT Are Working Earnestly to
 Learn New Trade INSTITUTION AT PARIS Has Been Enlarged and Men Are Sent
 There to Become Used to Dark ness Before They Are AL lowed to Go Home
INSTITUTION AT PARIS

Paris. October 2.-(Correspondence Of the Associated Press.)-To accommodate the increasing number of blind soldiers. the Quinze- vingts Institution for the sightless, founded by St. Louis. has been enlarged by an annex. former convent. which is called the Convalescent Home. There are at present 145 inmates of the annex. They ares sent here from all parts of France. even before they are al- lowed to 90 home. Experience has prov en that at the home of the surroundings and influences are less depressing than elsewhere. A certain mental training Is necessary and this can best be effect ed at this institution. When this is ac- | complished they are allowed to choose
 a trade to their liking or any work to
 which they may be particularly adapted
 Basket making. manufacture of brushes | shoemaking. printing. stenography and tyepwriting are being taught, among other things Each of these victims ot l the war Is a willing student and an earn est worker. Notwithstanding their af- l fiiction they are a most cheerful lot.
 as the bantering which may be heard In Ia visit to the various workrooms in.
 dicates.
 Visit to Institution
 Minister of the Interior Malvy. accom- panied by M. Jules Brisac of the publid health service, and M. Paul Ermand and correspondent of the Associated
 Press visited the home recently. Enter
 ing and passing through "Joffre Hall" which is used for religious services and
 entertainments, the visitors were treated
 to an impromptu concert. A singer in
 nurses costume was on the stage before a piano. Beside her were three blind 1 soldiers-one with a leg amputated and | the military medal and war cross pinned
 to his breast-all receiving musical in-
 struction. Ignorant of the presence of | the visitors the singer and her soldier pupils continued their lesson.
 touh of the grounds and park with which the buildings are surrounded fol- lowed. Seated on a bench in the open were half a dozen inmates learning the making of corded fringe for curtains.
 Among these workers was the naturalized American, Joseph Amar of Washington, D. C., who was at the Lyons exposition
 when war was declared and who enlist ed in the foreign legion soon after. His | skill and dexter1ty brought forth a com pliment from Monsieur Malvy. Amar spends much of his spare time perfectine his French. while taking his promen.
 ade with one of the nurses as guide and teacher
 l Are Learning Music
 At another spot in the park blind
 music teacher-not war victim-was giv ing lesson in cornet playing to sight less young soldier. The latter, wearel
 of the military medal, had but one arm
 This instrument Is his sole distraction Many of them are fond of music and sev.
 eral with violins or mandolins in theil arms were seen making their way to SC cluded spots of the grounds for practic, and amusement Has
 Arriving at an outbuilding where bas
 lKets were being made, Minister Malv questioned some of the workers who's, laughter was interrupted by introductions
 One of the youngest of the blind men
 a soldier from the Vosges, was here anc he was the gayest. His affiction he bor, 7 lightly and smilingly declared it to b,
 a souvenir of the Germans" then add , ing. T have done my duty. I am con tent"
 One of the large rooms at the institu , tion Is used for the teaching of massage Blind masseurs are in considerable de mand and here with blind comrades fo ) subjects they are being rapidly traine,
 to make their own living Other part of the institution are devoted to teach ing of reading and writing.
 "One of our first objects is to teacl [ these most deserving wards of the ma
 tion the pleasure of existence" said Mon : sieur Brisac, who exercises sort O Iparenta1 care over them
 ,t The home Is so agreeable that som do not want to leave 1t even to be witt
 their families. There are several case l of men who left it and asked to conn
 back where they felt the surrounding
 more cheerful and agreeable.