The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-08
APPEAL FOR BLIND,
WAR HALTS GIFTS
Choate and Directors Of So
ciety for Sightless Tell
Need Of Help.
MAY CLOSE CLASSES

An appeal to the public for aid for
the slghtless lie made by tho directors
Of tho New York Association for the
Blind in their annual report issued
yesterday. II liz feared that owing to
the shortage Of funds Il may he neces-
sary to close some OF the classes for
wage earners. thereby turning out Of
employment the blind teacher and end
ing instruction for slghtless workers
who are eager to earn their own bread.
Joseph n Choate. president OF the
association, in his report credits the
Lighthouse with saving fifteen would
be suicides, Respondent because Of blind
ness and enforced idleness, and teach
ing them to- become wage earners. II
in the fear that the institution may be
Obliged to suspend the classes where
such unfortunates are being taught that
caused Mr. Choate 10 embody In the
statement his earnest appeal to the pub
lie for support.
The appeal for funds has also been
taken up by President Wilson and ex-
President Taft. In n letter Mr.. Taft
says: 81 am glad to lend my voice in
aid OF and I'm praise OF the work which
erous people Of New York add TO their
list Of contributions substantial sums
for the carrying forward OF this move
ment."
List Grows From 500 20 1o,7oo.
The New York Association for the
Blind was started eight years ago with
"A debt OF $500, list OF 500 blind
people and no home. Since that time Il
has increased its list 10 10000 names.
II also has three model buildings, In
GLIDING training station. lecture bu-
reau and salesroom for the blind, and
the River Lighthouse. vacation home
Last year t35.G40.sS was realized
through the sale Of the products manu-
featured by the blind workers and in
the same period the Lighthouse paid to
the blind in wages relief and for their
products s35Ss3.3l. The buildings are
free from mortgages and debt. but the
war has curtailed the usual suoscrip-
lions and sales.
THE effect Of the war on the work for
the blind is told by Miss Winfred Holt
secretary, in her annual letter to the
directors.
"Worldvide tragedy has caused US
all to readiust our point OF view" she
SAYS Not Jrrnong the least heroic to
face the hard times have been the blind.
While the nations rage some OF :he
blind are bcreft OF bread and work
A. tine outset OF the war our sewing
class OF blind women Immediately
started working for the Red Cross. while
our class of bind men and women
gathered their meag-e pennies 10 help
the suffering heroes Of the tight.
wsr suffering of the blind.
I'm one OF the London hotels filed
with Belgian refugees the secretary
found distracted blind woman. She
had escaped with her young daughter
from Termonde, where she had searched
in vain for her husband. The asso-
citation lent iani 10 relieve this
tragedy. The husband has been found
and the woman, now placed In SAT-"
home. is trying 10 forget the horrors
which she has experienced
THE first cataclysm Of the war sent
US a pathetic refugee, n blind man who
had lived for many years peacefully
on a small farm in Belgium. His home
was destroyed and his money and prop
erty lost. or American birth. in pow
erty and distress OF mind. he found
his way back TO New York He was
brought back ny his wife to the Light
house His wife has Joined the staff
Of the association and both arc happy
wage earners.
Consider for moment what Il would
mean TO you to lose your sight Close
your eyes for three minutes and think
what unrelleved blindness must mean.
Then. not forgetful OF the other great
battles and struggles OF the world, re-
member that there Is no more awful
strife than the battle of a lonely un-
aided soul in the dark. Give US your
help in any way YOU can to find for the
blind light through work
Tho appeal directs that contributions
be sent to Frederick l.. Eldridge,
treasurer of the New York Association
Rlind