Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-11-03
MISS wIxIrRKD 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
roundings and occupations for soldiers
blinded by war:
THE purposes of the committee are
to find the blind sufferers. some OF
whom are marooned in ilnprovised hos
pitfalls, farmhouses or chateaux, and
many of whom are segregated In the
large hospitals or Red Cross stations.
THE committee viii send visitors
and teachers to these blind soldiers.
furnish them with entertainment
through reading, games. ETC.. and for
those physically able 1t will start the
task of putting eyes on their finger
tips and giving them light through
work
We have found all the blind men in
the hospitals Of Paris and some In their
homes. | estimate that there must be
from 5000 to 4,0o0 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 A,ke good teachers
and attractive agents for the Paris
Lighthouse when ii is opened.
THE committee will seek to consider
the mems individual interests and abil-
tiles and as far us possible to train
them In trades and occupations for
which their blindness has temporarily
united them or to find new openings
In which they may become wage earn
ers.
when they have become proficient
1t 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 1t Is hoped to establish them
In congeniai surroundings, where they
may again have a feeling Of indie
pende nee and well being Without
prompt expert assistance soon after
loss Of sight the blind man Is apt to
become Respondent, to lose his inteln-
gence or to drift into an apathy from
which 1t Is difficult, II not impossible.
to arouse him later.
THE work Is very heartrending, but
unspeakably essential We found a
blind soldier the other day who had not
left his room In the hospital since the
accident and was afraid to walk. After
We told him Of Fawcett'p wonderful
life the man jumped up To- Fling a new
human being. and. to the mazement
Of his nurse and everybody e. strobe
forth, with his head lifted Nth, into
the corridor and walked up and down
with bis hands behind his back like
any other proud man. That is what
hope does for these people, who we're
desperate until we brought them light.
Il wrote you last week Of the young
officer who was blind, had lost his arm
and had only two fingers remaining on
his right hand. He is doing wonder
fully and is full Of hope and light. His
iancee comes from Corsica to see him
at the end Of the week. / am to see
her before she has the shock of receiv-
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 a million dollars.
Il can use all Of 1t and to good pur-
pose," she writes.