The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-06-18
BATTLE BLIND Of
EUROPE SEEK To
Be INDEPENDENT
THEIR REFUSAL To BECOME
PUBLIC BURDENS is SHOWN IN
THE B. F. B. FUNDS CORRE-
SPONDENCE FROM SCENE.
81 Ne. George A. Kessler,


Fifth Avenue, New York
More than 1000 battle-blinded Bel
gian, French and British soldiers are
reorganizing their wrecked lives so
bravely, cheerfully and vigorously
that every .warm-hearted man and
woman in this happy, peaceful and
prosperous nation Of ours will find
true pleasure and inspiration in read
ing about them.
These 10000 blinded war victims
fear more than anything else the pos
sibility of spending their lives in pub
lie institutions, and are now energet-
ically and fearlessly accepting all
sorts of hardships and privations as
an alternative of being public charges.
One blinded French soldier who was
shot five times during patrol duty
and who only escaped capture by
feigning death is learning brush-mak-
ing. He intends to go back to his
village and make and sell his goods
for himself. When told recently that
government workshops might later
be established in which he could be
employed, he shrugged his shoulders,
saying he preferred "black bread in
his own home to cake in the home
of others" ..
''Do you think that l would shut
myself up in an institution all my
life ?" he added. 81 would sooner be
buried at once"
Another very typical example of
the "independence" of the battle
blinded was shown recently by a sol
der whose optic nerve was destroyed
in September, 1914, by a bullet which
passed directly through his head from
front to back. He is now supporting
wife and five children at a blind
trade learned in six weeks, although
he had the alternative of being per-
manently cared for in public in
stitution.
The difference which the learning
of a blind trade makes in the lives of
these blind men is shown by the story
of trumpeter named Poirier of the
Nineteenth Regiment of Chasseurs.
Poirier's regiment, during the bat
tie of Marine, was ordered to advance.
Poirier sounded the charge on his
trumpet Two bullets pierced his
legs, but he continued TO sound the
call until a third bullet struck him
in the face. A minute later, a fourth
bullet destroyed his sight. After ly-
ing four days on the battlefield he
was rescued. His despair at his help
lessness was so great in the hospital
that he attempted suicide. More re-
Gently however, he was taught the
blind trades of brush-making and
chair making and has become a con-
tented and happy worker.
Copies of letters from British,
French and Belgian battle-blinded
soldiers, who are supporting them
selves and their families splendidly
after having been trained in blind
trades by the present blind war re-
lief movement, are received with in
creasing frequency at the B. F. B.
Blind Fund Headquarters, No. 500
Fifth avenue, New York City.
A battle-blinded British soldier has
apparently learned the trade of pouI-
try farming.
81 received my fowls on Wednes-
day." he writes. 81 brought them
from the station last night. To my
surprise, have found fully a dozen
eggs this morning. When I was a
prisoner, I often wondered how
could support myself. l thank you
very much for. having given me a
good start in life"
81 am now established in the boot
repairing and mat making business
writes another. IT earned twenty
eight shilings last week. I shall re-
member what you have done for me
as long as l live"
Touching Stories.
Another letter is an unusually fine
example Of typewriting.
81 received my typewriter this
morning." writes the battle-blinded
: typist. Il have the happiest recol-
. lections Of my six months undr-
supervision. You taught me that
blindness is only a handicap, and that
it can be overcome"
: How a battle-blinded soldier Of
France was recently enabled, through
a blind training school course, t.
marry the young woman to whom
he had been engaged before his mis-.
fortune is told by the Funds Pari:
correspondent
A few days ago 1 followed a GROVE
? into small church near the Pan
theon. There was to be wedding
The groom, very erect, in the tuni,
of an under officer Of the Hussars
wore two crosses on his breast. Hi.
eyes were hidden behind dark glasses
: The bride, simply clad in black, look
! ed like gravely happy hospital nurse
It was no ordinary wedding. Wher
it was over, the groom stood strange
/ " hesitant. There was a tense ST
lence as the crowd waited. Then tn,
5 wife took her husbands hand in her
r and guided him, like a child, dow
: the aisle. He had been blinded a
Yerdun through the bursting Of