Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-02-04
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I 11'aEaITli INSTRUCTION BUREAU ~
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SHALL THE BLIND
LEAD THE BLIND?

LEAD TIE BLIND?
Five dollars for a pair of spec
tacles! Absurd. If the boy needs
glasses, | can take him down to the
five and ten cent store and gGt him
pair"
Sounds impossible, doesn't il? Yet
that is exactly the reception which
was given one school nurse when she
went to a mother in northern Wis
consin town to tell her that an eX
animation of her boys eyes proved
that the sight Of one Of them was
nearly gone and that proper glasses
were absolutely essential The boy
was twelve years old. He was only
in the fourth grade. Yet no one had
ever thought to look III his eyes for
the reason.
The nurse was puzzled. Finally
she asked if the boy might be al
lowed to earn his glasses. The moth
er consented. The boy was eagerly
enthusiastic. 1t was up to the nurse
to find the work. She went about
it in the best possible way by asking
the editor of the local neWspap er il
he would print an advertisement for
the boy. The editor did more. He
published the story Of the boy who
wanted work to pay for the glasses
which would save his eyes and with
in half an hour after the paper was
on the street, a business man had
telephoned the school superlntende1 1T
to get the glasses and send the bill
to him. Other offers OF help made
it possible to provide q little girl,
also found to be in need Of glasses,
and to outfit a boy with school
clothing.
The little story is reminder of
the responsiveness Of humanity to
the appeal Of those in distress, es-
pecially if the burden bearer is a
little child Back Of it, however, is
another lesson that should not be
overlooked, for the attitude OF the
mother is but an exaggerated eX-
preston of an indifference to the
dangers of eye strain and Of false
ideas concerning the care Of the
eyes which are far too common.
please don't advise the use Of
glasses for children" was an ap-
peal sent me early in the history Of
this Health instruction Bureau by
the time they are grown they will
need two pairs and be helplessly ef-
flicted at thirty. Turn them out Of
your hot, dry schOolhouses, rath@r,
and let them learn in the open with
the birds and the rabbits"
Unfortunately the trying conditions
of modern life makes demands on US
which must be met and nature sons
times leaves defects which science
must supply Our correspondent
points out a danger, however, the
same danger of which there is warn
ing in the mothers assertion that
she could set a pair Of glasses for
ten cents. For many a mother, anx-
ious to do the right thing for her
child, has paid five dollars and six
dollars for glasses no more suitable
to the need than if she had bou 5ht
the ten cent variety.
If you have reason to suspect that
your child is suffering from eye
strain, if the eyes water or tire
easily, if they are blood-shot or the
eyelids are red, if headaches are fire.
quent or the child seems dull and
fretfuI and backward without appar-
ent reason, consult the Lest occulist
you can find The effect Of prop
erly adjusted glasses may work a
miracle
Now, at the opening Of the new
year, is the time to give your child's
eyes special thought and attention.
! Whether he needs glasses or not, he
should be taught the Importance Of
never subjecting his eyes to I'M
| necessary strain