Omaha daily bee., 1916-10-18
BY LUCILLE GAME.

The thousands OF wounded men
who have had the misfortune to lose
their arms in this devastating war can
derive comfort from rejecting that
courage, grit and perseverance can
overcome even such terrible obsta-
Gle to success in life as the loss OF
ones limbs.
Recent history teens with exam
pies OF limbless persons gaining fame
IN professions, that one would imagine
were entirely barred to those who
are unfortunate enough to be with
out arms or legs. More astounding
still, the majority Of those men and
women have achieved success unaid.
ed by the marvellous mechanical ap-
pliances for replacing lost limbs
which are now At the disposal Of ev-
cry manned soldier.
One OF Queen Mary's most valued
possessions is pastel portrait OF her
self, made when as Princess Mary
her engagement was announced to
the present king. II was executed by
Mile. Annie Rapin, the well known
French artist, who was until the out
break OF the war employed by the
Chilian government to copy the Reu-
bens in Antwerp for the national gall
lery at Santiago de Chile
This clever woman had the misfor-
tune to lose both arms when a child,
and paints while holding the brush
between her toes, which she devel-
oped to such an extent that she de.
clares she hardly feels the loss OF her
hands. She sits on specially con-
structed stool when painting in front
Of her easel.
Mr.. Francois de Montholon, win
ner OF the Paris Salon prize in 1926,
lost both arms and one leg in an ex-
plosion. He paints by holding a
brush in his mouth and his figure
studies show remarkable delicacy
OF touch. A Bristol (England) artist,
Bertram Hiles, who is a gold medal
ist OF the Institute of Painters in
Water Colors, lost both his arms in
a trolley accident when a boy OF y.
He also paints with his mouth. Good
Judges consider that his pictures pos
sess superior merit and are greatly
above the average Of the majority OF
living water color painters. r."
One of the most extraordinary men
who was ever elected member OF
the British House Of Commons was
Arthur Marlborough Kayanagh,
who sat for County Casan, Ireland.
from 1865 until 1880. He was born
entirely limblcss. Only Srounded
stumps protruded from his body,
where arms and legs should have
been. Yet by exercise of an iron will
he was able to do almost everything
that normal person is capable ofNex-
cept walk. He was one of the most
daring horsemen of his day in Eng
land
Strapped to his saddle, with the
reins thrown iaround his neck, he
would guide the most spirited horse
and follow his, hounds, jumping hedg-
es and bitches in manner that pro-
voked astonishment and admiration
at his courage. He also actually went
on tiger hunting expedition in In
dia and bagged several tigers. Kav-
anagh performed this feat by balanc-
ing a gun on a rest, bringing II into
position with his chin and pulling
the trigger with his mouth.
He was voluminous writer and
his Handwriting" which he worked
with a pen in his mouth, ,Nwas remark.
ably small and neat.
In the House of Commons he had
always to be carried to his seat and
was once praised BY the late Lord
Russell Of Killowen (then Sir Charles
RusselD for his oratory. Kavanagh
died on Christmas day, 1889, through
chill contracted by patrolling the
country all night in a snow storm,
when a raid by "moonlighters" was
expected in his locality. He was
married and left a family Of nine chill
dren.
The famous Sarah Biffen, whom
readers OF Dickens will remember