El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-11-25
In 1t Miss Esther Cleveland
Teaches Stenogrdphy to
Blind Soldiers.
GRANDDAUGHTER
OF GRANT WORKER
Remarkable Philanthropy Is
Under Direction of Miss
Winifred Holt.
BY DOROTHY Garfield FISHER

- ARTS. FRANCE. Nov 25.-War time
Paris is full OF big new street
= signs. flag surmounted, announc-
ing in very large letters the existence
Of war philanthropies Of one kind
Gnd another for the relief of those
stricken by the disasters Of this dis
astrOus age No signs are bigger, none
has larger letters than those sur
mounted by the crossed flags Of France
and the United States which announce
that . Franco-American committee is
st work there
And Yet one Of the most interesting.
unique and valuable of these fine
American philanthropies has no big
sign. no large letters and is so little
known in America that I an sure a
description of it's work will be news to
most Americans. and very good news
~ that This is the Phare de France.
fthe French Lighthouse for the Blind
L is supported by the Franco-Ameri-
can committee for men blinded in bat
tie, and is under the direction of Miss
Winifred Holt. whose years Of work at
the american lighthouse for the blind
in New York have so marvelously
transformed life for the blind OF that
city.
She has been in France for q little
,
work for men blinded in battle with
the same tremendous energy and in
domitsble perseverance which has ac-
complished so much for the blind in
america The French lighthouse is the
result of that years activity
GRANDDAUGHTER Of Grant a Guide
Imagine that you are now about to
visit that institution under the guild
ance Of one Of the volunteer workers.
perhaps that charming young grand
daughter Of our president Grant, to
whom is often assigned the task Of
showing visitors about. You ring at
No. II on the Rue DarU. the quiet old
street. of the Russian church. with its
gold tipped domes-
The heavy door swings open. you
step into a large, peaceful, stone paved
court yard, with a handsome old pal
ace facing you, at the top Of a flight
Of broad stone steps. A soldier or an
officer in a natty uniform is probably
either going nimbly up or coming con-
fidentlv down those steps. swinging a
light bamboo cane His alert upright
bearing gives you no hint Of his blind
ness
II you follow him as he turns TO his
left you find yourself in a well
equipped gymnasium for the blind.
which is, so your guide tells you. the
only thing Of the sort in France. Your
blind soldier (who is enjoying a rest
between lessons) stoOps, puts on a pair
OF roller skates. and is off in a dash
lEE swoop about the polished gym
nasium floor.
His face Is soon tingling and glow
ing with the exercises. the strong
rythmic swing of his body is exhilarat-
ing to witness Your guide murmurs
that four months ago that man was in
a hospital, alone, sick, utterly discour-
aged, life a black abyss Of despair be-
fore him. Here is one of the achieve
ments of the French Lighthouse
But is he really blind2' you ask in
credulously. How can he have won
back that fine physical poise, that
splendid confidence in his body which
means so much for seeing people and
which We never associate with the
blind2"
All that is the especial secret OF this
american Institution, the especial gift
CT America TO the French blind What
is done at this institution does not du-
ulicates. but rather supplements what
is being done for the re-education Of
the war blind in the other excellent in
situations of France. The astonishing
achievements of the New York blind
under the expert guidance OF the New
York lighthouse authorities inspire the
foundress and leaders of the French
more completely normal life for the
intelligent blind than is usually con-
sidered possible.
What man has done man can do. 1t
IS the immense experience Of what men
can do which gives this American work
for the blind courage to undertake the
seemingly impossible and light heart
.dly to achieve it Years of devotion to
the blind in New York. years OF inces-
SAINT experimentation and success with
the possibilities for the blind. years
during which the limitations formerly
set for the blind have been pushed
further and further back. such has been