Evening star., 1917-03-11
Miss Holt Does Wonderful Work for Blind Soldiers
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they personally interviewed each blind
person who applied for tickets. They
shortly found that many of the blind
people who called Were Intelligent and
educated, and with these they formed a
subcommittee to assist in further work,
for wider knowledge brought the real1-
zation of the Importance of giving the
blind opportunities for work
Therefore" to quote Helen keller,
''the two noble women determined to
see what could be done. They went
for information to the New YORK IN,
sttution for the Blind. They asked
why the blind were unemployed. They
received courteous assurance that eV-
erything possible was being done for
the blind, that their hard lot was the
inevitable result of circumstances. In
a world of machinery. specialized INDUS
try and keen competition the blind man
could not expect to find prof110le oc-
cupation. He must ever remain pup
lie charge. But the ladies were too
intelligent and too earnest to be con-
WINGED. Their visit was the beginning
of a new movement in New York toward
the betterment of the sightless."
The Misses Holt threw themselves
heart and soul into the work of find
ing occupations and interests for the
blind. and Miss Winifred Holt went to
England to study the best methods fol-
lowed in establishments there. The
. result was the organization eleven
years ago of the New York Association
for the Blind. of which DR.. Lyman Alb
bot was first president. and men and
women of national repute were officers
and members.
From this beginning eleven years
ago have sprung the three model
lighthouses in New York and lovely
summer place on the river, which have
brought light and life and happiness
into many :; dark heart and home in
New York, and guided into safe.
happy and busy haven many storm
tossed human craft.
Miss Winifreu Holt carried her motto.
Light through work." with her when.
her establishments here left in good
hands, she went to Europe two years
ago 10 help those on the battlehelds
who had been plunged in a moment
from the high light of day into the
abyss of darkness.
In those two years Miss Holt has ac-
complished wonderful results. which
have heaped upon her personal honors
from the president Of the French re-
public, the American amba assador at
Paris. the French minister of war and
the undying gratitude of hundreds Of
men whom she has brought from dark
ness into light.
Miss Holt's headquarters in Paris are
known as the "Phare de France" and
this Lighthouse of France" is situated
at IA fsue IneTc Sne mas uilucT
her charge a house with more than
forty rooms. large gardens and a court,
the, whole accommodating large num-
ber of resident pupils beside the teach
ing and administrative staff. Miss Holt
is president of the esta blishment: its
vice president is Mrs. Peter Cooper
Hewitt; it's treasurer. NJ Ernest Mallet:
its secretary. J. Ridgely Carter. At
Joseph Choate of New York, and it is
under the patronage of President Poin-
care. William G. Sharp, United States
ambassador to Paris, and the French
cabinet ministers.
Miss Hoit's staff of instructors Is COM
posed of trained workers only. "One
would not ,employ unframed and un-
skilled men to reconstruct the cathe-
dral at Rheims or the university at
Louvain: then why should we do so in
reconstructing the finest work of God,
a human being?' she eXclaims. when
speaking of her collaborators.
The two American members of her
working staff are Miss Esther Cleve-
land. daughter Of the late President
Cleveland. who teaches stenography
and typewriting to the blinded men,
and Miss Bernhard Grant. the grand
daughter of another United States
President. who gives instruction in
iansuages and music in the French
mainly recruited from the French no.
bility. and they have all taken time for
training in the duties which they are
called upon to perform.
< x
Miss Holt returned to the United
States few weeks ago for brief
stay. and she had much of interest to
tell her friends in this country. The
writer met cordial reception from
Ia Gardienne du Phare." as her soldier
friends have named her. Her caller
found Miss Holt a tall. beautiful wom-
an. with dark brown hkr and wonder