The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-02-07
WITH FANcE's BLIND SOLDIERS
Continued from Page One)

one handed men have been a greater
handicap than one would suppose for
the ordinary purposes of life. The
blind more than we realize walk with
their hands, feeling their way on each
side from point, to point and
the destruction of the sense of
balance which comes with the
absence of one hand is very mark
ed. They find it difficult to get up
and down, In and out OF cabs and are
even apt to walk in a one-sided fash
ion. With almost all the men | come
in contact there seems to be most
special point of interest, some act of
heroism, some story that one would
like to tell OF Toutloup who lost his
hand and his eyes saving the lives of
"A companions by selling a bomb on
the point of exploding and climbing
with II out of the trench. you see,
Mademoiselle,' he said to me quite
calmly. most of the other men we're
married or had families, and |, being
from the orphan asylum it would not
so much mater, and in any case it was
enc TO twenty-four"
or one who has what they call "ca-
fard"--which means that the world is
very black indeed to him-for months
he had little precious sight and now
the night has come. or another who
sees the light fade day by day and is
working with all his might to be
ready for his blind life. They say
such pretty touching things. One day
! was talking to Roman of his APP
pareil. Another blind man of whom
| have seen a good deal was sitting
with us, laying my hand on his knee
| asked him what | could do for him.
He smiled wistfully, putting his
hand over mine and replied: "Ah.
Mademoiselle, II could only see
your face
The watch fund has been a most
welcome gift. | have made bold to
turn 1t into a razor fund as well. as
many of the men already have
watches, and a shfety razor, with
which they very dexterously shave
themselves. Is a most highly priced
possession, and also the dark glasses
which they like to wear on the street.
Miss Hollis work is being very sue
cessfully carried on, and in fact the
men at the Phare are so well cared
for that ! am interesting myself in
those In some of the other institu-
lions, who are in much greater need
of individual attention. They cannot
all be accommodated at the Light
house, but the ideas and ideals for
which that stand can be taken to
them.
One of the most successful occupa-
tions has proved to be the use of
knitting machines and as one-handed
men can run them very cleverly ! am
investing in couple.
The largest undertaking that | have
en- hand at the moment is to put
through plan OF buying a small
piece of land for blind man who has
lost both hands. His plucky little
wife thinks that with "un tout petit
bout de terrain" she can raise chick
ems, rabbits and vegetables, sell them
at the nearest market. and so take
care of her almost helpless husband
and their small boy. The mans
greatest ambition was to be able
again to feed himself, and with the
apparel this was very difficult, for
lacking that essential sense of touch I,
he could not find his food on his |
plate. 1t occurred to me that If it |
was given to him in bowl, so long !
as there was anything there to eat |
1t would be at the bottom and he |
could quite easily follow down the !
side and take 1t up in the spoon
which fits into the APPAREL He is
much pleased with the result
There is another-Musty--w has
a very small remnant Of sight left
He has learned to make beautiful
brushes and l am giving him, through
you, the means to set up small shop,
and to support his wife and two little
boys. The wife is coming to Paris
lext month to take lessons herself
from the wife of the blind professor
n brushes He is a very practical
little man and says that now most of
he big factories are out of business
t Is the moment for the handmade
and he hopes in his own vii
age to get the patronage OF the coun-
ry side.
..,....Ao. A.. .,... $50 1.o~..lt.r