Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-22
LII ASPECT WE MUST FACE
Nkeefcsns Also Will Make Sacrifice
ssfeHter Than Death, and Their
excavation Must BE Assured-How
Is Accomplished.
10Y CORA PARSONS KESSLER.
eNesaSysSecretary of the A. II. +. H.
Blind Relief War Fund
{ resSS-. for Soldiers md Sailors.


are coming to France in
;lhefr-nundreds OF thousands. yes. and
& AaStheir millions. If need be-
sss.Es~1 KNOW replied Eugene Brieux
Il aietiS'I have seen them in their
Il asflvs,- land"
assThs academician's face was pale
a1tth~'onotion at the thought of this
4 6iShtY. host that was coming to fight
fMhder-- the Stars and Stripes beside
Me- ssoldiers of France and Britain in
6 nv .c4hse' that has become that of the
& sGholesworl and his eyes shone. re-
3AsSubE the JOY of the multitude that
l U.s. cheering itself hoarse and shout
\ Ing ,!.Viye rAmerique" and the name
8 &the hero of the day Pear -shang.
eear.ahang!"
1 X ..s.sut After a moment his strong face
ohadowed and he voiced the thought
lthAt ,eVtf obsesscd him:
4 And many OF them will go back
I blinded having given that mankind
4 may i've forever in safety and harmony
Z AS- free men that which after all is
4 tanres precious than life to most OF us.
4 atSis, with the giving Of life itself. the
IS AupEeme sacrifice. And your society
ind ail. those generous Americans who
s h&po' made its great work possible will
[ H4x4 builded better than you knew
RSdeaY6r again the sightless soldiers of
4 HTanSe and our brothers-in-arms the
! BebSiAns and the English; for you are
I 3ailys organized and prepared to ex-
\ Send from the outset the same helping
4 hAnd-to-tho fathers, sons and brothers
rom among your own people who will
Do similarly stricken"
iss,4S, N, not for nothing that the presi-
lAentt OF the French section of the 4. B.
sE.%B. 10 called by the French army
SShe father OF the blinded pioupious"
Ne paused for moment. his brow
1anatted In thought.
fali.s es, ne went on. yes. decidedly
S ,4a proper place for you TO help them
i4ssffsht here. in France. where you
sfAn-take them convalescent from the
iR6spitals and make men of them again
sAsfofe they go back to face their fami-
Hes and the new existence that will
M before them. 1t will save the vic
tins and those TO whom they are dear
Hutda1 anguish OF the kin: the mind
does not care TO dwell upon
Tell me about the blinded soldiers
tAosthtt our people may know just what
s&eey-~have done and can do" re-
dSSstsA.
i AMERICANS MUST FACE WAR
IN ALL IT'S GRIM ASPECTS
Il - YER, gladly" Brieu1 assented. II
Ill tell you just what happens with
aSpddenly blinded men. 1t is one of the
Kim sides OF war that Americans must
sface, and it is proper that they should
I knnMr-au about it, SO that they can
4 ESrenEthen the hands OF the good Sa-
Smaritans who have had the courage TO
sSxplpre this hell OF suffering 10 its pro-
Sf0nndest depth in order that they could
Sfnt their fallen brother from the in
aattstable misery and despair OF il and
tstart him comforted again upon the
4WRy TO. the Accomplishment of his
Sdestfny-.'
Suddenly blinded men, like those
4 badly. mutilated. are for time turned
q Eask-to the conditions of helpless baby
H tnoed-.s-They need TO be supported and
n xSlpeo- TO a new adaptation Of life
q E ss,o them many things have to be
saaInea All over again. Morally they
d IRE Al broken down anguished. rest
less. knowing not what to do with
II hSmselSes. Physically the wounds
H hey have received have affected their
u sntira organism. 1t takes time for
S;Shsm to recover from the violent shock
III 1gonizinE pain TO which they are
Etuo5eeted at the moment the wounds
u Ere received and the excruciatinc on
III sIattons that these necessitate, and il
Il sometimes happens that their faculties
are impaired They are
||l&sAeeoio OF body and uncertain of mind
SkeSs&capvs conceive OF no spectacle more
|8fintni, more heartrending, than that
~ blinded soldier during the first
|EH&x1thAt follow his wound Usually
siss motioniess on his bed for hours
islsItssA~<hi me' refusing all conversation.
Il le2lated. from tn. other patients. de-
/ ssp4teAaH. that h, comrades and tho
sa6Sfors can do.
ilsSs,ssimagtne what must be the mon,,,
|fs1MRering OF this man suddenly iIiu-
lS;x&Hine0 py SO much as raw of limit,
|f6uptless he is brooding upon his
h1ffonS radiant youth with all us
lfsAopee and ambitions. its dreams and
that have fallen away from
| isH1ms into the bottomless pit Of eternal
{I&Rfkness, leaving him helpless hone.
useless; the realization that ney.r
[E;HER1n.w he look upon the faces of
EsyalHose loved ones who constituted hi.
IIsSiSsle-. world OF happiness. never again
sg4ks, The 1oyeliEht in the eyes of tho
|sSsstfe~or the wonder girl. who was
all else on earth; suffering
I lkcn- his1So immobility. from Inc
OF having to ask Others
EE0.help him do the least little thing
.himself; reEretting bitterly Thar
6404gIQS- VINO was his undoing did not
Bs1ish the job there and then. and
EHN4ykp seeing in self destruction the
sonly.satisfactory issued from his APP
bAninE Asituation
h HONE CAN GUESS MISERY
fFs2k4EHIDDEN ny SiGHTLESS EYES
4 sstHntdt is impossible to guess wha, is
&sEAHSt8Hsin his mind. TO questions nc
EKaEHHAga monosyllable Yes or NO
that could be expressed
IastusE 4O4k encounters the obstacle az
| M huge blue spectacle which. alas,
|ssSetx6eo1ly as mask TO the dressings
, ss6Ss his Empty sockets or burning orbs
physiogomy is expression
Ss,sdenth-like. save when II twitchcs
| Is 9Th pain. A feeling of utter help
| SstERness. comes over the beholder and
feauires q sgreat effort to shake OF
contaEioh Of the sufferers dis
s4Hf4gement.
MEkpsrience has proved that il is
&aer to let him alone. To express
sstSEsMsthe worst mistake that could be
sssl6&9eI nor must one dwell upon hi.