New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-13
FOR THE ALLIES BLIND
To Maintain the Present Institutions Two
Millions Are Wanted
ro the Editor of M Tribune.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The pressing need in France and Eng
land for the after-care of the blinded war
victims must be obvious 10 all who are con-
versant with present conditions in these coun-
tries.
In England, at st. Dunstan's, Regent Park,
London, Sir Arthur Pearson has demonstrated
what marvellous work can be accomplished
In the rreducation Of blinded men There
are many totally blinded soldiers and sailors
now being trained there under Sir Arthurs
personal supervision In various trades and
professions by which they may become self
supporting, provided q market is maintained
for their work and services.
In Sir Arthur's words, ut is no good to
train blind man II, after training him, you
turn him adrift 10 fend for himself His
work needs supervision, otherwise it tends
to deteriorste. His raw materials also must
be purchased for him; his goods marketed
and if he is engaged in some such occupa-
ton as massage or boot-repairing, continuity
Of employment must be secured for him..
That is the work the B. F. B. Permanent
Blind Relief War Fund is doing. II was felt
that generous American hearts would be glad
20 contribute to fund the work Of which
would mean the salvation Of thousands of
hopeless blinded men who had done their
duty to their country. The number of the
blinded victims of the war is increasing day
by day. and therefore il will be impossible TO
estimate the maximum needs until the war
IS over. Obviously, however, a very large
endowment fnud is essential to COPE with
the task
The B. F. B. Fund. which is raising this
endowment, confidently appeals to the benev-
olence of the American people. Surely such
a worthy reconstructive cause has only to
be known in order to be generously SUP
ported. What we frankly give forever is
our own"
Nearly 100000 has already been raised.
which sum is being applied intact to the OBJ
Jects stated, all expenses being met from
other sources than public subscriptions. OF
that sum, $4,000 are in London and 75o 900
frs have been RENTED to the Bank Of France,
to be used partly for alleviating any tenn
porary distress, but chiefly for the permanent
work of the fund.
In France the needs of the blinded are ex-
ceedingly great NJ. Eugene Brieux. the emil
nent French Academician. who is devoting
himself to the reconstruction OF these blinded
lives, and who is the official head of all
blind institutions in France, is the president
of our French committee, and all money al
located to France will be applied and ex-
pended under his direction and at his dis
erection. There are many temporary homes
for the blinded men throughout France
Q. e., Bordeaux, Mentone, Nice, Lyons but
these refugees are necessarily totally I'M
equipped and unprepared for the mems train
ing and reeducation. NJ. Breux. in his fine
reconstructive plans for the future, is ham
pered By an absolute lack of money.
We estimate that in order TO maintain the
present institutions for the after-care of the
blinded and TO establish other ones as they
may be required fund OF S2,000000 is
needed The purpose of this letter is TO APP
peal as earnestly as possible TO all philsn-
thropic Americans for immediate and sub
stantal subscriptions. I feel ! cannot plead
too strongly with my fellow countrymen for
aid in this great work. Checks should be
made payable TO Frank A. Vanderbilt, hon
orsry treasurer, and mailed TO the r. +. 3.
Permanent Blind Relief War Fund, $50 Fifth
Avenue, New York.
CORA PARSONS KESSLER,
Honorary Secretary.
New York Feb. s. 1917.