The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-02
MAN SEES"
BRITISH FRONT
Sir c. Arthur Pearson Brings Back En-
thusiastic Story Of the Progress
of the Warfare.

socidteu IIess blind hlmseH, All
head of the British National institute d.
voted principally to men blinded in III
war, Sir @. Arthur Pearson of Londo
was recently most interesting visitc
at the British front. His enthusiasm
for all he saw was unbounded, and
] declared he would take back to tn
sightless men at home new words Of en-
couragement as to how "their" arm,
was carrying on.
Sir Arthur climbed the Vimy ridge
and to his great delight some Gcrmal
shells broke so close they splashed hin
with mud and the party had to TAX
temporary refuge in dugout.
"a man doesn't have to see to know
when to duck, does he laughed Sir Ar
thur in relating the incident that night
Il also find" he added, that it doesn'
take long to know when they are going
and when they are coming
That is always a great source of en-
tertainment to visitors in the fighting
zone. At first the shells that are going
over from the British guns swish along
through the sullen air with a noise that
is quite startling enough, but the sight
seer fortunate" enough to hear Ger
man missile Coming in" soon finds IL
sings somewhat different song. Sir
Arthur aptly described it.
Our shells" he said, ego with bang
and whiz; the Germans come over with
whiz and bang. 1t all depends upon
the position of the whiz."
Sir Arthur was deeply impressed by
the work of the guns. He remained with
some of the batteries for a long time
and listened to their noisy mutterings
with keen appreciation of all that was
going on about him. He was particular
ly delighted TO hear above the reverber-
ating echoes the songs of larks--always
to be remembered by the soldiers on this
front as their ever cheerful companions
of trench and battiefields,
Trudging over some of the older battle
the trenches, and standing in the higher
places where the panorama of battle
spread below him, Sir Arthur drank in
the atmosphere of the war--the meaning
of il all. He saw" the tanks in re-
pose and heard them at drill, he stood
outside prison cage and visualized
the handicapped Germans within the
barbed wire barriers. He asked guard
if any of the prisoners ever attempted
to escape.
Escape, sirf" replied the old sergeant
''Why, sir, you couldn't drive 'em away
they likes being prisoners, sir, they
does"
The ruined cities of the Somme, Ba-
paume and Peronne, affected Sir Arthur
deeply.
Il wish the whole world--all but the
Germans who already know what they
have done--could come and stand in the |
grand squares of these cities as I did to- !
day" he exclaimed, "snd see and feel the |
desolation and the wanton destruction |
They are ghost like, these cities of the /
dead. knew them on motor trips in
other days, when they were alive and
could picture the scene to-day as if |
we're looking upon painting. The Ger
mans will find, however, the day of reck
oning is near at hand. shall take back
words Of great cheer to the men at st.
Dunstan's.
Entertained by officers Of all ranks, Sir
Arthur declared his days and nights at
he front had been filled to overlooking.
70 visitor ever followed the workings of
he vast British army machine with
quicker, keener appreciation and under
tanding than he. He was grstified to
ind in the army similar interest and
appreciation in the work at st. Dunstan's
or the blinded soldiers and sailors.
Sir Arthur told of the resentment he
cit when unthinking people referred to
IT, Dunstan's as 'home" for the blind,
s if the blind were to be segregated
here for the rest of their days. 4
ut is not home for the blind" he !
rotested, "and | do not believe in 2
homes for the blind. st. Dunstan's is I
n institution where those who cannot s
ee are helped TO equip themselves to |
etske their places In the ordinary walks g
nd affairs of life Often respondent at r
rst, they are set some simple task and a
hen they find how easily ii is done, a a
pirit Of regeneration seems to come over Z
hem, They catch the spirit of accom-.
lishment and thereafter nothing is too
reat for them to attempt.
"One of the most Respondent men with I
HON we have had to deal was blinded
'ommy,' who had been sort of steam
tier, or house heating expert. None of
le ordinary trades appealed to him and P
} felt as il he were altogether done for. u
uddenly ! asked him how he would like O
J go back TO his old job. He shook his q
lad sadly. II couldn't be done. told
m we would see about that. ! would 81
} his old firm, and one Of the partners G
me TO see me. asked If they would u
Ike Tommy back. was assured the n
IN would like to do so, but they could NJ
II see how blind man could fill any ST
st in their business. ] obtained a NJ
omise, however, that if could assist
e soldier TO such an extent that | felt u
was entitled to trial they would do s.
Il Immediately sent for all the avail OF
lie Textbooks on house heating | could 20
ID. even got two volumes from Ia
nerics. The end Of the story is very
nple. had a letter from the firm a 4
" days ago saying Tommy was re-
wing nearly double his old salary, was
more va Ina 70 .hnr, thar he had exar