The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-08-22
HELPING BLIND SOLDIERS
Bennington Has Several Engaged in
This Work.

this appeal to residents OF Cleveland.
IF you have been entertained by
good story, if you have been in
spired by reading q biographical ar
ticle, if you have been helped in your
business by reading sketch or trea-
tise-won't you make it possible for
blinded soldiers to read at least one
of the articles that benefited you?
Already our American soldier
boys are coming back from the
trenches destined to pass the bal
ance of their days in darkness.
The government and the Red Cross
are working together to help these
men earn their bread and butter in
civilian jobs.
Much reading matter is necessary
In the first place, the blinded men
need cheering up. This can be ac-
complished by making it possible for
them 10 read accounts of how other
men, terribly handicapped, have over
come obstacles which stood between
them and an independent liylihood.
"In their vocational training, they
will need to read articles on salesman
ship, insurance, and concerning var
ious industrial. agricultural and pro
fessional occupations. Such litera-
ture must be printed in the Braille
type. WIN you contribute enough
money to publish just one article,
even though ii be only short anec.
dote?"
In the early part Of the summer the
Banner announced that a group of
was studying Braille, the system OF
embossed writing for the blind. for
the purpose Of transcribing stories
and articles for soldiers who have
lost their sight in war. The class was
taught by Jeanette Il. Perkins, who
learned the system in Washington
last spring, and all work done is un-
der the direction of Mrs. Gertrude I.
Rider of the Library of Congress,
Washington, d. c. Mrs. Rider is in
charge of a nation wide campaign for
raising funds for reading for blinded
soldiers, and the work done by the
Bennington group is sent direct to
her Before sending. II Is proofread
by touch by Walter w. Hollister Of
20S Grove street. After a final proof
reading in Washington the books are
sent straight to the training schools
where under government supervision
the blinded soldiers are taught not
only to read and write, but how to be.
come lawyers. doctors, insurance men,
farmers. wireless operators and indus
I trial workers of various kinds.
These training schools have pat
( tern on which to model their work, in
St. Dunstan's Hostel. London, why're
! during the past three years l,20O
! blinded British soldiers and sailors
have been cared for. OF this the Di-
rector, Sir Arthur Pearson, who is
himself blind, writes:
IL confess TO being very proud of
! st. Dunstans. | regard it as a place
full OF wonders-the wonders of trag-
edy turned to joyful content, of help
funess turned to capability, Of cour-
ageous resolution in the conquest OF
apparently Overwhelming difficulties,
/ of dauntless determination and of
truest heroism
"The heroism OF these blinded So
diers no one can doubt II was
proved on the field OF battle; but
how much more since they have lost
their sight and have now to fight the
battle OF life in darkness. II Is a
form OF heroism which needs TO be
renewed every day-One might al
most say every hour Of every day
The ambition of these men Is to be
once again normal citizens-like 9th
ars in their capacity for happiness
ike others in fruitful effort. And II
they succeed in this ambition, If they
surprise everyone by their courageous
outlook and by what they are able tC
accomplish. it is not because il is
easy to overcome their handicap. but
because they are filed with the spirit
which will not be conquered"
II has been found that this determi
nation to overcome all handicaps i.
most easily preserved in those place:
where an atmosphere of cheerfulnes,
prevails, and that this can best b,
maintained by keeping the men in the
closest kind of touch with the things
in which they have been interested il
he past.
AS one of the means of accom-
Dishing this. the ordinary reading
matter available in raised type is t,
he supplemented by "Cheer-up books
? These are in the nature of scrapbook
about 80 pages in length, and contain
items of current interest. editOria
! comment of more than. temporar.
! value, short stories, clippings. LET
ters, jokes, verses. conundrums
bits Of scientific or other infoi
nation, and the type OF biographies
lrtcle or business sketch mentone
II the Plain Dealer item.
I Already the Bennington group ha
sent one such book; another and be-
& er one is on the way to Washington
y 4 third is being prepared, and tn
II class has received word that thei
d work is not only acceptable, but r.
II markably good
" The main difficulty now Is to gathe
e suitable material to go into thes
n 'crap.books. II Is easy to see whG
IN enormous amount OF time may /
n eaten up in simply reading storiC
e. and articles from which to make S
C. lections. Often whole halliday
N ii brings forth nothing which wou
N really be worth transcribing An
IL, vet we are constantly coming aero,
OIL lust the sort Of article or anecdote "
,n would wish to pass on-when wei
~ not looking for It.
~ \Vut vou no nm the lppls-out Z,