The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-07
WORK OF A NURSE BLIND, BUT HAPPY
Louise Kieninger OF Topeka Drummer In Topeka Orches
Writes Home From France. Is q Master of the Art.
With Red Since He VIII he Used by the Gov
Early Days Of War. ernmeat After the War.
LIVE IN fUTS DEEP IN 6ROUNDlDST SIGHT FIVE YEARS Ae(
Dining Table His First Inclination Was n
Furniture There Contemplate Suicide
Always Watching for Soldiers Now He VIM Spend Time Max
From Home Town. ing Others Happier.
Drummer in Topeka Orchestra
Is q Master of the Art.
He WIN BE Used by the Gov.
ernmeat After the War.
LOST SIGHT FIVE YEARS AGO
His First Inclination Was 10
Contemplate Suicide.
Now He VIM Spend Time Max.
ing Others Happier.

A blind drummer who excels in the
art many whose sight 10 perfect and
who is to be employed by the govern.
ment in the reclamation hospitals AZ.
ter the war as q teacher for blinded
soldiers. IL Anthony J. Calderone. who
has been engaged by the management
of the Majestic theater to play there in
the orchestra during the coming SEA-
son.
But playing a drum is only one OF
the things in which Mr.. Calderone exc
cells. He 10 an expert piano playen
and q professional piano tuner and
can operate typewriter in swift
and accurate manner.
Calderone's success in life IL mainly
due to his wondrous store OF energy
ana ambition. He II ~ years old and
lost his sight five years ago by acci-
dent. He went totally blind in d space
OF few months and had TO learn all
over. in a new way, 30 many of the
routine duties OF life. He attended the
Missouri school for the blind and
nlearned the Braille system OF reading
and writing.
Uses Slate system.
The system requires the use OF q
slate long. narrow piece Of
metal. which Is hinged at one end ana
opens UP to allow the insertion Of q
sheet of paper. The top piece of, the
slate has four rows of thirty-two ceto
each. When this is closed down on
the paper stylus, a small pointed in-
strument is used to make perforations
in the paper. A certain number Of
these dots, arranged in a certain man.
ner. stands for a letter. and with these
instruments Calderone can write an
swiftly as an ordinary person with 4
pencil. And by passing his fingers
over the letters thus made, he can
read almost as swiftly as sighted
person. He IL intensely interested in
aviation and Is a human storehouse OF
information regarding the history OF
mechanical flying and the present air.
plane situation In the United States.
First Contemplated Suicide.
''when I first lost my sight" said
Calderone. II contemplated suicide. I
believed that my life would always be
miserable and that would be in the
way. But I overcame this state of
mind ana began to study. and today
there are few things I cannot do that
could do before I went blind. OF
course. people will say I am fortunate
because I have a profession. but even
II had no profession. could make .
living. I could sell papers. or even
shine shoes IL had to, and hold
that when you give a man value re-
ceived for his money you are making
an honest living"
Calderone at first had some trouble
In getting into government service to
teach the blind. on the ground that he
could not see. But when he wrots
another letter. explaining why he
would make a better teacher than one
who could see. he was accepted with.
out further argument. His contention
is that he has been thru the mill''
and that he would know just how to
explain things TO the blind SO that
they would understand them better
than II sighted person were to teach
them.
He expects to be called as soon AZ
the government begins the estabIishs
ment of reclamation hospitals and be.
gins sending the blind soldiers to the
United States. These hospitals will
probably be established ti1ruout tina
country and Calderone has no means
or knowing where he will be sent. His
home is in Kansas City.