The daily Alaskan., 1918-07-02
LONG RANGE COMMANDMENT
 DRIVES BLINDED FROM PARIS

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 nerves of many o the blind soldiers in the institutions In Paris and near by of the the American British French Belgian Permanent Blind Re lief War Fund. The shock of having been recently made sight less has not yet worn off and 1t has been found necessary to remove as many as possible to the recently ae- Quired Chateau de Rochecorbon' near Tours, for the time being where they can continue in peace their studies and apprenticeship in I their various trades.
 William Nelson Cromwell who purchased recently at the Paris Salon Ridgway Knights, picture After the Battle of. the Marne," and presented 1t to the an-Britisn French Belgian Permanent Blind Re" lief War Fund, which sold 1t at auction in New York on June 5 for $25, 100, has received @ touching letter from Eugene Brieux, the Aca- demician, concerning his gift. M. Brieux is governmental head Of all institutions in France for blind ed soldiers, and chairman of the French Section of the American Brit ish- French Belgian Permanent Blind Relief War Fund. The ''Woolen Stocking he mentions in the com panion picture to After the Battle of the Marne," and represents the same old couple taking money from stocking, the faVorite bank Of the French peasant, in order to in vest it in war bonds. The letter is: Dear Sir:
 I know of the generous gift that you are making to our blinded, and have read the admirable letter which accompanies 1t. I wish that all the blind soldiers could read 1t. In so doing they would be inspired again with that exaltation which sustained them in battle and in their suffer ings, and from that would derive comfort. You praise them in the finest manner in recalling that neither the passion o' vengeance nor the desire for glory !mpelled them upon the road to their mis- fortune, but solely 9 principel, a cause, a faith thing Of the mind which they could not see or touch the splendid idea they had of hu- manity and liberty"
 Really, sir, do not konw TOT which our blind men will be the more grateful to you - your gen erosity itself or the form It has taken. There Is an attention deli cate and difficult to define in the very choice you have made in which to offer 1t, picture by & great A merican artist, Mir Ridgway Knight, who himself was so delicate as to paint twice in his pictures the same
 
 French persons, as though to signify to all beholders that the French, upright and economic, fond Of the "woolen stocking, and so attached to the arts of peace, would ma turaIly give themselves entirely when the occasion came for the de- fense of civilization.
 Thank you for all our blinded men, sir. We hope that the sale of Mir. Ridgway Knights picture will be attended with important re suits. You will have enabled us to do much good.
 Yesterday, went to see our pu- pills in their schools at the Chateau de Rochecorbon. They were work ing there placidly and joyously, in the perfumed air Of an admirable park. The hope of 6 worthy and happy life which their new trade will assure comforts them. They will oass the summer In Touraine like hillionaires, and In 8 few month you will see them installed in our magnificent estsblihments at Nueilly and the Chateau de Madrid.
 That is the good one Sees. But there is the good that one does not see, the three hundred pupils seat tered in all the provinces of France, installed in the little cottages rent d by the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund, amid their furniture paid for by the same Fund-three hun dred families of honest folk who at one time perhaps despaired Of the
 ture and who enter with eonti- dence upon a new life, precisely be- cause there has been given to them the wherewithal to begin again, to start out with. They will take their chances unhandicapped. It seems that the American institution, the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund was resolved above all to as-
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