Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-04
THE PROBLEM OF THE BLIND.

An idea of the task confronting the Permanent BLIND
Relief War Fund in aid of whose work Governor Dorsey
appealed to the people this state may be gathered
from fact that France alone than 1000 blind
ed soldiers are still anxously awaiting rehabilitation
that in addition 500 still in the hospital slowly
covering from their terrible wounds Each and every
one of them has to be trained to his living
and he completing his training be sent out to
shift himself He be outted for his new start
in life and become instead of liability
to the community. The Permanent Blind Relief War
Fund the only institution in France that is returning
these home Quitting them, paying their rent for
one year. and if necessary, buying furniture for them
is indeed the only organization that is in any way able
perform this supplementary service which, therefore
extended graduates other institutions for
educating blind soldiers 1t costs $3.50 to outfit man
send him home So far the fund has helped in this
way approximately 500 men
Of the $500 approximately French and Belgian
soldiers who have been blinded many have also suffered
mutlation in the loss arms and legs Experience has
shown that the best way to help these is to aug
men for life their inadequate pensions and when posi-
pie 10 purchase IUtle QWelInS TOT projected
way that it be sold transferred that
home is assured to them and their families (all the
thus aided wives and chldren) to the end of
their days Up the present the fund has obtained the
adoption by Americans of 49, that is to these
Americans have undertaken augment the amount of
the pensions as long as the live,
In Italy 800 blinded soldiers must be reeducated and
sent home fully QUILTED and the fund recently caoled
100000 lire to King Victor Emanuel for Rehabilitation
There is the lack of accommodation Tor the
blind men in Italy formerly found in France and
the funds desire to establish upodae training in
stituton there conducted on lines that have proved
so successful in Paris and London.
The Permanent Blind Relief War Fund still main
tans in Paris the Superior and Industrial School for
Blinded Officers and Soldiers its raw material depot
where machines tools and materials are kept for
the accommodation of all blinded soldiers, whether
graduates from the funds institutions or not its Braille
rased letter. printing establishment, where to date y
600 books of instruction and recreation ranging from
trade manuals through light fiction to books mathe-
matcs science and higher literature have been turned
out and at Port villez Vernon quarters and work
lshed at the request of the Belgian government
Mrs. Charles Ellis, of Savannah, state chairman Of
the points out that maintain these institutions
and aid the stricken of other countries much
money constantly needed and she is confident that
the people of Georgia will make of Blind Relief Day to-
day worthy of the state the entire work
the fund has been carried by money furnished by the
people the United States Mrs Ellis suggests that if
be more convenient contribute Liberty Bonds Wal
Saving Stamps these will have served doubly sacred
purposei first in having helped government to VIII
the war and in helping the blinded soldiers whit
sacrificed their sight to their loved and our
from fate far than death to win back happnes
and independence
Checks should be made payable to the Permanen
Blind Relief War Fund and mailed to Mrs. Charles Ellis
Savannah, Ga.