Evening star., 1919-04-25

vate Bitter, which is reprinted here
with with Mr.. Bitter's consent as al
to others as well as him
self, is as follows:
April %, 1919.
Dear Mr.. Bitter:
Mr.. Kaufman has asked me to
write to you. His account of your
splendid courage makes me very
happy. It is wonderful to be able
to meet 1ife's harshest challenge
with a brave heart. Your will to
face the world with q smile cannot
but inspire others who are afflicted
to lift their heads high above
earth's darkness and look beyond
1t to the JOY of fellowship, the goal
Of service. In my silent dark I
feel your faith and hope like
strong, protecting arms about me.
No one who thinks noble thoughts
IL ever utterly beaten in the battle
of life. So long as we can think
manfully. we triumph over phys
ical circumstances.
When we are given an honorable
discharge from many of the strug-
giles for existence. there remains
something we can do for those
who are still striving on the bat
tlefield. We have leisure to think
and study and learn. If we have
brains. we shall gain a clearer Wis
ion and value more justly the
prizes they are fighting for. More
over. we can pass on to them the
revelations that come to us about
life about the spirit, about eco
nomics and politics.
I suppose that, like most people
possessed of all their faculties and
powers, you have not hitherto
bothered your head much about
such matters. Like death. they
seemed to you things over the
hills and far away. But now you
have. como close to death. and it's
dart has missed you. Naturally
you will reflect more often on these
serious subjects. 1t would not sur
prise mo II you thought a good
deal about war.
Why Men Fight and Kill.
Some day you will ask yourself
why men night and kill and main
other mon with whom they have
no quarrel. To satisfy your Gu
riosity you will read. May I sug-
gest that you read such books as
Men in War;" by Latxka: Under
Fire" by Henri Barbusse, and
Bertrand Russell,s New Roads to
things clear to you. Through the
medium Of those mems great souls
you will hear the cries Of the null
titude whom no ono can number
the victims Of calamity, of oppres-
sion, Of fierce Injustice in every
land. II you have the kind Of mind
that urges you to seek knowledge.
you will keep on reading and in
what il the warp ana woof In the
tissue Of things that cause mon. to
struggle savagely one against an
other on the flelds Of war, indus
try and commerce. think you
will come to the conclusion that
mankind is menaced by a re-
morseless enemy-an enemy which
is. destroying the happiness. the
world-an enemy which, under the
mask Of civilization, darkens mems
minds. hardens their hearts and
brings to naught their highest
4 hopes. their noblest aspirations
There can be no peace or liberty or
happiness upon earth while this
enemy rules in the high places.
But IT, + DO NOT stop this strain
Of making you think am a
Lady Blue-stocking!" As I4think
1T over. this letter 10 omething Of
q Jobs comforter. meant only to
suggest a line Of thought that Is
alive with purpose and interest.
Inspiration to Others.
Handicapped as you are. you
can and 1 think you will guide
the minds and hands of other
people in tho service of humanity.
He truly serves who inspires
others to great deeds.
May remind you OF the noble
work Of Francois Huber, q blind
man and q great master Of apia-
rtan science. He, spent many years
making minute experiments with
bees. He was assisted in his in
vesttgations by a faithful servant
whose brain and hands he guided
with his seeing mind. We'are not
all Hubers; but it is surprising
how much we. can accomplish II
We have the patience to train the
faculties We have to their highest
efficiency and the will to master
difaculttes
! hope you are enjoying this
glorious day al. much as / am. You
can hear the robins, and I can
not; but We can both feel tho big.
warm sun about US, and smell tho
sweet brown earth. Nothing can
shut US out from tho joy Of the
spring. With cordial greetings
am. your friend,
- HELEN KELLER.