Evening star., 1919-04-27
MAN WHO LOST EYES AND HANDS
WRITES ONE SIMILARLY BEREFT
Remarkable Communication From Y Dung
British Soldier to American Soldier Who
Is Patient at Walter Reed Hospital.

There arrived at Walter Reed Hos
pital, day or two ago. a letter
which, under the circumstances. must
be regarded as one of the most re-
markable. and interesting communi-
cations ever written. 1t was sent by
a young British soldier who lost his
eyesight and both of his hands in
France to young American sol
Cler who lost both of his hands and
his eyes:ght n France. Written with
his own hands" by q young man IN
the darkness of blindness who lost
! both Of his .hands. tlt must be regard
ed ss unique, The young En- slish-
man is Alan NJ Nichols. The young
American doughhoy IS Henry Bitter
of Dubuque Iowa.
Las Friday afternoon a writer OF
! The Star visited Walter Reed Hospi-
tai to deliver and read to young
Bitter personal letter to him from
Mss Helen Keller. All the circum-
stances in connection with the case
were most dramatic. In the cozy
room at Comfort House where Bitter's
mother is making her home while she
is with her son was a most interest
ing group-Miss Lower, assistant held
director of the Req Cross; Mrs. Frank
! Evans, Miss Natalie Smith, in their
beautiful Red Cross uniforms; Private
Whalen, who is blind and has lost one
arm, and the writer. who was. for the
time, the reader. 1t was indeed a
picture that words can i'll portray.
The reading Of Miss Keller's wonder
full letter, which was printed In full In
The Star last Friday made a deep i'm
preston on all present and Bitter said
he would always cherish 1t as one Of
his most precious possessions. Whalen
sang comical song with English
words to a French tune. and Bitter
Joined in the chorus. Both boys have
unusually sweet voices. Then Mrs.
Bitter suggested that her son show a
letter he had Just received from Lon
don, saying she thought it might be Of
interest, and 1t was. 1t was a letter
from a young soldier similarly affiict-
ed, full of good cheer and advice,
based on his own experience. for he
has been in a hospital under treat
ment and training for more than two
years.
Types a Letter Himself.
The letter is dated from London.
March II, 1919. and is as follows:
Dear Mr.. Bitter:
Enclosed you will find rather
lengthy letter, which I dictated for
you, but I am typing this one myself
to convince you that this is practi-
cable
Il understand from Sir Arthur
Pearson that you are free from other
physical disabilities and In. this re-
spect you are more fortunate than I.
in September. 1915, I received my
little souvenir and I still have quite
number of pieces Of shrapnel In
my chest and legs which causes me
no little annoyance at times.
Tv, To-
was necessary to remove some Of the
shrapnel from my chest, and three
weeks later another operation re-
suited in the removal of portions of
ribs and still more pieces of foreign
matter. :
AT Brighton, where was sent to
one of st. Dunstan's annexes. 1 soon
found myself getting fit and 1t was
during my convalescence that Sir
Arthur arranged for me to take les
sons in elocution, which enables me
to earn my own livelihood. Ny work
speaking on the work OF st. Dun
stan's and f.the National Institute of
the Blind.
1T will surprise you, I know. when
I tell you that in addition to this
control and organize the lantern
yertising medium of the N. I. B. and
st. Dunstan's.
I'm conclusion permit me to ex-
press the hope that you have not
given up the idea Of ever doing any.
thing when I feel sure there is 80
much for you to do. Yours sincerely,
ALAN NJ NICHOLS
Contents of Letter Inclosed.
The Nichols letter Is every bit as
well written as the Enclosure. There
is not a mistake or an erasure. The
inclosure is as follows: - :.
Dear Mr.. Bitter: .+-. .,..,....
'Sir Arthur Pearson WAS speaking.
to me about YOU last week and has
asked me to write you g. line or two
to tell you about myself under
stand from Sir Arthur that you had a
similar accident to mine and I know