The Washington times., 1919-01-26
If Not, You Are Morally Blind, and Blindness OF Al
Kind Is Great Misfortune.

"a very ancient southern forest under sky studded
with In the middle very old priest SITS wrapped
ina big black cloak The bust and head slightly thrown
back against the trunk of enormous oak The priests
face Is Like hvid wax with eyes half OPEN mute eyes that
no longer see this side Of eternity.
His hair white falls the forehead and temples in
few stiff locks. The thin hands rigidly joined.
. "on the right, six old blind men sitting on stones
logs and dead leaves.
ION the left separated from them by uprooted tree
and pieces Of rock six also blind sit facing the old
men.
- "Three are praying and lamentng constantly.
IA fourth is extremely old.
1.-THE fifth appears to be demented and carries her
knees little child asleep.
: gixth blind woman is in the full beauty of youth,
and her A falls to the ground about her.
1.-THE men and women alike have ample vestments dark
and uniform Most of them waiting with their elbows
their knees and their faces between their hands, and all
seem to have lost the habit Of useless gesture
"The darkness is lighted by the moon here and there
through the trees"
Gloomy as it is You will find it worth while get from
the library and read thoughuy this play which has been
translated into English
Maeternck leaves you you read his sentences each
thought usually limited to line to make up your own
mind what he means with the blind and blind
the baby that but cannot speak, and the dog that
and refuses to lead the blind because II win not leave
the body Of its MASTER the dead priest and leader.
One Of the men is deaf and dumb well blind.
Three Of them have been blind from their BIRTH Three
had sight The critics tell you to admire Maeter.
when the blind discuss the sky.
Maeterlinck says: "An lift their eyes toward the sky
with the exception Of the three that born blind They
continue to look upon the ground"
Having never been able to the sky means nothing
to thsm when is spoken Of they do not lift their eyes
toward 1t.
That is as near as Maeternck comes to any religious
suggestion
One Of the blind women is very young beautiful, and
Masterinck Latin the old blind to address
she greater part of their conversation to her They say
little to the old women except Keep quiet"
The beautiful young blind woman could once upon
time. she tells them; she lived in faraway land Her
eyeds are closed she thinks that she could open them
her eyes might still have sight
Masternck takes such characters for play with moth
ing added except the noise Of the close BY the light
the moon the and the distant lighthouse To
making play Of that material to of those that
struc plays for modern America would preposterous
But you read slowly through Maeterlincks "The Sight
lsss you may prefer Watch Your Step" or even
.oh! Boy"
ssd in few typical lines translated from this play by
strange thinker
The blind living a little island. They are sup
essed 10 represent the human and their island the
blind asks Has anybody seen this island In
,,hsr days. and can he tell us where we are?"
The oldest blind woman answers: I'VE all blind
TIE sixth old blind says to the beautiful youns
iind woman; 1t 10 said that you are beautiful like .
sonar tha, comes from some far place
fhs yeung eeman answers "I never saw mvself
rs.i her sorrow She cannst %. her oy. S,.u,v
ed As's around her only old blind men that cannot
~. sides, hind man /. mad. by M.s..rlnek TO d.
50. ssm.. s'ass " 'hsy i've together rst knowing
We have assa seen each ether W. asss,,on ,.,,
HasS saa vs aassa sash OhsF live ,essihsr ws sr,
s'' '"ss'hs' boz 90 Do as' ksss shs' svs' On vsls