The Denver Jewish news., 1919-12-03
Blind Soldiers at Work
A Characteristic and Moving Descrip
tiOn by Eugene Brieux, the Famous
Playwright and Academician.

1
characteristic description of visit
IF inspection made by him to the
I Chateau de In Tour, at Rochecorbon;
near Tours, to which the Superior and
Industrial School of the Permanent
blind Relief War Fund was temper
arily removed 1t gives an excellent
idea of the methods of instruction
adopted for the blinded Allied soldiers
and of the family atmosphere which
pervades the institutions of this Who'll
| ly American Fund, whose headquar
tiers are at $50 Fifth Avenue, New
York.
| These institutions are conducted in
n spirit of cordial fraternity and
mutual helpfulness which is as differ
ent from the ordinary conception of an
institution" as could well be imagin-
| ed. The men are made to feel that
they are in no sense objects of charity,
but that the American supporters of
the work and their French official CO.
operators are acquitting themselves
uffectionately of debt of gratitude
and of honor in an effort to overcome
as far as is humanity possible the
disability that has ovcrta:len the men
in fighting for the common cause.
NJ. Brieux writes:
At the Tours railroad station I
boarded street car which after skirt
ing the Loire, so historic and SO
French, brought me to Rochecorbon.
At the very car stop, one glimpses
on the other side of the road thru
the trees of an immense park white
and red chateau. 4 discreet sign at
tached to the entrance gate bears the
words: Permanent Blind Relief War
Fund: School for Blind Officers and
Soldiers
The gateway passed, the chateau ap-
pears in all its modern opuleNce-
monumental steps, terrace, imposing
facade, towers, nothing is lacking. But
what Immediately attracts the atten-
ton of the visitor is ut the foot of
group of men in military or civilian
attire, some reclining or sitting on
the grass, and one standing, who ap-
pear to be conversing, like philosophers
in sacred wood.
The former are blind soldiers, the
latter is their professor, and the en-
semble is a class in English. That
other group which is walking along
the circular path is also class, and
yonder around that garden table shad-
ed by an umbrella are another master
and his pupils.
Against the wall facing each other
are two strange beings with heads
like helmeted divers. On approach
ing we see that they are fencers. One
is blind. Other blind men await their
turn at the foils. 1t is incredible.
Nevertheless it is true.
Before going upstairs let us con-
tinue our tour of the park. Let us
cross little bridge over clear brook
which babbles across the meadow and
among the trees and which is guarded
by fence of wires-not barbed. The
tlSlI luuS Iuhpptu out 10 lot AhSth
odical, but no matter.
The Knitting School.
On our left opens very large dou-
Bile door which lets in flood of air
and comforting sunshine. Where are
we? Into what manufactory have we
been suddenly transported? a swarm
of men and women are crowded around
queer machines which are being OPP
Grated by men thoughtful, calm, en-
crossed, counting with their lips, null
tiplying little precise gestures on small
levers and handles. 1t is the knit0sis
School and these men are blind. Th9
women are their wives, the monitors
and the manageress of the workshop.
Blind. Yes, and not only blind.
Here are one. two-Nine with crippled
hands. OF the ten, fingers of this
cne only two remain. And he works
Here is an old grissled territorial, he
has only one finger and half of an
other left. And he works. And he
works gaily This other one has only
two stumps Both his hands were
cut off. And he works, and is the
Merry Andrew Of the workshop. And
ell toll with joy, and they work. these
blind and crippled blind. because they
wanted to, because they demanded that
they should be permitted to do so.
There. let us be silent and salute
them, even tho they cannot see our
salute.
These women are their wives. The
good knitter will need g companion.
We know it. Therefore, during the
last month of the blind husbands
apprenticeship his wife comes to join