Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-27

loss Of both hands" had been able to
write, unaided, to anyone. The orr
ginal letter, he said, was sent by
Nichols from the Blinded Soldiers
and Sailors institute, known as St
Dunstan's to the wounded American
soldier whom the London publisher
had seen in a New York hospital.
Here is what is believed to be the
first letter ever written by . blind
man without hands:
Enclosed you will find rather lengthy
letter which dictated for you. but I am
tipping this one myself to convince YOU
that this 10 practicable.
|, Il understand from Sir Arthur Pearson
disabilities and in this respect you are
more fortunate than ].
In September. 1915, ! received my lit
tie souvenir and ! stiil have quite :
and legs which cause me no little annoy.
ance at times.
I'm September. 1917, an operation was
necessary to remove some of the shrapnei
other operation resulted In the removal
Of portions Of ribs and still more pisces
Of foreign matter.
AT Brighton. where was sent to on.
myself settins tit and it was during my
convaIescence that Sir Arthur arranged for
me to take lessons in elocution which en-
ables mo to earn my own livelihood.
my work 10 most interesting ana CON
sists Of speaking on the work Of st; Duns-
tan's and the National Institute for the
Blind II will surprise you know. when
tell you that In addition to this ! con-
troll and organise the lantern slide de-
partment which IL the Advertising medium
Of the N. I. and st. Dunstan's.
TN conclusion, permit me to express
the hope that you have not given UP the
idea OF ever doing anything when ieei
sure there is so much for you 70 do'
ALAN M. NICHOLS"
Plenty to Live Far.
In his dictated letter Nichols as
sured his American fellow cripple
when you are fit and well and able
to run about you will find there is
still plenty in life worth living for.
When / first became like this" he
continued, II could not see anything
that was likely to interest me on
this earth. I was inclined to think
I was the most unfortunate person
on earth. In short, l was often con-
templating a method of quitting this
life. At that time / never dreamed
of the possibilities OF pair of artifi-
cial hands and I can assure you that
now surprise everybody but the
one I surprise most is myself.
II can take off my hat, carry a
walking stick and attache case and
feed myself with a spoon and fork.
l have a specially made cigaret
case similar in appearance to metal
match box which fits in my waist
coat pocket. | can take this from
my pocket and help myself to Gig
arctic. l have not yet accomplished
the feat of striking match but this
is overcome by having what we call
on this side spills. strips OF paper a
foot in length. There are hundred
and one little things / can do such
as using my handkerchief and this
includes taking it from my pockets
Special Typewriter.
Encouraging the American to
write his own letters, Nicholas said
that he used an ordinary typewriter
with a metal case over the keyboard
having holes Immediately above each
key. The case resembles four steps
and in the middle of each step is
rib. ito let me know when / am CEN
trail. Attached to my hand / have
a key or striker which resembles a
G rv,o11 hammer II taxes me- half an
hour for one sheet of foolscap dou-
ble-spacing but, of course, this will
improve by practice
j Nichols advised the MANNED Amer
ican to carry soldier-like appear
ance and to swing his arms, walk in
the center of the sidewalk and avoid
lamp posts but not to carry cane.
Swedish drill, swimming and dancing
were advised for recreation. when
playing dominoes," Nicholas added,
II use my nose to feel although this