The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-05
SAYS BLINDED MEN
FIND CONFINEMENT
Sir Arthur Pearson Tells Of
Work Accomplished at Big
English School.

Two men leaned on the fence sur
rounding q neat little poultry farm in q
small town not far from London and
watched with the deepest interest the
activities of the owner of the farm.
brisk young man who was feeding his
clucking hens.
After five minutes OF close attention
one Of the men looking over the fence
moved impatiently.
Come on BILL" no said to his com
panion. We're wasting our time.
They's no use telling me that chap II
blind, 'E ANTI"
with stories such As this Sir Arthur
Pearson, the blind founder OF st. Dun
STAINS Hostel for Blinded Soldiers in
London, made plain last night to large
audience at the Century Theatre how
blindness can be conquered, how mu-
ulated soldiers may regain economic in
dependence, and, more important. how
they can become happy-happier some
times than before their sight was lost
The poultry farmer was a blind soldier.
a graduate Of st. Dunstan's-one Of
seven hundred who already have grad
uated into profitable industries.
As he sketched the remarkable work
done at St. Dunstan by which blind men
become typists, stenographers. switch
board operators. shop keepers, carpen-
tiers and masseurs. while others receive
training which permits them 10 resume
important positions in the business or
professional world, Sir Arthur made 1t
plain that blindness was not regarded as
an Misunderstanding which made the
soldier or sailor an object OF charity or
even OF sympathy.
1T Is dreadfully difficult to get rela
tives to let the men take chances" Sir
Arthur said. "Of course they have to
take chances II they desire to get back
into their places in the world again.
One OF the first things I tell newly
blinded man when he comes 20 st. Dun
stan IL that the only way to learn not to
bump his nose against the end OF a door
IL to bump II. The worst enemy OF the
newly blinded man is his loving wife or
mother who wants to baby him"
Sir Arthur praised highly the work
undertaken by the Red Cross Institute
for the Blind and the United States Gov
eminent at Evergreen. Baltimore. where
the blind soldiers and sailors Of the
United States are being trained In many
occupations.
This work is going to be OF vast Inn
portance not only to the few soldiers
and sailors who are TO be trained there.
but also to the many blind people OF the
United States, and OF the world.
am sure that Lieut.. Col. Bordley. when
he Is finished with the training OF these
soldiers and sailors, Is going TO sec that
other blind people have the same advan-
tages."
Blindness Is no longer a bar to mar
| rage. Sir Arthur said for many blind
men after their course at st. Dunstan
are better equipped TO take care Of a
wife than they were IN their old &C.
equations before the war.
Nearly 400 blind men have beer
married at st. Dunstan's." he said. And
1 must say that their brides were a
nne lot OF girls. Tho marriages have
turned out most happily. Girls who
marry blind men become a happy COM
bination OF wife and mother to them
Lieut.-Col James Bordley, charged
with the work OF rehabilitating blinded
soldiers and sailors OF tho United Statel
forces, said that although there ar,
$4,000 blind people in the United State.
there was not one vocational school FOL
adult blind until Evergreen was founded
| Not only are the blind taught TO work
but they are also instructed in equal,
| important play. They swim, bowl anc
every Saturday night a dance is given
The mas meeting was held under tn,
auspices Of the Red Cross Institute fo
Crippled and Disabled Men, and Doug
las C. McMurtrie. director OF the in.
stitute, presided. Helen Keller, the deal
and blind lecturer. was on the stage.