The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-05-30
HEROES BLINDED IN WAR
WELL TAKEN CARE OF
English Attaining Wonders in the In
structiOn of Blinded Soldiers
Efforts Are Rewarded.

a man whose eyesight is rapidly fall
ing and for whom science a do no.
thing. He is wealthy in his own right
and has equipped one Of his ancestral
homes for this work.
In Garry On" the official organ
of the office of the surgeon general
of the United States army an inter-
view is given with this man who is
doing so much for the blinded Tommy.
Clarkson Dye, director of the de-
partment of vocational commission at
Paris, is the author.
"a series of visits to and study of
the methods used in the re-education-
al hospitals for our own soldiers and
those of France and England, reveals
an intelligent graphing with a prob
lem which at first babe fair to prove
a serious burden.
"Although much has been written
about the splendid achievements at
St. D%unstan's, there seem ii be but
few who realize what an important
part vocational guidance plays in the
destinies of its inmates. One drizz-
ling London afternoon l met an erect,
we'll set-up man in the parlor which
he uses as an office, at this institu-
ton.
Earning Capacity Increased.
" Tell me, Sir Arthur asked,
how are you able to determine what
line of work the men shall learn here,
and follow after they leave, so that
they can fulfill your purpose in be-
coming self-supporting? How do you
apply the principles Of vocational
guidance here?'
I an answer that question best,
perhaps he replied, by telling you
the story of R, who left here m
months ago and is now earning more
money than he did when ne had a
keen pair of eyes,
You know, l talk to each of the
men when they come here he contin-
ued, and endeavor to discover all l
can about their possibilities. This
man RI would have baffled lots of
US if we had not learned how to seek
for the asset which was to redeem
such as he
".And here is the story Of what
faith, intelligence, and perseverance
did. 1t seems that this MAJ had been
employed as a mechanic by a Lon
don firm of heating engineers, before
the war. When Sir Arthur Pearson
asked him if his employers would not
take him back in some capacity, he
had pointed to his sightless eyes with
the comment that he could hardly
pect his old employers to do so. Then
Sir Arthur communicated with his
firm, explaining the predicament of
their former employee and asking if
they could use him again. Regretfully
the answer came back that although
R had been a good workman, they
could hardly use a blind mar in their
business.
When this answer came, Sir Ar
thur said to R 4 am going to
make them take you back and make
them glad to have you. Will you do
your part in this deep laid scheme?'
"The blinded ex-soldier felt for and
crashed Sir Arthur's hand. 'Ill try
Sir he said.
"From the staff Of nurses he first
picked an intelligent, c~ollege-bree
girl, and gave her these orders: R
is to be taught the technical side o.
heating systems, from the grount
up; he knows considerable alread.
about the steam-fitting end, but yo'
are to see that he learns the physic
of heat, mathematics, and all the cor
related subjects that &c with the sci
entific end
at is hardly necessary to recoun
the various steps which then followe'
fast; from America came text book
as well as the best that Europe coul'
supply. Day after day a palnstakln'
girl drilled and crammed her pupl
He was taught typewriting, how t
read %blueprints, and many other thing
besides his mathematics; little by lit
tie was developed Installation, S
that his perceptive powers now too
on a keenness that was like a ne'
sense. And then, one day, some tie
months later, another communicate
was sent to this mans former en-
ployers and they were made to rea
ize that it was another man whol
they were asked to consider-a ma
who had learned how to use his brazil
"When it was agreed to take h
back, it was stipulated that he ente
the offices, instead of the mechanic
department, although his firm ha
many ~misgovings as to his future us
fulness. In order to better acquail
him with his new duties, Sir Arth,
employed a young woman to accor
pany him, she was to be his eyes
the new job. A month later the fir
gave him his own secretary, and 500
afterward he was doing al 1.-THE co
respondence of the firm.