The sun., 1919-04-27

escape a certain measure Of 1t. That
happiness of work is the best and, l
almost believe, the only happiness that
counts. Even the happiness of love
is most easily and perfectly translat-
loved.
What is a handicap? 1t is a spur.
No; you say my handicaps, for in
stance, must be limitations? Very
well-must lie down and weep be-
cause I find myself with limitations?
The world is full of folk with limita-
tons. No one is without them. Let
me repeat in slightly different words
the argument 1 have just used. \
Limitation really increases opportunity
for happiness, for 1t increases oppor-
tunity for real achievement and in
achievement, which is work, lies joy.
II have met hundreds of our SOL
diers who have come back from su-
perb service. There are as many tens
Of thousands in all the other countries
which have battled. Among them
some have suffered very bitterly,
some have been permanently manned.
/ won't admit that through this they
really have lost
I'm the first place through their
sufferings IN the cause Of righteous
ness they have won the gratitude OF
fellow citizens. and gratitude. like pity,
is akin to love; and they have won
their pity, too-a fine and splendid
pity which is full OF admiration. Han
dicapped? OF course. But II the handi-
n
dous 1t may be, once is accepted as
a challenge to performance rather than
as an excuse in everyday life for that
defeat of which they refused to toll
crate the thought in glorious duty
doing soldier days, II will prove to
be a blessing. They may make true
synonyms Of handicap and stimulus.
Were they not often handicapped in
their war Observation-Disclosures by
WEAKNESS, by hunger, by terrific strain.
by wounds, by constant peril of their
lives? Yet they continued. They did
not cease trying.
Fates Worse Than Blindness.
thousands of the gallant fighting
men OF Britain and of France and
some of those Of the United States
have sustained that trial Of blindness
which is regarded as the one supreme
misfortune. But wait! No misfor-
tune Is supreme. Only good fortune
can be that" (Remember that she
who spoke these words is Helen Kel-
Ter; remember the great cross she
bearsi)
There are fates worse than blind
ness.
Blindness? I am what the world
calls blind but deny that am blind
and declare that there need be nc
such thing as blindness!
"The most brilliant vision Is the
vision of the spirit and no mishap OF
war or peace can take that from US II
we ourselves refuse to let II go.
"But blindness hear some one
say. 'thrusts one into darkness
THE, only actual darkness. and
say this very. solemnly. is that of igno.
rance and insincerity. The aviator
takes a birdseye view OF the world he
flies above and is glad-he feels free
exalted; the blinded can do more thar
that-they can take a souls eye view
OF life itself and gain a freedom ever
| greater, an exaltation even more sou
stirring than the most daring aviator
The Blind Not Unhappy.
I'VE blind are not unhappy. I know
not one unhappy blind man or blint
woman. Was there ever any one Sc
CHEEKY as Sir Arthur Pearson? While
he had his sight he accepted hi,
achievements more or less as tn,
divine right Of his ability and energy
But now that he Is blinded his achieve.
ments become very real TO him an(
to many thousands who, In his seems
days, never heard of him at all--anC
therefore now achievements mus
mean the greater happiness to him, foi
they give him that citation which
comes TO one who helps n multitude.
Happiness cannot come from with
out 1t must come from within. It 1!
not that which we see or touch or fee
or that which others do for us which
makes. US happy-it is that which ",
think and feel and do, first, as Henry
Ford says, for the other fellow anC
then for our own selves.
The sharpest eyes and ears anc