Evening star., 1920-01-11

when We go into the business
world we do not want pity and
sympathy We do not need that. All
we ask is a square deal and we will
do the rest"
So spoke Robert Cole. blink" as
soldiers blinded in the world war
nickname themselves. and a patient
at Evergreen. the Red Cross Institute
for the Blind in Baltimore, when he
participated in a recent public speak
ing contest held in the Monumental
city And Coles phrases indicate
pretty well the spirit of the institu-
tioa, according to those familiar with
The cary end of hostiiities happily
kept low the number of Yanks who
gave their eyes for their country, but
sacrifice or this number already
more than half have come to the in
stitute maintained in the beautiful
buildings and grounds the use of
which was given the government by
Mrs. T Harrison Garrett of Baltimore
and which were later turned over to
the Red Cross. Before long nearly
all of the sightless veterans will have
passed through its doors. it is
expected.
Aim of the Institution.
The thought behind all the in
stitute's activities is to send the pa
tients out as soon as poSSble-wei1
rounded. equipped to meet social, civic
and economic requirements in their
own communities. Men stay as long
as the management considers their
presence essential. but all possi-
the inmates becoming institutional
ized" The principal aim is to remove
from the blinded soldier those worries
connected with his blindness. If he
is ever to be like other men it is
obvious that he must be freed of all
irritating influences.
The panacea is work-work both
vocational and avocationa1, with the
hands and with the brain. The an
cient conception of the opportunities
open to the blind centered largely
around shoe strings and pencils on
busy corners, or, in the case OF
vivid imagination, piano tuning. Old
time notions receive jar at Ever
green, however, when one learns Of
Just some of the things taught there
Vocational Instruction.
Take poultry raising to begin with
There is hardly anything in the entire
business of poultry culture. it has
been found. that a blind man cannot
b both grasp and execute, and nothing
is lacking at Evergreen to make up
a first -class fowl farm. Seven minutes
only was the time recently consumed
BY one blink" to pluck hen prop
eriy
Another man. before the war bot
tie dryer, is going to keep right on
as. a bottle-dryer. and has been
promised his old position. Such staple
courses as basket weaving and ham
mock making are, OF course. provided
The whole course is elective, with one
exception: Every student must be-
come conversant with "Braille" and
with typewriting. Braille, system
of raised type. furnishes the blind
with means of written communica- =
tion and is a medium through which
they read the amazingly large litera-
ture already translated. A recent
addition TO the course. made by re-
quest-as are all others-is a Latin
class. A graduate of the commercial
department has made good from the
day he left as an insurance salesman.
a large auto repair shop is locat ed
on the grounds, where men interested
learn the elements of this trade.
The carpenter shop. where the work
done ranges all the way from the
simplest furniture to articles of the
most complicated and delicate nature.
is especially fascinating. Work in
fookbinding consists of such opera
tions as cutting of materials, making
covers and assembling parts.
Amusements Provided.
"All work and no play" etc. is ns
applicable to BLINK" as to Jack "
The loss OF sight is, apparently, no
deterrent to bowling enthusiasts, and
the alley is in use pra ctically ~
the time. Swimming in the concrete
pool is another sport keenly enjoyed.
Men at Evergreen, it has been found,
are without exception fond Of base
hall. or reading and of dancing, and
the Red Cross House, their club and
smoking room, rings with animated
discussions on sports, politics. litera-
ture, and every other conceivable sub
iect- Some one of the patient S
woman folk-wife, mother or sister
or any one with whom he will be in
close contact after he leaves. is en-
couraged to stay at the institute with
him. and for such accommodations
have been provided in a large sepa- :
rate dormitory.
Partial List of Men Under Treatment.
l.. w. Wallace, the director. has
furnished a list OF men from points
in the general vicinity of Washing
ton who have received or are receiv- =
ing treatment, from which the fol-
lowing examples are taken:
Raymond Ha1man, Leonardtown,
Md, is following poultry raising. His
eye trouble 10 due to inoculation for