Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-27
MORE LIGHTHOUSES

amusement Being read TO and TAX
en- to walk used to constitute the pleas
a lack of activity blind people were
often frail and seemed to lack ami
nation. Now. blind boys go swim
ming and become boy scouts at the
cards and checkerboards enable the
blind to play games with as much
speed and pep as those that see. Sol
diers abroad. blinded in battle, have
kept in physical trim by regular gym
nasium work and enjoy themselves at
dances as much as they over did.
Tho Appeal of Munic.
One of the greatest pleasures which
| tho New York lighthouse can give is
to distribute concert and opera tickets.
The lighthouse spread tho word to the
effect that if you ever have concert
| tickets that for some reason you will
not be Bile to use you can give happi-
| ness to blind person by mailing tho
| tickets to the lighthouse and the New
York lighthouse board reports that
New York has steadily kept this in
mind.
q, A realization of tho pleasures which
music brings to the blind was back of
tho first lighthouse project When
Winnifred Holt, author and sculptor.
was in Italy some years ago, she noted
that the government reserved certain
seats at concerts for the blind. When
| she returned to this country she tried
| to get special concessions made to the
blind in New York. Then other needs
of the blind became apparent to her
and so the first lighthouse" as she
called it, was established.
When the war increased blindness
and aroused greater interest in reha-
| bilitating tho sightless, Miss Holt went
ods Of working with tho blind soldiers
Later, in France. she opened two light
houses similar to the New York in
stitution.
| The success of the three lighthouses
has encouraged associations interested
| in the welfare of tho blind to extend
| the idea to other cities. and therefore
the campaign for funds is now under
| way.
Preventing blindness Is one OF the
! main features of the lighthouse work.
| Two-thirds of blindness is prevcntable,
doctors now say. That is. that much
blindness is due to carelessness, ig-
norance and wilful neglect Workers
in some kinds of factories are con-
stantly developing eye troubles be-
metal which could bd safely shut out
by goggles.
Babies sore eyes is another OF tho
needless but prevalent Causes OF blind
ness. This disease develops within a
few weeks after birth II the germs arc
4 pt cSoul III lnS phpS . eyCh- IL HLty even
then be cured II the proper treatment
Is given at once, but 1t Is much simp-
lor to prevent tho germs from develop
Ing by injecting a drop of weak
| solution OF silver nitrate in the eyc
soon after birth.
| Many states insist that a birth GER
tincatc be turned in to tho health Of
flee within a day or two after n birth
and that it state whether or not treat
ment for babies' sore eyes has been
given. From these reports tho health
office can locate families unable to
employ n doctor and send n represcn-
tativo to give the treatment.
Tho lighthouse helps in this work
OF preventing cases of sorc eyes and
| in treating babies who develop tho
disease. 1t also helps people who are
nearly blind to retain what remnant
of sight they have. The ability to
distinguish light from darkness or to
see an object a blurred outline is
of inestimablc value as compared with
total blindness. Even this much sight
| however. may be lost-it will atrophy
! If 1t is not used. On the other hand.
IL 1t is cultivated by glasses and by
exercising the power that Is there,
sight may In time be improved. So
the lighthouse has skilled specialists
giving attention to those who need IT.
The people who use the New York
| lighthouse are OF all stages of wealth
and education. There arc 5000 blind
in Now York City alone.