The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-23
Frederic Haslkin's Letter
The Courage Of the Handicapped. i

washington. d. c.. April e.
Suppose thai you lost both hands
and the sight Of both eyes. HOW
would you face life? Would you
feel beaten and done for, or would
you have the courage to carry on
the fight?
Wounded veterans Of the war
furnish rich and varied opportuai-
ties to study this question OF the
ability of the human spirit 10 en-
dure seemingly crushing disaster.
Take, for example, the case OF
Henry Bitter. former corporal IN
the United States army. Corporal
Bitter was 30 injured by . prema-
turc explosion Of hand grenade
that he became totally blind IN both
eyes and had to have both hands
amputated at the wrist. Yet MI.
Bitter, with the aid OF training sup
piled BY the Federal Board for to-
cational Education. has got control
over his physical troubles 20 that
he has originated q formula Tor .
patent medicine. II Is we'll spoken
of by physicians of standing, anu
| he and his brother are travelling
together selling the medicine 10
wholesale dealers. Mr.. Bitter mas
more business than he coo ha0die
and is soon to incorporate.
An interesting side-light on the
way a man with these defects over :
comes them is given in letter
from Alan M. Nichols, a British
| war veteran, who also suffered the
loss Of both hands and eyes, to Hen
nv Bitter. The letter is quoted In
part:
"Sir Arthur Pearson was speak.
ing to me about you last week and
he asked me to write you line
or two to tell you about myself.
understand from Sir Arthur that
YOU had a similar accident to mine
and / know you will agree the cir
cumstances are not the most envi'
able; however, I think You Will be
able to do quite . lot If you VII
persevere.
an the first place, am wear
ing a pair of artificial hands which
are quite useful, they are extreme
ly light and are made OF aluminium
and l can wear them all day with
out the least fatigue or discomfort
The movement of the hand is Oh
tanned by q shoulder movement, an
the hands are perfectly natural II
appearance. l once addressed
meeting without any Of the audi
, ence knowing that I was wearing
artificial hands. When l first be-
came like this, could not see any
thing that was likely to interes
me on this earth. never dreamed
of the possibilities of q pair OF ar
tificial hands, and assure yo'
tlat l now surprise everybody, bu
the one l surprise most Is my
self.
Learning to Smoke.
, LESS than six months ago
smoked a cigarette by having on
placed in a holder which / held i
my mouth from start to finish. No,
| take my cigaret out OF my mout
+ at will; if you are a smoker, 20
will understand what that means
, can take my hat OF, carry
walking stick, feed myself with
spoon and fork, use my handker
chief, and do many other littl
things.
eff you will take my advice,
would like to give you little ii
about getting around by yourself
Do not entertain the idea OF
walking stick for that purpose. Yo
will find that you will have to dc
pend entirely on the two senses
hearing and smell. When you ar
fitted with your artificial hands 70
!, will get about better than you
: other blind friends>
i. Adopt a soldier-like appearance
. when walking; this necessaril
3 means swinging of the arms an
you will find you very rarely bum
' into anything. or if you do, you
/ hands warn you. Walk in the Ger
t ter Of the pavement. You will fin
e bicycles and unattended hand-bal
rows a nuisance at times. l know
: do. An apology in a stage whispe
e is sometimes sufficient when knocf
: ing into these snares
Your chances Of physical exc!
D else are naturally greatly impair
:, ed but you will find plenty of ply:
4 zeal exercise in Swedish drill
r keep you fit. Swimming is ais
practicable and roller skating.
Q find dancing good recreation.
y also can ride by having the rei1
n passed through my artificial hand
b and strapped to the wrist.
:. "Since / have been like this
o have travelled quite a lot up an
t down the country, and have ha
many amusing experiences. tai
:, considerable, satisfaction in tt
fact that am able to deceive