The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-23

Der cent OF INC poOple l meet"
Mr.. Nichols also passes on n
Mr.. Bitter tips regarding how n
use . typewriter with artificial
hands so he can do his own coz.
respondence work, a simple code Nv
means of which his friends ca.
guide him on the street withou,
having to touch him, and othr,
practical details Of a similar 81.
ture. A training oficer who Va.
tied Mr.. Bitter at his home in
Dubuque was prepared to cheer tha
young man but Immediately upos
meeting him, found any such efforts
unnecessary and after entering into
conversation with him. soon almos,
forgot that he was talking 70 a
disabled man.
The Blind Mans viewpoint.
Another Of the many interesting
cases Of blind men recsiving train.
ing under the federal board is +
Raymond Pyle. who in March. 1914
was sent to Evergreen the R.s
Cross Institute for the Blind Al
Baltimore. Mr.. Pyle took M The
study OF Braille. typewriting, bug-
ness correspondence. and dicta.
phone operating. He is now a die.
taphone operator at the R. P. A.
drews Paper Co.. Inc, Of Virgin,
In a short article on the blind Al
Evergreen" written by Mr.. Pyle
for publication in the Federal
Board magazine. THE Vocational
Summary" Mr.. Pyle takes up al
point showing the blind mems at.
titude toward those well-meaninr
but tactless souls who can not, tr
will not, recognize the fact that
those physically afflicted may he
quite as capable and natural indi-
viduals as the rest OF humanity.
Mr.. Pyle says:
Incidentally, happiness is given
to the blind as we'll as to the sight
cd. but unfortunately, many peopis
think not and always want to piH.
To pity q man without sight or to
compliment one who can turn
around without falling over, is hu-
initiating to him. A blind man
wants to be treated as though ne
were the same as any other speci-
men Of manhood. We can apprecl-
ate pretty flowers. nature, and in-
telligent conversation as we'll as
anybody else. In my two years
experience without sight and in ia
sociation with many other blind
men, II find that We often forget
our condition. but frequently, when
we are with sighted persons we are
reminded Of it.
Sometimes when we are in a
room with q number OF people and
happen to change chairs like any
one would do, some one is sure tC
remark, doesn't he do it well,'
i. II candy is passed around. The
hostess may say to the man mex
you. does your blind friend liA;
chocolates? II people would JUS
act natural when they are with 4
blind person. he would feel ve:!
comfortable" ...
The Federal board has a total o.
21S blind who have entered train
ing. There are % different occa
: pations in which training is give.
ithese men. In the majority o.
cases placement" training is pos
sible. That is training on the job
the men being placed with firm
where they may earn salar.
while getting the necessary train
ing.
:. Among the occupations foun,
possible for blind men are: mas
sage. osteopathy, vulcanizing. va:i
Gus branches of agriculture, music
bookkeeping. machine work. in
surance. drug business, journal
l ism. craftsmanship. landscape gar
dening, book binding, basketry
chair-caning, rug and broom max
ing, cigar-making, wood WORKING
and various branches of Office wori
There is a list of 80 prevocation
al and vocational schools wher
the blind may receive training i
these occupations as we'll as h
| lAduy HI lhS WAO a. dCItpIiHS suN
!, men for positions and training con
l bined.
There are many obstacles to COT
: bat in the individual cases of CIV
ing these men training. In one il
stance. an agent of the board WI
told by the mother Of one OF th
men that her son would never !
given vocational training excel
? over her dead body. Four unsu'
/. cessful attempts have been mad
thus far in an endeavor to chana
her mind. The father OF one {
the men refuses to be convince
that his son should receive trait
l ing. my boy will always has
q enough money and all he need
now is a good wife, he says. II
cannot be convinced that a bin
e man needs a purpose in life mo-
D than a man with sight