Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-22
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

Washington, u. c. April 2i.-Sup-
pose that you lost both hands and tho
hight OF both eyes. How would wou
face life ? Would You feel beaten and
done for. or would you have tho cour-
age TO carry on the fight?
Wounded veterans Of tho war furn-
ish rich and varied opportunities to
study this question OF the ability Of
the human spirit to endure seemingly
crushing disaster.
Take. for example. the case Of Henry
Bitter. former corporsl in the United
States army. Corporal Bitter was 50
injured by "A prcma.2rc explosion OF
a hand grenade that nc became total
| ly blind in both eyes and had to have
| both hands anpuiated at the wrist.
Yet Mr.. Bittor. with the aid OF training
lsupplied by tho Federal Board for No-
ca:ionsl Education. has got control
over his physical troubles so that he
has originated a formula for patent
medicine. II is we'll spoken OF by
physicians OF standing. and he and his
brother arc travelling together selling
the medicine to wholesale dealers. Mr..
Bitter has more business than he can
handle and Is soon to incorporate
An interesting side-Iight on tho way
a man with these defects oycrcomes
7 them rs given in letter from Aln "
Nichols. British war veteran who
also suffered the loss OF both hands
and eyes. 10 Henry Bitter. The letter
is quoted I'm part
Sir Arthur Pearson was speaking
TO me about YOU last week and no
asked mo to write you n line or two to
toll you about myself understand
from Sir Arthur that YOU had "A similar
accident to mine, and | know you will
agree the circumstances arc not the
most cnyiablc. however. | think YOU
VIII he able to do quite a lot " you
VIII pcrssVcrc.
In the first place. / am wearing a
pair Of artificial hands which arc quito
useful they are extremely Hight and
are made Of aluminium. and can wear
them all day without tho least fatigue
or discomfort. Tho movement cf the
hand ls obtained bv shoulder move
ment. and the hands arc perfectly
natural IN appearance. I once address
cd u meeting without any OF tho audi
cncc knowing that I was wearing ar;l-
fetal hands. when first became
like this, I could not sec anything
that was likely to interest me on this
earth. 7 never dreamed OF tho posi-
bilitics Of pair OF artificial hands,
and | assure you that I now surprise
everybody. but the one | most sur
prise is myself.
Learning TO smoke
Less than elk months ago smoked
a cigarette by having ono placed In
holder which ] held in my mouth from
start to finish. Now | take my csg-
arctic out of my mouth at will; n YOU
are n smoker. you will understand
what that means. I can take my hat
! of. carry "a walking stick. feed myself
with a spoon and fork use my hand
kcrchicf and do many other littlo
/ things.
"If you will take my advice. would
[ like TO give you little tip about get
/ ting around 10y yourself DO not on
tcrtain tho idea Of walking stick
for that purpose You will find that
/ you will have to depend entirely on
tho two Ecnscs-hcarinE and smell
Whom you are fitted with your arti-
fetal hands you will get about better
than your other blind friends.
Adopt soldicr-likc appearance
when walking. this necessarily meEns
swinging or the arms and you Will
find you very rarely bump into any
thing. or " YOU do. your hands warn
you. Walk In tho center OF tho pave
ment You will find bicycles and un-
times, I know I do An apology In
stage whisper is sometimes sufficient
whom knocking into these snores
Your chances of physical exercise
are naturally greatly impaired but
you will find plenty OF physical eyer
Swinging is also practicable and rol-
Ter skating. / find dancing good rec
reation. also can ride by having the
rcins passed thru my artificial hands
and strapped to my wrist
'Since I have been like this. I have
travelled quite n lot up and down tho
country. and have had many amusing
Experiences. | take considerable satis-
faction in tho fact that l am able to
deceive 90 per cont or tho people
meet
J Mir. Nichols also passes on to Mir