Evening journal., 1922-11-22
SUNSHINE BABY
MAY GAIN SIGHT
Operations Enable BABY
Ellen" TO Distinguish
Moving Objects
REMARKABLE CASE
OF BLIND INFANT

vi DLllND INT AIN
Word has been received that Ban.
Ellen" the little blind ward o
Delaware Division OF the Interna
tonal Sunshine Society, composed O.
more than 500 women may regair
her sight.
The child now four years old and
who was born near Wilmington. is
at the Arthur Home for Blind
Babies. Summit. n. j.. which is
maintained by the Sunshine organ
ization. According TO a letter just
received by Mrs. G. W. Dorsey, Jr.,
pres dent OF the Delaware Division
Baby Ellen" has undergone four
operations on her eyes, and is now
able 10 distinguish moving objects
dimly, TO be sure, but sufficiently
well so as to avoid running into
them.
Baby Ellen's" case is remarkable.
Not only was she born totally blind,
but she suffered no little hardship in
her early infancy. At the Arthur
Home she has been given a care
ful course in physical training by
which her body, which was weak
Mt first has been developed equal to
that Of the normal child
Some Of the means by which this
development is accomplished are
unique. A blind baby. for instance.
is unaware Of the presence of hands
or feet. being unable to see them.
So the nurses tie tiny bands con
tanning bells about the wrists and
ankles. The baby shakes them,
hears the 'tinkle-tinkle" and begns
TO exercise by waving its arms and
kicking its legs.
So acute is a blind baby's hearing
that it often learns TO like some one
particular bell. AS result the
nurses have TO change the bells
about so as TO keep the exercises
even and develop the arms and
legs equally.
II Is now believed that another
operation will result in restoring
Baby Ellen's" sight. Should this be
accomplished the Sunshine Society
of Delaware will have a remarkably
kind and charitable deed to its
credit.
Still another blind baby has been
found by the Sunshine Society in
wilmington and the organization
hopes to expect 10 devote sufii-
cient money from the fund of $50, 900
IT hopes to raise next week 10 pro-
vide for it's care and training. The
Arthur Home is the only one in the
entire country which will take blind
babies from birth to their school
age. Under the law the Commission
for the Blind OF Delaware is not
permitted to undertake the education
OF its wards until they attain the
school age OF eight years. The /
Blind Commission and the Sunshine
Society are working hand -in-hand
for the benefit of the sightless and
c. r. Van Trump OF the Commits |
zion, has written a splendid endorse
ment OF the Society's work.
Arrangements are being made to
bring Baby Ellen" to Wilmington
TO participate in "sunshine-Thanks-
giving Week" and to assist In radi-
ating good cheer and hope for the
afflicted, young and old.
Headquarters for the Sunshine
campaign have been opened in the
store at sos Market street. which
has been generously ldonated for
the purpose by John Govatos. The
women of the Sunshine Society took
possession yesterday afternoon, and
the headquarters today blossomed
forth with placards. posters, banners
and other matter announcing its ac-
complishments in behalf of the
needy, the sick and the crippled.
There are eleven branches OF the /
Sunshine Society in Delaware COM
prising a division. The state officers
are: President, Mrs. Dorsey; first
vice-president. Mrs. Frank Schill-
6ng; second vice-president, Mrs. Otto /
" Ort; third vice-president. Mrs. I. /
w. Belts; treasurer, Mrs. Thomas c
Mum; recording secretary, Mrs Carl
Snellenburg; corresponding secre-
tary. Mrs. n. Alden Emerson; his
torian, Mrs. Frank Ford Palmer. and /
auditor, Mrs. Frank c. Sparks.
The Society, especially prides it.
self on the fact that it has no paid
workers, all its charitable and other
public objects being carried out by
Its active membership.