The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-30
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lens that, having no existence, could
have no solution.
And yet | was ashamed of these
reflections; for after all, they We're
simply confessions of my own in
ability to meet situation and make
it yield 4 profit.
Despite my resolutions, then, to
think no more of Higgins and the
White Eagle, they were both in my
mind as, turning a corner into the
Rue des Saints Peres, | collided with
group of people standing before :!
doorway. | muttered an apology,
stepped back, and noted that the per-
son of the group with whom l had
come into most violent contact-he
had fallen to the ground-was blind
in one eye.
bent over swiftly, and helped
him to his feet. My perfunctory
apology became profuse and sincere.
Seeing that he was poorly dressed,
vcntured to offer him 4 coin. He
seized it greedily, and would have
passed on, only that | noticed that
the rest of the group were all blind
in one eye.
Other groups stood across the
street, in the street, and farther
down the narrow sidewalk on which
stood. And | noticed that every
single one of them suffered the same
affiction; they were blind in one
eye.
suppose that my amazed horror
was reflected in my face. For the
man to whom had presented the
gratuity laughed at me.
Monsieur is amazed, yes? To see
so many of US is stranger
as this hospital here?" ! asked
pointing at the building before which
We stood.
He shook his head. "No, monsieur,
it is the name of Il patron of all
afflicted such as we. Monsieur has
not read this mornings Cri dc
Paris 2"
| shook my head, and he thrust
into my hand copy of the paper,
folded back to expose an advertise
ment. ! read it lAmely in my falter-
ing French. Translated. it ran:
"A gentleman whose son, having
lost an eye for France, bore his
wound proudly, despite his afflic-
ton, until his death by accident re-
Gently, wishes to honor the memory
of that noble son by kindnesses to
those similarly afflicted. The gen
tleman will devote part of his large
fortune to the founding and main
tenance Of club for One-eyed men.
1t will not be limited only to those
who lost their sight in the war
against the cursed Boche. All men
who are without the sight of one
eye are eligible to the privileges of
the Club. Those interested are re
quested to apply to Number, Rue
des Saints Peres, between the hours
OF nine and twelve on Wednesday,"
l read this amazing advertisement,
SO typically French in sentiment,
and my eyes filled with tears. 1t was
4 charity Il trifle too Bizarre for
American taste, but its kindness
would appeal to the generosity of
any country. | placed another coin
in my informant's palm, and hur-
ried away from the grotesque scene.
But at the first corner l stopped,
turned, and stared after a man who
had passed me. 1t was the White
Eagle; and all my interest in him,
which had evaporated while read
the strange advertisement, conden-
sed and flowed back into my brain.
And then interest became amaze
ment, for he entered the house be-
fore which the groups of blind men
stood. Immediately upon his en-
trance servant came to the door
and beckoned to the unfortunates.
Five minutes later they were all
within the house.
| waited outside, at a convenient
corner. Somehow or other l could
not believe that this grotesque ad-
vertisement contained all that was
of interest. OF course, crooks are
VIGOROUSLY impulsive, given to
streaks of eXtravagant generosity.
l waited.
One by one, the blind men began
to emerge from the house. Al! o:
them seemed happy, as though in
good fortune had come to
them. Finally the man whom | had
tipped appeared. l accosted him, and
ne beamed upon me.
"Ah, it is my generous Americana"
well, did you join the Club?" ]
asked.