Putnam patriot., 1929-05-09
Sympathy and Admiration For Fortitude Displayed By
 Those in Darkness
Excellent Coneert.-Perry Hale and
 Chaplain Aver Speak

A olkut lp arouse human tfmpa- thy and engender admiration was the opening program of the Week for the Blind", in Putnam. at the Put nam high school, Sunday afternoon, at which Perry T. Hale. Yale gra- duate, former football ace and pres ent tax collector and insurance a. gent, of Portland, this state. and Chaplain E. P. Aver of the state sen ate were the principal speakers. Pupils from the Connecticut School for the Blind, provided the musical part of the program. Mayor Charles A. Richard presided at the meeting.
 Both Mir. Hale and Chaplain Aver lost their eyesight in young man hood. Mir. Ayers sight began to fail while in Yale. Mir. Hale's blind ness is the result of an accident. Both gave heart touching pictures of the first half hour after they l learned that they were never to see again. Both fought the situation out and determined that they would not only face their misfortunes but would school themselves to be happy and contented in the darkness. Not only the words uttered but the ap- pearance and personality of the two men convinced the audience that nearly filled the school assembly room that they had been successful in working out their own salvation and were able to enjoy life with their l less unfortunate fellow men.
 One of the Chosen
 "0nly one in every thousand is blind" said Mir. Hale. There are only 900,000 blind people in this country. And" he added. "I am one of them. am one of the chosen, whether chosen from on high or somewhere else, l don't know" he said q will bear the cross without whimpering", he concluded.
 Mir. Hale's remarks were in lighter vein. There was no bitterness evil i denced; no raneor expressed. He l blamed his own carelessness for his condition. He was interested in the chemistry of explosives. He was ex- perimenting one day. There was an explosion. He says he was negligent ard that's the reason l am here. !" He was taken to a hospital. He over heard a prayer in which courage was implored for the blind. He called Mrs. Hale into the room and asked her if it meant him; if he was never to see again. He was told the truth.
 'I asked to be left alone for half an hour,'' said Mir. Hale. It was dur ing that half hour that he fought the fight and won. He determined not to quit but "To do for Yale" He said he never complains. "There is so much to live for" he added.
 Successful in Business
 Mir. Hale is a successful business man. He is tax collector of Portland. engaged in the insurance business and he is engaged in the manufacture of kites. one of which he presented to Mayor Richard. Although totally blind he keeps his books in the Brall- le system and is most businesslike in his methods. He was an outstanding football player at Yale and twice named for the All-American football team. He is busy man, but, he says, he always finds time to come to the aid Of "my young friends" alluding to the blind children seated on the stage.
 Many people think it is a terri ble calamity to be blind" he said, but can deny it. He told cf com ing through Putnam years ago after playing against Harvard at Cam bridge. He launched into stories of General Israel Putnam and told how Putnam dropped his blow and went to the aid of his country. "I want you to drop your blew and come to the aid of my young friends" he said.
 He related an incident when, back in 1900. Yale went to play Columbia in New York. He had been suffering with sprained shoulder. Mike Mur- phy was the trainer. Mike came to him, gently rubbed his shoulder and then began bathing it with liniment. "You are not going to put me in the game" said Perry. "Oh no" said Mike. But he did, and Perry saved the game fer Yale "I could tell you others" said MT. Hale, but like to tell the stories where Yale won.
 Keeping Busy
 His salvation, he said, is in keep ing busy. "The state has the right idea in taking care of blind people by making them work he said. For more than fifteen minutes, in sctt, low voice, but with clear enuncia- ton. Mir. Hale held the close atten- tion and was given spontaneous hand when he concluded.
 No less interesting was Chaplain Aver. He, also, finds happiness m the world and joy in living People are good" he said, as he told how he is able to get about alone through the aid of human kindness. Mr Aver supplies pulpits for ministers i'll or on vacation. He is superlative optimist. His face evidences that he has enjoyed life even in darkness. He lives in introspection, and "l can touch fingers with God" he said. "God is good"
 Children's Program
 The twenty-five blind children gave a program of music and recitations. They sang in good voice and seemed to put their whole souls into the mu- sic. Two of the numbers were piano solos. one boy and one girl at the in-
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