New Britain herald., 1930-02-19
Schall, in Radio Speech, Accounts His Triumph Over Loss of Sight Says He Gained Under- standing.

Washington, Feb. 19 CIr --- The sfory of q 2l year struggle against the handicap Of blindness and of an effort to continue the practice Of law through the assistance Of lis wife was related today by Senator Thomas D. -Schall of Minnesota.
 Speaking over the Columbia hroadc sting system, Schall explain cd he lost his sight at the age of go from an electric shock and asserted that after being blind for 3l years he wouldn't trade the understand ing he had gained for all the eyes in the world'
 He said the first thing every man who loses his sight thinks of is 10 quit and that if ii had not been for the love and the tender understand ing Of my brilliant little helpmatc and classmatc 1 think would have quit"
 Wife Was His saviour
 He added that when he became blind he asked his wife if he should sell lead pencils and she replied;
 "T should say not. Tom. We're going to practice law. will be your eyes. You have your profcs- sion. In a short time. I am sure. you can try a law suit as well vith- out your sight as you could with it. People will trust q blind man. if he has the ability, just as quick as a man with sight"
 50 ] went back 10 the practice of law" he continued. "brokc. worse than hrokc-in debt-and blind. I, vas weary road. It was like learn ing 10 walk all over again. worked along in the darkness d good deal harder than when l had my sight. | had to. In fact a blind mans mind rests only when he sleeps. since he must feel with it and see with it-cver on guard. alert. for the little indirect thing that will guide him to the true conclusion that he must have in order 10 cope with the seeing.
 Calls seeing Brain Weak"
 'l never realized what q weak fabby thing the seeing brain is. was normal perhaps little above normal, having taken honors in my class. But. like every other seeing person. had always depended on my sight not my memory When rad 10 rely on my memory. l found It was like Il muscle that had atrophicd from lack of use"
 He explained that when ne was preparing a case. his wife would read passages to him again and again until al last. after stupcndous "t1orts the tlabby old brain ,is sue frightened until it could stand alonc.'
 Docs Not Want sympathy
 Schall said he did not want syu- rathy.
 sympathy" he asserted Yes, but who the hell wants sympathy" We want acknowledgment Of merit. It IS not how well you can see with your eyes, but it is the depth of your vision. the sOundness Of Nour Ulde- mcnt and the depth Of your under standing of the human heart that counts"
 Explaining his attitude toward his blindness he said:
 Through chastiscmcnt has come to m" understanding. With tha. . understanding 1 realize the truth. | . no longer pray 10 have this cup taken from me, but accept the fight . "S Il IS presented 10 me. After 21 years of darkness l wouldn't trade The understanding that has come to | m" for all the eyes in the world.
 T entered the forest of darkness . nntamcd. undisciplined. graspins. ! selfish. came out of hat darkness . when understanding became mv S'sht when ] had learned 10 bear disappointment, when I had com i prchcndcd that the thing was to h. . "ono for love of the cause and moi . or -a2Grandizemcnt."
 Schall was elected 10 the sonato Tn 1924 after serving 10 years in the house.