Evening star., 1938-09-18
Friends of Blind George Ramey Offer Plea
To Farley for Dog That Has Lifted Burden
BY G. d. HORNER.

walked home from his news and cigar
stand in the Alexandria (Va) post
ONCE.
But he walked with a new conf
dence, a sense of freedom from the
unseen hazards which had compli-
Gated his movements since he lost his
sight nine years ago.
Mack, the German shepherd seeing
eye" dog which he brought home from
a New Jersey training school two weeks
ago, was leading the way.
Mack halted at the puddle of water.
Mr.. Ramey knew something was wrong.
He cautiously leaned down and felt
the water. He said nothing Mack
stood still moment as II thinking
what was best to do 30 keep his master
from getting his feet wet.
Then the dog guided the blind man
to the left, halted at the curb to sig
nifty there was step-down, and con-
tinued in the street around the water
onto the sidewalk
so Deep 1 Can't Express It,
That is only one of numerous Incl
dents that have endeared Mack to Mr..
Ramey-"have done something to me
so deep I can't express 1t" he said
yesterday in talking with pride about
the intelligence Of his new EYE"
Numerous customers stopped at Mr..
Rameys stand in the post ONCE lobby
during the interview to ask about his
dog and most of them volunteered to
oil YafittNv In AVvythiy,n A1aA
that would help him win the right to
keep Mack with him ut work.
Because Of q regulation forbidding
dogs in Government buildings, Mr..
Ramey has to leave Mack at home
during the day. His friends have asked
Postmaster General Farley to exempt
him from the regulation.
But I know they can't afford to
break rule just for me-" Mr.. Ramey
said, and Mack and I are content
the way things are He brings me to
work, comes back to lead me home
in the evening and We have long walks
together every night"
Dog Cost $50.
Mr.. Ramey, now ~ years old, went
blind suddenly nine years ago. He
had watched President Hoover's inau-
guration and the next night went to
Charlottesville to see basket ball
game. His sight failed during the
train ride back home.
A year ago last May Mr.. Ramey
began operating the stand in the Alex
vpy1,A h. all
cigars, cigarettes. candy, newspapers
and magazines He lives with his par
ents at 1l09 Duke street. He knew
the voices Of most Of his customers;
could see around his work by the
sense Of touch. His life was pleasant
enough except for lack of freedom
in moving from place to place-there
were the ever-present dangers OF traf-
f1c which he couldn't see, unexpected
distractions on familiar sidewalks, and
such.
He solved this problem by going to
the Seeing Eye Institute at Whippany.
N. j., where for $50 he obtained
Mack and months training with the
dog at the institute.
Mr.. Ramey was one OF q class Of
eight that entered the institute six
weeks ago. There are six men and
two women besides himself-a rabbi,
a piano tuner, professional radio en-
tertainer. two college students and two
teachers.
There in the little village Of Whip
pany and in the nearby town of Nor
ristown, N. j., where much of their
advanced training was done the eight
blind persons became fast friends.
They learned to live constantly with
their dogs and depend on their canine
eyes to guide them faithfully and
intelligently.
Friendship Ripens.
The first day and a half were de-
voted to getting acquainted, to lectures
and individual talks with instructors,
who then selected for each of the
blind persons dog of congenial tenn
perament.
Mack's friendliness, love of people,
especially children. matches the pop
ular geniality of his master.
When the time came for the first
meeting between Mr.. Ramey and
Mack. the young man sat alone, hold
ing a piece Of raw meat in his hand.
The instructor brought in Mack, who
shifted around Mr. Ramey's feet and
then gently pushed his nose into his
hand and began to eat the meat he
held. He caressed the dog and began
talking to him.
At first, Mack was too attached to
his instructor to pay much attention
to his new master. But after q few
days OF constant companionship, Mr..
Ramey said. he could feel that the dog
was becoming devoted to him.
They slept In the same room, walked
together morning and afternoon, and
Mack was fed, curried and brushed
only by Mr.. Ramey all the four weeks
at the institute.
Soon the dog learned-too welll-to
act as an alarm clock for his master.
They arose every morning at $50
o'clock. If Mr.. Ramey slept past the
hour, Mack would climb into bed with
AAAhA dAN 1uO AAiS pa dWS Ills
chest until he awoke.
A Persistent Servant.
The last morning he was at the
institute was a Sunday, Mr.. Ramey
recalled, and he decided to sleep later
than usual. But at $50, Mack paved
him awake. He turned over to 60
back to sleep. Undaunted, Mack
seized the bed covers between his teeth
and pulled them off his master. Still
Mr.. Ramey lay abed, shooing the dog
away. But Mack was persistent.
When all else failed, he sat down in
the middle of the room and began a
tremendous barking, keeping it up
until his master crawled out of bed.
The days program at the institute
included walk through the parks by
master and dog before breakfast, walks
through the streets of Morristown in
the morning and afternoon-gradually
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