Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 137, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1915 — BLIND TEACH BLIND [ARTICLE]

BLIND TEACH BLIND

Victims of Battle Being Taught Useful Trades. 8L Dunstan's, Lent by Otto Kahn, la Novel English Training SchoolBlind Instructors Are Do* -• Ing the Work. London.—Help for the blind by the blind is the working principle of the institution opened by the Blinded Soldiers* and Sailors* Care committee at St. Dunstan’s, Regent Park. That principle in its application has made St Dunstan’s one of the most Interesting places in London. It has lightened the sadness which, more actual than the Imprint of pain, though much more elusive, lingers In the faces of the men who are learning here how to begin life once more at the beginning and to discount misfortune and defeat memory by new achievements. The object of the work is to teach every blind soldier a trade by which he may expect to earn his living and to introduce him at the same time to the Braille system of reading and writing. Blind instructors have been engaged in every instance. These men are among the most capable .workers in the country, and their energy and enthusiasm are an immediate incentive to effort. The knowledge that other men have “made good” in spite of their blindness is therefore the first lesson which the blind soldier receives. There is generally in his character a quality of determination which, thus aroused, may be counted upon to achieve success. St Dunstan's, which was lent to the committee by Otto Kahn, is a very large house, standing in 15 acres of ground. Thanks to this latter circumstance it has been found possible to include poultry farming and market gardening among the subjects of instruction. This country life section has been taken over by Captain Pierson-Webber, one of the best known blind experts in England. Captain Pierson-Webber’s life is itself a romance of successful endeavor against heavy odds; he has proved that a blind man may without previous knowledge compete with expert! on their own ground; his work in connection with poultry farming is known throughout the agricultural world. Small eginnings. Inside the house, in a large conservatory, work tables have been ' arranged for the teaching of carpentry, boot repairing, mat making and basket making. The scene of a recent visit to this workshop was an intensely interesting one. At the carpenter’s .bench a young fellow who lost his sight on the Aisne was just completing his first picture frame. , It did his Instructor and himself credit. The bootmakers were very busy and their work defied faultfinding, do, also, were the matnulkers. The only pupils of the basketmaking instructor .were two young Belgians who have been welcomed to the institution and who are very quickly . picking up a trade. In another room a massage class was in progress. Massage is one of those very useful occupations at which blind people are found to excel. The large Braille room was full of pupils, some of them being instructed in the elements of** the alphabet; other at work on the ingenious Braille typewriters. Everywhere one met the spirit of hope and cheerfulness, until the impression of pathos gave place to an enduring sense of admiration. Herb surely is a nobler courage even than the fierce bravery of war.