ain line of work, only to find that the public does not
share the government's confidence, is unwilling to give them an
opportunity to prove their ability? The public will cheerfully pay taxes
to care for these men in idleness and seclusion, thus diverting to the
rear of life's battle line these heroes who have given the most precious
of all their physical possessions in their country's cause. The soldier
killed on the field of battle pays the supreme sacrifice all in a
moment, but the sacrifice of the blinded soldier is lifelong. Are we
going to find employment for these returned heroes, or are we going to
add yet another burden to their already heavy load? Are we going to add
the burden of dependence to the burden of darkness? If we want these men
to know that we appreciate the service they have rendered to their
country, let us provide occupations for them, and in order to do this
let us begin by employing the civilian blind, the blind right here in
our midst. Let us study the problem with an open mind, freed from the
old prejudice and unbelief; let us turn the light on ourselves, and see
that it is we who sit in darkness. Let us ask the blind leaders of the
blind what work can be done without eyesight, and let us be guided by
their judgment, their experience. And, as a bit of Red Cross service,
let us employ the blind; let us create a demand for their labor; let us
ask for work made by the blind, and tell our friends to ask for it; let
us buy our newspapers from the men on the streets, and let us give our
magazine subscriptions to blind men who have subscription agencies; let
us patronize blind lawyers, osteopaths, salesmen, piano tuners and
musicians. Let us find other and broader avenues of usefulness for these
our civil blind heroes, who went into the dark with no blare of
trumpets, no applause from cheering multitudes, and who wear no badge of
honor on their breasts. Let us do this, so that when the blinded
soldiers return, we may welcome them with the glad tidings that we have
work waiting for them, that we know they can do it, because blind men
and women here have blazed the trail, and have, by their splendid
courage and boundless enthusiasm, succeeded in changing the attitude of
the public, and removing the last lingering vestige of doubt as to the
ability of the blind to become self-supporting, self-respecting
citizens. In this campaign of enlightenment, this bit of Red Cross
service for the blinded soldiers a