is in need of "first aid"--in need of a friendly hand
and a cheery voice to help him through these trying days. Of this
period, M. Brieux, Director of Re-education of the Blinded Soldiers in
Paris, says: "The blind are, for the time being, put back into the
helpless condition of children. They have to be sustained and given a
new education for life. They have to begin many things all over again.
Spiritually, they have lost their bearings, and are drifting about in
restless anguish. Physically, their whole organism has been shaken by
the wound they have received, and must have time after such a violent
shock to recover its equilibrium. Their power of judgment has often been
temporarily destroyed. They are weak in body and uncertain in mind. This
double weakness lays on those who surround them a double duty. Much will
have been done when their material welfare has been assured, but the
responsibility will not have been discharged unless they have also
attained to tranquility of soul and a sense of their own dignity. One
must have confidence, in order to give them confidence. Most of us have
no idea what powers to meet new demands are inherent in our organs. We
have within us capacities unknown even to ourselves, inactive, so long
as they are not necessary, awake and efficient, as soon as there is need
of them. They are reserves which most of the time we never call on. They
are a hoard which we do not touch. Our resources and our power of life
are greater than we imagine. The sudden loss of sight gives, after a
time, something like the lash of a whip to the whole organism. All the
other senses are roused to greater sharpness. When the blind soldier
fully realizes this, he will perhaps arrive at a state in which I have
seen some men blind from birth, the state of being proud of being blind.
Why should they not be proud, when they feel that they are as capable of
accomplishing certain things, of practicing certain trades as other men?
If, with their lessened powers, lacking the power that we consider of
supreme importance, they can do things as well as we, are they not,
therefore, cleverer than we? Instead of talking to them of resignation,
incite them to revolt at the limitations of their condition. Inspire
them to conquer circumstances. Insist that they can. Picture life to
them, its beauty and its power, and tell them that it is good."

In administering to the needs of this readjustment period, the volunteer
should be an o