Transcription
"A Goodbye Salute"
As I leave England's shores, my thoughts linger behind most affectionately. In memory I warm my hands at the people's hearth-fires of hospitality that have brightened every day of my stay in Britain, despite the countless hardships and denials they are still enduring. Deeply I count over their kind words and thoughtful acts that have quickened my own efforts for the blind with fresh inspiration and zest.
Wonderingly I consider how quickly and energetically Britain is rallying from its war catastrophe. Not only are its spiritual stability and superb social service morale un broken, many of its sons but lately retrieved from the avalanches of death thatswept (sic) over the land are pushing further into every department of science and public welfare. With ever larger projects they are proclaiming the people's faith that every human being, normal or handicapped, has a jist (sic) claim to be understood, developed and enabled to make good his or her place in the social structure of beneficence.
Full of confidence I look to England -- nay, to the Empire to be an Elijah to their noble creation -- the Royal National Institute for the Blind -- and pour upon it as upon Elisha a double portion of this reborn vitality. Having known that organization during almost a lifetime I dare to say that it shines among the foremost beacons of true civilization. Its story is a superb record of unremitting effort to reintegrate the broken lives of the blind by placing in their hands keys to the whole range of education, literature and self-reliant, self-supporting activity. Unstintedly it has extended its facilities so as to cooperate with the war-blinded in their rehabilitation. Under this heavier burden it is going forward with new plans for the further advancement of the blind not only in Britain but also throughout the world. But its resources are deplorably inadequate to the needs of millions who are still waiting in the dark for a ministering friend.
Surely Britain, which is responding so gallantly to high causes clamoring for support, will not have the heart to pass by an institute that breathes its own quality of dauntless enterprise, vindicates its own gospel of justice to all hindered groups, and which all informed lovers of the blind honor everywhere as a magnificent testimonial to the substantiation of humane ideals.
