Darkened World

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30302, 30 November 1963, Page 3

Darkened World

Uncharted Country. By Mary Mitchell. F. IV. Cheshire Ltd. 154 pp.

Within tire compass of a short book Mary Mitchell sets forth with admirable if heartrending clarity the problems of a physically-active and intellectually very able person who is smitten with blindness in middle age. A successful novelist, with four books, including the bestseller “A Warning to Wantons” already to her credit, the author was told shortly after the war that she must inevitably lose her sight. The process was gradual, and surmounting her feeling of black despair she set to work to prepare methodically for this cruel eventuality. Naturally, as a writer, her first thought was how she could best carry on her craft. The obvious solution, employing a secretary, she turned down as impracticable both for temperamental as well as technical reasons. By learning touch-typing, using a taperecorder, and mastering the invaluable possibilities of Braille, both for reading and writing, the author has completed nine books in 15 years. With these achievements behind her she is patently the right person to give advice to people of good will who seek, often by fallacious methods, to alleviate the lot of the blind. Pity is a negative virtue at best, and fussing over the perils which beset the path of a blind person whose greatest wish is to learn independence is the worst possible form of solicitude. It also pinpoints for the victim the too commonly held conviction that blindness causes a certain diminution of intelligence. Mary Mitchell gives some

common-sense directives on the rational treatment of blindness. In all matters pertaining to his welfare let the blind person "call the tune ” Read to him, for example, something that he likes, and if it bores you do not give any indication of the fact. Help him to take his place in the sighted wmrld by <l* correcting his posture if he tends to stoop or shuffle. <2l Assist him to be spruce in appearance. (3) See that the obvious difficulties of conveying food to his mouth at tab.e are as few as possible. If you meet him at a noisy party, announce your identity; never propel him before you (a mistake made by 99 peopl? out of 1001, but go first an.o lead him—and do not suggest that he is dim-witted by try'ing to “improve” his mind

The author has a few bitter words to say about the limited reading facilities of the blind in the Braille section of of the Public Library in Melbourne where she lives, to illustrate this point. She discounts the common belief that the blind have a "sixth sense." which prompts them to avoid dangers. The intelligent use of their remaining four have to be stretchy ed to the widest limits, and n long time latitude must be allowed for their every activity The courage which shows through these pages should be both an inspiring and humbling factor to all who would comfort and assist a fellow-human being in almost the greatest deprivatioU which could overtake him. By bringing a clear brain, and masterly powers of expression to bear Mary Mitchell has done inestimable service to her fellow sufferers in a darkened world.