NEVER SEEN THEIR WIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1919, Page 5

NEVER SEEN THEIR WIVES.

WEDDINGS AT ST. DUNSTAN'S.

Cupid is always busy at St. Dunstan's (says the London Evening News) An average of two weddings a week takes place among 'blind soldiers; more than 200 have already been married. Some of the men were engaged he fore they were blinded. Oiiis do not give up their blind fiances; "in fact," an official at St. Dunstan's said, "we have had cases where the girl who refused to marry the man before lie was blind took him afterwards."

The men sometimes marry girls tliey have never seen. Some have been their teacher or their cox in the boats on the lake; in two or three instances men have married girls quite above their own station in life. A laborer married a wealthy, refined woman. The marriages have turned out very happily. The men aro all able to keep themselves and their wives, fy they have ibeen trained at St. IXmstnn's to be self-supporting- The wives also usually take an interest in their husband's work.

Those who marry Mind poultry-far-mers are given the opportunity of attending a course of instruction in poul-try-farming. Wives who have married cobblers have usually learned stitching from the visiting cobbler who teaches ithe blind men.

"It is very desirable tti&t the men should be married," the official said, "for their wives can be of great assistance to them. They are nearly all, trained to work £lt home."

A silver teapot is given to eviery man as a wedding present from St. Duiistan's, and the wadding (breakfast ig .provided.