Made to See

Last week the New York Times printed the following dramatic despatch from Washington, Pa.: "Totally blind since she was less than a year old, 13-year-old Mary Grabowsky, second daughter of Walter Grabowsky, a poor miner of Coal Center, this county, walked out of the Washington Hospital today, scarcely able to conceal her delight and asking officers of the Red Cross to hurry her home that she might see her mother for the first time.

"Mary was to have been sent to the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind. A rare operation, performed a few days ago on her right eye by Dr. J. B. McMurray of the Washington Hospital staff, technically known as an optical iridectomy, was today pronounced a success. . . .

"The girl contracted a skin disease when a baby, and later abscesses which formed on her eyes, presumably through inattention, rendered her sightless.

"Filled with pity, and remembering his Master's art, a Catholic priest, by taking the girl to the Red Cross, enabled this Mary to see. Great miracle among great miracles was again brought to pass, this time by mundane skill."

For scientists this despatch lacked professional interest. Such an operation, although delicate and demanding high skill in the use of fine knives, had been done previously and with relative frequency. But rarely before had human interest been keyed to so lofty a pitch.

A Roman Catholic priest, remembering a great miracle among his Master's great miracles, had led this blind child to the surgeon. He it was who had made this Mary to see.