THE EYES 259 



separate leaves not soldered to one another; that the 

 sun's rays filtered through and played among them, 

 illuminating some and leaving others a darker shade of 

 green. What astonished me most, and caused an en- 

 chantment of which I cannot speak even now without 

 emotion, was that, through some holes in the foliage, 

 I suddenly perceived far-away bits of blue sky. I 

 clapped my hands, and was in ecstasy ! I was mad with 

 admiration and joy. I could not rest until they gave 

 me a pair of spectacles. I felt a sort of intoxication in 

 looking about me. All the objects I had hitherto 

 believed to be of indistinct outline assumed for me new 

 and singular appearances. Views unfolded themselves 

 to my eyes and were an inexhaustible source of dis- 

 coveries and wonder, for things that had previously 

 appeared all confounded with one another, now seemed 

 to detach themselves and recede from or approach 

 the eye." 



Are we missing all or even a small part of the joy 

 glasses revealed to Francisque Sarcey? If so, what a 

 pity that such misfortune should continue a day longer 

 than is absolutely necessary. If, because of having 

 to hold print abnormally close to our eyes, lack of 

 power to see at a distance as well as our comrades, 

 or other difficulty or discomfort of sight, some defect 

 is suspected, how foolish we shall be to lose any time 

 in finding out and correcting it. If our eyes have 

 normal accommodation, they will be able to read fine 

 type at twelve inches in good daylight. 



