Guilly d'Herbemont
Encyclopedia
Guilly d'Herbemont was the inventor of the white cane
for blind people.
In 1930, d'Herbemont wrote a letter to the director of the national daily newspaper L'Écho de Paris
. This letter was published causing much consternation.
On February 7, 1931, d'Herbemont symbolically presented, in the presence of several ministers, the first two white canes. These were given to a blind soldier and a blind civilian. These were followed by the distribution of 5000 white canes.
White cane
A white cane is used by many people who are blind or visually impaired, both as a mobility tool and as a courtesy to others. Not all modern white canes are designed to fulfill the same primary function, however: There are at least five varieties of this tool, each serving a slightly different...
for blind people.
In 1930, d'Herbemont wrote a letter to the director of the national daily newspaper L'Écho de Paris
L'Écho de Paris
L'Écho de Paris was a daily newspaper in Paris from 1884 to 1944.The paper's editorial stance was initially conservative and nationalistic, although it did later become close to the French Socialist Party. Its writers included Octave Mirbeau, Georges Clemenceau, Henry Bordeaux, François Mitterrand,...
. This letter was published causing much consternation.
On February 7, 1931, d'Herbemont symbolically presented, in the presence of several ministers, the first two white canes. These were given to a blind soldier and a blind civilian. These were followed by the distribution of 5000 white canes.