The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-21

TIE Wee-ESt eau Slep as Ie WOuiQ WIN nat
ural feet The joints are generally of steel,
and the efforts of the inventors have been
directed toward making an artificial appli-
ance that shall copy the natural member in
looks and utility as closely as possible.
"a popular norton is that artificial legs
are made of cork. This idea arose from
the feet that many years ago the frame
work of artificial legs was made of iron,
and TO give it shape the interior was file
with cork. There is no such thing to-day as
| a cork leg. Most of them are made of
wook and covered with raw hide.
1.-The war, and the demand it clused for
| artificial appliances, is what first gave the
incentive to American inventors to study
this work and make such marvellous I'M
| provements.
st is possible to-day to make and use an
artificial leg where the natural one has
been dislocated at the hip joint.
THE same is true of the arms, for with
the artificial arms now made for amputa-
tiOns above the elbow a mal can uSe his
handkerchief if he chooses, handle a knife
and fork and even write. On my desk
| there you will see a letter written by a
young man who has lost both his arms
within six inches of the shoulder"
WRITING WITH WOODEN FINGERS.
Iglanced at the epistle. 1t was written
in a free, running hand and was very legi-
Olb. he WFlU6T 6ApldlueQ now lie lOSC MS
arms by tumbling in front of the sickle of a
moving machine which he was driving
over water furrow," as he said; and he
expressed intense delight at his ability to
write with artificial hands.
MANY persons do not wear artificial
limbs, because without them they can
| secure more sympathy and financial aid
from their friends. The poorer classes go
without them because ey cannot afford
A 70
and the prices run "a high as $3.50. The
cost, of course, depends somewhat on the
size or length of the limb. A leg without a
knee joint does not cost as much as one in
Guiding the knee, and if an artificial hi .
socket is to be made the cost is correspond
ingly increased.
before Dr. Wood died, few years ago,
he called a meeting of prominent physicians
to attempt the organization of a society to
furnish artificial limbs to the manned poor
who could not afford to purchase them.
DIR. Woods death caused the idea to be
dropped H a-t fu
"lf you would like to go with me this even
ing and will promise to mention no names,
said the young society man, II will show
you young lady in my set who has an
artificial foot and YOU Gan judge for your
self of her ability ttoiwall4"
He had recovereah his ltees and was walk
ing around ON them, + hey had lost their
| dlsagreeable squeak, much to bis delight.
| WALKING ON WOODEN FEET.
I decided to accept his invitation, anc
about O'clock thateFening l found myself
| in a brilliantly lighted and very handsome
| drawing room, filed with elegantly dressed
| people | was prepared for anything,
| thought. but could not help watching my
| friend when | saw him escort young lady
to the ballroom. HIS dancing was not I'M
graceful, had to admit, though it seemed
to noe could detect degree Of stiffness il
| his movements. He rejoined me after
escorting his partner to a seat at the end Of
| the dance.
"Wel, what did tell youg he asked
| triumphantly.
"Your movements were perfectly nat
ural," responded, warmly. Couldn't hav,
done better if"
90. don't mean myself. How did yor
like the dancing of my partnerp
| you doa't mean to say that"
"That's exactly what do mean," he in
| terrupted. 1.-THE young lady who danced
with me has an artificial left foot. 1t is moi
| generally known, and she does not dream
that am aware of it. Her brother tolc
me of it one day in confidential mood.
after all, a wooden foot is no worse thar
false hair or teeth. Just look over there
looked and saw a very good looking
| lady OF apparently aDouG ~ years.
THAT lady is so years old,n continued
my informant, land She's as bald as Table
Rock. She not only wears false hair, but
false teeth. false bust and false com
plexion. Just divest her of her artificial
charms and she would not be a very pleas
ing object. Longfellow was right wnen
he said, Things are not what they seem.
| Very little is in this world of ours" he con-
cluded, laughingly, as he went away K
dance the lancers.
Truly, thought l, as 1 wandered home
ward, the world is full Of patched up hu-
mainly.