The morning times., 1896-12-06
A CORK LEG FESTIVAL
/, FOR VETERANS IN GRAY
G. A. r. Man Proposes to Present Artificial
Limbs to Soldiers Of Southern Army.

A most delightful motion was made be-
fore a Grand Army Post at recent meet
ing. 1t was set forth by Il one-legged vet
eran of the war, and it was to the gen
eral effect that the q. A. r. present
wooden legs to the legless veterans Of the
Southern army.
+ 1t is not to he supposed that Southern
veterans cannot supply their own legs,
or that they all are in need nf them.
But there have been improvements lately
made in the artificial leg industry that
render all legs of more than years
standing ancient and capable OF much irn
provement. And it is thought the pur-
chase of "A supply Of these new and highly
improved ones would be a chivalrous
move on the part Of the u. A. X. The
Grand Army Posts, buying in quantities.
could purchase them much cheaper than
men could Individually. The whole move
would he step in the direction OF chivai-
rous conduct which the North is criti-
cised for lacking, and would prove to
North and South that there can be high
chivalry both sides Of the line. After
wards there would be a grand general
reunion.
BEST LEGS IN THE WORLD.
There is no country in the world that
pretcnds to make cork legs as they are
made here. Leglcss men come from france,
from Argentine Republic, from Russia,
and from that home of science, Germany,
to get legs here. The finest legs are turned
out after patents kept exclusively for trade
| this side of the ocean. These legs are
| lighter, more supple and fitted with ap-
pliances that make them wonders of
| mechanical skill. Each leg is made to
order. and it takes two men one week to
| complete a good limb.
| The most remarkable thing about the
/ ial loo is hat Iyh
| engaged in it wear false legs or arms.
| They tecome experts by experimenting
with their own substitute limbs. The
| largest retail place in New York has two
partners One wears two wooden legs
| the other has false leg and false arm.
| The foreman is . one-lePged man and the
| clerks are minus elbow, finger, leg or rid
| The expression cork leg" was used by
| the veteran who made the mot on before
| the q. A. Z He said that The wooden
| legs now worn were very heavy and cork
ones should tie substituted. This is mis-
| take, as far as the wording goes There
never has been, and never viii be, such a
| thing as a cork leg. An artificialleS must
he very strong. Even metals are insecure.
| There must lie the strongest metals and
| most plant We cd used in a leg. But the
| term cork leg arose from the fact
that in many legs the calf is followed out
and filled with cork This makes it Tighter.
| But ar entlre 'COrk leg IL uiikllb" IL.
| LEARNING TO WALK.
The weight OF an artificial leg is about
three pounds. And a man. to walk on
his light wooden leg, requires practice
II is hanler than learning to ride bi.
cycle once learned he cannot fall TN.
less he is tripped up. He can moder.
! aJe his speed. SLOW up or 60 back, or dc
about rs he pleases.
| The trouble with a new wooden leg is
with Its lightness. A mans natural leg
weighs considerably more than three
pounds HIS new leg. therefore, until he
learns to find his center OF gravity, up
sets him. He is So very light GU that
| side.
| His most annoying trouble is with the
| knee joint as he tries to walk. The
science Of walking with wooden leg il
| to catch IL ON tie heel. When the foot
is lifted from the ground the spring il
most ridiculous fashion. People laugh
and a man becomes sensitive about walk
ing i'll the street
| when he has learned 10 walk he vii
not lift the leg SO high, and when the kne
| lies Out Cue neei caIcneS on the Sidewalk
and stops it.
The government once gave an order e
Dr. George F. Shrady TO fit artificia
limbs for twenty war veterans. Now, /
there is a man under the sun who Il
| pampercd and petted. who gets adrnira
ton and veneration, it is one-lesged
veteran. And il there is a man who feel