The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-14
BROKEN BACK
CLUB FORMED
Membership Limited 10 Those
With Fractured Splnes.
MEMBERS CHEER EACH OTHER
They Circulate JuIlliy ThToughouiihs Hos
pitals : Ono Hundred and TWsnty Names
Now on The List.
MEMBERS CHEER EACH OTHER

Minneapolis. MINI. July AL. A. ID.
Wilson. now lying at the city hospital
with an Injured spine. which has paralyzed
him from his waist to his toes. has Joined
the "Brocken Back club.
This organization has now 100 members.
and Its roll is rapidly increasing. 1t was
founded last December by James w. Pat
terson. a newspaper man, known from
the Pacific coast to New York city.
Mr.. Patterson has been lying In a water
bed at the county hospital in Chicago six
months. He received his injury by fall.
and his body is encased In a plaster cast.
His mind is clear and he has free use OF
his hands and arms
Mr.. Patterson's brain was too active
and healthy In tone TO permit him 10 lie
In bed and bemoan his fate. lie found
that there were several other patients
In the hospital who were suffering from
a similar aiiliction. He found out their
names and the numbers OF their wards
from the doctor and nurses. and wrote
each of them a letter. A correspondence
was started which proved interesting to
all who participated In II, and from them
the idea OF the club sprans.
At first the membership was confined
10 hospitals In Chicago, but the club now
has members in New York. Boston, Phila-
delphia. Cleveland and Minneapolis. The
doctors approve the plan. as they say
that the occupa tion OF the minds OF their
patients over the AFFAIRS of the club gives
them a more cheerful spirit and tends
TO prolong their lives.
QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.
The constitution and bylaws OF the
club were drawn up by Mr.. Patterson,
and contain unique features. Here are
some OF them
This club shall be known as the
Broken Back club OF America.
mo one shall be allowed to become a
member who Is able to move a muscle
In his body below the l1th rib.
Race. sex. age. previous condition of
seryitude-police or otherwise-turpitude
or Jrality shall be no bar to nor pre-
MUM upon membership.
The president Of the club shall be the
member whose paralysis extends to the
highest rib.
Every member shall write a letter
once a week which shall be sent 10 the
secretary, and by that officer forwarded
10 every other member. The letters must
be cheerful In tone. and any new amuse-
ment or occupationssuggested TO sufferers
u
coined"
AT present the members OF the club
are considering whether or not they Will
adopt the following as part of the con-
stitution:
Death TO the healthy and strong is a
disaster. Death TO us is blessing. When
a member OF the club dies IL shall there
fore be the duty OF the other members TO
rejoice, not 10 sorrow"
DIVERSION FOR AFFLICTED.
That the affairs OF the club are diver
sion TO It's members there seems 20 be
no doubt. At present a patient In the
Alevian Brothers hospital in Chicago and
one in Bellevue hospital. New York, are
playing q game OF chess by mail The
thought OF the moves occupies the mind
of each for several hours each day. The
idea Of disease-they have little physical
sufYering-is taken entirely away from
their minds. and they forget themselves
I'm the game.
Two patients In different wards in the
Cook County hospital play double dummy
whist every day by means of missives
sent by attendants and convalscents. But
the letters are the chief delight OF the
members OF the club. Firm friendships
have been brought about by this cores
pondence.
Some OF the letters present problems to
be solved which are or interest 10 many
OF the members. and give them oppor-
tunities for study and for individual re-
plies The following came from the
Pennsylvania hospital at Philadelphia:
Having the ace. queen, jack and two
small trumps In whist. is II ever permis-
sible TO lead the Jackr'
This led to a general discussion among
the whist players OF the club.
An interesting discussion was started
In, tai N Cleveland
Her letter was as follows:
II can no longer kick nor dance, but
who is the best actor on the stage to-
day7"
The answers included all names from
Eddie Foy to Sir Henry Irving.