New-York tribune., 1906-11-30
THE STORY OF WARD L."
How the Crippled and Aged Were Trans
formed by Work.

The Story OF Ward L." which is concluded in
the current number OF Charities" reads like a
fair, tale. Ward L is the ward for the crippled
in the city Home for the Aged and Infrm at
Blaclwells Island-rnen whose physical condition
is such that they have not been employed in any
of the institution workshops or schemes OF labor.
It's story began in September 1904, when the chap
lain found sixty sitting there doing nothing
the very picture of desoaton." There has coma
about in tie process Of time what he calls the
transit guration Of Ward l." and all has taken
place through the Introduction of work Tie eX-
pertinent initiated by the committee on employ
ment for the infirm Of the State Charities Ala
Association has now spread far beyond Ward L.
First it carried to other wards, then to the
Brooklyn division Of the Home. then 20 the new
York City fam colony on Staten Island And
everywhere the result has been the same. Self
respect and cheerfuness took the place Of hope
less dependence. Often improved health resulted
from the changed mental state and in quite
number Of the individual was enabled to
his her place In the world. or to be-
come partially if wholly self-supporting. Three
have been placed on the pay roll Of the city home
one works in the machine shop and receives sal
AIRY OF $50 q month with maintenance "a high sal
airy for the is!andp two others are salarSs order
lies former inmate of Ward l. writes;
! came 10 Ward / in 1903, nearly helpless with
Iocomqlnr at&xia. and almost beside myself with
grief after many troubles one day Miss Fowler
was sent 10 persuade me to Try my hand at bas-
ket weaving, and after urging | started a
basket Tor her. just to please her. although I did
rama ana the basket grew became more inter-
ested, and brain seomed clearer every night
M hands and arms trembled less and less /
used them. and can now control them much
that / can hone razors again. I used TO be
In 1905 I was able 10 leave the Home on Black
wells Island, and am boarding in New York.
] earn about 81 g month honing raZors and making
my board, one of children is living with her
uncle the other IS chiidrens home We
hope some day to have our own home with them
again.
one man used his money. earned by knitting
shawls and wrstlets. 10 buy delicacies for son in
the tuberculosis infirmary OF the Metropolitan Hos
paI, and later paid for the sons burial beside his
mother. In addition, he paid a weekly premium on
the life Insurance policy of another He is
b. his earnings. he may be able 20 support himself
Some inmates have worked to buJ artificial limbs.
Many have used their earnings to repay debts of
gratitude. anu last Easter one OF the crippled bead
ward. one OF the men buys tobacco every week o
give TO Of his very old and infirm neighbors
Y no unable to work and quite without
money and friends. 4 who died recently left
making. he said. for the committee token OF
his gratitude
The work began with the making OF bead chains
and belts. and after the had acquired some
skill IN the use of their fingers they taught to
KNIT make rdlI2 baskets and hats. and even
Smyrna rugs. The blind men were taught TO knit
on peESed wooden frames. At the Staten Island
cottages gardening was introduced. and com
Inlttee thinks that this line of work can be de-
NeIoped with much pleasure and profit to the work
The committee incudes Mrs George Stephenson
I'iMhY, chairman; NJ IS clara Irwin. secretary:
James Speyer No lo5 East 22d Room T02
treasurer. Mrs. Harvey e Fisk and Miss Emma n
Ireland. 80