The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-25

and thought he would never be able to work again. It did seem so. He could not dress himself or cut his own food. His self-reliance was gone. At the bu- reau he was met with bracing con- tempt. You've got two legs and two eyes and strength. Why, you might have lost both hands. Then you would have been in a fix.''
 The typesetter was sent to a farmer on trial. A month later he was seen by the manager of the bureau driving a four-in-hand.
 Often 1t is difficult to get a man into self-reliant frame of mind. If .h he is suing some company for damages he be- lieves that he will get more if he can plead that he is unable to work. While waiting weeks, months and even years for the trial. he is acquiring the habit of not working
 A man who loses an arm is industrially more seriously handicapped than one who lacks a leg. Almost any trade calls for two hands. There are possibilities open, however. Such man can serve as a telephone operator in small private ex- change, or as theatre usher or mes senger, not to mention tending a news stand or serving as timekeeper or watch- man. one-armed man Is one of the tel egraph operators on a great daily paper in New York. Receiving newspaper copy is one of the hardest tasks in the teleg- rapher's trade outside of work in Wall street.
 The disability of old age is the heaviest handicap of all. Two years ago many men who had held steady jobs for de- cades lost their work. A clerk wfo has labored for 30 years in a house dealing in wool Is practically unable to get out of the rut.
 E. For such men places as errand boys. elevator operators or hall porters are sometimes secured. The choice is lim- tied and 1t is depressing to see men who have held responsible posts reduced to work that is such a contrast to their past.
 Special employment bureaus are not a sufficient solution of the problem. The man with one leg, the woman with hip disease, the girl with heart trouble--these cannot compete on an equality with the able-bodied. Yet they may often be cap able of good work and worthy of more than the economic waste of mere depend- ence To overcome the handicap of phys teal and mental defects special training
 is needed. By becoming expert in some trade they will not have to earn a pre- carious living as newsboys or drift into institutions. 4sN M
 Two years ago 200 factories were can vassed. Many excellent openings were found for the handicapped in work which permits the operator to labor while seated and does not require unusual strain In- stitutions for training the blind. and the deaf and dumb. have already shown their usefulness. Similar methods will suc- ceed with the handicapped. Factory work may seem undesirable. but the drudgery of fixed hours is offset by the number of light tasks that can be performed while seated
 Among occupations open to the han dicapped apprentice. the artistic jew elry and leather trades are foremost The work Is done while seated. The materials are light. The shops are we'll lit and sanitary and the wages and hours good. The artisan has an oppor- tunity to use creative talent. The manufacture of flowers and feathers Is not so highly paid. unless the worker becomes expert at making roses or os- trich feathers.
 In plano factory the small psrts