Evening star., 1914-07-12


That the only ideal worth while is the prevention of
dcformtcs in children is increasingly apparent as the
existing conditions become more thoroughly known
This may appear like truism; but it must not be over
looked that immense amount of money, millions of
dollars, is devoted annually by the public to the
upkecp of asyuns for crippes. And the trustees and
employees of these institutions in cases manifest
great enthusiasm for the propaganda OF those who
look forward to the day when preventive methods will
be invoked to heal all but the hopelessly ncurable
W7HILE the inspiring example of Kansas in this par
w ticuar suggests the goal for other States to at
tan it not be lost sight of that public interest and
sympathy necessary for the fostering of temporary
paliatives, such the work of the Crippled Chdrens
East Side Free School in New York City, for example.
This is splcnddly conceived philanthropy by
number of noble While the school materials
and teachers furnished by the Board of Education,
the additional support necessary IS supplied by women
Existing conditions recognized and the aim IS etfec-
lively help the handicapped. The two hundred and
thirteen children in the school driven to and from
their homes mornings and evenings in busses maintained
by the women. There workroom, in which boys and
girls fourteen taught garment making, en-
broidery, crocheting fine and plain sewing, and other
useful employment. grown woman, if handl-
capped may apply at the workroom, and if accepted by
the physician may enroll and be taught some kind Of
practical work that leads to earning basis. NO
restrictions imposed as to nationality and age.
In commenting some of the obstacles confronting
those seeking to aid the handicapped in industrial
way, DR.. Benjamin p Riley, assistant orthopedic sur
geon of the school, said:
"The modern business competing in the business
world under the conditions that obtain today has too
many problems of competition to face to be willing to
compicate them by extending sympathy to his en-
ployees because they are handicapped.
@If employers willing at all to give the latter
chance they do not pay the wages as they give
to normal workers Therefore it is unfair to train the
handicapped fill positions that will not be readily
open to them. After ALL the business whose aim
is the highest proficiency should not be too harshly
criticized if sentiment is largely excluded from his realm
@In these circumstances the problem to be to
provide training for crppes that will enable them to
produce salable work of high class and then to afford
outlet for these products. AS providing homes for
cripples except the of those who quite help
less, it would that trade schools and workshops
desirable, this nsures the crippled boy
girl share in the normal life of his home. This
safeguards their spirit of independence and relieves the
community of an unnecessary burden"
WE have in the foregoing suggestion OF the appall-
w ing handicap shared alike by the crippled and
by those seeking help them For the ncurabes there
appears to be no other way but for all those for whom
the miracles of modern surgery hold out hope very
different situation exists. The following incident illus
traes the true nwardncss of the prevention of dcfor
mites in an ambitious New York City boy, whose
has attracted attention in medical circles the country
over
at is with happy heart that 1 now look every
the eye, he wr1tes "and say that have straight
feet and able to walk good any of them
II born with club feet in 1892 and what sui
fcred up the time fifteen years old in the way of
being rdiculed, people laughing at the way walked
(on my heels to my sensitive nerves more than L
could bear. Unable to join in the sports with other
boys 1 sat in the house all day. and often became
discouraged that 1 wished l was dead.
"Aftcr graduating from school tried to get posi-
ton, and though mentally capable of filling the office