The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-14
HELPED THIS BOY
State Reform School Straight
ened His Legs
Then Gave Him Education and
q Trade.

When Jimmy Clarke was eleven
years old, he and his brother quar-
relied. Jimmy was cut deep with an
axe. and walked like an old man. His
legs weren't parallel like most legs.
One formed an acute angle, instead of
being straight. There's an old adage
about someone finding mischief for
idle hands to do. Jimmy couldn't
boys laughed at him. He wandered
aimlessly about Junction City where
he lived. He got into mischief, and
was sent to the state reform school in
North Topeka, charged with vagrancy.
Jimmy was sent to H. w. Charles,
superintendent of the institution. who
asked him the regular questions
How old are you, SOM"
Fifteen" responded Jimmy, sulk-
lily.
what grade are you in?''
"Never been to school,"
Jim Clarke was the age when most
boys are sophomores in high school.
He couldn't read-couldn't write
DR.. Charles admitted it was a tough
proposition.
He told Jimmy he would do the best
he could for him, and the boy limped
painfully way.
Didn't Even Know the Alphabet.
Many Of the young prisoners at the
reform school are mentally deficient.
Jimmy knew less than most. He
could shoot craps and play poker. but
he didn't know "a" from 'b."
DR.. Charles asked the school physi-
clan if it were possible to straighten
it might be done. They investigated
the matter. examined the boy, and
agreed to send him to Rosedale.
The state sends wards Of Kansas
penal institutions to the state hospital
free of charge. The superintendent
tn1 tho 0norofinn Wnr11d ha
painful. and wondered II he were
willing.
'You bet" said the boy.
Father objected at First.
But his father objected. He didn't
believe anything could be done. He
thought his boy was meant to be lame,
and would be lame until the day he
died. He didn't have any faith in new
tangled operations. He shook his
head Superintendent Charles plead
ed in vain.
Jimmy had been sent to the school
by the Juvenile court. The Judge Of
the court in his county was called into
the conference. He interceded in be-
father was finally won over. and gave
| a grudging consent.
Jimmy was allowed to go to Rose
dale. He was given tender care for
| the first time in his life. The joint
| in his limb was broken. straightened.
| and set. Weeks Of pain passed by
One day Jimmy was told he could
get up. He had forgotten how to
walk. He felt as II he were treading
on air Then he discovered what had
| happened. Crooked legs had been
made straight.
| Marches Like . Soldier Now.
That was three years ago. Jimmy
can read now, write. and figure. He
| is in the third grade. And he walks
| like a soldier. He does guard duty
at the institute, and marches with his
head up.
Jimmy wants to be a shoemaker,
| and is learning the trade. His younger
brother is at the institution. and il
also learning to make shoes. When
their terms expire, they expect to form
| a partnership. The manual training
| department at the reform school in
cludes a fully equipped shoemaker's
| shop.
| There isn't a prouder boy at the in
| stitute than Jim as he marches across
the campus. It's one of the many
| stories Of the things the state has done
| for its juvenile wards. There's some
thing else it does for them-protecti
them doesn't release their names tc
the general public. Clarke isn't the
real name of the boy whose legs were
crooked. It's locked away in the rec
ords In DR.. Charters big books
r. n