Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-22
FRENCH INSTITUTION
IS MAKING OVER MEN
Remarkable Work for Regeneration
Of Ranks of Stricken, Crippled
and Manned Soldiers.
AT ST. MAURICE, NEAR PARIS
Buildings and Grounds Occupy Area
Probably Greater Than Central
Park I'm New Iork-EnormouS
School Is Hive of Workshops.


PARIS. November 2i-Thc French
government recently gave facilities to
the Associated Press and a party of
foreign journalists to inspect some of
the remarkable work which is being
done for the regeneration Of the ranks
Of stricken. crippled, manned and APP
parently hopeless wounded who are
borne back from the lighting line at
Champagne.
Under the escort of French officers
the party was taken to ST. Maurice. "a
short distance outside Paris, where
wounded are brought after the physical
cares of surgery have been given to
he nurscd into convalcsccncc, diverted
from the loss OF limbs. and gradually
educated into some new line which
recrcateS them into useful members of
society. 81. Maurice is OF vast dimcn-
sions. the buildings and grounds oc-
cupTing an area probably greater than
Central Park III New York. The build
ings stretch as far AS the eye can see
low, two-story stone structures. so that
the cripples are not climbing long
stairs, and arc near tAc gardens
everywhere abundant with flowers and
pants.
Two hundred more wounded arc
coming" said nm attendant. as the of
iicer led the way into the first build
ing. the receiving ward.
Here they are said the officer
pointing to 200 large glass photo
graphic plates, ranged and num- ,rcd
in a case.
The photographs Of the 200 wounded
had been sent ahead. the plates show
ing with precision the exact wound and
it's process Of healing. some OF them
being Nray plates.
See this one" said the officer, hold
ing up a large glass plate, showing the
side profile OF wounded soldier with
IL gaping bullc; hole back OF the ear
and around the hole little suturcs or
cracks OF - skull.
1T is not fractured 3kull-that
would hc hopeless" sal, the officer
NO, that man can hc made over"
But this receiving ward was merely
INC first stage in Il sort of ascending.
scale. which improved the wounded
mans condition a; each stage until he
was finally landed III the school where
he was made over into "a condition more
useful. 10 himself and society than he
vas teforc II WAS to this school that
chief interest was directed
ENORMOUS SCHO1I. Is HIVE OF
WORKSHOPS OF ALL KINDS
rms enormous school at St Maurice
is q hiH" Of workshops OF all kinds
snocmakins shops. machine shops
auto repair shops. blacksmith shops.
with blazing f""gcS, ana clothes maxi
ms shops. and In" workmcn were Che
wounded soldiers from the firing line.
minus AN arm, leg or eye. on which
they had before depended. but now
launched ou Il new line which did not
need that arm. Leg or eye. AS a whole.
II was as cnicicn; II body of worlimcn
as one would find in any wcll-rcgulatcCi
factory The men had smiling faces:
thos" working i'm groups were chatting
and laughing
Attention was also given to the fine
arts "nd tn" professions and here also
were schools for sculpture and painting.
and architecture, SO that legIess OF.
nrmlcss or "y"lcss soldiers, who had :,
taste for III" aesthetic. could he led
into some new line. which did not re-
Guirc the use Of III. lost member one
- lIc-iaccd young soldier his left hand
gone near the elbow. was dcIicatcly
modelling a Venus of Milo with his
remaining hand
The soldier architects were makin.,
designs, with hlucprints Of ..ird.rs
arches and columns. ana calculating,
the strength Of walls ana roofs All
/ of these men had something missinp.
/ hu, their work was so chosen as to
make absolutely negligible the lost
/ member, and to make what remained
( OF their members entirely efficient for
, inns particular work. Near the soldier
architects were rnngcd two long lines
OF S"i"!cr typ"writcrs. men who had
'"St root or some other member. but
whose hands mad now been taught Il
Shii 'hcy HAD not known before in
rapid typcwritine.