The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-12
SeIf-support for the Cripple
BY frederic j. Haskin

essaaas7oto1oeoe0tssoS.aror1s1t1s
be able 70 climb up and DO work upon
house roofs as safely as before his
war experience.
Special Tools.
Men who have an inventive turn of
mind are giving attention TO the Ce-
signing of special forms OF machin-
cry and tools which Will OFFSET physf-
cal detects. More men have lost
their right hands than their left. Sol
q slight modification Of the usual pat
terms for various implements is beng
made to overcome this lack. The ms
geriess man wifi SOON be able to se-l
cure planes, saws and chisels De-
vfsed especially for him. In NUMBER
of instances crippled men themse1ves
are al work in shops making tools to
meet the needs of comrades who have
been similarly unfortunate.
Because the majority OF Crippled
men naturally Will turn to occupa-
Iti0ns calling for little or no physical
exertion. special efforts are made ror
those who prefer the active work to
which they had been accustomed. But
"a large number of c0nvaiescent soi-l
der sare planning to enter INTO c1eri-
cal work and are deyotfng rneIr. Con
vaIescent stage to study along tnose
lines Many of the Red Cross nurses
have had sumcfent training in these
lines to start them effectively and
many volunteer teachers are contrib
uting their services.
A number of the hospital wards
have the appearance OF school rooms.
sketch boards and portable tables IN
front Of the men afford writing space.
Blackboards In the center OF the
room present lessons and the teach
er goes from one patient to another.
guiding stfftened fingers and aiding
them In every onceivable way 10 the
desired progress.
The materials for this work have
been secured chiefly through private
donations An American typewrtting
manufactures last month shipped
dozen typewrfterH to Paris to be used
for the instruction OF convalescent
soldiers in this useful occupation
The number Of men who are trying to
learn typewriting indicate that the
girl typfst in Europe may soon be
supplanted by the war cripple but as
women are taking mems places as
street car conductors, railway porters.
and other fields not open to crippled
men, perhaps the exchange will bring
no undue hardship.
For Blind Soldiers
The Thousands OF blind men pre-
sent an even more serious problem
than do the crtpples to those who
are bent upon aiding themto be self
supporting. Last March the French
goNernment set aside large build
ing az a refuge and school for blind
soldiers In which they beTained I'M
some Of the Industries open to them
despite their condition. The first
teacher was himself blind mani
o. 10
system of reading and Writing and
skilled in . number OF handicrafts-
Before the shops were in readiness
for work he put the most hopeless OF
the men to work at brush-makih
Within a few hours the $psycholog-I
zeal atmosphere of the bufldfngl
seemed changed. The men lost their
despondeney when confronted with
the possibility OF being useful. Now
working industriouSly each day at
such occupations as basket-making,|
chair Gaming and light carpentry. In
addition, some typewrfters, specially
designed for the use Of the blind. |
have been secured which will add
another possibility. A regular sched-
ule Of ten hours shop work is now
in effect.
The mon are increasing In skill
and the HfO0uCtS or tR9AE i&DO1 VIII
soon render them self-supporting.
Most OF them are spending tehir lets-
ure in mastering the Braf1le sys-
tenn OF reading so that this Measure
will be within their reach. An ac-E
count Of this work for the blind sol
dters In France was given at the
international Congress for the Blind
held in San Francisco last month.
As result. many contributions have
been sent from America. not q few
coming from blind people who have
themselves had their darkness light
ened by similar Instructions.
Work OF Crippled Girl. 4
The problem Of rendering Grip
pies salf-supporting In spite Of their
physical handicaps, Is receiving CON
sideration from educators, physicians
and sociologtsts as we'll as by gov-E
eFnment authorities In all OF the |
more progressive countries. 1t ts
claimed that In some respects the
provision made for crippled children
In a Minnesota institution fs superior
to that anywhere else in, the world. |
1t was brought about chiefly through |
the indetattgab1e preservence OF Miss
Jessie Hasktns. q slender crippled
girl. who appeared before the state
&C.