Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-20
TEACHING THE CRIPPLES
y FREDERJO j! HASKIN

WASH NOTION. July 1s.-eThe frst
American institution for training Grip
Piled soldiers has just been established
IN New York city. A private philan-
bank. started II with a check for $50,-
ooo, and the war council of the Red
Cross Is to carry 1t on. Already all
sorts Of working equipment has been
installed, from typewriters and sewing
machines to earpentors tools and
broom straw. SO that whom our first
detachment Of crippled soldiers and
sailors are released from the base hos
ritals new future will be awaiting
them, In the meantime. the school will
De used for Industrial cripples, of
Whom there is u startling number,
This is tho first war In which the
state or society has recognized Its full
duty toward the derelicts of battle.
before, the state felt that II had dis
charged all responsibility when IT paid
ability. but to-day that does not suffice.
a pension Of Sa5 a month does not
compensate man for the loss of
remunerative occupation, or even an
nnren'unerative enc. IL It happened 10
be congenial You cannot pay a man
in coin for the loss af a congepial oc-
cunation, which is one OF the greatest
gifts sf life.
There was a British soldier sent home
shortly after the beginning of the. war
WIN his right arm gone. During the
entire period OF his oonvalescence In
the hosnital, this man had, as Huckle-
berry Finn would say. a well-developed
case of the "fantodH." The nurses
racked their brains for material to
cheer him up. but he remained con
sistently gloomy, Finally one OF them,
succeeded In gaining his confidence.
IL amt that | mind helm wounded"
he told her. but Amt no more good
for einck maxim. 1t kinda sounds silly
TO say II, but did love TO mako those
little clocks"
FRENCH ALWAYS THINKING
UP SOME NEW SCHENES
The French were the frst to under
take the business of re-cducating their
crippled soldiers TO MI up the gaps In
industry, The French are always
thinking up new schemes to take care
of their INDECENT and poor. Moreover.
some say II was the French who FIRST
introduced technical and commercial
education. although the Germans quickly
grabbed the idea well as ting credit
for 1t. The first institution for war
cripples was opened In Lyons, France,
in 1914. The buildings were contrib,
uted by the town, and the funds raised
by popular subscription, while the
Minister of War agreed to pay about
70 cents day for each soldier.
This was 80 cents less than the gov
eminent paid tn men who stayed in
tnelr own homes, tho deductton being
made on the grounds that the school
was in the nature Of hospital. The
men did not see the government line
of reasoning. however. and there was
considerable srumhiink. which the
Mayor Of I.yont diSpeiled by allow
ms each man 20 cents from the funds
OF the institution aa long as II was
possible to spare H. Besides this the
men enjoyed the profits from the sale
OF the goods they manufactured.
France tried several plans before It
finally adopted the technical boarding
school as the most satisfactory one
First. the government paid the Grip
pied soldier certain allowance while
he lived in his own home and learned
a trade by becoming an apprentice In
some workshop in his ncighborhood
This did not turn out we'll at all. He
had the constant example Of men work
ing without handicap before him,
and he soon became discouraged,
INCULCATE NEW PSYCHOLOGY
Az WE'LL AS NEW TRADE
The second plan provided that the
man should also live In his own home
but should attend vocational school
which would teach him trade and
also serve him substantial meal In
the middle OF the day. 40 that he would
not have to waste time In going home.
This PLAZA was better than the first. but
not SO efficient as the third, where the
and was under the constant super