South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-27
Making Craftsmen of Disabled Soldiers
BY MADGE ARTHUR.

There closed recently in New
York the Thirteenth Annual Ext
bition OF the National society of
Craftsmen" 1t had been open
since Dec. 5. and had attracted an
unusually large number of visitors.
The increased attendance over for
mer years is amply accounted for
in the potency of that one word
reconstruction.
It is a subject to which the at
tention of the entire world is now
directed. There was needed but
glance at pictures Of half ruined
cathedrals. hung here and there on
1.-THE walls. TO Undue a visitor with
a realization of what a recovery.
or regaining, of the wondrous
craftsmanship of the Middle Ages
in glass, wood, mosaics and metals,
may mean to the world of today.
And just such a recovery was what
this exhibition aimed to proclaim.
1t pointed boldly. one might say
auda ciously, to the possibility of re-
storing or reconstructing much OF
1.-THE Thirteenth and sixteenth CEN
fury art-work ruthlessly shattered
| by the Huns.
Reconstruction was, as / have
said. the inspiring slogan of the
show. but its application had a dou-
ole significance-the reconstruction
not only of damaged art treasures,
but of shattered human vessles.
do not know how familiar the
term vocational therapeutics" may
he 10 the average reader, but it was
lone a visitor TO this exhibition was
bound 10 hear. A delightful little
lady in black undertook TO explain
| its full significance to me.
I'VE should be grateful to Can
ada" she said. "for pointing to us
the true way of helping manned and
wounded soldiers, not only toward
a recovery of their health. but to-
ward recovery of a confidence in
their ability TO regain the power OF
self support and usefulness. At
first no thought beyond that of en-
ldeavoring to amuse. and shorten the
hours OF cCnvalescents, existed in
the military hospitals Of Canada;
cards, dominoes and other games
were provided. and a general air OF
lI'stlessness prevailed, which GER
tainly did not tend 70 restore
healthy energies or arouse in the
minds OF the patients any sense of
their future obligations in a work
Ia-day world. Then came an at
tempt to discover the bent" OF
each soldiers mind toward his i'm
mediate future. and 10 learn, II
possible. 10 what task each was BEST
fitted. This was the province OF
vocational therapeutics. which has
row been introduced into the hos
pitfalls that are receiving our own
wounded soldiers"
/ ON tables in one CT the rooms
were displayed a number OF articles
made By soldier-patients ~ General
Hospital No. 8. near Railway. n ].
There were "door-stOps." consisting
Of ordinary bricks covered with dec
Iorative creton: there were mats
made Of corn-husSs. there were
iamusing toys-one miniature
steam roller-made out of the va
rious little tin-Cans with which
housewives are familiar. There
were attempts. more or less crude.
OF course. at decorative objects in
combination OF brass and leather,
land there was a large number OF
little things for the manufacture Of
which only a jack-knife and pot
of paint were needed.
One soldier has shown true ar
tistic craftsmanship in the maxi x
OF a little Merry Co Round" with
the cutest OF tiny horses for dolls
TO ride.
But surely, / ventured 20 say 10
ia rather well-knOwn physician who
ichanced TO be present. "One OF these