Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-30
"BLUE GOWNS" TRAIN
DISABLED SOLDIERS
Organization Of Women Who Enroll
10 Teach Soldiers New Trades
and Incentives In Life.
INSTILL A BETTER SPIRIT
Arc Subdivision Of Medical Corps
Composed Of Tcnchcr, and Nurses
Who Serve "Ovcr There"

WASHISGTOB. June 29.-Tcach-
crs, nurses and laborers, too, are the
"blue gowns" OF the army medical
corps, at work now in the hospitals
Of the United states and over
there"
"Reconstruction aides" Is their Of
fetal name bat the cherry hue Of
their distinctive uniform has already
won a handler name for tho special
corps OF seventy women whose mem
bership treats and teaches among
the MANNED soldiers brought back
from the battle front Theirs Is the
work of coaxlng back the wasted
muscles ana disused limbs OF
wounded men, and later by patient
tutoring instllling deftness In new
arts and vocatiOns which the hospital
schools are planning for the returned
soldier.
Most Of the blue gownH' were re-
cruited from the instruction staffs Of
manual training schools and civilian
hospitals, whore experienced work
ers were found available.
Reside table young fellow In
Uniform was carving conventional
flower border on wooden picture
frame" says an official description
OF their work. THE design was his
own and the work was his first piece
lie was inclined to be clumsy be
cause he was using his left hand! a
blue gown was ready to guide and
advise him, The use OF this man q
right hand has been permanently
lost. It was thought by him at one
time that he was handicapped for
life as a money maker, because his
successful profession had been that
of mechanical craftsman. So 1t
is that he Is wood carving, not as a
possible vocation. but to train his
left hand. Not only are his fingers
Becoming nimble by slow degrees
but his mind Is at the same time w.
cupied. AS he becomes adept In lett
handed carving, he IL preparing for
the time when he will again begin to
draft. this time with his left hand,
This mental concentration upon n
new task Is believed by doctors and
psychologists to be valuable an
tidote for encouragement
at the same open-Air workshop,
which is the yeranda OF hospital,
one man was intent upon knitting n
scarf He had chosen worsted OF
coral pink, and the knitting was be-
Ing done upon wooden frame. one
group OF men. temporarily crippled.
were carving designs upon wooden
blocks. and several were learning
to weave upon hand looms"
Typewriting and basketry, and also
the childhood lore OF the spelling
book and the arithmetic are some OF
the coDvalescent activities which the
"blue gowns direct. In the treat
ment rooms inside. they were guiding
electrical appliances and administer
ing the complicated series OF treat
ments that perfect the restoration
work started by the surgeon at the
front. There is large field for their
work among soldiers who have been
imprisoned for weeks in casts and
bandages after wound has been
sustained, and the army provides
through the blue gowns" the trained
operators.
Since the corps was organized nm
der Miss Marguerite Sanderson last
January. pay and status for Its mem
bers have been established. They re-
ceive $50 n month while on duty in
the United States, and $50 a month
H. they go abroad. They are housed
at the hospitals, or allowance OF
t62.50 n month additional Is made
them for quarters outside Age limits
have been fixed from 20 to 40 years.