Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-27

HaSkin

army type and in the ordinary course of eventsgas
events went before the war; of them would
have come to know the others. - ~
The first musketeer, to whom the nurses have
given the name of "Porthos" is typically repre-
sentative of the regular American army of pre-
war days. He might even be described as "a hard
boiled" He went to France with the first detach-
ments, and his name appeared the earliest
American casualty lists.
The second musketeer whose affection has nfa
subdued his impetuosity good nature is called
ID Artagnan." He is well built smooth faced
boy of eighteen or nineteen who went over" with
the RalnboW division of National Guard troops.
The third, who suggests something of both
Aramis and Athos belongs to that group of Ameri-
cans who disdained commissions and entered the
ranks. Evidently a college man, grave and
thoughtful and possessed of delicate refinement
his most noticeable characteristic is his affection
for the other two. 60
These men are constantly together. They pace
the corridors, or walk about the gardens They
snare their secrets they share the gifts and little
luxuries which sent given to them. Each
musketeer seems to live for the others.
AS soon the United States went into the war
even before American soldiers had been landed in
France, it was realized by the war department.
and the public, that it the nations duty to-
ward the soldiers who disabled to recon
struct and fit them for places in civic life AS
with many other things, they had precedent for
this in the experiences of England, France and
Germany. Those countries learned to see in the.
wounded soldier civic asset rather than liabil-
ity.
In Germany, for example, after the first few
months of fighting, there a demand on the
part of several newspapers for the government to-
establish homes and asylums where the returned
soldiers might be retained for the rest of their
days in reproductive idleness. The government
however, quick to the folly of such a.
course. They stated that it would be unjust to
both the soldier and the state to dismiss him with
a home and pension. They said that the disabled
soldier should be allowed to take his place in in
dustry far his injuries permitted. voca-
tiOnal schools for disabled troops established
all over the empire. AS result more than ninety
three per cent of soldiers trained in these institu-
lions have been able to earn living.
The same has been true of England and
France. The thought of pauperism was repel-
lent to the soldiers of both these countries, and
they eagerly applied themselves to the learning OF
crafts or to the development of their old ones,
under the changed conditions Accounts of the
remarkable work accomplished in this direction at
the St. Dunstan's hospital for blind, London and
the hospitals blind soldiers Paris have often
been published. -
Reconstruction work at Hospital No. Z has~not
yet been perfected. When the Laboratories
and workshops have been erected and equipped an
effort will be made to fit each patient to resume
his vocation of before the Where this is inn
possible, new vocations will be taught ThereSare
already classes in typewriting, hammock weaving,
chair Gaming, mattress and rug making, telephone
operation, farming, piano tuning and massage:
Recreation is a very considerable factor in re-
construction To keep the blinded soldier in the
happiness so necessary to his new education he
must be given plenty of outdoor exercise Asso-
citation football is favorite sport of the patients,
and they play it with a remarkable degree sof
skill 1t would be very hard for a casual unlock
er to know that the players are blind. They are
also fond of walking and are taken on long walks
through the woods behind Roland Park.
General hospital No. is in command of Colo
mel James Bordlay. When it has been completed
there will be provision for about hundredspal
tents