The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-01
REHAbILITATING
MANNED SOLDIERS
Canada Is Making Skilled Men OF
the Wounded.
HAS ideal PLANT FOR Work

Only a,514 Out of 1926 Who Have
Come Back Are CIassed as Wound
ed-Men Are Re-Educated to FL!
Positions Paying Higher Wages Than
They Received Before Going Into
Army.
Out of 1926 soldiers tat have re-
turned to Canada from her overseas
forces, only 3,514 are classified as
wounded in a report Of the Canadian
military hospitals commission. The
report is especially interesting TO
Americans because Canada's war prob
lem is in many ways similar to our
own.
over age" brought lone 1856; t.
der age. $50; tuberculosis, 60; insane,
1856; other causes" 1866. a sotaI
of 9,134 Of the 1896 were sent to hos
pitfalls or convalescent homes.
About half ,41S-are either unin-
jured or only % per cent disabled.
Those disabled from 2G to 90 Per cent
number 1923; disabled 81 to IS per
cent total 927: IS to 100 per cert,
1875.
Only 5,233 were native Canadians;
7,41S were born in the British isles.
They RehabiItate the Wounded.
In the Guelph Military Convalescent
hospital at Guelph, Ont, the Canadian
government has an almost ideal plant
for the rehabilitation Of wounded and
sick soldiers. This establishment was
formerly reformatory. 1t has a farm
of $50 acres, which is capable Of great
development, and has also woolen
mill, machine shop, broom shop, tailor
shop, woodwork shop, creamery, lime
kiln and equipment for many other in
dustries. The Ontario Agricultural
college adjoins this hospital, and its
teaching staff will help in the work CT
re-educating the men. An institution
such as this may take G man who is
wounded and who has never been any
thing but a day laborer and send him
out well and trained to work at trade
or a profession-Whatever he has the
brains to learn. Our own government
is now building and communicating
similar institutions for the care OF
wounded Americans.
One young man who has severe
scalp wound was farmer, teamSter
and general labOrer earning wages
averaging $50 a month. He has now
q commencing salary of $40 and is en-
gagged at much more agreeable occu-
patton. Another was lumberman
and accustomed to earn $3.50 a day,
but on returning to the woods he took
charge of an engine at 81 a day. An
other man who formerly made $50 now
gets $50. Ali of these men were very
badly wounded.
Private Henry Gerrish, who was a
teamster when he enlisted, lost his en-
tire left arm. He studied hard in the
convalescent hospital, passed the civil
service examination, and got an ap-
pointment as postmaster at Sl2o a
month. In addition he persuaded one
of the nurses in the convalescent nos
pital to become his wife.
A Few More Examples.
A metal polisher who made S6O a
month took course in commercial
work and is now earning $3.50 a
month as a bookkeeper. A private,
who was a blacksmith's assistant, took
q course in oxyacetylene welding and
now makes 800 a month. A general
laborer has become a wood carver and
is paid $40 a month by the Alaska
Bedding company.
81 always had liking for drawing
and felt that if l ever had the chance
would take up mechanical drawing"
wrote wounded prisoner who had
been a milk wagon driver for some
years at $12 a week. ~This opportun-
ity was afforded me at the Gray Nuns
Convalescent home at Montreal, where,
after six weeks, I am in a position TO
accept an appointment with an Initial
salary of $75 month"
Another man admits that he learned
more while in the hospital than he did
in 80 years Of experience as a me-
chanic.
"The fact is," he writes, "that at the
outbreak of the war I was earning
about So day at my trade. l am now
able to hold job as foreman in a
machine shop at more than twice the
salary was getting before"
In this way Canada is making out OF
her wounded skilled men to take the
place of those who are lost.