South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-24
Modern Miracles
By Abbie Farwell Brown
of The Vigilantes

While there's life there's hopei
Never was this saying SO true as
today.
The achievements of modern surg
cry. the ingenious appliances of
modern invention. the patient devo-
ton of teachers in the schools Of re-
construction. offer not only hope but
a useful future TO wounded heroes.
Many men who in an earlier age
would have been mere pensioners of
the country in whose service they
have become crippled, Will live TO
make her still more grateful,
Once upon a time the disa bled sol
der was regarded as human waste
product How that is changed, In
the present need of labor. and in
the shortage to come when peace is
declared, every man whole or par
TALLY so will be needed. Every
limb will be an asset, if trained 20
the limit of its power Though he
may not be able 10 carry on his old
trade just as before, even the most
seriously crippled soldier will find
place. He can either learn a new
Occupation, at good wages, or, still
better, learn another branch of his
old work, for which he can Mt him
self as specialist, if he is patient.
Patience That is what is need
ed; by the soldier by his friends.
and by Uncle Sam. who will be help
ing him. The need of workmen j.
50 great now, that a healthy cripple
should find no lack of employment
Of one sort or another. To carry
or" still, and play mans part in
the world, That is the hope open
10 50 per cent of the injured soldiers
who will be coming home. But they
will be wise not 10 choose a tempo
rary job at good wages. They must
look TO the future, and their friends
and families must encourage them
20 do SO. Let them train, as Uncle
Sam will help them 10 do: let them
be patient for a short time, and get
control Of the new conditions which
need not always hamper them as at
first. Let them look TO a permanent
job.
Ii is truly wonderful how soon an
almost utterly helpless man can be
come efficient A course of FIVE
weeks in hand training can give him
a handwriting free and individual.
After eight weeks or ten in the ma
chine shop he is ready for reem-
ployment In hardly more time than
il takes his wound 10 heal ne can
learn a new trade i'm which his
sound limbs will do the major work
Think of what men in France are
doing with two arms gone, They
are working in the fields, with the
aid Of those marvellous mechanical
arms. 10 which spade or scythe. or
other tool can be attached They
are doing sectarial work with
muscles of steel wire OF rawhide
connecting artificial fingers, wrists.
elbows. with the sound. living strong
muscles of their back and shoulders
Men whose natural legs are gone are
AT work briskly in machine shops
on tractors, in garages and electrical
plants Blind men are taking up a
score Of professions wherein they
have learned 10 see with their I'm
gers Men no longer robust after
training are found congenial jobs as
foremen or supervisors in factories
where they were once but unskilled
Ia bOrers, All beca use they have per
force begun life over again. on a
new basis; perhaps with A better
training and under sympathetic
guidance. with a mother-narion look
ing on, 10 whom they had hitherto
felt no particular kinship. She is
watching them now as her dear
sens They must make her proud
again as they did when they got
that fearful wound,