Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06
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follow at homo with bu. little to
start on.
in addition to the trades mentioned.
there arc house painting. harness max
Ing and tinkcrinE. taught in some OF
the largest schools as at Milan Those
who can find work in the large indus
trial towns Of the north arc trained as
chauffeurs or mechanics.
All the schools have employment
committees. In cases where men go
back to the large cities. employers have
been found anxious to help. The Ital-
Ian Electro-Tcchnical Society, for in
stance. publishes in its official gazette
the names of firms who can employ
cripplcs. the positions open and what
types of cripples may Ill them.
Farming is. OF course. one OF the
most important occupations OF all
This instruction Is particularly neces-
sary TO the Italian peasant because in
some parts OF Italy modern methods
arc almost unknown. The school at
Milan. the largest and most scientific
or ALL Is planning large farm colony:
Turin offers courses at a ncighborinE
agricultural institute. Palermo, in
Sicily, has made the greatest progress
in agricultural instruction.
PALERMO CRIPPLE SCHOOL
FILLED WITH FARMERS
Ninety per cent OF the men at the
Palermo cripple school come from
farming occupations. Most Of them are
utterly nnacquainted with machinery,
and arc still using the old piows de-
scribed by Virgil. II is no easy matter
, &c persuade these men TO give up their
traditional peasant customs: II needs
! long friendly talks in their own rough
dialect. But once they arc won over.
many little holding on the ancient
and picturesque island has a chance Of
producing AN income such $ il never
knew before. At Palermo. they arc
convinced. The schools success has
been SO remarkable that the National
Federation OF Committees for the As
sistance OF Blind. Lame and Crippled
Soldiers has offered a subsidy of slo,-
600 to any institution which Will cstab :
liah an active working agricultural
branch.
! OF course, there is still much to be
| done for crippled soldiers. for tho
schools are as yet in the large cities
only, and all. except those at Naples
and Palermo. arc in the north. The
I work. so lar, has bcrn done hy
provinces.
!. The prominent people in a province
have banded together TO form a com
mittce. collected funds. received rccog
milton from the government and
/ founded their school in the chief ci;y
Of the district. According to "a gov.
eminent decision each province takcs
care of its own men only. The provin,
4 cial, committees so far formed have
organized National Federation @;
. Committees for tho Assistance Of
Blind, Lame and Crippled Soldiers
This federation has headquarters II
Rome. and publishes monthly bullc
TIN giving news Of it's work.
The government also has a pcrtna
+, nrnt Council of National Activities 70,
the Protection and Assistance OF va,
CTipples, composed partly OF onic;a !:
and partly Of volunteer workers. The
government IS deeply Interested in tn.
re-education OF tho soldiers, and ha:
promised that their pensions shalt no
DC reduced, even II they regain theil
former earning capacity. Both tht
I government and the voluntary com
mittees arc now making an immenst
effort - arouse tho whole country e
! tho possibility and the necessity oi
training in this now and better way al
f! the mon ablcd in the present conflict