The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-01
School Teacher on Operating
Table That He May Enlist.
s. o. Fisher of Alta Vista Was
Turned Down in Examination.
TOOK JITNEY TO A HOSPITAL
Appeal Board Had Just Told
Him He Could Not Join.
Surgeons at StOrmOnt Operated
without Cost Today.

BE sure and make me fit to fight,
With these words dying on his lips
as he lost consciousness under an am
,esthetic at Stormon, hospital this
morning. S. o. Fisher. an Alta Vista
school teacher who had been rejected
by the army because of physical dis
abilities, looked pleadingly into the
eyes of pretty nurse who was bend-
ing over him.
Sure We will, you will be the most
physically fit man in the army when
you get we'll and enlist the pretty
nurse answered sweetly, and. with a
smile on his face Fishers vision of
charge across No Mans Land faced
into oblivion and three physicians be-
gan the operation that will make this
young Kansas patriot one of Uncle
Sans fighters.
The case of Fisher is one of the
many demonstrations of the desire of
Kansans to do their bit for the cause
of democracy and of the extent they
will go in their efforts to enlist for
service.
Fisher, a youth of %. was a teach-
in little school near Alta Vista.
When the war broke out it is said,
he tried to enlist but was rejected be-
cause of physical disability. He
went back to his school and tried to
continue his duties as a citizen but
his heart was not in his work How
ever, he managed to stick to his post
until the examinations began for the
second draft call.
Then, he was called before the
board and in short order was told that
he never would "have to worry about
/ being put into uniform. However,
the fact that he could not wear the
service Q. d. was the one thing that
was worrying him and he Immediately
made plea for further consideration
1'Tf Board Turned Him Down.
| The board, of course, could not ac-
cept him, but suggested that he might
go before the appeal board at Topeka
| This he did, coming to Topeka Thurs
| day just to plead his case, but the
| board found out what was the matter
with him and would not even. give
him an examination, telling him that
| he was hopelessly disqualified.
| Fishers heart was heavy when he
came down from the appeal board and
| for severa, hours he wandered aim
| lessly up and down Kansas avenue.
bemoaning his fate. 1t seemed therzs
was no reason yhy he should live. he
was simply no good, not even fit to be
killed for his country,
| The more he Thought of his condi-
| ton the more despondent he became.
and, finally, in desperation. he halle"
/
taken to hospital The jitney driver
| took him to Stormont and when Miss
/ Smith, the superintendent met him
| in the hall Fisher broke down aud
began to sob as he told his troubles
to her.
Miss Smith questioned the young
man closely and his story of his re-
peated reflections aroused her SYM
pathy. She put him to bed and asked
a physician to examine him.
Yes. / think we can fix him up all
right" the doctor said. So this morn
/ ing Doctor Mum. Doctor Marshall and
Doctor Hogeboom performed the ep-.
Grafton that will make him physically
fit and in two weeks they predict he
will be able to pass any kind of an
examination he is given. Both the
| hospital and the surgeons have agreed
! that the operation shall not cost Fish
| er a cent as they are glad TO have the
chance to be of service to a man with
the patriotism he has shown
The operation was successful