New-York tribune., 1919-03-21
Arnless Man Here
To Teach Wounded
Life Is Not Empty
Quentin d. Corley Became
Judge After He Was In
jured, and He Scorns to
Ask Help From Amy One

4 A young man with no arms, who can
Swrite, drive an automobile and make
sslovc we'll enough to win a Southern
: : eide, is going to talk to wounded
{ l1ldiers at Carnegie Hall tonight,
: showing them that life need not be
empty, whatever their injury in battle.
He is Quentin D. Corley, lawyer and
: county judge, from Dallas, Tex. Four
:. teen years ago, at the age Of twenty
one, he was injured in railroad ac-
cident, losing both arms.
II made up my mind that it was up
: to me to make the best fate, mas
much as | could not change it," said
Judge Corley yesterday at the Waldorf
Astoria, where he has been busy show
ing his dexterty with mechanical de-
vices during the sessions of the re-
habilitation conference Of the American
Red Cross.
Il want to tell all American soldiers
who may have lost their arms or legs
that they can have just as good a time
now as they ever did.
IL can dance, and drive an automo-
bile, and win match in a bowling
alley.
IL travel everywhere I can afford to,
alone. i bathe, dress myself, comb my
hair and wind my watch. 1t took me
ten years to learn to wind my watch
by rubbing the stem winder with nv
elbow. never ask a favor of anybody.
All ask is to be let alone, and be al
lowed to take care of myself. | do this
for two reasons, first, for self respect,
and second, for self protection, because
if never depend on other persons
they can never fail me in an emer-
gcncy."
Judge Coriey darts around the lobby
OF the hotel. attracting no attention to
his deformities, until he meets an ac-
quaintance. Then he reaches out his
left arm to shake hands, and instead
Of hand it is steel hook which is
offered in greeting.
The hook IS Of the general type
known to surgeons as prosthetic an
pliance, but the details are of Judge
Corley's invention.
1t consists of two fiat hooks laid
lace to face, and held together by a
strong steel spring. The spring is
opened by movement from the shoul-
der, and while. the jaws or hooks are
open any, useful implement, such as
fork. comb, pencil, is caught between
them. Then by jerk Of the shoulders
the spring is released and the Jaws
are closed, holding the implement in a
strong grip.
Being happy, although armless," he
SAID, after displaying his accomplish
ments ood-naturedly, "is all a matter
of psychology. The trouble with most
crippes is that they shun society, fear
ing to attract attention. l made up
M mind that | would go everywhere re
and do everything | possibly could.
got my first job rs foreman of a gang
OF men doing construction. work. In
the evenings | studied law, and two
years after my accident | was admitted ID
to the bar.
Il belonged to debating club, too
and, following my rule of having good
time just as other young men did, |
went to parties after our debates There
L met the sister of one of the club
members. 1t was the same old story
| hesitated at first, I admit, but it is
brains and heart that count in love
az we'll as in business, and | got the
girl'
According to statistics made public
by Major A. G. Crane, o. the Division
of Physical Reconstruction in the Sur
geon Generals office. only 3.2 per cent
Of the American army has suffered
wounds requiring amputation. This is
based on the first 11,7A8 cases. These
cases were divided as folio IS: Disa-
bility cf chest and lungs, 3O.8 per
cent; heart disease, OF per cent; nerve
disease. SO per cent; wounds to arms
and legs not requiring amprtation, 79
per cent; amputation, 3.2 per cent:
rheumatism, 80 per cent; eyesight, 81
per cent; all others, 332 per cent. OF
these disabilities 81 per cent was re.
ceiyed in camp and 1912 per cent in
battle.
Two hundred thousand men have
been disabled, Major crane said, one
hundred thousand diseased. Of these
1900 are still In Erancn