Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-01-23

works through Walter Reed is and Will be bounc
up with the hopes of thousands OF men ana thell
families Working with these army doctors ahc
surgeons is the American Red Cross, helping tc
complete the bridge between the families and the
men during their separation, through its commune
cation service its various hospital services and In
all kinds of ways through its home service from
buying buttons pricing" q certain kind OF
spiral puttees on some boys request, to arranging
for his war risk insurance, or perhaps hospital
treatment for some member Of mans family In
far-away town.
In the convalescent house there is the great
open fireplace, with its cracking fire, books flow
ers, games, music. Every week one of the Wash
ington theaters sends out several of its acts.
After classes the men pour in some of those who
have lain helpless weeks before. now In
wheeled chairs engrossed in some handwork, yet
eager for the music and the fun. Others come to
say "goodby" before the visit home. You would
not guess that this boy had ever lost leg, or
that an artificial arm could become so dexterous
as some you here.
leaf from the Red Cross entertainment book
is interesting. These events, planned from the
outside are arranged through application to the
recreatonal staff of the Red Cross at the post.
Here are characteristic items: Seventy boys to
Keith's theater and supper; one hundred boys to
Mount Vernon; three boys to birthday party for
Sergeant; forty-fve on sightseeing bus tour,
and so and
"Why, sergeant, where is your new leg
thought you were so proud off, of the work.
erS calls to boy crutch. 81 loaned 1t to
JIM He had pass to go to town." he answers
boy, wearing carefully wrapped puttees
comes along in n wheeled chair. Did you find
out about those other puts?" he asks 1.-THE Red
Cross lady," "Yes and there is only pair in
town and they cost twelve dollars" II guess
we'll have to go without he says; and there fol-
lows an interested conversation about package
to be addressed to girl back home.
young boy who had lost one leg and one foot |
was having attached for the first time the arti- |
fetal leg which, with a crutch, he was
going to try to walk. To support himself he had
one arm around his army surgeon, the other
around the Red Cross He was making great
bravado, though his face was white. When the
apparatus was attached he asked to sit down.
The surgeon and the Red Cross man helped him
into a chair. With long sigh he settled the
new" leg firmly on the floor and then flung what
was left CT the other leg 1t. Though the
beads of sweat still on his face he looked up
pertly with his head cooked. "Gee!" he said, "if
you hadn't crossed your legs for eleven months
you'd know how feel"
These men are of those who have given their
breasts bulwark and their blood moat" They
have given too great thing to need any kind Of
sympathy except the supreme of understand
ng The medical department of the army and
he Red Cross make q cycle OF effort-socal,
human, physical mental In this work of recon-
,truction there may be found literally, life more
bundant. As these men leave hospital and uni
orm, and come back to the famlar-strange civil :
an world the public will take up its part; and
ach man will be. If he utilities the opportunities /:
pen to him, and society does not exploit him, an :
asset In place of dependent
harity liability.