El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-09
Teaching A Soldier To Be Useful
After His Health Breaks In Army
Fort Bayord,s School In Poultry

ture. Naturally he was put to bed:
and in bed he was required to stay
for several months Many other men
were required to stay in bed several
months. and most Of them gradually
became better, and we're allowed 10
take carefully prescribed walks and
other exercise. Pvt. Bits condition
did not improve in all Of those
months. II was largely a matter OF
temperament, he said ne was the
bed all that time. he gave himself
nothing to do but worry.
Lying in my bed on the porch"
he told me, 7 had a wonderful view
OF the mountains. blue with beautiful
shifting cloud shadows floating over
them constantly. But wouldn't let
myself appreciate their beauty
didn't care q hang about the blueness
Of the sky, with the little white furry
clouds niling uD above the mountains
I just lay there and worried Inc
doctor and the nurses must have
thought I was an awful crouch
worried myself sicker and sicker, IN
til was dead sure I was going to die
Why. I even made my Will I was all
ready TO give up everything and go
west Then the morale officer dis
covered me- After he had talked to
me for awhile I decided life was
worth living. and I began to get well
Why my last examination showed al
most no activity at all in here" And
Pvt. Bill patted his chest proudly
Getting Better Right Away.
That talk with the morale officer
was the turning point in his life. he
said It lasted an hour or more. and
the man found that the boy. like
many city-bred folks. had down in the
bottom OF his heart a great longing
for country life When he mentioned
poultry raising as a career, Pvt Bilfs
eyes fairly shone- The morale officer
sent him over for a further CONVEX
sation with the chief educational off,
Ger, who asked him even more ques-
tons about himself and his potential
abilities As soon as the ward sur
geon pronounced him well enough. he
was enrolled in the poultry class
And that, he said, was very soon after
those two talks His adaptability and
taste for the work was amazing In
a few weeks he will finish his course.
and when he receives his discharge
he is going into the business
Light gardening. greenhouse work
and poultry and bee raising are the
branches OF agricultural work most
highly recommended by the physical
reconstruction division for tuber-
culosis patients II is highly i'm
portant TO teach these men not to
these occupations they can accom-
plish more. with less expenditure
OF energy. than in the other branches
Of outdoor work
The course in chicken raising COW
ers a period of 20 weeks. not includ-
ing incubation. which in itself re-
quires a course OF similar length
Tuberculars Raise Chickens.
The poultry branch OF the recon-
struction division at Fort Bayard al
ready contains eight pens OF thor
oughbreds which have been donated
by interested poultry fanciers from
various points in the United States.
The government has provided eight
large incubators. with an egg caDac-
ity Of more than 2400 eggs. Fifty
fluffy little baby chicks recently ar
rived from western poultryman,
which are the pride OF the depart
ment. and the especial care OF the
patients now taking the course In
chicken raising. Eventually the post
expects to own a plant capable o.
caring for 500 laying hens, the cost
not to exceed $1,000 for actual cree
For" Pvt BIZ said. as he patted
the fluffy baby chicks. I'VE need room
enough for US all to learn chicken
raising And II each student is IS
enthusiastic and as interested In the
work as he is. there is no doubt OF
the need.
Any soldier, wounded or taken III in
the government service. who has as
much q 10 percent disability. will be
given The chance to go to college at
the expense Of the government to fit
to become self supporting. !
asked Pvt Bill If he would take ad-
vantage of this generous offer He
shook his head.
NO. he replied, u have saved
enough from my pay to buy some
chickens and a little plot OF land.
believe l have learned enough to raise
chickens for a livelihood"
And watching him work, and see
ing the very heart OF him in his work,
felt sure he knew whereof he spoke.