The Cordova daily times., 1919-05-14
MODERN HEALTH CRUSADE IS
 UNDER WAY

plcOS0u LO CuO puTSulL Ol 6OOu ucdAtA, more than 5000, 10000 school children throughout America have been en- rolled in the Modern Health Crusade, a diseasl-prevention movement which is being. developed in the pulic schools of the country under the aus pices of the National Tuberculosis as- sociation and the Junior Red Cross, it was announced today by Charles M. DeForest, crusader executive at the former organizations headquart- CTS here.
 There are now crusaders in every state in the Union," MT. De Forest said. "The health creed of the cru sade has become a part of the school program in thousands of schools, both rural and urban. It has also caused innovations in the curricula of paro- chial and private schools"
 Among the larger cities where the movement has been adopted in all or part of the elementary schools, he said, are Baltimore, Birmingham, Cleveland, Dallas, Indianapolis, Kan sas City, Minneapolis, Newark, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Pro- vidence, Portland (Ore), Seattle and Washington, D. c. While primarily intended for elementary grades the crusade has been taken up by num- Der of high schools and in some states the system is being taught also to student teachers in normal schools.
 Enlistment in the movement in- wolves something like passing physical examination, as the recruit must for at least two weeks follow a daily health program. The child who lives up to 75 per cent of the cru sader's health rules for two, five, ten and fifteen weeks becomes successive ly a page, squire, knight and knight banneret in health chivalry. In health tournaments participated in by whole classes and schools the crusaders go "a'joting for germs"
 The health "chores," performance of which each child is put on his honor to record on a special over his own signature, are as follows:
 T washed my hands before each meal today; I washed not only my face but my ears and neck and l cleaned my finger nails today; tried today to keep fingers, pencils and everything that might be unclean out of my mouth and nose; I drank a glass of water before each meal and before going to bed, and draink no tea, coffee or other injurious drinks today;I brushed my teeth thoroughly in the morning and in the evening today; took ten or more slow deep breaths of fresh air today; l played outdoors, or with windows open, more than thirty minutes today; was in bed ten hours or more last night and kept my windows open; l tried today to sit up and stand straight, to eat slowly, and to attend to toilet and each need of my body at its regular time; tried today to keep neat and cheerful constantly and to be helpful to others; I took full bath on each day of the week that is checked"
 The success of the movement, ac- cording to it's leaders, is due to the interest in health aroused in the children by introducing the elements of play and romance in the practice of hygiene, and by definite program with tangible rewards. So eagerly have the children in certain sections of the country taken to the daily "chore" idea that toothbrush short age is reported in Pennsylvania, Wis consin, Iowa and Oklahoma.
 Growth of the movement is in- dicated by membership figures from states leading in the crusade move ment, as follows: Texas, 31O,OO0; Minnesota, 25O,ooo; Iowa, 100000; Ok lahoma, 175.O00; Oregon, 55,000; Idaho, 24,557; Utah, 32,OO0; Kansas, 100000; Arkansas, 2S,000; Alabama, 56,000; Wisconsin, 197,000; Pennsyl- vania. 150,000; Maryland, 43,00O; South Carolina, 27,600; District of Co., lumbia, 15,000; Rhole Island 2s000; and New Hampshire 5000.
 The health crusade movement Is not confined to America alone; not withstanding the war the idea has spread to foreign countries and en- listments have been reported from China, Corea, Canada, Cubs and France, Mr. De Forest said.