The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-03-19


He means it. Of course. hut 1t Is after
the fashion to say 1t anyway. The ar
ray Of incOnveniences that have been
looming up ever since he turned from
the victorious battlefield remind him
that he wants 'Out." These are-sutl-
den transfers from camp to camp, only
one shirt or one pair Of sox. long de-
lays In papers being signed. uncertainty
ABOUT war risk insurance papers, un-
certainty about physical condition, and
NIL sorts Of annoyances in way Of
>:meness in meals. much confinement,
and having no way Of using ones own
Initiative and doing things for ones
self. Of course. this array of incon-
veniences was as much in sight when
see them.
Although these continually tickle the
soldiers desire for discharge. they do
not keep him from the larger infl,-
rnce Of reconstruction. which has made
such an atmosphere that he writes
hack after he's ont and ut home that
he's bit lonely. and he may add some
thing that shows his courage-(for
his letters always have this in them)
lis not understood. Indeed. he will
write back anything he feels. for he
has an understanding Of the recon-
structfOn folk and they of him.
This reconstruction program. as car
riad out in the hospitals for the re-
turned disabled. is one Ut the most un.
usual and unique happenings Of the
war period. Perhaps no part of the
war situation is more dramatic than
this. and In the written history 1t will
occupy some Of the most Interesting
pages.
Meanwhile this drama Of refitting
the disabled for life is still going on.
The workers have been selected from
the applications requested by the sur
geon generals office ut Washington Of
thousands IF persons, largely women,
qualified for this work. and more than
$500 women have been appointed.
They have come from country, town
and city. The large majority are
trained In arts and crafts, for their
first duty Is to occupy bed patients
with handwOrk. ana their second to
give the cOnvalescent sonnet hing to do
that will help to cure stiffenei mus
Gle or to teach one hand to do what
both hands previously did. Some are
specialists in some craft. like jewelry
making. basketry. wood carving, leath-
er tooling or rug weaving. Some are
specialists I'm art. and teach poster
painting and designing. Others are
general craft workers and help the men
I" make bead chains, baskets and any
thing he would like for himself or at
home. Another group are stenOgra-
piers and teach shorthand and typing.
another are teachers for reading. writ
Ing. arithmetic. or on up through the
r"liege subjects. Still another (these
are menu teach subjects like agricul-
rre. autO-mechanics. printing. etc.
Finally. Il group with entirely different
training 4" masSaging to restore the
functions ut muscles and nerves.
:" the reconstruction workers come
from the nation ut large and. there
fore IT'S the whole American people
that are helping this soldier to get set
tied again.
Now there wouldn't he much drama
or much Of anything else to the job
of reconstruction il each person Just
did the bit that Uncle Sam assigned
him To do. But he. or rather she.
doesn't and that Is why the soldier
writes back and that's why there's a
real story to tell-one that might be
racted In any part of any community
" In amy college or university hut
lever in full again until there IL an.