The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-06-16
OUR OBLIGATION TO
HECRIPPLED CHILD

AuIlS unnecessary.
It has been the custom Of the Ages
to either banish-on account of de.
formity--or to use the physical hand
nap is ameans TO securing aims.
We see the street beggar, ply
steal pervert, saying to the passer by
"Pay me, you have what l can never
enjoy, make dollars my recompense.
Have you ever thought why this is
necessary?
When one knows that only five
states in the Union, have caught the
vision and inaugurated care for the
physically imperfect, recognizing that
to rehabilitate this class is an eco
nomic question, and not purely phil
xnthropic, for wherever the problem
of self maintenance is solved, the
standard of the country is raised.
Is it surprising when one knows
that we have an army of 100000 un-
cared for cripples in the United
States? In fact, only one half Of one
per cent of our physically defective
receive attention.
Minnesota's work was started by
DR.. A. C. Gillette. The first result
was Jessie Haskins, coming under his
care and returning to her home so
improved that 10 cases from her own
county were in turn restored to ply
steal normality. Here, as always.
the work speaks for ITSELF"
Iowa has state hospital, but be-
ing connected with the University,
much Of the work is done by the stu
dent body.
Primitive people, believing deform-
tiles at birth, or resulting from dis
ease, were the direct visitation Of the
Evil Eye, put to death or abandoned
their afflicted children. If you do not
believe the Evil Eye theory still ex-
lists, read histories in the Minnesota
State Hospital for Crippled and De-
formed.
In the Middle Ages, the only occu-
patton of the cripple was that of court
jester, chosen for his physical unfit
ness and quickness of wit, but believed
to be entirely devoid of moral sense.
Michael J. Dowling's contribution to
the possibilities Of crippled care is
magnificent, and Mark Sullivan's life
is surely a tribute to the worthiness
Of this work.
The great necessity is to teach pee-
pie that to be crippled, is not neces-
sarily to be useless, but to be crippled,
capable, and useful, is something of
which to be proud, rather than
ashamed.
Last Winter 1 went to Bismarck be.
lieving that to secure the attention OF
the legislators, they in turn, return
ing to their homes in the four corners
of the state, would carry message OF
hope, for their are those in every
town, whose care some one should un-
dertake, because the opinion is broad
cast that nothing can be done without
great expense and years Of orthopedic !
observance. This has been true, but
St. Lukes Hospital at Fargo has made !!
a rate of $500 week, where hospital
care is needed, and free physician
(the only man in the state specializing
in 0rthapedics) and as I have had
fourteen children under my personal
observation, I feel that know.
Nv work at Bismarck conferred in
the Children's Code Commission which
calls for a survey of the state re-
mort to be given at the next leglsla-
ture. .!
In the seven counties from which l
have received report over 400 uncar-
ed for cripples have been found. To
show how difficult it is to secure a
survey. In Burleigh county, the
county superintendent of schools tells
me he had to send the sheriff into two
homes as the school nurse was unable
to secure entrance, so you can see the
old custom of hiding ones afflicted IS
still observed, as in the Courtenay
home, where Duncan Mcdonald was
hidden several years ago.
AS we look at the pictures when
will be shown later, can we not form
some idea of what it would mean to
be made so physically perfect that
life of ioy and usefulness would be
possible, while years of helpfuness:
doubtless pauperism seem to be their
ouIy birthright. Do they not show the
progress from despair to hope, from
auimalisn, and degeneracy to normal
bow and girlhood? Surely this is
resurrection from the material to the
spiritual.
Think again of a human being, sup:
posed to be created in the image OF
Almighty God, walking like a qua
druped (there is one in this state) IN
few months made upright, tribute to
what can De zone, IL peop1e are oAAy
aroused to the need, and their per-
sonal responsibility.
We are not dealing entirely with the
care of those crippled by an epidemic
of recent years. Two months ago we
laid away little girl in this county,
only i'll one week from 'lnfantile:"
So it behooves those whose children
walk perfectly today. to consider plans
for the care of our afflicted ones, that
we have more enlightenment should
another epidemic come to US.
All uplift work is vital, but from a
mother who has watched from dispalr
to ray of hope-the biggest issue
before the men and women OF North
Dakota, is to see to it that the chill
dren of her town have chance to
walk-then we shall have built into
the fabric Of our organizations, vital
tissue, and establishment, living
monuments that the forces Of nature
cannot destroy, and down the road
where the children Of our state walk
upright and unafraid. We may feel
wa have laid a small tribute on the