The New York herald., 1922-02-14
.
PRAYED AND PRAYED
FOR AMERICAN LEGS
Appeals of italian Soldier to
Madonna Answered by
American Teacher.
AIDS III MUTILATED
Miss Rcbekah CrawfOrd's Fund
Was Started by Poor Little
Jewish Workman.
IDS III MUTILATED

An Italian soldier, wounded at the
front in 1916 and lying in a Roman hos
pital with both legs amputated. prayed
10 the Madonna for "Anerican legs.< He
had heard that American artificial legs
were better than any other variety. His
prayer was simple, Madonna. send me
American legs" but he kept on praying
it, and so did two companions. wounded
like him, for three nights.
Giuseppe's prayer had extraordinary
results, and how an American woman.
over 20, has pitched In and in five years
raised more than $1,000 and achieved
the rehabilitation of many 'mutilati"
was told yesterday In her apartment at
AZ West Ninety-third street by Miss Re-
bekah Crawford, who did 1t.
Miss Crawford Is a retired school
teacher, who with her sister. Miss
Alethea B. Crawford, conducted, the
Crdwford school at 80 Joralemon street.
Brooklyn. For many years Miss Re
bekah directed the musical department.
Describing yesterday how she became
interested in her work for the Italian
wounded, Miss Crawford, who although
she has visited Italy often, does not
speak Italian, said:
"My niece, Miss Linda Clarke-Smith
)inguist and archRologist, has lived for
years in Rome. Just five years ago, in
February, 1917, received a letter from
her about war conditions that. telling OF
a wounded soldier named Giuseppe, who
had prayed to the Madonna for 'Ameri-
can legs, deeply touched me.
Giuseppe, the letter said, felt that
with them instead of being useless
lxlo oh 20 IN hia N r
in life again. The fame of the Villa
NIirafiore, lent as hospital by the
American Academy at Rome. where
American artificial limbs were being
used with wonderful success, had spread
throughout the city. One patient, could
walk up and down stairs. ride bicycle
and even run.
One American woman, hearing Giu-
seppe, gave him a pair OF American
legs. but they did not fit. Giuseppe cried
" in despair to the surgeon, Make them
Afit, for Gods sake! Cut off more of my
leg IL you have to, but make them tit!
II was deeply affected by the pitiful
story" said Miss Crawford. land read
the letter to a little Jewish furniture
mender, who was repairing a table for
me- You must do something. he said.
Well I said, III put donation box
there on the table you've fixed and ask
every one who comes in here to drop In
coin He insisted on making the first
contribution, half dollar, as prayer
for his boy who was i'll. That started
it."
In the ave years since Miss Crawford
has raised more than $4,000 and has
put Giuseppe ION his feet" with properly
fitting wooden limbs and provided arti-
fetal legs and arms for 140 other ltal-
stt.1e hax
raised by her by s'teiephoning. talking
and letter writing" in addition to raffiing
a iade necklace that she parted with to
swell the fund.
"All the money / collect" said Miss
Crawford, IL send to my niece. Linda
Clarke Smith, who supervises every de-
tail of the work over there. Every SOL
dier to receive limb is required to
furnish an authorized certificate OF
poverty. Ny niece handles every case
herself, investigates It, sends me the
certificates of poverty and all bills IN
.yery case for reconstruction. Tho
funds sent to her by me are deposited
in a Roman bank and vouchers sent from
there 10 the donators. And Miss Clarke
smith does not stop with this business
part of the work. She does the acNal
work for each cripple, from the measure
mont of the limbs to. helping each man
TO return to his old work. or II that Is
impossible TO some new job.
There are now over forty new cases
under investigation, and l am hoping 20
partially take care Of these by disposing
of very valuable coat"
Miss Crawford has received two
decorations from Italy-a medal in
August. 1920, from the Italian Red
Cross and on November 49, 1921, her
birthday. the Distinguished Service
Medal of the Italian Crown.
Miss Crawford contributed literally TO
the relief work for the Allies during the
wars