The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-14
BY ELDORA FIELD
7 TITLE fingers that creep I'm

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Making pretty things" but gath
ering strength unconsciously.
Weak and twisted limbs that press
loom treadlesS, again making pretty
things" and piling up, though so
slowly, power and symmetry.
And small faces where riffs of
happy light chase away the grind
of pain, because it's such fun to see
rugs and baskets and doll houses
grow right before ones eles; joy to
spread paint and beauty over doll
house furniture-to create.
Out at Riley Memorial hospital
the Indianapolis Junior Leagues
principle of occupational therapy,
that Every child needs to have his
time occupied" runs golden thread
of activity through the gloom OF
hospital life.
Started in 1923
Back in 1923, the league began
this work in Indianapolis at the
Robert Long hospital. Later a class
was started at the John Heron Art
institute, training earnest league
members for this work. In the
autumn of 1924, those who had
completed the occupational therapy
course began their work in the
workshop of the new Riley Me-
mortal hospital.
The work of the Indianapolis
Junior League is concentrated here,
but some occupational work is done
at both Robert w. Long and Will
liam H. Coleman hospitals. All
work is under professional direction
of Miss Winifred Conrick.
Her assistant at the Riley hos
pital is Miss Winifred Smith. Miss
Jane Myers is at the Robert w.
Long hospital and Miss Mary Brit
ton divides her time between the
Riley and Long hospitals.
Play at Work
The children enter the workshop
through a mysterious Pomander
walk with cunning cottage fronts on
either side, with grass growing
around the doors, flowers in window
boxes and rambler roses climbing
the walls. Delightful tools and ma
terials are in the cottages.
They are allowed to play and
work. The fact that a boy may be
assigned to a scroll saw because it
runs like a bicycle and therefore ex-
ercises his legs; that a girl is al
lowed to weave a pretty bit on
loom which requires a certain mo-
ton of her arms, detracts nothing
from their pleasure.
"Sonny-boy," his body twisted,
lies fiat on his back all day, but
from the side of the small wagon,
wheeled into the work shop, he has
made a set of doll furniture for a
small niece. He has the dreaded
Potts disease and never will get
well, but he doesn't know it and,
with creative JOY in his eyes, plans
more furniture.
Makes Lots of Things
Gene, with the big brown eyes,
declares he can make, "Oh, lots and
lots of things" and points to woven
bits of rugs as proof. Margie, who
months and months ago put a
lighted match into her small pocket,
which moment later spread flames
across all her small body, is Willing
away the time weaving tiny baskets
while the slow process of skin graft
ing goes on.
If it were not for occupational
therapy work and for Indianapolis
Junior League members, who give
precious hours to these tots, the
days would drag like lead.
Mrs. Edwin McNally, 112 West
Forty-f1rSt street, is chairman of
the occupational therapy committee
of Indianapolis Junior League and
her assistants are Mrs. o. j.
Ritchey. Miss Caroline Sweeney and