Seeking to Help Wounded Veterans Regain Lives

1915

No one has yet computed the sums which have been contributed by this country to the relief of war victims in Europe. The list of the official relief societies grows daily and the contributions run into seven figures, while placards announcing teas, dances, bazaars, fashion reviews and theatrical performances meet us on every hand. And still the insistent appeal goes on, in changing form to catch the attention of the generous. The greatest artists turn orators to beg for their pitiful, starving compatriots, and every ship brings an emissary with another earnest plea which cannot be resisted.

The latest of these emissaries is Mme. Charles Le Verrier, wife of the head of the College Chaptal, the great Lycee, or boy's school, of Paris, which is now, like all the others, a military hospital. She comes to the United States as the accredited representative of the Federation des Jouets, which has been formed for the benefit of the mutilated soldiers of the republic.

"Something had to be done to bring together individual effort and save the waste of funds and energy which comes from the lack of cooperation," Mme. Le Verrier says. "Wonders have been accomplished, but there is still so much to be done that we cannot afford to lose the smallest amount of time, strength or money. We found that we must organize, affiliate with the relief work of the provinces, and all pull together toward a definite end. The Federation des Jouets is one of the results of this attempt at organization.

"One of our greatest problems is the maintenance of disabled men after the war is over and during its course. We cannot consign them wholesale to institutions. There are too many, in the first place; France would become one vast institution if she attempted to care for all the wounded, the widows and orphans, and the destitute in that way. Besides, family life, the very foundation of the nation's life, would be in large measure destroyed. How to leave the wounded soldier in his home, how to provide him with a means of livelihood so that he may remain there with his family, is our great problem. Obviously he must first be taught to make something, and then a steady market must be secured for his work.

"We naturally thought of toys. Years ago the dolls of France had a great reputation, but we allowed Germany to learn from us how to make them, and then apply her genius for organization to take our market away from us. But we are going to win it back. The education of the men has already progressed wonderfully. While they are still helpless on their backs in the hospitals they are given wood and tools and models, and they dab at the bit of wood, happy in their hopes for the future. I have brought some of these tentative efforts with me, not that their crudity is interesting or attractive, but to compare with their later work as examples Of the rapidity of their progress. They learn very quickly indeed, and their delight in their own achievements is touching.

"More difficult than the teaching of the men is the finding of a market for their work. Europe doesn't want toys."

Woman Coughs Up Bullet

1920

Injured While Listening to Ellwood City Celebration

Ellwood City, Pa.—As Lucinda Capano put her head out of the window at her home New Year's eve, to listen to the whistles, bells and shooting which ushered in the new year, a bullet struck her in the face. It penetrated near the right eye, went through her cheek and penetrated the roof of the mouth and finally lodged in her throat. She coughed it up. The police were notified.

A celebrator is believed responsible for the shooting. The bullet first struck the edge of the roof of the house and then took a downward course, striking Mrs. Capano. Dr. H, E. Helling declares the wound is not serious.


$200,000 Subscribed for Children

Philadelphia. — More than $200,000 for the needy children of Europe was subscribed here at a mass meeting under the auspices of the European relief committee. Gen. John J. Pershing was the principal speaker. The largest subscription was a check for $100,000 given by an anonymous donor. "More than 3,000,000 children are facing death unless they receive aid," said General Pershing. "One dollar per month a child is needed for the next 10 months."

—Bedford Gazette, Bedford, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1920, page 4.