The Bismarck Tribune

Crippled Children's Clinic
Preparations for the clinic for crippled children, to be held here May 22 under the auspices of the Elks lodge, should command the interest of every citizen.

Parents of children who are handicapped should, of course, bring their progeny here to be examined by the expert medical staff assembled by the lodge. If cure seems probable they will be so informed. In any event they will receive valuable information and for those unable to provide proper care it will be a step toward obtaining assistance.

Despite the urgent tragedy of the handicapped child, however, the number of parents who ignore opportunities to effect a cure is astonishing. In many families the poor little ugly 'duckling' is hid away and nothing is ever done to win for it a place in the sun. The result is to add one more to the list of incompetents or malcontents or both and to increase the burden of society. In a surprising number of cases, according to people who should know, crippled children are hidden away because their parents are ashamed of them. Thus the crippled child has mental and spiritual indignity inflicted upon him in addition to his other handicaps.

Those with no personal interest also will find the clinic an interesting experience. By viewing the children who come for examination they will get a glimpse into real human tragedy. Here a bright-faced boy with tortured feet. There a little girl with the face of a Madonna and a cruelly malformed hip. Elsewhere a child whose plight would wring tears from a stone.

Yes, it is a very worthwhile thing the Elks are doing when they sponsor this movement, attempt to divert the attention of the world from its own selfish ends to a field where much is crying to be done.