Handicapped Made Self-Supporting, Happy
* Through Work in Industries for Blind
Sightless Can Make
Many Things, Such as
Sheets, Belts, Mops
i -
By AL JEDLICKA
Released by Western Newspaper Union.
On September 8, 1942, the
Illinois Industries for the
Blind, incorporated four
months earlier as a non-profit
organization, opened opera
tions in an old four - story
structure at 1310 South New
berry St., on Chicago’s his
toric east side.
Established by Edward S.
Molineaux, the institution was
designed to provide regular
employment for the blind,
partially blind and crippled,
rather than the usual devices
for passing away time or mer
iting a dole.
By May 1, 1943 — nine
months after having been
opened—the success of the
Illinois Industries for the
Blind was confirmed when the
United States maritime com
mission awarded the plant an
*‘M” pennant for outstanding
production of sheets and pil
low cases for Liberty ships,
the first ever given to an in
stitution of this nature. Six
months later, the maritime
commission added to the hon
ors with the presentation of a
gold star, for bettering the
previous production and ab
sentee record.
The enviable performance of
the Illinois Industries for the
Blind merely established Mr.
Molineaux’s long-time con
viction on the capabilities of
the blind, partially blind and crip
pled If properly encouraged. Par
tially blind himself, Mr. Molineaux’s
conclusions probably were Inspired
by his own experience of over 25
years, dating back to his education
at Illinois' Jacksonville State School
for the Blind, and his subsequent
life work among the sightless.
Leaving Jacksonville, Mr. Molin
eaux took up the task of placing
blind switchboard operators in IUi
Dols, and then he went to the east,
where he joined the Brooklyn As
sociation for Improving Conditions
for the Poor. Over 100 years old, this
Institution specializes in the assist
ance of the blind and crippled.
Eight Institutions In V. 8.
Among those In the forefront of
L^j&JUg£,to restore the blind, par
^ilUlWiwd and crippled to useful
position* in society, Mr. Molineaux
the idea take a slow but
fnwht9“H5fld throughout the U. 8.,
pmAefwc^ht such institutions now op
AwM*t4plaame under state supervision,
the one in Illinois, un
ite management aided by
'Contributions.
j^toration of the sighUess
led to useful citizenry re
greatest impetus in 1936,
..o^gress Passed legislation set
bst of products for the
eir e°Ttqvn«nt to purchase from blind
c»uwtjrka|w>s- To facilitate the pro
abhgrrilm, pbe American Foundation for
irtwtt! tabid inspired the organization
-el the National Industries for the
EddMpftp act as a clearing house
BiAntngftf&'acts to the various blind
. cWfcfcshbps.
tffofttfting the legislation, congress
^"Jft^tM'iJertain production standards
0TO 8$ met by the blind plants, and in
Blind John Dent has learned to
punch, assemble and rivet small
leather goods, such as belts and
suspenders.
cases where such institutions are
partly financed by private contribu
tions, like the Illinois Industries,
they are not expected to sell their
goods below the market price, al
though they can sell above it.
Employment for 125.
A visit to the Illinois Industries for
the Blind plant in Chicago at once
impresses one with the capability of
the 125 blind, partially blind and
crippled employees. At one time,
the factory had a peak employment
of 230 people, many of whom have
since gone to accept positions in
various war industries.
On all three of the floors, one
will find the handicapped busily en
gaged in different forms of work
suited to their capacities, with the
blind chiefly employed on jobs where
some form of mechanical guides are
provided, the partially blind on ob
jects large enough for their limited
sight, and the crippled on tasks not
requiring complete freedom of move- t
ment.
On the second floor, one sees the ,
blind engaged in folding paper caps j
for permanent wave outfits, and In ■
assembling wooden doll sets.
__..._5
On the third floor about 40 women
turn out sheets and pillow cases at
good speed, despite their handicap.
After two months of training, a wom
an can put seams In about 66 dozen
pillow rases a day. The bemmers,
who must have 10 per cent or better
vision, can finish about 90 dozen
cases daily.
An "electric eye," shown below,
protects the operators from Injury
by stopping the sewing machine
when Angers get too close to the nee
dle and Interrupt the beam of light
that must shine constantly while the
machine Is running.
Those proficient in folding paper
caps can turn out as many as 986
a day and average around $5.50 for
eight hours’ work. There is not so
much skill required in cap making,
as there is a familiarity, or feel, of
the paper.
Turning from the paper cap fold
ers, one comes to a long assembly
line of blind filling little cardboard
boxes with parts of wooden dolls,
and then packing these along with
containers holding different water
colors into single sets. Holes in the
body of the wooden dolls into which
the head, arms and legs are In
serted are drilled by blind on me
chanical equipment up on the fourth
floor of the plant. Ten workers can
assemble about 1,000 sets a day.
Sheets and Pillow Cases.
One of the most interesting and
Important of the plant’s operations is
on the third floor, where blind and
partially blind women produce sheets
and pillow cases.
Under a full-sighted supervisor, 40
impaired women keep the latest type
sewing machines with necessary ad
justments buzzing at top speed.
First, there are the women who
put seams into the pillow cases, be
ing able to turn out about 66 dozen
daily, after two months of training.
Machines are equipped with a "see
ing eye," which stops their opera
tion when the workers' fingers stray
too close to the needle.
Then there are the hemmers, with
partially blind with at least 10 per
cent vision being preferred for this
more exacting work of turning the
material over, smoothing and then
securing it. After six months’ train
ing, a good hemmer averages 90 doz
en a day, but a blind person could
produce only half of this.
At the time the plant was visited,
a young woman was being broken
into the overlocking process of over
stitching on the outside to give bet
ter strength and appearance. Time
and again, she practiced guiding the
material to the needle, patiently
training her partial sight on the
work.
Because the blind could not inspect
the finished goods and the bright
glare of the white material could
not be withstood by the partially
blind, full-sighted people are em
ployed for this work.
Since undertaking government
work, the Illinois Industries for the
Blind has delivered over 2,000,000
sheets and pillow cases to the serv
ices.
Make Wooden Mats.
Up on the fourth floor of the plant,
one sees a cripple and the blind
combine to produce colored wooden
mats under the supervision of a par
tially blind foreman, Gerard Harold,
Canadian born and English edu
cated, who once ran a coffee im
porting business in Africa.
Cut to size by a cripple, the wood
wmmwanmm
en rods forming the skeleton of the
mat through which the different col
ored pieces are strung, are drilled
by a blind person, who possesses
a remarkable mechanical touch, ac
cording to Mr. Harold. Because of
this touch, Harold said, the blind
man can sense any imperfection in
the operation of the machine, and
then go about correcting it.
The mats themselves are strung
by the blind, who figure how many
pieces go into each one, and thereby
are able to judge just where the
colored beads are to be placed.
Trained in three or four weeks, a
blind person can average about 40
mats daily.
Also on the fourth floor is the
leather department, worked by crip
pled and blind. Using discarded
leather scraps from shoe factories,
the crippled punch out fancy strips,
while the blind make holes, as for
the insertion of elastic bands for
suspenders.
Also on the fourth floor, the plant
had received old looms, which it
was contemplating setting up for the
future production of yarn for mops,
using handles produced by the Illi
nois Industries, Mattoon, 111., broom
factory.
In the office of the plant, one met
Ethel Heeren, blind executive sec
retary, and Earl Barrett, partially
blind general manager. One also
met partially blind Wells Mori, ac
tive little public relations officer of
the plant.
Earn 925 a Week.
From Mori, one learned that am
bitious employees of the plant av
erage about $25 weekly, which with
their useful work, gives them posi
tion in society.
“Younger handicapped people
coming to us who are broken in early
into useful social occupations, de
velop a healthier point of view than
the older people who have always
more or less been felt to be a bur
den,” Mori said.
“Sometimes, the most difficult
problem is inculcating the work
habit into some of the older people,”
Mori continued. “Laxity in coming
down on time, or sometimes not at
all, and of not producing at their
capacity are shortcomings of many
handicapped people which can only
be ironed out by careful handling,
since you cannot push them.
"We do not take all of the handi
capped, of course,” Mori continued,
“but most of those that we do take
develop the work habit and become
proficient workers.
“Because of differences in apti
tudes and the need for stimulating
their efforts, workers are paid on a
piece-work basis,” Mori said. “But
even though their pr> duction rates
are high, they still usually fall below
the sighted standards. In those
cases, our products must sell at
higher levels on the market.”
As an indication of the skill and
earning power of many of the Illi
nois Industries for the Blind em
ployees, some have been hired by the
nation’s busy war plants to assist
in the battle of production, while a
goodly number were only too proud
to take their place in line and pay
Uncle Sam an income tax for the
first time out of their wages.
Speed and Complexity of Modern Living Imposes
Strain on Eyes Unknown to Primitive Peoples
Long working hours and difficult
visual tasks are imposed upon the
eyes by modern civilization, says
an educational bulletin issued by the
Better Vision Institute, New York.
“Man has had to pay a price for
many of the advances of civiliza
tion. While he remained in the
primitive state he lived according to
nature’s plan. He rose with the
dawn and fished during the day
light hours, and slept when it was
dark,” goes on the bulletin. ‘‘Eye
strain was practically unknown. With
the invention of the printing press,
thousands began to read, and not
always by the light of the sun. Eyes
which for centuries had become ac
customed to distance vision were
now suddenly called upon to adapt
themselves to close range focusing.
New work, new problems for the
eye! The almost miraculous prog
ress that has been made in recent
years in artificial illumination has
driven men more and more indoors.
Sunset no longer marks the end of
the day. The quest for recreation,
and comfort continues with little
thought to the needs of the eyes.
“Of all human possessions sight
is among the most precious. As
with most of nature’s gifts we take
sight for granted. Only when it is
injured do the majority of us sud
denly make frantic efforts to
regain it.”
Keep to Simplicity
In Foods, Serving
For Good Hostessing
Create this spring tonic by using
salmon and asparagus in a custard
when eggs are plentiful. Bake in
ramekins set In a pan of water, us
ing a moderate oven so that the tex
ture of the custard will be perfect.
Hospitality is unrationed even in
wartime. Food restrictions curb the
serving of elabo
rate meals, but
homemakers still
want their friends
over for a pleas
ant chat over
luncheon or to
“try out some
thing new” in the way of a recipe.
Simplicity is the keynote of good
entertaining. It doesn’t do to try
out complicated recipes or menu
patterns just to make an impres
sion. If something goes wrong then
everything is thrown off schedule
and as a result the guests may be
made uncomfortable, thus defeating
the whole purpose of getting togeth
er.
With time at a premium, simple
combinations are the order of the
day. This will keep fluster at a
minimum and the food budget with
in its bounds.
HOSTESS LUNCHEON MENU
Meat Ball Pancakes
Creamed Peas Endive Salad
Crusty Rolls
Celery Curls Jelly
Lemon Tarts Coffee
Simple is as simple does! Bake
tarts ahead of time, fill with a pre
pared filling if you’re rushed for
time. Set dough for rolls and shape
before luncheon, and in the mean
time make cream sauce for fresh,
shelled peas or canned, and pop the
celery in ice wa
ter for curling
purposes. Pan
cakes wait for the
last Mix batter
go powder your
nose — and pop
them on the grid
die just before the guests come In.
Easy does it!
Meat Ball Pancakes.
(Serves 6)
S eggs
K pound ground beef
% teaspoon baking powder
H teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
1 teaspoon lemon Juice
1 tablespoon minced parsley
1 tablespoon grated onion
Beat egg yolks until light, blend
in remainder of ingredients and last
stiffly beaten egg whites. Drop
spoonfuls on hot griddle. When
browned and puffed, turn and brown
other side. Serve with mushroom
sauce, if desired.
HOSTESS LUNCHEON MENU
Salmon Asparagus Custard
Jellied Grapefruit—Lime. Salad
IT hole Wheat Muffin
Rhubarb Crisp
A delicate custard with perfect
texture is the base of this menu—
orange-pink in color with green as
paragus tips. Rhubarb Crisp is a
Lynn Says:
Dress-Up! Domestic herbs will
dress many a stew and pot-pie
Into a dish fit for kings. Try a
dash of thyme, marjoram and
sage, but remember, just a dash!
Meat loaves become party-ish if
topped with catsup. Meat pies
take on color if topped with green
pepper rings before serving.
Muffins and rolls made in small
size muffin tins give distinction
to dinners and luncheons. Pieces
of leftover fruit atop muffins and
breads are colorful.
Vegetables are gay if served in
buttercups. Trim crusts off bread
slices, press them in muffin cups
and toast to a golden brown. Very
pretty!
Give these beauty-aids to sal
ads and garnishes: carrot curls
are made by slicing carrots thin
ly lengthwise with a carrot cut
ter and winding the slice around
finger. Let crisp in cold water.
Peel cucumber thinly, and run
prongs of fork down the length of
the cucumber. Slice thinly.
Be a Hostess!
Not just in name but in deed!
As a hostess, see that your guests
are comfortable, not just In food
you feed them but in the conver
sation channels into which you
guide them; in the introductions
by which you open up new worlds
and friends to them; in the games
which they play; in everything,
be gracious, smiling and unruf
fled. Yours then will be the Invi
tations they prize.
delightful dessert very much in sea
son.
Liquor from the canned salmon
contains precious vitamins and min
erals; it should be used in the cus
tard as part of the liquid and for
purposes of flavor.
Salmon Asparagus Custard.
(Serves 4)
1 pound canned salmon
94 cup salmon liquor
94 cup chicken broth (or 1 chick
en cube dissolved in 94 cup
hot water)
1 cup light cream
1 eggs, slightly beaten
Salt, pepper
1 cup asparagus tips (cooked In
boiling water for 10 minutes)
Flake salmon into large pieces.
Scald salmon liquor, chicken broth
and cream. Add to slightly beaten
eggs. Season to taste with salt and
pepper, then add flaked salmon.
Arrange asparagus tips around
edges of ramekins so that the tips
show just above the edge of the
ramekin. Pour custard mixture into
ramekins. Bake in a pan of hot wa
ter in a moderate (350-degree) oven
for about 45 minutes until custard is
set.
Rhubarb Crisp.
(Serves 5 to 6)
94 cup butter or substitute
94 cup sugar
1 egg
94 teaspoon nutmeg
94 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup toast cubes
2 cups cereal flakes
2 cups diced fresh rhubarb
Blend 94 cup sugar with butter.
Add egg and beat well. Stir in nut
meg, flavoring,
toast cubes and
cereal flakes.
Spread half of the
mixture In but*
tered baking pans
and arrange rhu
barb evenly over
top; sprinkle with
remaining sugar and cover with re
mainder of mixture. Bake in a mod
erate oven (375 degrees) about 40
minutes until rhubarb is tender.
Serve warm with cream, If desired.
HOSTESS BUFFET DINNER
Ham Ring with Creamed Potatoes
Garnish: Spiced Peaches
Buttered Green Beans
Cucumber Pear Aspic
Hot Rolls Spread
DeviTs Food Cake
Beverage
A few large, attractive platters
will hold the menu placed on a large
dining room table or buffet for easy
self-service. As soon as the ham
ring is unmolded, spoon creamed
potatoes into center, and garnish
outside of ring with parsley and
spiced fruit. Set green beans in
vegetable dish, salad on another
large platter.
Cucumber in this jellied aspic sal
ad is just the thing to give tartness
to a bland meal. Make the salad in
a large mold and serve from buffet
for real effectiveness.
Cucumber Pear Aspic.
(Serves 6)
1 package lime-flavored gelatin
194 cups hot water
2 tablespoons vinegar
H teaspoon salt
1 cup drained diced cucumber
1 cup diced pears
Pissolve gelatin in hot water. Add
vinegar and Va teaspoon salt. Chill
until slightly thickened. Season cu
cumber with Ya teaspoon salt; add
pears. Fold into slightly thickened
gelatin. Turn into mold and chill
until firm. Garnish cucumber slices
and crisp lettuce.
Gel the most from your meat! Get
your meat roasting chart from Miss
Lynn Chambers by writing to her in
care of Western Newspaper Union, 210
South Desplaines Street, Chicago 6, III.
Please send a stamped, self-addressed
envelope for your reply.
Released by Western Newspaper Union.
7002
OD,
\/fAKE this freckle-faced tyke
for your mascot ... let her
mischievous eyes and tousled yarn
hair chase your gremlins, too.
She’s made simply . . . just of
rags. You can choose her clothes
from your scrap bag.
Time to Band Trees
'T'HIS is the time of the year
-*• when Victory gardeners, shade
tree owners and commercial grow
ers should be reminded to protect
their trees and vines against the
ravages of tree-climbing insects
whose larvae will manifest them
selves later on as the worms and
caterpillars which often complete
ly defoliate trees, destroy fruit,
cause serious tree damage. Band
ing of trees which have not been
infested with a sticky substance
that will retain its consistency un
der all weather conditions is good
protection and very much worth
while. This should be done as
early as possible.
Heavy-Tailed Sheep
Do you know that in the Near
East there are sheep whose tails
are so large and ponderous that
the animals are provided with
small four-wheeled carriages in or
der to relieve the weight of the
tail and prevent it from coming
into contact with the ground?
The oriental passion for greasy
foods has led to the development
of this type of sheep in which the
fattest portion of the animal, the
tail, combines excessive adiposity
with enormous length.
Pattern 7002 has transfer pattern, direc
tions for doll and clothes. Sixteen cents
In coins brings you this pattern.
Due to an unusually large demand and
current war conditions, slightly more time
is required in filling orders for a few of
the most popular pattern numbers.
Send your order to:
Sewing Circle Needlecraft Dept.
564 W. Randolph St. Chicago 80, 111.
Enclose 15 cents (plus one cent to
cover cost of mailing) for Pattern
No.
Name .....
Address .
‘Independent’ Miners
About 2,600 “independent” min
ers in Pennsylvania still dig and
sell more than 2,000,000 tons of ,
anthracite coal a year from prop
erty owned by large collieries, de
spite the war that has been waged
against them for almost a decade,
says Collier’s.
Recently, they organized and
even sent an appeal to Washing
ton for help in stopping further
action against them.
a Soothe, cool, relievo
diaper rash—often pre
vent it with Mexssna,
the astringent medicated
powder. Get Mexaanm.
One Eye on Men
Women of Timor-Laut, East In
dies, are compelled to keep one
eye closed in the presence of men.
SNAPPY FACTS
ABOUT
RUBBER
Navigation Is Impossible even for a
canoe on some of the tiny branches
In the Amazon headwaters in the
remote Bolivia rubber country. Air
transport Is now serving in the rub
ber development In these areas.
Tappers cut their way through the
jungle, with from 100 to 150 wild
rubber trees serving as each tap
per’s route.
Tire experts held that greater
mileages are returned from
truck tiros if, when they are
new, they are "broken in"
for several thousand miles
under normal or sub-normal
conditions. Using new tires on
front wheels before shifting
them to the rear Is one way
of "seasoning" tiros.
Goodrich]
GEE-SHE
LOOKS 010
TODAY
it mi
I
YOU BET yon show it when those
cruel pains shoot through arms,
neck, back or legs. Do something.
Rub on soretone Liniment. Get
the blessed relief of Soretone’s
cold heat action. Quickly Soretone
acts to:
1. Dilate surface capillary blood
vessels.
2. Check muscular cramps.
3. Enhance local circulation.
4. Help reduce local swelling.
Developed by the famous McKes
son Laboratories, Soretone is a
unique formula. Soretone contains
methyl salicylate, a most effective
pain-relieving agent. For fastest ac
tion, let dry, rub in again. There’s
only one Soretone—insist on it for
Soretone results. 50<. Big, long
lasting bottle, $1.
“and McKesson makes it”
SORETONE
soothes fast with
COLD HEAT*
ACTION
in cotes of
MUSCULAR LUMBAGO
OR BACKACHE
due to fatigue or exposure
MUSCULAR PAINS
— —. due to colds
SORE MUSCLES
due to overwork
MINOR SPRAINS
4cThough applied epki. rube
facient Ingredients In Sore
tone act like heat to Increase
the superficial supply of
blood to the area and Indore
* flow In* sense of warmth.