Ward Canfield Weaves
His Way Back to Health

By BARBARA FIANAGAN
Women�s Editor

Officer Ward Canfield sat bent over the loom---weaving a table mat.
He counted the threads of party pink strung in front of him Slowly his good right, arm grabbed the wrist of his weakened left arm.
Together Canfield�s two hands pushed the shuttle through the strings. His right hand along caught it at the other side.
BOTH HANDS pulled the beater. It thumped toward him, then, back again. One more thread was in place.
In an hour, if he didn�t tire, Canfield might finish the mat.
"This is work," he said. "But it is fascinating."
Not long ago Canfield called weaving "sissy stuff."
The Minneapolis policeman --- Seriously wounded while attempting to capture the murdering O�Kasick brothers knows better now.
He knows that the simple motions of weaving a little napkin will help him back to health.
Canfield, 5740 Blaisdell Av., began handloom at General hospital.
When be went home his Neighbor, Mrs. Berry Horn, kept him at it.
Mrs. Horn, 5736 Blaisdell Av., is former president of Twin City Weavers guild and often a prizewinner at the Minnesota State fair.
SHE, LOANED Canfield a loom and taught Mrs. Canfield how to string it. "The toughest job of all," said Mrs. Canfield.
So far Canfield has finished 20 red-and-white table mats.
"When I started Ward on the mats," Mrs. Horn said, "he kept telling me how silly it was.
"Actually men are better weavers than most women. They have more power and can provide an even beat"
Mrs. Horn said.
Weaving has helped get the fingers moving on Canfield�s partially paralyzed left arm. "I have no bicep control in that arm," Canfield said.
"It�s� a great effort to pull the beater. I have to do it with both arms."
IF HE�S UP to it and doctors approve; Canfield may accompany Mrs. Horn to the state fair next Friday. He�ll operate a loom in the guild�s booth in the home activities building.
Although restricted to weaving items only 14 inches wide because of the weakened arm, Canfield hopes to do better.
"I�d like to weave myself some tweed for a topcoat," he said. "It�s not hard. It just takes patience.
"And some days, I just don�t have it."

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