Life, 1917-07-19 · page 22 of 40
Life — July 19, 1917 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a fundraising appeal, not satire. During World War I, *Life* magazine solicited donations from American readers to support French war orphans and their mothers. The page features photographs of French babies and children being sponsored through the program. The text argues that France—depleted of manpower by the war—cannot fully support orphans, so American charitable contributions ($73 per child annually, or ten cents daily) allow families to stay together rather than be institutionalized. The accompanying donor list documents contributions from American organizations and individuals, with amounts remitted to Paris. This represents American civilian support for France during the war, framed as preserving France's future by keeping the next generation alive and with their mothers. It's a straightforward philanthropic campaign rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ALBERTIN BABY HE decline of man-power is already felt by all the war- ring nations of Europe. France has generously given of her best blood in the fight for the liberty of the world. The orphans of the heroes of France must be saved if France is to have a future. The government, devoting its every franc to the expenses of the war, can care only partially for the widows and orphans. If the orphaned babies of France are to be kept with their mothers, instead of being sent to public institu- tions, the small allowance provided by the French govern- ment must be supplemented by outside aid. This is what the readers of Lire are doing. The sum of seventy-three dollars. means ten cents a day for the child, and this sum, ad- ministered with woman's genius for economy, means that the family is kept in- tact, instead of being — scattered. The aid con- tinues through the two most dangerous years ” of the baby’s life, and in many cases saves the child for the fu- ture of France. Lire’s generous readers have ROGER HURTRAIT, BABY 793 MARC MAINGOURD, BABY 1059 American Help to Preserve the Future of France the French* MADELEINE GAUCHORIN, BABY 313, AND HER SISTER sent to us $107,860.68, from which we have remitted to Paris 617,879.95 francs. We gratefully acknowledge from SO Neltony New Orleans) La. for Baby No. 1440. Mrs. Robert W. Walsh, St. Louis, Mo.. for Bab Mrs. R. J. Curtis, Herkimer, N. 'Y., for Baby Xe Tea Miss Lucy Branch Allen, Leonia, N.’J., for Baby No. Elizabeth Crary, Warren, Pa., for Baby No. 144: ae East Side iligh Scuool, Newark, N. J. for Baby No. The Monday Club Anonymous, New New York City, for Baby No. ‘ork City, for Baby No. 1449. George W. Dulany, 3d, Clinton, Iowa, for Babies Nos. and 1452 tla memory of Adele La Gros,” for “Baby 1353, roup from Toledo, Ohio, Ogunquit, “Maine, for 0. 1454 Miss Dorothy for Baby N. Ju, on account of Baby Ts oe . FOR BABY N MBER 1419 Already. acknowledged, . Anonymous, New York Cit; $73 FOR BABY NUMBER 1447 The patients, doctors, nurses and employees of the Robert Brigham Hospital, Boston, Mass, + $31.38 Anonymous, New ‘York City.) 178 E._D., New Brunswick, N. J. 4 The’ Senior’ Class of Lebanen High School, Lebanon, N. Y. 35 reel J ez Cay Oakland, Cal. $73 FOR BABY NUMBER 1450 M. G.C., Oakland, Cal...... Katharine’ Holt, Birmingham, Ala. .. Anonymous, * Virginia, $3.93 mori Boston, 3 FINLOMENE NoNvEA paby 787 comicbooks Ean