Life, 1917-10-25 · page 26 of 44
Life — October 25, 1917 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is a **fundraising appeal for French war orphans**, published during or shortly after World War I. The headline's pun ("Have You a Baby?") invites American readers to sponsor French children whose fathers were killed in battle. The appeal argues that $73 maintains one French orphan for two years with its mother rather than in a public institution—presenting this as both humanitarian aid and investment in France's future. It suggests that American "Santa Claus" donors purchase Christmas gifts from **wounded soldiers**, creating a "double purpose" of helping both children and disabled veterans. The five photographs display actual French orphans (identified by name and number) receiving aid—a common fundraising tactic to personalize charity. The detailed financial accounting at bottom ($130,563.87 collected, remitted to Paris) aims to establish donor confidence. **Context**: This reflects American support for France during WWI and the broader 1920s sentiment that American wealth should assist European reconstruction and children displaced by war.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
674 “LUFE * Have You a Baby ? F you have a baby or babies of your own, you know how to feel for those babies in France whose fathers have been killed in battle and whose mothers are struggling to keep their little ones with them and growing up in a MADELEINE DUIOUX, BABY 1555 home instead of in a public institution. A seventy-three- dollar gift helps maintain a French orphan for two years in its mother’s care. If you have no baby of your own, you are probably in better position to help these destitute little ones in France. By coming to the aid of our brave ally now you are work- ing for the preservation of the France of the future. The French babies of to-day are the French men and women of to-morrow. They must be saved if France is to survive. If you have already put your name down for a baby, or babies, or part of a baby, you will doubtless be glad to help in our movement to give every one of our almost eighteen hundred babies a Christmas present from the American inta Claus. They may not have much to hang up in the way of stockings, but the gifts will get to them just the same. Lire has suggested to the French Society that the com- mittee in Paris who will buy and distribute the American Santa Claus presents should, where possible, purchase toys made by wounded soldiers. In this way your money will GEORGES THEMLE, BABY 1511 SUZANNE LANTHE, ANDRE. FLAUDIN, FRANCE bay 868 BABY 1431 waby 8 serve a double purpose. It will bring joy to the child and help towards the support of a helpless man. Are you with us to make Uncle Sam a Santa Claus for the French babies? We gratefully acknowledge from Miss Louisa M. Tilton, Mount V 1756 Cragmere 1758 : Miss Elizabeth 'S. ‘Dow, a iss Ada Carman, 1 . for Baby H. and E. W . W. for Bab and 1763 Lasts The Junior Red Cross of the Ph 64 73 for Baby 3 ass., for 3 FOR BABY NUMBER 1734 Already acknowledged Retty Howe, New York City FOR BABY NUMBER 1757 Retty Howe, New York City A Friend, Rockford, Ill. M. M. F, Lake Placid, ae 1 t A Group of Little Girls, White Piains, 16 y Geo, Gilmore, Newport News. Va 2 C, A. K. Rankin, U, S$. S. South Dakota 1 W.°A. Hoare, Santa Susan 5 “Our Unites 6 4.20 $6o.te We have received $130,563.87, from which we have re- mitted to Paris 744,984.05 francs. A contribution of seventy-three dollars provides that for two years a destitute French child, orphaned by the war, will be kept with its mother, or relatives instead of being sent to a public institution, where its chances of survival are less than in a family environment During this critical period in the child's life its welfare is looked after and the funds disbursed by “The Fatherless Children of France," an organization oficered by nent French men and women, The Society has committees in every part of France. who Keep in touch with the children and supervise details of m: Contributions of less than seventy-thre they am nt to the larger sum. dollars are c ANDRE MUEL, BARY 1205 i |