Life, 1917-11-01 · page 24 of 38
Life — November 1, 1917 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines patriotic poetry with fundraising for French war orphans, reflecting America's involvement in World War I. The poem "Kneeling Children of France" by Gertrude Robinson addresses French children orphaned or displaced by the war. It evokes nostalgia for pre-war Paris ("Once on a time, when the world was gay") while celebrating American intervention—specifically the sight of the American flag alongside the French flag in French streets. The "kneeling" references both children's prayer and their gratitude toward American aid. The accompanying section solicits donations for nearly 1,800 French babies, emphasizing that money (not physical goods) should be sent due to shipping complications. The photographs show representative beneficiary children. **Context for modern readers:** This reflects America's WWI-era humanitarian efforts and the emotional appeals used to mobilize domestic charitable giving for European war relief—framing American aid as fulfilling a historical debt to France and as Christian charity toward innocent child victims.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Kneeling Children of France EAR little sad-eyed children of France, Once on a time, when the world was gay, In the streets of Paris you danced and sang. God grant you again a happy day, Sad little children of France. Wan little weary-eyed children of France, In the streets of Paris you knelt to-day, Knelt at the sight of a succoring flag, Knelt in the streets where you used to play, Heart-broken children of France. We are thinking to-day of the long ago, Kneeling children, beyond the sea, When your fathers came, with hearts aflame, To us, in the name of liberty, Fatherless children of France. Fair by the side of the Red, White and Blue The Stars and the Stripes in your streets are a-blow! Never so beautiful, now they glow In the name of that help of the long ago, Kneeling babies of France. You knelt in your streets as our flag went by— Our flag with a glory strangely new. The stars of heaven gleamed in its folds, Strewn but to-day in that field of blue, For you, O children of France! Dear little war-smitten children of France, In our hearts is a prayer as the flag goes by— For the flag we have vowed to a glorious quest, For the flag aflame on a far-away sky, For God—and the babies of France. Gertrude Robinson, For Their Stockings, If They Have Any | Bee has not yet received from Paris the names of the commit- tee who will purchase and distribute the Christmas gifts for our almost eighteen hundred babies. It will be composed of eminent French and Americans resident in Paris, and we have no doubt their work will be done with devotion and enthusiasm. We are sorry we cannot accept ma- terial gifts for forwarding. The red tape and expense involved, together with the uncertainty of delivery, make even a small gift of money a more practical way of evincing American interest in the children. To equip Uncle Sam as an Amer- ican Santa Claus for the French orphans we have received from Russian Bank, San Francisco. . $200 Louise Clark Whitaker, Wheetinig, : ‘ 10 BAe: Wis Baltale, Ne Veseessssee veces 10 RAYMOND MARTIN, BABY 279 $220 For the main fund which maintains the babies in their mothers’ care for two years we have received $132,168.23, from which we have remitted to Paris 744,984.95 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. of relatives instead of ‘being sent to © public Institution, where its chances of survival are less than i} in a family environment. During this critical period in the child's life its welfare is looked the funds disbursed Lie The Fatherless Children of by an organization officered eminent French men and The Society has committees in every part of France, who keep in touch with the children and supervise details of management. Contributions of less than seventy-three dollars are combined until they amount to the larger sum. checks should be made payable to the order of Lire Publishing Company. We gratefully acknowledge from Henry H. Corson, ad, Rio de Janeiro, South America, for Baby No. 1768 “A Friend,” for Baby No. 1769 Mary Elisabeth Godfrey, Bangor, for Baby No. i771 Mrs. Lucretia E. Cochett, Chicago, IIl., for Babies and 1773 ae 146 Katharine Dickson’ Darte, “Wilkes-barre, Pa, “for “Baby “No. Katha-Lau’ Chapin, Philadelphia, BA for Baby Ne. The Ameriead Chi of Havana, Havana, Cuba, for Mes. ow? hicadiey. Bradiey ‘Beach, N- J. for Baby, Barbara Charnley, Sewickley, Pa., for Baby No. 17 Fleanor Holt, Oconto, Wis for Baby No, 1779 Henry Meyer, San Francisco, Cal... for Baby No. pent few York City, for Babies Nos. 1781 and 17) M. Joyce, $. Baltimore, for Baby Nov 1784 . Pastonius, Colorado Springs, Colo., for Baby No. 17! milton’ Murray, San Francisco, Cal., for Baby No. Annie Paliner Fund, Redwood ‘City, Cai., for Baby’ No. 1787 In memory of Walter Craig Kerr, New’ Brighton, 8. I., for Baby No. 1790. ¥.'2, New York Ciiy, on acc 1770... Mise Mertz, Miss Jean Ben H, and Mr Bessie E. Harris, Titusville, Pa, nt of Baby No 1789. . FOR RABY NUMBER 1757 Already, acknowledged Mr. and Mrs. John Briggs, Newton Centre, Mass FOR BABY NUMBER 1767 Mr. and Mrs, John Briggs, . Esau, Boston, Mass. Van_Voorhis, Madison, N.” J. A. J. Chewing, Jr., Richmond, ‘V: E. Morris 5 Fern MeCleliand, ‘Chicago ti T. Hoopes, Puget Sound, William C. Rice, Boston, Mass. Louise Kiein, Dos Rios,” Cal Anonymous, Worcester, Mass. Anonymous, New York City fewton Centre, Mass. FOR BABY NUMBER 1783 Anonymous, New York Cit Jeanette J." Christmas, Philadelphia, Charleston, W. a Roe Vore Cay, E, Shailenberger, Elwood, FOR BABY NUMBER 1788 E, Shallenberger, Elwood, Neb. bas and Frances, Wayne, Pa. WG, San Diego, Cal. RENE£E CHADIN, BABY 764