Life, 1917-12-06 · page 51 of 92
Life — December 6, 1917 — page 51: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents **charitable fundraising appeals**, not satire. It documents Life magazine's wartime philanthropy during World War I (circa 1917). The top section shows **photographs of French war orphans** with their names and identification numbers—children whose fathers died in the war. Life solicited dollar donations to provide Christmas gifts, with a committee of French and American residents in Paris distributing them. Notably, Life requested gifts be made by wounded soldiers, thus providing employment and dignity to the disabled. The lower section announces Life's **Fresh Air Fund**, a summer camp program that entertained 1,003 children in 1917 at an average cost of $6.13 per child. Both initiatives reflect Progressive-era American magazine activism on behalf of vulnerable populations—war orphans and urban children—positioning Life as a socially conscious publication mobilizing reader contributions for humanitarian causes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Christmas Life ANDRE REZEAN, 1ABY AND GEORGES REZEAN, BABY 213 Christmas fund with the hope that it will he sufficient to give to each child gifts costing a dollar. This will require about two thousand dollars, and at present writing we have EUGENIE SERVETTOZ, BABY 18, AND HER BROTHER THE MIAS FAMILY WITH JEANNE, BABY 544 tout PARAGOT, BABY §53} ROGER PARAGOT, BABY $54, AND DEDE PARAGOT in hand about half that sum. A committee of French and Americans resident in Paris has been appointed by The Fatherless Children of France to purchase the gifts and distribute them. We have requested that, where possible, the gifts be the work of wounded soldiers, thus doubling the benefits of the money contributed. The Christmas Fund must close December 20th, so con- tributions should reach us before that day, Should there be a surplus it will be turned oter to the Society for the maintenance fund, 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 institutio where its chances of survival are less than in a family environmen During this critical period in the child’s lifesits welfare is looked after and the funds disbursed by e an nization officered by eminent French Society has committees in every part of France. who keep with the children and supervise details of management. Co tions of less than seventy-three dollars are combined until they amount to the larger sum. As fast as Lire receives from the Society the names and addresses of the children and their mothers with particulars of the father's death and other information, these are communicated directly to the contributors for the care of cach child. The full amount of the funds received by Lire is put into French exchange at the most favorable rate and remitted to the Society with no deduction what: ever for expenses. Checks should be made payable to the order of Lire Publishing Company LIFE'S Fresh Air Fund EREWITH we present the financial statement of Lire’s Fresh Air Fund for the season of 1917. Income Ralance forward from 1016. Contributions . Marion Story Interest. Melp : Transportation Food and_ supplies Reserve Fund ... Miscellaneors expenses Balance forward to 1018 —~ $10.883.0 fF gth, Children Season opened June 26th. Season closed Septem! entertained, 1003. Average cost per child, $6.13. comicbooks.com