Life, 1918-01-31 · page 27 of 40
Life — January 31, 1918 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page documents "A Great Success"—a Christmas charitable campaign by *Life* magazine supporting French war orphans (likely from World War I, based on references to "wounded soldiers" and wartime devastation). The article describes how *Life* readers donated toys and clothing through a Paris committee, which distributed gifts to approximately 2,200 children whose families were destroyed by war. The page includes: - **Huguette Béranges, Baby 1515** (left photograph): One recipient child - **Joseph Murdkon, Baby 1364** (right photograph): Another recipient with his brother - **Multiple named donors** listed with baby numbers assigned to each child they sponsored The "satire" here is gentle—*Life* is proudly showcasing American generosity toward impoverished European children, contrasting wealthy American readers with desperate French families. The numbered "babies" system creates an emotional connection between donor and recipient. This represents *Life*'s role as both satirical publication and serious advocate for social causes during the post-WWI relief period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Ld FB - 187 aided is now 4. We have received, in all: $169,311.26, Great Success from which we have remitted to Paris 40386405 francs. Lire gratefully acknowledges from N the first mail from France JM the: frst ma CC First Lieut. John S. Fleck, Newark, Ohio, for Baby N since the holidays, come some Mr. and Mrs. George Youell, Portland, Ore., for Baby No. sven hundred letter f N.'O. Nelson, New Orleans, La,. for li six or seven hundred letters o Mrs. Henry Eichheim and Miss Ethel Joba acknowledgment, which are be- Mass., for Bab 22506 : ing sent out to our contributors as fast as they can be re-ad- 2 dressed. They are from the — Tavra B. Ke children and mothers of the chil- s. Jones Davis, D a : Miss Margaret Ban dren who received gifts pur- The Tuesday Club, New Pragu or Raby chased by our Christmas Fund, Avng, Lucy and Philip Bancroft, Concord, Cal., for ‘Baby Through the admirable work of the committee in Paris the « see ST Tor hate NO Gs most i ‘ y York City, on accoui tof gifts scem to have been wisely chosen and distributed, The girls ‘and [boys “of the’ Hightiy Grade’ wf ‘the’ “Mari 3 Grammar School, Maricoya, Cal., ount of Mal To cach of the twenty-two hun- Now 217 i dred children went a toy and some useful article of apparel, Enoicliec’ both purchased from workers Peter.” "New York City-- de destitute . Leonidas Bills, Bolivar, wueueracsteawenn made destitute by the war, such Rt Neon Grand Rapides 3 MUGUET CEN. ag wounded soldiers, widows, and Sproles and S.C. Hodges, BABY 1515 é : i "Greenwood, S. C. ‘ wives with husbands at the front. M n Center, New York City. sss. “Poland Springs” . BABY The Christmas parcels came in the nature of a surprise, and the letters evidence the delight of hoth mothers and children at. this unexpected proof of generosity and BABY NUMBER 2251 thoughtfulness on the part of their faraway American Beta Alpha Chanter of Thi Mu, George Washington Unie iriends. In these bereaved homes there was laid a Mrs. Jobn’ Briggs, Newton Center, “Mass... : : new foundation for the future affection of France for” U®* Mg ten Valens cane America. Hany NUMBER 2261 Of the many fine things done by the gencrous readers of “W. C. R." New York City sete Lire, this Christmas Fund: forthe Brench Babled is one'ot SoS, SU DY the, aehioal, pilldren. of Comet the finest, both in intention and result poe. Collins, Knoxvill The main work goes on bravely. The number of children 1 babies. These s names of the tributors to 4 y are assign 1930. Fs Mr. and Mrs Ersk 8 Germaine Bellon, — Margaret Zug. Valentin Rellon, Robert Rey ant. tost Robert Benvit. Miss Ida Rart- lett Reed. 198s. Jean Berdoulay, A. M. Toft. hagen, 204; Paul Bernard. ul Roochever, Fernand Besnard. Mr. and L. Brown, Marcel Tiesnard. Mary E.G. s. Simone Riardoux. The Sons of the American Revolution. Marcel Rillad. Mrs. DJ bal. Charles Blaisy, Mrs, Francis Gardiner. mB Barton. Renée Bollier. Collin Kemper. Henriette Hondenet. Harry 196 “In mem. ory of Mary Louise Coc 2060, Maric Isabelle, Bord. Eu- genia McCalla, from the Chiopi Society of the National Park Seminary. st. Jeanne Bordes. Sunday Schoot ROGER BONNENPANT, BABY 1690, 11S MROTHER, of the Presbyterian Church, MAURICE, AND MIS SISTER, MADELEINE (Continued on page 198) JOSEP MURDKON, BABY 1364, AND MIs BRUTHER comicbooks.com