Life, 1918-03-14 · page 27 of 40
Life — March 14, 1918 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page documents Life magazine's charitable fundraising campaign for French war orphans and their mothers during World War I. The publication has collected over one million francs ($180,128.63) from readers to support destitute French children orphaned by the war. The page lists individual and group contributors—churches, families, and organizations—who have "adopted" specific babies through the fund. Rather than placing children in institutions, the money keeps them with their mothers or relatives in France, where survival rates are better. A notable contribution comes from composer John Philip Sousa, who wrote a musical setting for Life's "Marching Song," with royalties split between the French Babies' Fund and Life's Fresh Air Fund. The photographs show beneficiary children. This represents Life's attempt to mobilize American generosity toward European civilian suffering caused by WWI through a tangible, emotionally compelling mechanism: readers could directly support named individual children.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: More than a Million Francs IFE has made a point of Arrangements for public use may be made with the pub- summing up the work of this lishers. The song may be had at all music stores. Fund more in terms of babies We gratefully acknowledge from Mrs. E. RB. Lytel, Ferndale, Cal., for Babies Nos. 2380. and mothers helped than in dol- t Migl jars and cents. This week the Mr. and Mrs, G. V. Denny, Savann “for Raby No. bars. aud iss ‘ New Vork Chanter of the ‘National Park Semin: generosity of Live's readers has New York City, for Baby No. 2384...-- 0 =i Master Chas. Braddock Meech and Master Robert Raidwin brought the amount of remit- si Teech, Minneapolis, Minn., for Babies Nos. 2385 and tances up to more than a million . ee franes, an accomplishment which laude N. Beaudry. New York C ity, for, . ; . In memory of Emma J. Sinclair 0 seems worthy of mention on the Mabies Nog sou and sypSeoe jee con y sid R. Janney, Minneapolis, Minn., for Baby No. 239 money side. tA lost Cabin, Wyo., for Baby N. ak D. Menderson, Aiken, S; C. for aby | 2 exter, Cleveland. Ohio, for Baby No. money sent to France amounts jane an Shin Kons: Warren, ohio. for Raby, No. 3: 689.95 frane: of a Mina Lamar Mible Class of Selma, Ala., for Baby No. 2401 to 1,031,680.95 francs, out of a ins Niner ratte of watch at Wanksien: China, per 1. i total of $180,128.63 contributed for aby No. 240). 5 -o-+ijee-ceeseggeee tee ai *, i uth and Charlotte Goodell, Houghton, “Mich. "for Habies by Lire’s readers. The number — Ruth and Charlotte: (ocdell, Houghtor of babies assigned to these con- Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus E. Whitmer, Buffalo, N. Y., for Baby bucten: Haas; tributors is now almost twenty- Mr. nd Mrs. RE iil, Nunn. Coto.’ on account of aby baby NO. 2173 four hundred. The totals in- — « Anonymous.” Tuscaloosa, ‘Ajs., on account of aby No. 31 christmas Fi ‘ R.A. Holmes, Brooklyn, N. Y...on account of Baby No. 2280 : ; ‘ clude the Christmas Fund and Boo Moet Mtiddletown, “Onion first. years. support various special gifts that have been forwarded through Rabies Nos. 2389 to 2393, inclusive, sete Lirr to the protégeés of its readers. BABY NUMBER 2368 To be exact, the amount of An interesting contribution comes from Joli Philiy — Aleeady acknoa usa, the eminent composer and bandmaster, now a Lieu GC Ares. Ch tenant in the Naval Reserve, He has wrigten a stirring Mita tamar Bible Class musical setting of Lire’s prize “ Marching Song.” which is BABY NU SIDER published in vocal and various instrumental forms by G. Miva Tamar, Muble Clan of, Seta. Ala Schirmer, 3 East Forty-third Street, New York City. The MMO” sciciiscching Song for America” by Tiensy J. Va entire royalties are to he divided between the French HEE ae tadaw Cat Babies’ Fund and Lire’s Fresh Air Fund. The inspiring "Albuquerque" words and music should secure a wide sale for the song. THE PLAN OF THE FRENCH BABIES FUNL 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 insti tution, where its chances of survival are less than ina family environment. During this critical period in the child's life its welfare is looked after and the funds disbursed by the Fraternité Franco-Américaine, an organization officered by eminent French met women, The Fraternité has committees in every part of France, who keep in touch with the children and supervi: details of management Contributions of less than seventy-three dollars are combined until they amount to the larger sum. To those who are unable to contribute the whole sev three dollars one time a child will be assigned under a pledge to complete this amount. As fast as Lire receives from the Fraternité the names addresses ot the children and their mothers with particulars of the father’s death and other information, these a communi: cated directly to the contributors for the care of each child. Contributors wishing to correspond with the mothers should address them as‘ Mnie. Veuve ———— (surname of the child) ” at the town and department given. A self-addressed. envelope should be enclosed for reply. Contributors will be notitied at the expiration of the two years, and be given opportunity to continue the support, if they so desire. The full amount of the funds received by Lire is put into French exchange at the most favorable rate and remitted to the Fraternite with no deduction whatever for expenses. Under the present regulations of the American Red Cross L. is unable to forward packages to the children. Gifts of money we can remit Checks Snoull’be made payable to the order of Lire Put ‘ 5 4 Checks should be made payable to the order of Lire Publishin ETTE HOE, BABY NO. 129, AND MER Company.” Owing to the large amount of detail work connected NELENE MOVENVAL, CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM “LIFE'S” READERS with the fund, contributions are acknowledged only through Lirr BABY NO, 222t comicbooks.com