Life, 1918-04-18 · page 27 of 40
Life — April 18, 1918 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a fundraising campaign for French war orphans during World War I. The article uses a rhetorical device—asking American readers to imagine *their own* country invaded, devastated, and dependent on French charity—to build empathy and justify donations. The photographs show actual French orphans and American war orphans being supported through Life magazine's relief fund. The text emphasizes that France, America's ally, is suffering catastrophically: hundreds of thousands of children orphaned, mothers widowed, resources exhausted by fighting Germans on French soil. The appeal works by reversing perspective: if America faced such devastation, wouldn't Americans desperately need international aid? Therefore, supporting French orphans is both humanitarian *and* practical solidarity with an embattled ally. The financial acknowledgments listing donors and babies supported demonstrate the campaign's scale and legitimacy, encouraging further contributions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE BAUDUIN FAMILY WITH MABY 2171 Reversing the Case AME SRICANS with active imagina- tions have here a way to realize what their generous aid to the war orphans means to these needy ones, to their widowed moth- ers and to the French people at large. Let our readers pic- ture France at peace and prosperous. Then let them conceive America devoting every fighting man and every dollar of her resources to resisting brutal Germans already in armed possession of a considerable part of our country, Let them imagine hun- dreds of thousands of American children orphaned and their mothers widowed by the war. With the enemy in our land and our national resources taxed to their utmost hy long-continued war we might reach the point where Amer- ican mothers and American children would lack for food, clothing, shelter and every necessity of life. Then picture France sending to us thousands of dollars to relieve that distress. With this reversal of the case before our vision we can understand what the generosity of Live's readers means to our brave ally and her people. We have received $188,490.73, from which we have re- mitted to Paris 1,066,039.95 francs. Lire gratefully acknowledges from Baltimore, Md., ORGES BAVERDON, MARY 2204 AND MIS SISTER Class One. Bryn Mawr School, for Baby No. § BOOB coals coos esse stele $73 W. IL, Negus, Greenville, Miss, for Taby ‘No. 2499 33 Mrs, Wil. Reynolds,’ Jr, Fort Worth, “Texas, for” Baby No. 2500 . TARR Os On90e- creo raeeueanamesens ass ~ 73 ODETTE WANY 22 PIERRE CREN, BABY SISTER DE PADIKAC, jass., for Baby ast Weymout “Cal, for aby |N theo. A. Gessler, New York City, itor Raby No. Mr. and Mrs. HB. Hagy, R » Pa. fo Eugene R. Gill, Huntsville, Ala. for Raby 3 . Miss Katharine Holbrook, Orange. N. J., for Baby No. 2507 Rab." New York’ City, for Baby No. GW sifport, Miss. £ ee Mrs. eRicAlester, Okla, for Baby No. 213 Ww. Butte, Mont, for Rabies Nos. 2519 to 2524 Crew. of the Traperial OF Del.” it Ro T. Jones, for Bi Clara Goodwin, "Brookli Mrs. W. F. Reynolds, Bellefonte, Ta.) on account’ of Raby No, 24tt .. * “PLE. T.." on account of Maby No, 2509000020022. : Mrs. Paul Bloomh. Miss Mary V. ‘Libby, Williams burg. Pa. on account of Raby No. Twelve western girls, through Miss Lor Ore., on account of Baby Miss Carol Daube and Miss, F npton, Mass... on ac ' eves St. John’s’ Sun a fy of Raby No, 2612. nt of Haby No. zag Cayford, Pittsburgh, Da New York City, on account nd Mrs. A. Keeney Clar of Babies Nos. 1751 and ¢ Mary and Martha C1 fon account of Ra “ Memorial to Emma RB. Bryner, tof Raby No. 2gt7.- L. Walker, New Yo: rr Winifred Morris, Swarthimo 1738 . Mrs. Rey aH scription for Baby No. aa. nal Church, Flint, Mich Davenport, iowa, on ac City, on! account of Baby No Tenewal « ion, “Mass, BABY NUMBER 2488 Already acknowledged Miss Charlotte Barksdale, W. L. Bliss, Denver, Colo. Ftsmouth, Va. Nelson P. Bonney. Norwich, N.Y Grace 1. Cummings, Brooklyn, N.Y Annie and Albert, Suisun, Cal... WARY NUMBER 2514 “ B. P Recien eee W.AD Clark, Jr., Butte, Mont.. 31, AND IIS Ry comicbooks.com