Life, 1918-05-23 · page 26 of 40
Life — May 23, 1918 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page documents Life magazine's fundraising campaign for French war orphans during World War I. The headline "America's Big Geography" sarcastically notes that contributions arrive from so many American towns they could color an entire map of the United States. The editorial text vilifies "William of Prussia and his Huns"—a reference to Kaiser Wilhelm II and German forces—blaming them for creating these orphans through war. It appeals to readers' sympathy, explaining that $73 can support a French mother and child for two years, potentially saving the child's life and creating "a future citizen of France." The photographs show actual French children being supported by the fund (identified by name and baby number). The extensive list of donors demonstrates broad American grassroots support for war relief. This reflects early-twentieth-century American attitudes toward World War I, portraying Germans as brutal aggressors while celebrating American charitable generosity toward Allied nations, particularly France.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“TRE * America’s Big Geography } | IFE is sorry that limited space prevents its printing a map of the United States with a dot showing every city, town and village from which contributions have been sent to increase the Babies’ Fund. It wouldn't be a map at all, but pretty nearly a black mass testifying to American sympathy for these poor little children in France, bereft of their fathers by the cruelty of this bar- harous war inflicted on humanity by William of Prussia and his Huns. Great as is the generosity of Lire’s readers, all they have done is only a fraction of the need of the French babies and their brave French mothers. Seventy-three dollars—ten sous a day for two years—hely. to keep mother and child together for that time. This may mean, and in many cases does mean, that the child will live to become a future citizen of France. It helps the little chil- dren, it lightens the grief of the mothers, and it heartens the French fighters at the front. Lire has received, in all, $108,765.33, from which 1,109,344.95 francs have been remitted to Paris. We gratefully acknowledge from dlrs. Mary V. Hinckley and Charles HH. Vinton, Brookline, Mass., for Tah Junior Red Cross Auxiliary of the Salem Graded School of Salem, Va. Mre. Henry B. Hall, New York City, for Baby No. 2643. ‘ Seth Ely, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Baby 'No, 2647 and renewal of subscription for Baby No. Lynn Thorndike, Cleveland, Ohio, for Baby No. 2648. . : Tn memory of George F. Hubbard, Grandville, Mich. for Baby No. 265, ‘The Women’s League of State Normal School, Valley City, N. D., for Bal The Junior Red Cross of Concord, N. H., for Baby No. 2653....0... 006+ F. L. Stone, Benson, Minn., for Baby No, : : Memorial to Captain’ R. §. DesPortes, Columbia, S. C., ‘for Baby No. 265; bee “The St. Catharines Club,” St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, for Baby No. 2659. The Red Cross Auxiliary of the First Presbyterian Church of East Liverpool, Ohio, Nell.and Dave, Dawson, Neb. for Baby No, 2661 ee ee R. C. Stiefel. Ellwood City, Pa., renewal of subscriptions for Rabies Nos “ge and g2.00000020001 Dunbar and Priscilla Ross Holmes, Waban, Mass., renewal of subscription for Baby No. 115s... Henry’ Francis) Keenan, Forestville, Md., renewal of subscription’ fe Baby No. 17 : : Seen : . Ogden Codman’ and ‘Thomas’ N. ‘Codman. South Lincotn, Mass. renewal of subscriptions for Rabies Nos. 31 and eieecietnes . C., Waterbury, Conn., renewal of subscription for Baby No. & “Johnson, Rome, N. Y., renewal of subscription for Raby GUSTAVE SAUVACE, BABY 2491 RENEE CHARBONNEAU, BARY 2 BROTHER AND SISTER J. A. Mitchel : d LOUIS DE LA KOBEKTIE, BABY sand @7'sssssss iS ‘ : 446 2314, AND HIS SISTER Payurnts ox Account: Mrs, johnson, Mount Sterling, Ky ¥..$3; Miss Lucie Weilenman, “Sha $63 Miss:, $6; Carol Daube and Northampton, Mass. $10; * The Eighth Grade Club,” Carlshad, Mexico, $12.50; Harry D. Breene. Iowa City, Towa, Swarthmore, Pa. $3; Mrs, Edith T. I . Denve «$23: Raffin, Grenada, "Miss... $35. Mrs. . Valley City, N $ VW. A, Hoare, Santa Susana, Cal... $6; rn Camp Meade, M Campbell and : enville, Miss. “Memorial to Er . avenport, Lowa. Fenn., $3; Herbert K. Salmon, Nete . $25, and Mrs. R. J. Meld owledged iifvchait’'S WARY NUMER WARY NUMESK 2034 Nelson P. Bonney, Norwich, N.Y. il. Hoyer, Lakewood, Ohi : Dora F. ‘Thatcher, Sunbury.” Pa. Billy Jackson,” Tulsa, Okla men Aceved w York City What J. Chalmers, Chicago, Hl RAYMONDE DAUVILLIPK, BABY 1 comicbookseray