Life, 1918-07-18 · page 20 of 36
Life — July 18, 1918 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page documents **Life magazine's French Babies' Fund**, a charitable initiative supporting French orphans and widowed mothers after World War I. The photographs show beneficiary children (Gabrielle Maniveau, Edith Delalondre with her sister, and Nelly Ballue with her sister). The article announces the death of Mr. Mitchell, a fund administrator, but emphasizes that charitable work persists. It reports that Life readers have contributed $217,232.77, with $1,214,569.95 francs remitted to Paris. The fund operates through the Fraternité Franco-Américaine organization. **Key point for modern readers**: This reflects post-WWI American philanthropy toward French war victims, particularly children. The text notes American soldiers in France expressed affection for French children, indicating the humanitarian dimension of the American military presence. The fund's structure—allowing contributions of less than $73 to be pooled to support one child for two years—represents early organized charity work.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GABRIELLE MAN? BABY 2166 The Good Work Continues N the death of Mr. Mitchell the fatherless children of Lire’s Babies’ Fund have suffered another bereavement. for he was their friend, as he was the friend of ever: helpless and suffering creature. But the good work continues. There is no end to the generosity of Lire’s readers when the cause is a good one such as the alleviation of the distress of the French orphans and their brave, widowed mothers. Almost every letter from the beneficiaries of the fund contains some affectionate al lusion to the American soldiers now in France. And there are many evidences of the affection of our soldiers for the little children of France. Lire has received, in all, $217,232.77, from which have heen remitted to Pai 1,214,- 569.95 francs. We gratefully acknowledge from Mrs. J. W, Paxton, Washington, D. C., for Raby No, 2817 Miss Maurine Loonans, Sioux Falls, $.'D., for Baby No, 2818 Grand Rapids, Mich., for Babies Nos, victor HOUTILLIER, pany 2548 Valley City Lodge, No. 7, A. P. and “A. Mf, Vaitey City for Babies Nos, 2823, 824 and 2825 (on account)..... Helen Townley, Hartwood, N. Y.. for Haby 836. 02 Helen D, Rohnert and Dorothy I L, Kross, Detroit, Mich., for Baby No. 2827. ..00+0¢ rs Behn, Havana, Cuba, renewal of subscription for Baby No. 106.....+ Thomas Archibald Miller, ne year of suirse ast Orange, Nut 289 and 290 Pavursts ox Accout: “ Exsmoker.” West Point, Mrs. R. J. McDonald, Valley City, N.D.. $63 Hel Miriam’ Perdue, Elizabeth Jobnson’ and Lillian Taylor, Was EDITH DELALONDRE, BABY AND HER SISTER NELLY BALLUE, DABY 2417, AND MER SISTER ington C. HL, Ohio, $12: Madame Leed's French Class of the Equal Franchise Red Cross of Pittsburgh. Pa, $18.63 Winifred Morris, Swarthmore, Pa., $3: L. G, Moultrie, Valley x Grenada, Miss. $3:' Miss Weiten! Mrs V Reynolds, Bellefonte, Pa. . Pa., $10; The ladies of the Memorial rch of Apple v BABY NUMMER v acknowledged... es s Myrtle Revallion, Fairhaven, Mass... Beatrice and Gertrude, Fairfield, Cal y NUMBER y acknowledged ......2.. ¢ and Gertrude, Fairfield, ( Cooper, Aspen, Colo. $32.08 THE PLAN OF THE FRENCH BABIES’ 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 her or relatives instead of being sent to a public institution, where its chances of survival are less than ina family environment. Dut- f this critical period in the child's life its welfare is looked after nd the funds disbursed by the Fraternité Branco-Americaine, an Ranization officered by eminent French men and women. The craternité has committees in every part of France, who keep if touch with the children and supervise details of management. 7 Contributions of less than seventy-three dollars are combined until they amount to the larger sum. ‘0 those who are unable to con- tribute the whole seventy-three dollars at one time a child will be assigned under a pledge to complete this amount, ‘As fast_as recelved from the Fraternite the names and addresses of the children and their mothers, with other information, are com: Taunicated directly to the contributors for the care of each child, The payments are made to the wothers in quarterly instalments Contributors wishing to correspond with the mothers should address them'as." Mme. Veuve surname of the child) "at the town gnd department given. A selfaddressed envelope should be enclosed or reply. Contributors will o¢ notified at the expiration of the two vears, and be given opportunity to continue the support, if they so desire, ec 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 regula: tions of the American Red Cross Lire. is unable to forward packages to the chiklren. Gifts of money we can remit. with other. funds cheeks should be made payable to the order of Lire Publishing ompany. Owing to the large amount of detail work connected with Tund, contributions are acknowledged only through [ivt.