Life, 1918-12-05 · page 42 of 76
Life — December 5, 1918 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a charitable appeal, not satire. During World War I, *Life* magazine's readers raised funds to support French war orphans—children whose fathers were killed in combat. The article documents how the magazine's editors and J.A. Mitchell (the publisher) initiated the effort by donating $73, then duplicated it, eventually raising $277,000 to provide two years of maintenance for approximately 3,400 children. The photographs show named French orphans (Paul Minard, Marcelle Aubry, the Barkat family with Jeanne) as evidence of real children benefiting from readers' donations. The appeal emphasizes that France cannot yet fully care for these children and requests continued American generosity. This represents *Life*'s role as a progressive publication promoting humanitarian aid to war-affected civilians—a significant aspect of early 20th-century American charitable journalism.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Christmas Life VIEWS OF any 2872 LIFE’S Readers and the PAUL MINARD, Orphan Babies of France for twenty-two hundred children 1 thi I HIS is Christmas time, cach for a i ar Christn the feast ¢ children the wor propriate to say some: splendid gener- thing. work that the osity of Lirt’s rea ne for little Fr the war ers I ones in phaned by Two years ago last April there came to Lire. office the appeal of the Orphel Armées in P help the French babies. Touched hy ten nat des ris for for their sad condition and interested in the statement th cents a day would keep a French war orphan with its mother, obviating the sending of these little ones to public institutions, the editors and employees of Lire made up the sum of seventy-three dollars to provide maintenance for a war orp When the late J. A. Mitchell learned of this he insisted on duplicating the subscription, Lire Publishing Company hecame spor and through the columns of Lire to join in the good work. How heartily they responded has been shown in every an for two years, sor for another baby its readers were invite issue of Lire since the fund was established. Figures are not interesting things by which to measure human sympathy and kind-heartedness, but a few to give a definite idea of the good that has been done. As this issue of Lire goes to press (at the end of November) we have received, in round numbers, contributions of $277,000. This has provided two years’ maintenance for about 3,400 chil- dren, and in many cases has renewed that maintenance for an additional period of two years. Iso included are re- mittances from contributors for special gifts and Christmas remembrances for the children in whom they have become interested by correspondence with the mothers; also last year’s Christmas fund to provide gifts costing one dollar are necessary Although peace has come, ones there hy the killing of their fathers how many little made destitute not ye den, and in the unable, fund to Idren on the list pressure nd will he unable are in Fray bring similar hiapniness t present Christmas. it is not possible yet t e who have Fray know the measure of her present and future | of course. bee for some time to come, to t steps to relieve the present urgent need try may he trusted to absolutely ones, to save their cou Until France need contir have never been the and committees who work all France under the of nité Américaine in Paris. The thers will reached by societies over supervision the Frater- Franco fa- re- turn to many French when the armies are disbanded, but on many ¢ the courageous French women who, by their workand house- hold economies, have kept their little families together during the dark days amilies necessary heritage of the ves the sand is urgent. ccept fror ovide men word we may 0 have That prov abroad no longer th for her helple given their Ti he sure that Thousands of these childre | THE BARKAT FAMILY WITH JEA BABY 2690 comicbooks.com