The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-15

HE cities Of France have
zone further in recognizing the
responsibilities of the organ
Il lied state toward the child
than any othc- modern country. In
doing so they have 10 a great ex-
tent taken possession of the fu-
ture. That this is 2 marked
change Of attitude is evident %
any student of French social condi-
tons; it signifies q realization of the
danger threatening the home life Of the
natiCn-a danger which has been a real
one for years IN the minds of deep SO
cial and economic thinkers, some Of
whom maintained that the outcome Of
the Franco Prussian war was at bot
tom the victory Of the German home.
But, whatever the causes leading up to
the legislation Of the last few years by
which the French child is practically
made secure in the rights of childhood
the results are already becoming evil
dent in the increased birth rate, the de-
creased infant mortality and the high
staEding which French schools are
taking among the educational institu-
tons Of the world. The enactments Of
the last ten years are largely the re-
suit Of the agitation and party policy
Of the PaTti OUvrier Francois Che
Workingman's party Of France and
wherever they have come into political
COntrol tLey have made their first &C
tivity count for the better conditions
surrounding the youngest members Of
the state.
Many Of the municipalities have in
sttuteC large day nurseries for the
babies and youngest children Of the
working people. The nursery is opened
as early as q quarter past in the
morning and closed at about half-past
Z at right Admission is free. and the
babies have the care of trained per
sons. Regularity in eating, good nOur-
isiment and Cleanly surroundings tend
TO raise the standard of health at the
critical period in baby life, to say
nothing of the effect upon the nature
and habits of the older children.
Charles VerecQue writing in the re-
cent number of The International So
ciaiist Review. says: Since the capt.
talist rule forced the women out Of the
homes IN which they cared for the
children before the bourgeois revClu-
ton Of 1885, into the factories, nurseT-
les have become a necessity" He emu
merates other measures in behalf Of
The children; the outings for children
Of the working classes. whose usual en-
virOnment reacts upon the health, and
the equipment of ali public schools
with necessary books and writing ma
terials and the furnishing of food and
clothing to all who need them in order
TO take advantage Of the education Of
fered them.
The distribution Of clothing takes
place at the beginning Of winter. and
large sums are spent for warm, dur
able articles; everything is supplied
from head to foot If the poverty Of the
child demands IT, but the strictest su-
pervision is made in order to prevent
unworthy advantage being taken Of the
states expenditure. The serving of
meals has been the custom in many
cities since 1892. and the expense &C
counts show a growing number Of
children who eat at the schC0l. The
fare is changed every day, and con-
sists of meats, vegetables, bread and
beer, cooked and served by salari5d
persons under the direction of one OF
the teachers. In explaining these an
n0vations made by the Parti Ouvrier,
VeTeCque says: Our friends thought
that if it was necessary to secure the