New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-23
INDECENT MOTHERS.
Charity in Paris That Gives Help to Poor
Women.

Paris April II
Paris IS second to no city in the world in the
number and variety OF its charities, both public
and private, and in the matter Of state aided
societies only she would probably take front
rank. No class of suffering has been overlooked,
glance at the charity lists would show, but
it is perhaps to infancy and childhood that the
lions share of interest and generosity is ac-
corded. There are almost innumerable societies
which occupy themselves exclusively with the
protection, rearing end training of destitute or
deficient children. and since the passing of the
Roussel law $50 called from its promoter) the
state has interfered very successfully in the
destinies of the children OF the poor. Previous
to 1874 the mortality among infants rVt out to
in villages in the outskirts Of Nhe cities
and towns reached the alarming average of rs
per cent The Roussel law made each child
thus separated from fits mother the special ward
of the state to be visited and vigilantly watched
by persons directly responsible to the municipal
communal authorities and in one depart
ment alone. where this law enforced. infant
mortality fell at to Is per cent.
In a country like France, where the increase
of the population falls far short of what patriots
could WISH the subject Of infant mortality
of very vital interest. and all societies and
charities having for their end the of the
children Of the poor were sure from the outset
ever. It o. CURED to a few fashionable women
tAat a very effectual way of insuring the health
OF the child would be to provide for the needs
of its mother and little society was formed
with this object in view. Very modest was its
origin. It undertook I'm all cases Of genuine
need TO assist mother during the first months
OF her chilo's life with food and gifts of cloth
ing making only stipulation. Each mother
so assisted must be married woman and must
4 .fv,e-4
with her for at least the first year. Help was
given in two ways. Either ration OF thirty
pounds Of bread month. with meat and GER
tain supplementary articles OF food, together
with outfit for the infant. might be had, or
on the advice of the doctor daily supply of
good milk.
Such charity this new thing IN
France. similar work started in 1884
under the patronage OF Marie Antoinette. which
was the parent maternity society of the country
Dispersed during the troublous times Of the
Revolution. It was again set in working order
in 1870 and did very useful work among the
wives OF the poor II exists still. but is sup
| plemented by the younger charity. which calls
Itself the Societe dAllaitement Maternel (Aid
to Nursing Mothers).
In 1850 the usefulness Of this society received
| public recognition. and a yearly subsidy was
voted TO enable IT to IT'S work on larger
lines and this made II possible for the foundress.
Nine. Bequet, TO carry out another cherished
plan. Working among the poor as she did. she
| constantly had occasion TO see how welcome
little help would be TO mothers during the diff
cult weeks preceding the birth OF the child In
| 1892 therefore she opened a working home, in
which TO receive a certain number OF mothers
who had no TO assist them in the struggle
for life. For admission into this home only one
thing was necessary. and that was the need Of
the candidate. She was not required to give
her name. nor need she be a legal wife All
mothers, whether married not married. are
accepted. within. OF course. the limits OF the
! accommodation available. and this branch OF
the work has proved. perhaps. the greatest boon
Of all to the class for whom II intended.
In the establishment at Montrouge all grades
Of misfortune appear TO meet. There is the
wife OF an artisan who has met with an acci-
dent and is in hospital unable to provide for
the needs OF his wife; there IS the young farm
hand who has been turned out by her mistress
for misconduct. All are wearing the neat
and simple uniform and are treated with abso-
lutte equality. Every ~ taken OF their
health. Light work. suited to their capacity is
melted out to each. the heavier work of the house
being done by a regular staff. and only such
can be managed without fatigue given to the
inmates A large proportion sit at tables. MAX
ing corsets, and every arrangement for their
comfort has been made. The food is good and
plentiful and the little bedrooms. which have
rather the air of conventual cells. are scrupu-
lousy clean and orderly. The varying ages OF
the patients strike the visitor at There
is one girl, herself n mere child. though tall
and strongly built, who is not yet thirteen. and
there Is another woman OF fifty who is expecting
her sixteenth child. Both of these are. OF course
exceptional But Il is evident that the Society
for the Relief Of INDECENT Mothers in their hour
OF need is doing a very valuable work It's list
of supporters contains the names OF score OF
prominent American women in Paris, and the
| mothers assisted are not necessarily French the
benefits of the society being open 20 all ma
tionalities and during the last year twelve
American mothers have been cared for at this
establishment. G. I. b
GOLDEN CROZIER