New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10
CHILD LIFE IN PARIS.
Physical and Mental Culture Cared
fOr-HOHday Colonies.
Paris. December ,. 1903

q
istic and Indispensable feature in the life Of
the country-is in the hands of the Mayor on
whom it devolves. from the moment of the child's
birth. to set in motion set of complicated ma
chinery having for its sole object the securing to
the infant of the best conditions Obtainable for
the physical development OF the future citizen
From the age of three years, when the child
| enters upon It's nine obligatory years of school
life. physical and mental culture go hand in
hand The way in which the French Republic
fulfils its duties to the humblest of it's chill
dren Is perhaps more complete and more thor
ough than in any other administration in the
world Nothing is left to private charity or
private efforts; every contingency has been
fcreSeen and provided for. 1t is the perfection
OF the Napoleonic system of Capitalization.
For administrative purposes Paris like every
other French city is divided into districts Tar
rondisaements). each having it's free school
(Ecole Communale). with it's infants school,
here known by the charming name of Ecole
Maternelle Mothery SCHOOL,. Parents how
ever. are not obliged to send their children
the local school; they may select any one they
prefer A popular school is that of the Eighth
ACCOMPLISHMENT, in the Pare Monceau quarter.
one Of the wealthiest districts in the capital
drawing the bulk of It's pupils from the petit,
bourgeoise. the small tradespeOple in COM
paratively easy circumstances. this school
ranks
Attached to every school is a special fund
entirely devoted to supplying creature com
forts to the needier of the scholars This fund
is part OF the general school endowment. but it
| is often swelled by contributions from private
sources. 1t is 4 common occurrence for a coupl,
/ wishing to be married 4 Sunday or on SOM.
legal holiday. or at unusual hour to send a
sum. varying from so to 500 francs. to the local
Sc md tha aJ,
select committee presided over by the Mayor.
is put to excellent advantage.
In different localities it is obvious that the
needs of the children vary considerably A
glance round the fine class rooms of the school
of the Eighth ACCOMPLISHMENT will show only
rows of neatly and adequately clothed scholars
Tho directress of this school. when recently
called upon to distribute some thirty-two pairs
OF boots. found difficulty In finding recipients
who would not take offence at the gifts BY
, selecting mothers of large families she was
able 10 dispose of twenty eight pairs.
Very different are the conditions in La VII
iette. Here the teen..ng sIunls send up swarms
Of ragged. halfstarved children to the schools
and the special funds in this arrondissement
at the approach Of winter, often strained to the
utmost. The first necessity for these children is
a uourishing meal, such as their homes are I'M
able to furnish. and in their schools accordingly
''''t''il - 4li9tA4tGr III lOT CeNt4eS
each dive ccnts) every child may have a plenti-
full meal Of soup. lertils. beans. rice or potl-
toes Twice a week AZ least the pot-au-feu is
put on, and then each child gets a good slice
of meat. with broth ard vegetables In the Pare
Nonceau School there is Cantecn but the
scholars from distance bring with them Itt4
baskets containing bread, wine and a simple
dessert and by a special arrangement with tie
concierge each child may have slice of ucIt.
with vegetable. prepared fo- it at the price OF
40 confines eight cents) apiece and thus L
good meal is obtained 1T q small cost
The school year is less broken in France TIM,
IN America. Christmas aad the New Year bring
no festivities in their train to the school chill
drcn of this country. and the long summer vacl-
ton is therefore all the more appreciated. In
the summer the special fund is put to the pur-
pose which most appeals to the pupils. Every
spring q large percentage OF children sent
either to the country seaside for twenty on.
glorious days, without ccntne of expens, II
the parents. The principal of the school ma,,cs
the select ton of the subjects for this browning
treat and all through Angus: and September
troops of pale faced. delicate looking children
sent to the beautiful and 5racing hiShl&n IS
OF the Orne and elsewhere. 20 lead 4 healthy
open air life. Each batch OF children is
panied by responsible mistress master. and
if by magic the white faces and thin ch,e.s
breezes. and the Ianguor engondered by close