Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-02
Official Red Tape Worked Injustice
on Widow and Orphans.
PUBLIC TAKES UP THEIR CAUSE
Paris Newspaper Starts Subscription
to Reward Little Ones.
RELIEF FOR WORKING MOTHERS
Legislative Measure Put Forward
that WouId allow Married Opera
tives IN Factories 20 Case
for Their children.
BY PAUL Y1LIERs

AfaENAos jury A.-tEpeCial 10 Inc bee.l--s
Two French children have immortalized
themselves by heroism and suffering, and
neither Of them is over 10 years old. A
popular subscription is being taken up by
newspaper. The government may take
up their case after a while-probably' n II
learns that they are starving or have
died.
The two are an S-yeaT-old hoy and a 10
year old girl, children Of Charles MatIot.
who until his recent death was keeper at
the Kerdonis lighthouse He was stricken
while at work and died within an hour
His death came al an hour when IL was
near time to light the lamp in the light
house tower. Mrs. Matlot lighted il.
The lamp is a revolving one, and the
newly-made widow knew fun well what
the result would be II it failed to turn.
Ships would mistake il for fixed light
Of another point and might ran upon the
rocks. 1t was not turning. Warned by
the children. again Nine. Matlot assembled
the winding staircase, but try as she would
she could not make IL revolve.
For hours the woman labored in vain.
A fierce storm was raging. and it was i'm
perative that the light should be kept
turning. Her children had often watched
their father prepare the light. and though
they could not set the machinery working
they knew the lamp could be turned by
hand, and they resolved to keep II moving.
Children Kept Light Turning.
The wind howled round the lonely tower.
the rain dashed the lamp until 1t seemed
as though the latter would be shivered.
but through all the night until next morn
ing. the two heroic orphans sat there. push
ing the light from left to right, and right
60 nFN M
her dead.
And their reward? They were left to
starve. There is no pension for a French
lighthouse keepers widow; no provision for
his children. Matlot had $40 due him at
the time of his death, but until formali-
ties demanded by red tape had been COM
Piled with. his starving widow could not
get even that Now, after months the
department has paid the paltry amount
This has been sent without any reference
to the heroic night vigil without a word
Of sympathy.
The public is astonished at the caIloup-
ness Of the officials concerned, and I'm re-
Spouse 20 a subscription list on behalf OF
the bereaved family, 500 has been raised.
Napoleon would have been delighted TO
honor and reward such children, but he
was mere emperor. not an officer Of the
FRENCH repupnc-
Relief for Working Mothers,
A French legislative proposal to relieve
mothers working in factories has been put
forward as the result Of the statistics Of
infant mortality published by Drs PaIestre
ana Giletta. The figures show that out Of
lVe deaths which occurred In towns. lST
or one-sixth, are OF children less than a
year old, and 30 per cent OF these are the
children of working people Out of loo
children who have died when under a year
old. 7S6 might have been saved OF these
SSS were the result OF gastro-enteritis,
caused by bad food and feeding from the
bottle One hundred and seventy-one were
traced TO overwork on the part Of the
mothers The doctors declare that IL. six
years z9o.0o children have died who might
have been saved.
The object OF the bill IL TO enable moth
ers employed in factories to suspend work
for two periods Of half an hour daily IN
order TO look after their babies without
loss OF pay.
Old Actress f. Wise.
Have a child or children constantly
near you" lie the advice OF a famous old
actress. Nine. Theresa. If you would grow
old gracefully"
IL you want to be happy" she saId.
don't live alone II you have not a fam
lily OF your own, create one by adopting
an orphan Ny orphan, whom I adopted
from his cradle. is handsome lieutenant
In the army he is presently to be a cap
tain and TO receive a decoration. He has
taken a wife 10 himself. and has now a
child have no pangs In growing old with
youth and affection around me-
Nine. Theresa has another excellent ram
edy-the company OF nature and the friend
ship OF old trees.
For ones last days 10 pass In peaoa."
she says, -One must love nature ana live
close 10 her. Ny step becomes less sure.
less rapid. as ! walk In my garden; the
trees notice IT, but say nothing. 1 believe
then. that remain the same, and have no
occasion to ask my mirror 70 verify the
fact"