The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-02
FRENCH CH|L DREN DISPLAY HEROISM Tragic Night in Lighthouse
 During Storm VALUE OF A CHILD MMe. Theresa Tells How to Keep Young-French Decree to Re-
 lieye Mothers in the
 Factories
lily PAIL VuLIERS

Ohiy A.7A'RNAetisJ 1 W U 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 a newspaper The govern ment may take up their case after a while. probably if it learns that they are staryng or have died.
 The two are an S-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, children of Charles Matlot. 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 at an hour when it was near time to light the lamp in the lighthouse tower. Mrs. Matlot lighted it.
 The lantern is revolving one, and the newly made widow knew full well what the result would be if it failed to turn. Ships would mistake it for the fixed light of another point and might run upon the rocks. It was not turn ing. Warned by the children again, Mrne. Mallol ascended the winding staircase and try as she would she could not make it revolve.
 For hours the woman labored in vain. A fierce storm was raging, ana it was imperative that the light should be kept turning. Her children had often watched their father prepare the light, and though they could not set the ma chinery to working they knew the lamp could be turned by hand, and they re- solved to keep 1t moving.
 Mme. Matlot had returned to her dead husbands side. The girl and the boy stole softly to her side, and the girl whispered, I've are going to turn the light"
 The wind howlcd round the lonely tower. the raf& lashed the lamp until 1t seemed as though the latter would be shivered, but through all the night until next morning those heroic orphans sat there pushing the light from left to right. and right to left, while their mother kept watch over her dead.
 And their reward? They were left to starve. There is no pension for French light house keepers widow; no provi- sion for his children. Matlot had s1o due him at the time of his death. But until formalities demanded by red tape had been complied with his starving widow could not get even that.
 Now. after months, the department re- sponsible has paid the paltry amount This has been sent without any reference to the heroic night vigil, without word of sympathy.
 rhe public is astonished at the cal ,ousness of the officials concerned. and in response to a subscription list on be- half of the bereaved family $4O0 has been raised. Napoleon would have been de- lighted to honor and reward such chil- dren. but he was a mere emperor, not an officer of the French republic
 .Have child or children constantly near you,' Is the advice of famous old actress. Mime. Theresa, If you would grow old gracefully
 "If YOU want to be happy" she said don't live alone. If you have not & family of your own, create one by adopt ing an orphan. My orphan, whom l adopted from his cradle, is handsome lieutenant in the army he is presently to be a captain and to receive oecora- ton. He has taken a wite 10 himsel and now has a child. have no bangs In growing old with you and affection around me"
 Mr,o. Theresa has another excellent ren,l,ad,---the company of nature and the fricrdsitp of old trees.
 "Fr, one's last days to pass In peace, she says. "one must love nature and i've close to her. My step becomes less sure less rapid as I walk in my garden; the trees notice 1t, but say nothing. l peneVe' then, that I remain the same, and nave no occasion to ask my mirror to verify the fact
 Memories of the Clerkenwell gunpowder exnlosion of 1867 are aroused by the death here of Joe Casey who played leading part in the Fenian movement. It was with a view to his escape and that or his fellow prisoner Burke that the explosion outside Clerkenwell prison was planned. A barrel of gunpowder was placed against the wall by Michael Barrett, aided by Casey's two brothers, Pat and Andrew. The plan was to blow a breach in the wall, through which the prisoners would escape in the confusion. The ef- fleets of the explosion were tremendous. Six people were killed on the spot, six died later, and five others indirectly owed their deaths to it. One hundred and two people were injured, 15 losing eyes, arms or legs. Michael Barrett was soon after wards denounced by spy and executed. The brothers Casey got clear away to this country under the name of Potter. Joe