The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-03
WOMEN THE TOILERS
IN FRANCE TO-DAY
Their Tasks Range From Man
ual Labor in Fields to
Philanthropy.
WORKING GIRLS GIVE AID
Special Correspondence to THE srY.

LONDON. Sept. 15.--Correspondents and
others returning from the devastated
portion Of France from which the Ger
mans were driven after the battle OF
the Marine emphasize the desolation pre-.
vailing and the disbursement and
hardships under which the inhabitants
OF the stricken district are seeking to
carry on their a~griculturc.
A visitor quoted In the Times says;
THE destruction of farms, cottages
and buildings ip certain districts of the
Marine and the Meusc cannot I've eX-
aggerated. 1t Is complete. sometimes
II was wrought by shell. hut more often
by ncendiarism. As the French APP
preached the uermars when they had
time set fire to the buildings.
THE devastated region lies betwcen
Rheims and Clcrmont-en-ArgOnne. in
the north. and Rar-lc-Duc n Fere-
Champenoise. In the south, the worst
districts being In the region OF Naubi-
court, Rembercourt, Beauzce Nassin-
court and Sermaise. In most OF these
villages there is no sign OF repair ana
few people are to he seen those VINO
remain live in underground cellars Or
are herded together in the ruins OF
some building. The marvel is that Gull
ovation should be carried on. IL ~
mostly done by old men. women ana
children, for all the ablebodied men
have been mobilizcd.
Women the H~nr>esters.
sThe traveller In these districts will
Be filled with admiration for the women
Of France, for he will see Thorn loading
the carts, driving the Keepers, wnere
they have them. and taking a hand III
all the operations of the field. rms
years crops were put In just after the
r.r., h.A hanp nnshNl hlgk from Inc
Marine. and the French peasant IL now
cultivating to within n few kil"fnetcrs
of the trenches. Iteticent and unconl.
plaining, these people go on unieterrth
by the ruin and the danger which sur
round them. The whole valley or the
Marine Is under arabic cultivation me
slopes OF the hills being covered win
vines, for this Is the great champagne
district. The vineyards have not sur
Sered much damage The soil IN parts is
extremely poor and the crops TINS year
are below the average.
THE town of Chalons escaped The
Germans left 1, in a panic at ii O'CLOCK
one night and therefore had no ume
for destruction. The Mayor, NJ. servas,
was kept in close confinement as a oos-
tage for three days under pain or death
n any shots were fired in the town.
He behaved with great courage ana
6lCneu an diltHt NV "N'
death warrant in case Of disturbance.
Upon the women OF France falls much
Of the work of charity which the con-
Az on Of those In the war zone demands.
A Times correspondent, speakinE of the
philanthropy Of French women. SAYS
sit has grown up with the needs OF the
country, to suit the countrys temper
and to meet its call. Its strong point Is
it's common sense. and economy plays a
III .x..S L., to- itNtg ~ rim The mt
losophy of economy rules all classes ana
II is AZ much against the principles OF
those who receive ~ those who give that
there should be unnecessary eApelldi-
ture.'
The women behind the various phil
anthropic movements are overcoming the
tendency natural to such organizations
in France to be strictly local in their
activities and are cooperating 10 enlarge
the scope OF the work. For Instance, the
Secretariat Francois, which is chiefly
concerned with the reconstruction OF VII
lage life in the dcsolated districts, has
united with the French Agricultural So
ciety and the SOCIETY OF Friends-the
Quakers are doing n vast amount or re-
lief work in northern France-in the
founding of a home for old men ana
women who were forced to leave their
cottages when the came.
French women from the provinces,
Parisiennes. Catholics and Protestants
have united In this work and nuns have
been put in charge OF the aged men and
women.
The women OF France are now work
ting to prepare the ruined districts for
the return of the population. Every
thing that Is necessary for the living of
human lives is wanting in these districts
and must be supplied. The Secretariat
Francois is devoting itself TO this work
and Is gradually extending is member
chip and resources.