Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-15
CHILDREN OF SOLDIERS
ARE WELL TAKEN CARE or
Six Hundred Orphans and Half.Or-
plians Having Time Of Their
Lives at Etretat.
ENJOYING FINE APARTMENT.
Sent to Channel-Fishing Port and
Resort by Charitable Movement
That Has Developed Practically
Without Organization Since War.

correspondence OF Associated Press. ]
ETRETAT. FRANCE. March six
hundred orphans and half-orphans OF
the war arc having the time of their
lives in this channel fishing port and
resort. some OF them enjoying the
luxury of apartments that rent for
from SO day UP in the bathing season
They are sent here by a charitable
! movement that has developed practt-
caIiy without organization-simply
grown out OF individual effort to re-
lieve tho anxiety of mothers who have
lost their HUSBAND and of husbands at
! the front who ha~c lost their wives
A soldier. waiting for the day to join
his regiment. asked Emil Vita, of the
tniversitc Populaire. in Paris: What
are we going to do with our children:
We can't leave them alone to become
vagabonds in the streets" Monster
Vita thought Il moment and then re-
piled simply: ri take EN-" What
will you do with themc" inquired the
soldier. Il don't quite know" replied
Monsicur Vita, but I do know there's
enough kind hearts to take care OF the
children OF our soldiers. I'm going to
bank on that; the rest ia only detail"
Tho result justified Monsieur Vitta's
| confidence. AS soon as his work be-
came known. it's development was
| rapid. Every one wanted to do some
thing. and among the more conspicu-
Gus were Madame Emil lola, Mile Del
casse, daughter OF the Minister OF For
eign Affairs; Monsieur Clcmenccau,
Scvcrine and other celebrities The
practical details which are mostly in
charge of literary men and dramatic
artists, such as Monsieur Vita, Eavier
Privas. the well-known song writer.
and Madame Privas. and Monsieur
Finally. Of tho Odeon, are regulated
! with a method and efficiency which
show that professional people can be
practical 1T Is due to them that from
mere temporary relief measure has
grown permanent charitable work
! that will make its influence felt for
twenty years to come. The orphans of
, the war are now taken In permanent
charge by the association "Orphelins
de la Guerre," which will educate
! chem. train them for some useful occu-
f, patton in life, and watch over them
until they are OF the age to go Ii alone
In numerous refugees, provided for the
whose fathers have fallen on the Held
OF battle are received with their
mothers, and from these collecting sta
! lions. as soon az they are in sufficient
number, they are forwarded here.
SOhE MOTHERS ALSO
ARE GIVEN SHELTER
Mothers who refuse to be separated
/ from their children, though unable to
give them care that they should have.
come along also. and become foster
mothers to several others Fathers
who hesitate to abandon their children
permanently are permitted TO send
them. TO remain until such time az they
come back from the war and wish to
. reclaim them. Many fathers whose
children have been received here.
brought their wills to the association
! before going to the front. leaving their
! property TO he administered by the as
ISOLATION for the beneflt Of the children
in case they failed to return
Originally they were all housed IN
| one Of the large hotels. but further
| accommodations were soon needed, and
nineteen villas have since been placed
at the disposition OF the society It is
| intended that the children shall grow
up with the same cheerful and healthy
surroundings as If they were in their
own families. The children are not
! only Immediately put into the hands
! or competent teachers. but healthy
amusements are provided for them, In :
| Guiding concerts and moving pictures.
Even hot-chestnus man, who had lost
| his regular city trade In Paris. was
| Imported
! Those who are OLD enough to begin
learning n trade find plenty Of oppor-
tunity in the different workshops and
sewing rooms. The teachers are re-
cruitcd chiefly among the mutilatcd OF
| the war.
| Among the children received in the
! last arrival was the six year -oid son
OF soldier In the ranks and whose
mother was killed during the bonn ba rd :