The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-12
WOMEN THE .T0|LfRS
IN FRANCE TO-DAY
Their Tasks Range From Manual Ia
Dor i'm Fields IN Philanthropy.
Working Girls Aid.

London. Dee. t1.--CorfSspondeR
and others returning from the de-
vastated portion OF France from
which the Germans were driven at-
ter the battle Of the MItfRe efnph1-
sire the siesolation prevailing and the
discoura gemerts and. hardsh{ps under
which the inhaqitants *sf the stricken
district are seeking 10 carry on thsir
agriculture. -
A visitor qaote,l I'm The Times says.
The DESTRUCTION Of farms, Cat~
tages and buildings N certain dis
trfcts OF the MRrne ard the MeRse
cannot be exaggerated. II lie COM
piete. Sometimes II was wrought bT
shell, but mare often by ineendiary
ISM. As the French approached the
Germans when they had time. set
fire 10 the buildings
The devastated region Hes be-
tween Rheims and Clermont-en-Ar-
aonne; In the north, and Bar~le due
and Fere Champenotse, in the south,
the worst districts being In the re-
eion OF VaUb!court. Esmbercourt,
Beauree Fassincourt and Sernaise.
In most Of these villages there is no
sign of repair and few people are 10
be seen; those who remain live In
underground cellars. or are herded
together IN tho ruins of some build
ing The marye! Ia that cultivation
should be carried on. Tt lis mostly
done by old men, women and chill
dren. for all the abie-bodied mon
have been modified
1.-THE traveller In these districts will
be filled with admiration for the wo-
men Of France, for he viii sec them
loading the carts. driving thu reap
ers. whore they have them. md TAX
ing a hand in all the operations of
the field. This years crops were put
in Just after the enemy had beer
pushed back from the Marno, and
the French peasant Ia now cultivating
to within q few kilometers Of the
trenches. Reticent and uncomplain-
ing. these people 20 on .undeterred
by the ruin and the danger which
surround them. The whole valley OF
the Marine IL under arabic cuitiva-
ton, the slopes Of the hills being
covered with vines. for this Is the
great champagne district. The Vine
yards have not suffered much dam
/ poor and the crops this year are be-
| low the average
THE twon of Chalons esca ped. The
| Germans left 1t in a panic at II
O'Clock one night, and therefore had
no ttrne for destruction. The Mayor.
M. ServaE. was kept in close confine-
ment rs 4 hostage for three days
under pain OF death II any rhots
were fired In the town He behaved
with great courage and signed an af-
fiche, which was his own death war
rant In case OF disturbance"
Upon the women of France falls
much OF the work OF charity. which
the conditions OF those In the wal
zone demands. A Times correspond.
ent. speaking Of the philanthropy
OF French women, says: ut has
grown up with the needs OF the coun-
: try. to suit the country's temper anc
J 10 meet its calf. Its strong point i.
J it's common sense, and economy plays
} a big part In its administration. The
/ philosophy of economy rules al
iclasses. End II 10 as much against tht
! principles OF those who receive Il;
!. those who give that there should BIZ
unnecessary expenditure"
The women behind the various phil.
} anthropic movements are oyercomins
the tendency natural to such orga MIA
} tions In France to be strictly local II
their activities, and are co-operatin1
! to enlarge the scope of the work F'oi
instance. the Secretariat Francois
which In chiefly concerned with til.
reconstruction OF village life In tn,
desolated districts. has united will
the French Agricultural Society ant
tho Society Of Friends--the Qualkori
are doing a vast amount of relic
work In Northern France--tr1 TIL,
founding OF Z home for old men ant
J women who were forced to leavs
! their cottages when the Germans
came. French women from the prov,
inces, Parisiennes. Catholics an