The sun., 1916-12-27
\, Y. GIRLMOTHER
TO BLIND SOLDIERS
Miss Esther Root Writes Pa.
thctic Story Of Suffer-
ing In Paris.
HELP Is NEEDED BADLY
The Poor Of France In a Pitia.
bic Condition, Her
Report.

Startling sidelights on the Oscillation
OF stricken France are vividiy given In
a letter just received by Mrs, Charles
r Root OF 400 West Ninsty-sscond street
from her daughter, Miss Esther Root.
who for several months has been deine
relief work In Paris.
AMONG dependent and massrab,y poor
women and their babies and wounded
and blind soldiers. Miss Root has bssn
working, carrying warmth. sustenance
and clothing where before had been
chilly hearths. hunger and near naked
nssa. In spite OF the d~ssoiation sayety
struggles against patbos in her letter.
Q rejection Of the spirit Of thoss arnons
whom she has been working. A. che
phfsses II, writing about blind so,disn /:
"such brave fellows! II is an excsp-
tien TO So ooe downcast or morose, but
when you do your heart aches twtcs -
much, not only for them but for the q
eoes who have conquered DESPAIR"
Miss Roots work has been under
Or. and Mv. =. w. Shurtleff in the
Student Atsuers Reunions, and shs
mkkss an appeal for CONTRADICTION.
Evsrything given eoes direct 10 thooe
WAo need Il; the volunteer workers re-
petvs neither compensation nor support.
Money, materials OF finished articles
may DO sent TO Niss GLADYS Hollinss-
WsFtA 9s3 Fifth avenue. for u. w.
PeuF0e6, Paris; or after ooinmunioatlon
WA Ma Root
Every Little VIII Help.
No contribution ID too small 10 help
nose among whom an old skirt in fair
coalition may enable some woman to
Ut . Job and live comfortably withoQt
further aid where u will provide a
furnished room deoently clean for a
week for . mother and half q dosen III
led children; whore a last years over
coat would keep warm = boy who car.
ried tuberculosis away from the wet
trenches where he lost his eyesirht.
AWFUL little rooms dens OF dark.
ness and disease. can be found (oniv
occasionally. praise be) for three francs
. week. writes Miss Root. hut / cant
consider those. I saw one yesterday
. mother and two little girls live there,
md II was about the sise of the cabin
IN our motor boat. but a the latter
seem vast and airy by comparison.
With the prices Of food and coal hish.
and constantly soaring. the poor peoDlc
can Just make Out their rent and food.
out cannot buy clothes. Shoes are 50
francs and I'D.
WIN our help, however. many. many
poor families can get along that would
otherwise he destitute. Sometimes NJ
give a girl n suit which will enable her
10 present herself for a far better ma.
uon than she could hope 10 obtain In
rags. ~ "'
Sometimes boys ran 70 to schoo, n
tney nave warm new shoes. q black
apron and an oyercoat. when without
mem they would stay NJ home and shiyer
IN ldleness. Warm. strong clothing not
only gives n new lease 10 health but 10
NE as a whole. You should see the
mite girls when l give them n hair rib.
bon or a dress for their doll, II they
have one.
Il do believe IN trimmings even
Tor the most wretched. especially II
they re kids. The other day We had a
little angel OF less than two, 4 ANAL
refugee from Rheims. with its father
ana mother. Her ears were pierced and
supported tiny earrings. When In this
wartime any one had the time and in.
chna'ion to pierce hat child's esrs ID
one on me !"
Miss Root gives details Of some visits
che has made In the poverty stricken
homes, The floor OF one home occupied
by a Russian family was filled with
rags. coal dust. food and other litter.
The place was cleaned up and the de-
sired layette was sent to II, As a special
luxury some talcum powder marked
"'noudre de rig" frice powder) was sent.
Aher the happy event one Of the
workers revisited the place to hnd the
mother boiling the talcum powder with
water In a saucepan. She thought the
rice in 1t proved that 1t was q food for
the baby. for she had never seen talcum
before.
Cares for the Blind.
Miss Root describes as her pet indoor
sport fitting out the blind. which In one
OF the big branches OF the work. After
the blind soldiers have recuperated
somewhat In a hospital they are sen,
away. usually 10 the country. to learn Q
trade or 10 rejoin their families. Their
military clothes are taken from then
and the most they receive II the poorest
Kind " civilian clothes. That liz wher
the student Ateliers Reunions steps ir
10 give them decent clothes.
zone boy. "a years old. was wounded
IN the leg and dragged himself along the
ground half conscious to md he wal
f'Sb'fN hiinrNti hoWafd Nie NHSi ttt&t
trenches" she writes. AT this point M
was struck again and his eyes put out
He lay between the trenches under IRE
for days. unconscious most of the time
and feigning death the rest. by .
miracle he escaped being killed. Wa
picked up and taken TO u hospital ha!
been there six months and IL now start
ing out to learn "A trade--in the dark
! love to do what ! can for them.
The blind soldiers are always inter
es,ed to know what their new clothes
look Ike. 1t Ia OF what color. madameT
Dark brown I say and I will give
YOU a brown and white tie All. how
chic | will then be! = One OF his com
rades would nudge him and say: :
would ike to have eyes 10 see YOU now
old fellow In II true that you are jus
going to he married?' Then they laugh
and thank me mile fols' and SHAKE
hands and wish me good luck, Some
lines. i walk down the street with then
and guide them along. l admire theiI
medals and tell them that the passersb,
are looking at them. &c. We do have
good tlmes--but there 1t ends"
Miss Root is now marianne (god
mother) to several flleuls (godsons)
nut she Is only acting so until she cal
md others TO adopt them, These "
.on"ly soldiers In the trenches, withou
family or friends to write to them o.
send them little packages Of luxuriei
each month. Il heard OF one boy tn,
other day who was the only n II
MS regiment who never got anything
bat tried to 20 AVA by himself wheI
h" knew It was time for the mail 4
come, ! adopted him like a shot," sh'
writes.
She IL willing to continue the lAbo
- caring for these godsons, the lette
writing In French. and TO make UP tn
packages Of dainties each month. blu