Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-05
CARING FOR EUROPE'S WAR REF ICFEo
One of the Days best Cartoons.
ny FREDERIC j. HASH,

WASHINGTON. April 3-Since the
first wave Of sympathy for the BeIgians
subsidized. comparatively little has been
heard about the destitute OF Europe.
The impression OF tho average reader
is that the Bclrians have been pretty
we'll cared for. and that the other ma
tons are able TO provide foI their own
to-day thousands of homeless women
ana children, not only Belgian, but
also French. Polish. Russian and Ser
bian. and the problem OF supporting;
them is constantly growing om-
Never has there been greater need for
funds ana volunteers
There are ltt,O00 refugee children I'm
colonies In southern France, and AS
many in towns around Paris. Besides
which. there are many small Bcleiams
in Holland, whose parents have been
Killed or become separated from them
in the hasty exodus from the Invaded
cities. Holland has done nobly in car
ing for these refugees suddenly thrust
upon her soil. but Holland already is
oNcr-populatcd and she cannot pos
sibiy take care of them all
Hundreds OF women, children and
old men are continually being rendered
homeless by the military decree which
orders the complete destruction Of a
town before the invasion Of the enemy.
The officers desire 40 spies left in The
village, no food ana cattle for tho OPP
posing armies and no buildings 10 act
as protection for artillery. With thcir.
homes destroyed and with nothing but
the clothing on their bodies and wha,
little food they can hastily gather to-
gcthcr, these weaker ones whom men
go 10 war to protect, arc compelled to
take to the road. In the winter slush
and snow only tho httcst can survive.
American Work In France.
In France, the wor5 OF caring for
these unfortunatcs is we'll organized.
mostly 10y Americans. The converts
OF the Roman Catholic ana Episcopal
Churches have thrown open their doors
10 the refugee children. where they
are provided for by the relief commit
tees ana taught by tho nuns 10 knit
stockings and to make lace Of bcauti-
iHl ana intricate patterns. the sale OF
which sometimes goes far toward de-
fraNinS their expenses.
The franco-Amcrican committee for
the protection OF children OF the from
tier, consisting OF such prominent
Americans as Mrs Cooper Hewitt, Mrs.
Robert w. Bliss. wife OF the secretary
of tho American embassy I'm Paris: Tho
Countess Pierre de Nic!-Castcl for
mcrly an American girl: Mrs Frances
g. shaw and Mrs William H. IIill of
Boston. and Mrs. Frederic T.: Cordcrt
Of. New York is ono OF tho mos, i'm :
hHcntial relief committees taking care
OF children Its members 90 out and
gather the children from the road
bring them TO the receiving stations
which have been established, wash and
provide them with absolute nccessarics
ana then place them among the different
colonies maintained by the committee.
Tho committee came into existence
through the efforts of Mr.. Coudcrt At
the beginning OF tho war the usual
military decree was issued ordering
tho razing OF the towns around tho
Notifications at Bclrourt in Alsace ANA
III" evacuation OF tho people over
$4,000 persons, largely women and
children, were set adrift homeless
wanderers. TO every woman who has
husha nd. father or brother in tho
army on whom she is dependent for
support tho French government paws
20 cents day. aud to every child whose
means of support Is In tho army. IL
pays 10 cents n day: but for tho great
number who happen not to have male
relatives there is no provision what
ever.
Gathered up tho Children.
!" these children. east from Eclfourr.
went Mr.. Coudcrt with his friend NJ
truppi. formerly French foreign min
lister; gathered them together and
placed them in an old seminary ,t
!. Rou"n. Tho old seminary had room
fur foui hundred beds. which ihc good
wives Of tho village were asked Ia
contribute. together with such food
ard clothing as they could spare To
lie used until funds could be raised
The least that can bc said Of tho
French people is that they arc cucr-
gntic. The village adopted The chill
drcn with great custo tho women
teaching tho girls h"uScw orli and the
DID MGR inStructiuG the boys in car
rcntry, wuodcarvinG and other trades
Later, however, the French govern
;uent needed the seminary for war
hospital and the children were moved
| to the Chateau Grosfys not far away.
IN the meantime. Mr. Coudert had hccn
| instrumental i'm forming the Franco
| American Committee, which then took
| charge of the colony.
Many private chatcauX and country
| homes have been put at the disposal
| OF committees engaged in the rescue
OF refugee children. At La lonchcrc
the country home Of Nine. Philippe
| I;crard. the large stable has been turn
| cd into well-eNuipped sanatorium for
children who are too i'll TO 20 to the
! other colonies. Here thirty eight small
| refugees arc under the care OF profess
| sional nurses.
| AZ Versailles there is colony OF
twenty small girls who arc living in ar
| old convent. These chldrcns fed from
Belgium under the care OF two nuns
| and were compelled to undergo tho
most rigorous hardshps. They spcn,
| the winter in drauehty barn. where
/ only M night s. ~