Evening star., 1916-03-12

St Patrick, whose name is to
h\ be celebrated next Friday wher-
N\ ever sons of Ireland gather, re-
q x lieved the Emerald Isle of the
scourge of snakes. so are Lord and Lady
Aberdeen today attempting to slay the
dragon that is threatening the babies of
the "auld sod
Their earnest hope and desire is to
see the coming generation of Irishmen
strong in health. of body and mind and
soul, that the race may hold the place it
has won as fighters of the worlds wars
and leaders in lands where men gov
ern themselves. But the conspiracy of
circumstances which is killing SO many
gallant Irishmen on the battlefields OF
Europe, combined with conditions under
which the babies at home are dying
in tragically great numbers. Will leave
a rising generation numerically so
weakened that the influence OF Ireland
in the world of tomorrow will not have
its proper place.
To counteract this tendency there sp-
pears a Scottish nobleman. the former
viceroy of Ireland and once Governor
General of Canada. and with him his
wife. The Marquis and Marchioness
of Aberdeen and Temair have won the
respect OF two continents for their hu-
Inanitarian work. They realize the
need for special efforts to be made to
protect child life in all the belligerent
countries. They believe that the great
est good can be done for the world IN
this way, and they put in a special plea
for the Irish babies.
This, through their efforts. is Irish
ba bies week In the United States. Lady
Aberdeen has approved the idea OF haV-
ing this week set aside particularly to
the work Of raising funds with which TO
help save the lives OF thousands OF little
ones In the Emerald Isle who need proper
medical and other attention. The war
psraiyzed this humanitarian work which
was being carried on In Ireland and the
Aberdeens have come to America TO seek
aid. They ask rich and philanthropic
America to help They asked particu
lsrly that lrishmen who have reaped ad-
vantage Of the new land Of promise will
aid them in making possible other gene
rations OF vigorous and virfle lrishmen.
St Patrick was the original welfare
worker of Ireland. He bettered the liv-
ing conditions OF his day and made life
easier for succeeding generations. Prob
ably the babies Of Ireland benefited most
from his humanitarian work.
Now comes in his wake two Of his fell
low countrymen, by name Lord and Lady
workers who are striving to bring health
and happiness to the descendants Of the
children Of the NTH century. The chill
dren OF the present day are beset by
periis more deadly than the serpents
which ST. Patrick drove from Ireland.
Death. or life of long invalidation from
the miasma of unhealthy surroundings
and bad housing. is what threatens many
babes OF modern Ireland. tuberculosis
and other diseases resulting from a lack
OF sanitation. Of milk and OF medical care
are the plaques that imperil the lives Of
thousands OF little ones who should be
saved for the Ireland of better and
future day.
Save the Irish babies" is the slo-
gan which the Aberdeens have brought
with them to the United States. They
believe that the great throbbing heart
OF humanitarian America will be
touched by this cry of the children at
the gateway of life. calling for their
chance to serve their day and genera.