Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16
.CH|[DREN'S SCHOOL
STARTED IN RUINS
Little by Little Homes Are Be-
ing Rebuilt In Destroyed
Part of France.
MILITARY is IN CHARGE
BY PAUL SCOTT MOwRER.
tn The sunday star and
Chicago Daily News, Copyright, 1917.

Cable8rnm tn The sunday star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1917.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES. De-
cember ia children's fund school
has been started among the ruins of
Besly village. There are already some
thirty families in Besly. and more-are
joining them continually. AS all the
ablebodied men are either servingsthe
French army or are prisoners in Ger
many, most of these families consist
of only women and children. Little by
little, under the auspices of the French
military authorities and the American
fund for French wounded, the ruined
homes are being rebuilt
The work is slow because of the lack
of skilled carpenters and masons. Some
of the older boys are now being
trained in these trades under the
tuteiage of soldier builders. The rest
of the children attend the school. /
recently visited this curious and inspir-
ing institution. The sectional wooden
barracks in which it is installed stands
at the edge of the village, where on
one hand is a view of the poor crum-
bled, smoke-blackened cottages and OIL
the other of the untitled fields and
devastated regions. A scene more for
Torn under the cold damp atmosphere
ana the low gray skies of northern
france in winter it would be hard to
imagine. 80
The children, seated on long benches.
were practicing writing, and l asked
70 see one of their oopybooks. The
teacher, pale young soldier. who had
never entirely recovered from his
wounds, led me behind a yellow
haired child. some eight years OF age,
whose tongue stuck out of the corner
or her mouth from the earnestness OF
ner EFFORT L bent over her shoulders
and read:
France is certainly one of the most
beautiful countries in the world 1t Is
situated in the temperate regions; that
Is TO say, the weather is neither too
not nor too cold. Its productions are
varied Wheat is abundantly harvested,
IT'S wines are the best in the world
ana there are all imaginable, kinds of
fruits. Let us love France and edu-
cate ourselves SO that some day we
glory"
The schoolroom silence was broken by
the rattle of an army convoy passing
outside. on the road. | glanced along the
row of little frowsy heads. Some of
them were staring at me cariously, but
no one paid the slightest attention to
the convoy. The sights and sounds OF
war had formed part of their daily
life for more than three years They
have suffered from every form of mis-.
cry and oppression at enemys' hands.
yet their spirit is unbroken. Indeed,
the atmosphere in that rude school
room seemed alive with hope and as
piration. and when few moments
later l took leave of the pale young
teacher and the eager pupils / already
felt refreshed and strengthened AS /
stepped once more out into the dull
winter afternoon the words OF the copy-
book REQUIRED to me insistently:
France is certainly one of the most
beautiful countries hi the world .
Let us love France and educate our
selves so that some day we may help
to Increase her wealth and glory"
| looked about on the ruins and DESC
lation which lay on every side and
moisture suddenly filled my eyes