New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-03
Hon the Children of France Have Helped
rh p1 f Iooos and Of Gold The French Schools Have Contributed f Ia
p Week BIZ Week. Sou The Onslaught OF August 'N4

their pupils 20 collect and sell the acorns
fallen from the oaks. The sum mus coIecieo
amounts 10 400 francs.
Since the beginning Of the war the Bank
Of France that admirable institution "hich
puts all It's financial power AZ the service u
the state. has made every effort 20 increase
its enormous gold reserve. IN augmeniing
this prodigjous reserve DO has augmented rs
own and at the same time the national credit.
At its appeal gold committees have been or
gained az every point Of the land ana mere
again il is the schoOlmasters VINO nave Desn
To hos. artisans Of the national effort.
Thanks 70 them, no one IS ignorant to-oay Of
tho enormous part played By gold IN The de-
fence of the country. "The more gold, me
Iess blood il has been rightly said. Beng
the only international coinage, 10 permits Us
N buv from abroad the raw materials Of
which we are short, il deyelopes the power Of
our machinery and arnaments, and thus saves
the precious blood Of our soldiers.
yeneration for Gold
These mathematical truths do not readily
penetrate into the spirit Of our peasants VINO
have the same unreasonable yeneratIoh Tor
gold coins as certain savage tribes for their
Patches They must be patiently told these
facts again and again. They must be shown
that their interests and their duty go hand n
hand. Their hearts must be moved IN order
that their understanding may be- more easily
convinced.
In popular song, which the chldren's
voices carried to the parents ears, ". Jean
Aicard said
We do not take your gold from you we change
for you.
II you were conquered the enemy would take b.
To keep it for William is a strange investment
Fcfr & firm ne
Cold is weapon: IL is arm We need
To hunt down. strike and expel the German
Hide it and you help your enemy against sou.
Deprive our soldiers Of II, ana you meany be ~
them.
These lines were commented on by ne
schoolmasters and illustrated by Abel taiyre's
fine poster, which the Bank Of France lad
attached to the walls Of every school and
marie" Thus the active campaign OF ne
schoolmasters IN favor Of the loan was con-
tinued and completed by the gold collection.
The precious coin came forth from It's my'-
ferrous retreats, and the provincial "woolien
stocking" little by little poured its savings
of milliards into the lap of France.
The schools of Paris, which have made and
are making such generous efforts for the war
charities, have taken a very active part IN
the gold collection.
Since the beginning Of hostilities, numerous
children have come to the Bank Of France,
bringing the few pieces Of gold that tney
guarded with jealous care. Il was charming
TO see them at the counter where their gold
was changed becoming suddenly grave, as -
right when one is dischargIng patriotic
duty.
Sometimes, with the packets Of gold, the
master who accompanied the children handed
in a letter from the director Of the scaooi,
promising to continue the campaign and DO
still better.
The suns so collected are estimated at more
than 100000 francs.
Some of these letters are touching. on ac-
count of the nobility of their sentiments and
their charming naivete of expression. Here,
for instance, are the terms IN which Esther,
Gabrielle and Pauline, little French girls OF
ten, eight and six. offer the precious contents
Of their money box:
Argenteuil. July %, 1915
Mr. Director Of the Bank of France:
Il is with great pleasure that my two sisters and
| have broken open our little joint money box. ior
must tell you that thought very much OK ~ ESQ
pecially since the beginning of the war, FOR tAs
money box reminds Us Of great event Wnen our
father went away on the second day Of the mobiza-
zion he went with great courage, but we shed many
tears seeing him 90, our dear papa. To give Us
a little courage. he put into our money box. where
there was nothing very much gold twenty-tranc
piece and another Of ten francs, telling us to Aeep
/ them as a souvenir Of him.
Really. assure you. my sisters and were g'ad
20 see these pretty coins again, and in spite of All
the pleasure we should have felt 20 keep them ws
send them 10 you. for know that gold Is 10
main sinew Of war. and that the more gold we
have the more shells we shall buy 90 drive away
more quickly the savage Boches, who have come %
kill our fathers and brothers We hope yoI VIII
accept these two coins, for our father will certainly
be very pleased with action.
Long live France and her allies. and may ,ic-
tory soon come Three little French girls.
,SgnedD PAULINE. ESTHER. GABRIELLE