Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-24
French Orphans
Are Proteges OF
Local Residents

A-EHas1
In the window of the Red Cross
headquarters on Third street, there lie
an effective poster which comes from
headquarters Of the Chicago commit
tee OF the Fatheriess Children in
France, and 1t tells in a concise way
that OF these little unfortunates
Of destitute France may be cared Tor
day, $500 q month, or $1,000 a year.
II seems a very small amount to In.
sure years food, shelter. clothing
and education for IA growing child,
yet 1t not only does 80, but quite ade-
quately meets all Of the needs Of the
average child.
A number of Grand Forks men ano
women, who are deeply interested In
the French relief work, have adopted
for their special attention., several OF
these little boys and girls, n or two
Of the children having been wards Of,
local people for the last two years.
In thir own quaint. French way, these
much-to-be-pitied little proteges write
occasionally to their, benefactors-and
q wonderful spirit or gratitude and
bravery makes itself felt through
these laboriously, and oftentifnes very
badly written letters. The letters are
Of course written in the mother
tongue, and one local woman, an ex-
cellent linguist, not only translates the
missives, but is equally willing to write
them, for people who are Interested.
A translation which follows is from
a little chap of eight, who signs him.
self Felix" and it is characteristic
adopted god-parents. who probably
come as near to being OF the fairy"
variety, 30 much beloved in childhood
land. as real humans ever 10.
Felix says to his Dear God-mother:
I am a very little boy. / am not
quite 8. and I. am neither broad nor
tall, no do I know very much. But
I'm going to try hard to express my
thanks.
Mamma has already received the
money h a you sent n sends you
her thanks. Poor mamma Is 50 happy
that someone is helping her, for she
is not very well, and we miss dear
papa very much. He was killed the
18th of November, 1914, at Fontenoy
after having fought well. He was a
farmer before the war, and we were
very happy for we loved each other
much. / have a GOOD many uncles
at the front. The brother Of mama
the Croix de Guerre and I am very
proud Of him."
The Fatherless Children Of France
was organized in 1915 and many com-
mittees throughout the country are
working for the support Of these chill
OESAS WHOSE IaLlGTS nave tOSC their
lives In the Local subscribers to
the society have been sending their
funds through the Chicago committee.
subscribers, upon request, receive the
name and address of the orphan as
: signed to him, by the treasurer of the
committee, through which the SUBJ
scription liz made, and the orphan will
receive the name and address Of the
"donor." Through this personal touch
ts being built up between the French
and the American peoples, a most
binding friendship.
IN unbroken and unbreakab1e rule
of the society is that not one cent Of
h money subscribed shall be spent
for expenses, the full amount SUBJ
scribed being paid to the child. All
expenses Of committees are paid from
voluntary donations for that purpose,
or by entertainments, etc.
Miss Alice Reese invited a group Of
friends Of her father, c.. p. Reese, to
q dinner last night, as a surprise in
honor of his birthday anniversary
which occurred yesterday. Miss
Frances Pierce assisted Miss Reese in
entertaining the six guests. The din
ner table vas appointed in yellow and
white, with a bowl Of white sweet
peas as a centerpiece.