Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-19

further than tho French law. In that
II provides for the state adoption Of all
orphans. whether victims Of tho war or
not IT also provides for the adoption
age.
with these exceptions. tho laws OF
bcth nations arc very much alike. The
French law passed the Chamber OF
Deputies last July. after stormy de-
bates In which, curiously enough. ono
OF tho greatest issues was rclis Ion.
The Professionals appeared to BIO afraid
that tho Catholics would obtain the
majority Of memberships on the guard.
iahship board. This dispute was final
~ settled amicably. bu. tho law. as
II passed. was admitted to contain
many practical defects. Concerning
this. NJ. Leon Bcrard. raDpottcur OF
the Deputies. said:
The measure is extremely urgent,
and II II Is necessary TO revise our
work. sooner or later il Will not be "A
matter of scandal or surprise, be-
cause all tic Legislative assemblies OF
the world Will be doing the game for
the very simple reason tina; they are
going TO lcgislatc on subjects ever
newer and moro complex"
The guarding of 100000 French
children Is complex problem in it,
self. To figure out the reeds OF Gael,
child from education TO hair ribbons,
Is e task that should test tho execu-
tive ability Of any government to say
nothing OF government at war. But
the Chamber OF deputies appears To
nave been equal 10 II. In tho first
place. national commission. under tho
direction OF the Minister OF Public In
struction was established. Tho durIcs
OF this commission arc to distribute
the funds OF guardianShip: to investi.
gate and report on all measures af-
icctinE the wards. ana to determine
the eligibility of pri;arc Institutions
Tor children. Its membership includes
nincty-ninc members. selected from
teachers associations. public assistance
societies. agricultural trades, business
ana workmcn's trade associations CO.
operative and mutual aid socictics and
phiianthropic associations caring for
war orphans.
Private Charity Does Much.
Private charity has accom- plished
marvellous things in France during the
war On II has fallen the care OF mort
OF the war orphans. both French and
belgian. With thousands OF homeless
children on its hands. the nation would
have been sadly handicapped had moi
philanthropic men and women stepped
in and taken care of them. Childrcn's
colonies wcro founded and put under
the supervision of widows or disabled
soldiers: chlldren's vocational schools
were established. and many were board.
Cd out at farms. Soup Kitchen and day
'o' s''' 'eS McTe oPcncu everywhere. And
sun therc were hundreds of children
who were never reached. who died from
lack of food. and who were shamclcssly
exploited by their relatives. who spent
their pensions and exhibited then in
public as an aid TO begging.
In order to keep the assistance of
private charity, and at tho same time
10 CO ordinate tho efforts of It's various
institutions. the Chamber OF Deputies
further provided for provincial com
missions to be chosen from the same
sources AS the national commission and
to he under its direction. These state
or provincial commissions will have
the actual control of the child. They
arc to decide where the child shall live
where he shall so TO school. what his
recreation shall be; in short. they will
decide his destiny.