New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-06
The Cry of the Children
The Appeal of France for Her
Orphans Of the War

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Under the heading France Holds On"
appeared recently in the editorial columns OF
The New York Tribune the translation of
letter from a Frenchman TO his New York
friend, from which the following excerpts
are taken: ave shall wait for you
but if you delay longer how many French
men will there be left?-old men like me,
children Of fifteen years and hardly these.
Don't wait too long, for you might
not even find corpses to bury"
And in Washington paper Of the same
date appeared as news item the urgent APP
peal OF Clemenceau to President wilson to
send over Colonel Roosevelt and his compan-
ions. Jofre and Viviani have come and gone.
There has been plenty OF acclaim and flag
waving; but with one-ffth Of the population
Of France either in the army or in some SER
vice allied with it, and the piteous need OF
help from this country to stay up their
hands, the only large body Of men ready and
eager to 60 are held back while-to quote
Senator Kenyon-"poltical football" is being
played by Congress. and the very life of
France is trembling in the balance.
A French friend of the writer, Nine.
Blanche J. Bimont, teacher in one of the
Washington high schools, who has from the
beginning of the war given her summer va
cations to hospital and other service, has
for some time past been doing everything IN
her power TO further the aims OF the Asso-
citation Rationale de l'Orphelinat des Almees,
which is under the patronage of President
Poincsre and other distinguished officials OF
the French government. This association has
secured a house Eau Pouliguen" in Brittany
where the delicate children who need espe-
cal care and good nourishment, that their
lives may be preserved are TO receive the
treatment needed. This house, called the
"Naison Familiale." needs beds for these
little ones. merchant Of Washington offers
to provide metal bedsteads, with mattress,
pillow, three sheets. three pllowcases. two
blankets and two nightgowns, for Sl2.75 each
the complete utft-and when Nine. Blmont
sails for France on the Odd of this month
these will go with her without further eX-
pense TO any donor
An Appeal to Children
medal stamped with the name of the
donor, or donors for smaller sums will be
put together to complete an OUTFIT, viii be
attached TO each bed, and an official receipt
will be sent from the association 70 each
giver. in addition TO the one sent by Nine.
Bmont on the receipt of the funds.
An appeal to the school children of Wash
ington is to be officially made by the au-
thorities in charge. VIII not the children
who may read this appeal, or TO whom 1t may
be read. unite in contributing? II each
child will give the price of one ticket to
movie" or of a treat of candy or peanuts
that in the total might save many lives OF
these children who must be kept for the re-
building of brave France, now, as her enemies
threatened, being "bled white"
The French government gives ten cents
day for the maintenance of soldiers orphans;
the remainder of the amount needed must
come from private sources.
cannot put on paper all the conditions
told me by Nine. Bimont, who is well known
AT the French Embassy in Washington, and
is IN close touch with official sources of in
formation in her own country conditions
that call loudly for immediate help.
Responses 10 this appeal should be sent as
promptly as possible to Nine. Blanche j. BIZ
mont, 1445 Massachusetts Avenue, Washing
ton. d. C.. as the time before her sailing is
very short.
After that date communications may be
addressed to the writer, Mrs. X. 7. Holbrook,
at 1926 Massachusetts, Avenue.
X. T. HOLBROOK.
Washington. d. c., June ,, 1917.