Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-21
ORPHAN BABES OF
FRANCE ASK LOVE
AND RIGHT TO LIVE

One of the saddest outcomes of
the great cruel war and one deserv-
ing OF the greatest sympathy and
pity from big-hearted America is
the child of France. left fatherless
and homeless as a result of the
ravages of the Hun. 1t is estimated
that $4,000 children in France are
fatherless and the support of whom
is thrown upon the countries that
are able to give it. 1t was with
this idea in view that the society
for the care of fatherless children
Of France has been organized with
branches in all the principal cities
Of the country. This society has
undertaken the task of finding in
dividuals, groups of people and So
cieties that are willing to adopt one
or more of these children and pro-
vide them with clothing and food.
For the most part the children are
now living with some relatives,
often old people, VINO can hardly
exc out an existence in the devast-
ed and bleeding country Perhaps
the child's father has been taken a
prisoner in Germany, or perhaps he
has given his life for his beloved
country that it may be free for his
little one; the mother mayhap is
working at hard manual labor to
try and support herself and her
children against great odds; the
child may live with its grandmother
in a stuffy dark little room, under
nourished. pale, sickly, nerve-raCk-
ed by the awful BON bardment night
and day. 1t is no exaggerated story
but the plight of $4,000 or more
French children.
A Rock Island branch of the So
ciety has been formed, and the pro-
motors of whom Mrs. w. H. Mar
shall is chairman, are anxious to
interest Rock Island people in the
adoption of as many of the children
as possible. In order to do so ap-
plication may be made to the chair
man of the adoption committee,
Mrs. J. B. Bassett, 1910 Twenty
first street. The cost is estimated
at 10 cents a day, S. a month or
$3.50 a year, a pitiable amount to
give towards the support of one
child for one year with which to
provide food and clothing, an
amount less than many will spend
for one garment of winter apparel.
The person adopting a child desig-
nate its age, sex and church and the
request will be sent to the French
society and will be complied with
in so far as is possible. The re-
quest so far has been largely for
girls. for some reason or other, but
of course the boys must be taken
car of too. 1t is pitiable fact that
there are but comparatively few
children under two years of age in
the country-a serious thing for the
coming rehabilitation of stricken
France.
All money turned into the Rock
Island society for the adoption of
a child goes entirely to that indi-
vidUal The clerks and officers of
both the local, Chicago and national
societies giving their services
gratis, even deducting nothing from
the original amount for postage.
should interest accrue from the
money subscribed, that will be used
in support of another child who
will be selected.
The person who has adopted a
child is supplied with its name, sex,
church address and the child is ex-
pected to write to it's benefactor
telling of its progress and condi-
ton The following letter was re-
ceived by a benefactress from one