Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-01-31
Tells of Things That Are Needed
by the Women and Children of
France as Result of War
GIVES LIST OF THINGS
THAT ARE MOST DESIRED
Nothing Remains in the French
Warerooms More Than a Week
After Being Received

Some days ago Mrs. H. j. IrwiR,
Baraboo, received the following letter
from Miss Louise Claude, Madison,
who formerly resided ct Devils Lake,
and who spends her summers there:
i The Letter
S31 Prospect Place,
Madison Wis, Jan. IL, 1918.
My Dear Mrs. Irwin:
Day before yesterday I went TO
hear Mrs. Lathrope, who has had
charge Of the French relief work in
France, since the beginning of the
war I wish you could have been
there. She is simply wonderful, and
by merely telling us facts, not trying
to stir US up by telling us stories of
horrors, she made us feel that nothing
we could do could possibly be enough
to show our appreciation of what the
French people have done, and what
they have suffered. She brought home
to us the truth that many do not
appreciate that because France is
battlefield, our country is spared all
that horror Mrs. Lathrope has been
away from here several years, and she
said she was amazed at the comfort,
and could not help feeling the waste
everywhere. The one little thing OF
finding soap in the waiting room OF
the railroad station, in New York,
seems to have particularly impressed
her; and the waste of ice, for instance,
in the dining cars. And she begged
us not to stop doing for France, but
to do more and more. Her pictures OF
the refugee women and children that
she had seen with her own eyes, left
all who heard her, with aching hearts.
Picture to yourself, women, many Of
whom have lived as comfortably as
we, who have not even clothes, eX-
cept the filthy rags that have been
left to them as their only possession
for months. Little children are SO
covered with vermin that they have
terrible sores. These people the
Americans are helping in every way
possible, and she urged us to further
efforts. wish you could have felt
her earnestness, her pleading for
those poor creatures. So |, who have
had the privilege of being so stirred,
am writing you to beg you to take UP
this work in Baraboo. 1t has been
understood in Baraboo that no Sec
ond-hand garments could be shipped
abroad, but Mrs. Thwaites, who, with
Mrs. Main, is at the head of the French
relief work here, has just told me that
all outside garments can be shipped,
and that Mrs. Olin is still allowed to
ship other things, so that you can be
sure that what is sent to her is made
good use of. She works with the
French relief people and her work is
called the Girls Aid. So if anyone
still has garments that they do not
need, or are not needed by the poor
people of Baraboo, do urge them to
send them to Mrs. Olin, who sees that
every garment is used.
What Is Wanted
The French relief particularly want
children's clothing, which can be made
over from larger garments. Little
dresses that are strong and even
pretty can be made of different colors.
We made nice dress from a skirt
that belonged to friend and little
piece Of material that I had. Mrs.
Lathrope says that there are few
babies in France, so the clothing
should be for children from four to
five years up to twelve. She has sent
some patterns, but says that clothing
such as our own children, of that age
need will be just what they want.
The Americans have established chill
dren's hospitals over there, and there
is great need for clothing for those
children, of the kind we should need
if our own children were in hospitals.
The French need hospital supplies,
particularly blankets and towels.
The amount Of the surgical dress
ings that is being sent over for
French use is enough. They are bet
ter able to handle that problem than
some others. They need socks,
sleeveless sweaters, scarfs, French
caps, and above all, good pajamas OF
fianelette for winter, and warm bath
robes. But the thing that l thought
would perhaps most appeal to your