Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-04

head Of the canteen work of the 1ndepend-
ence Square Auxiliary of the American
Red Cross, and has working under her
two bands Of women, fifty each in number.
1t is necessary to raise funds for this
work. and so Mrs. Sheppard, who is heart
and soul interested in this active work for
the soldiers. opened her lovely place to a
garden fete, and interested a number of
her friends in the affair, and this after
Moons is a most attractive party
Card tables are placed under the trees
in the woods and there are variety OF
booths in different parts of the spacious
grounds.
Mrs r. Y. Hughes is in charge of the
card tables Mrs. J. S. w. Holton and Mrs.
David Ellis are selling cake "a la Hoover;
tea is served by Mrs George II.
Stephenson, Mrs. w. r. Euupt and Mrs.
Mrs. H. Bartol Frazier are selling flowers
and Mrs. William Carmalt Scul and Mrs.
Josephine Mcclure have n booth for
vegetables and fruit. There is a lem
onade booth, too; a midway and a ciga-
rette table. Mrs Thomas Stewart. Mrs.
Schoff, the Misses Baker, Miss Eglen Mrs.
Walter Clothier and Mrs. Walter Blabon
have these in charge, while at the gate
are Mrs. Peter Boyd and Mrs. Springer
Moore.
AND. speaking of the Independence
"A Square Auxiliary of the American Red
Cross work-for, as I said the canteen
work is attached to that auXiiary-I
stopped in at the rooms at COS Chestnut
street yesterday afternoon to hear the
Comtesse de Bryas, who talked to the
workers for a short hour. She was very
charming in her French blue frock and
picture hat and had great deal to tell US.
She seemed so bright and joyous in
spite of the horrors she had gone through
with the refugees of France, and she had
some such heartbreaking things to tell US.
Somehow she made me think Of the coun-
try she impersonated; suffering in.
tensely but brave, smiling and undaunted
In spite of everything. Surely such in.
domitable courage with so much heart will
conquer the enemy Of the world. Ger
many cannot conquer morale such as that
Of France, England and these United
States.
The comtesse is staying here with her
cousin. Mrs. Edwin Swift Balch before
going out West to talk to a number of
large audiences.
There was one special little story she
told that touched every woman listening
to her, I'm sure. 1t was of the arrival
through Switzerland of a train with 600
little French children. who were being
sent back to France by Germany, parted
from their mothers who were being kept
to till the soil of occupied France. One
beautiful little child of about three and
onehalf years had tied around her neck
her name and this name together with
others was published in the French papers.
About a month later a soldier called at
the house where the little child was and
asked to see her. He looked at the baby
long and hard and then he said: II think
this little girl is mine. but I cannot be
sure. She was only six months old when
she and her mother were torn from their
home and sent to northern France by the
Germans" Suddenly he had happy
though, and from his pocket he drew forth
the photograph of a sweetlooking French
girl and showed it to the baby. Straight.
way the little child's face broke into smiles
and she murmured, "Maman! Maman!" 1t
was his little girl!
This was, however. a remote case. Think
49, ba l,ur ~ ,bn
separated from their parents at Just as ten
der an age. whose fathers have been per.
haps killed and who may never hear from
their mothers again.
To show the wonderful work the Amer
lean fund for French refugees has been
able to accomplish, do you know that
mother was finally reached and brought
back to her husband and child. and now,
though he Is back in the trenches, the
mother and little child are in one Of the
rehabilitated villages which have not been
taken by the Germans in the present
drive, and which, judging by the work of
the Allied armies at present, will not be
taken, for the tide is again turning. They
will neper get to Paris.
AREN'T you rather thrilled to think Of
At the opportunity to hear Jeanette Ran.
kin speak here Oil Thursday? She's
coming to address the Hahnemann Hos.
pital graduates at the Garrick. The first
time she has spoken in this city, you
know. I've always wanted to see her,
and I'll surely try to go. The one woman
member Of Congress
TT REALLY is perfectly wonderful the
l. work that women are doing these days
And how the men do appreciate it, too A
hard-working soldier from "a nearby
camp" was home on pass recently and
was amazed to see girls in uniform all
over Chestnut street, and. Of course. on
Broad and Walnut and Spruce. too, but