New-York tribune., 1918-02-01
The Cry of the Children
The Thanks of France to The Tribune
and Its Readers
To tho Editor of The Tribune.

10 tho Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Back from Europe, whore sncnt Tho
summer and fall working with the orphans
OF France, | wish to let YOU know. and
through you the generous contributors to |
the Maison Familialc. home for delicate wor
orphans of France, that "Tho Cry of the
Children" published in your pages last Junc
has been heard. Forty-eight beds were
given as direct result Of this article. and
funds and garments were received at tho
Ma'son ramillao during the entire summer.
lho Ma1son Famliale Of the Orphci.lat
dcs Armccs, which is situated at LIE Pouli-
sueh III Brittany, has saved many children
1or FRANCE and will save more Last sum.
mer all those sheltered at tho home we're
saved except two, who had suffered too much
from the conditions and the times.
am indebted to you, and to the generous
readers of The Tribune, for the least sad
summer have spent in war work in France
Seeing those fathcrlcss children revive 40
quickly under care filled me with graft
tudc to our friends in America Those ittle
ones who for three years had heard If moth
ing but war and its misery and anguish. who
had forgotten how to play came to us frail
and lifeless After week or so al, Pouli-
gucn those children not only had learned
again to play, but also how to live and be
happy They even began to fight among
themselves, which is always sign of re-
turning animation
The data concerning the administration of
the Malson Familiae are to be sent to the
donors OF beds by the directing committee Of
the Orphelinat des Armecs. You will be
glad TO hear that two of the dormitorics are
named after two generous friends of France
readers of The Tribune, Mr. Maurice du Pont
OF Ashevillc, and Miss Sarah phipps of New
York
The Gratitude of France
The gratitude of France and of the COM
mittees of both the Mason Familale and the
orphelnat des Armees could not be expressed
IN words. The interest in this work is grow
ing every day, America wishing to save at
least the children of the men who are dying
and will die for France Beds, knitted blank
cts, knitted sweaters and other garments
are arriving daily. They are being contrib
uted by club committees and private donors
Even the children of the public schools are
knitting their squares and SO doing their Bit
Since my return to Washington about
$1,000 has been contributed to the cause in
addition to the $4,000 contributed in June
Every donor Of bed has received letter
from his or her "protege" at the Maison
familiale, this having increased the interest
OF the donor in the child, and in many cases
caused him to continue his help.
| said above that personally was grateful
to you and to the generous friends of France
readers of The Tribune, for the least sad
summer and fall spent in war relief work
Several delightful thrills ran through me
during my stay in Brittany. On my arrival
at Poulguen all the children of the home
small and large, were at the station with
flowers Fn
me the generous friends Of the fatheress A
little speech of welcome was delivered by the
Oldest child to me, as representing the Amer
lean friends. On reaching the Chateau de
Brecean | delighted to see the main
building flying the Stars and Stripes Later
another JOY came to me when the committee
decided that the dormitories should be called
after the generous American donors, making
the Maison Familiale so far an essentially
American institution I sincerely hope that
it will remain so, as it would be after the
war a beautiful, lasting and visible proof of
Americas sympathy and generosity to France
IN her hour OF agony. AS you may remem-
Der, the Maison Famliale is partly supported
by the state, which allows toward the ex-
penses 25 cents daily per child.
This mail brings me from the general com
mittec good tidings that will rejoice the
numerous devoted friends of the children.
accommodate one hundred and twenty-five
more children this summer. This winter we
could not shelter many orphans as needed
our help, as we have no heating plant, and
we had to resort to wood fires and stoves.
An orchard has just been bought for $4,000
which is going to be great comfort and
economy
What Is Now Needed
asked to tell our friends who wish to
continue their generosity to our little ones
that besides funds the home is greatly in
need of sheets, blankets, towels and bed
spreads. So many people write and ask what
they do for They will be glad to
know that have brought from France pat
terms Of overals nghties, boomers. etc,
that can be sent to them and once made tho
garments may be sent to me for Shipment or
be taken by myself this spring
have at hand the official receipts for
$4,000 taken over in June and $500 of the
81, 900 contributed since my return. The gen.
erous contributors to the Maison Famiiale
are always glad to know that every cent Of
their gifts goes to the chldren-in addition
to the exchange; that our expenses are small
and that all goes to the comfort of the
fatherless.
Thanks to their friends in America the
delicate orphans Of the Maison Familiale
also had a glorious Christmas. Funds were
given, marked "To Be Spent on Christmas
Day for the Pleasure Of the Little Ones" and
the general director, Monsieur Jouanneaux,
whom the children simply adore. went from
Paris to fill the small shoes (not stockings
in France we fill the shoes), so that every one
had his share of the JOY that comes to Ameri-
can children on Christmas Day. | wish had
been there to the joyful faces How tho
remembrance of those happy faces is helping
tloco nj ,;,l,