The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-14
DRIVE STARTED FOR FUNDS TO
 RESTORE FRANCE: Paulist Choristers of Chi
 cago Give Benefit Per
 formanceS.
MRS. SARTORIS IS
 GOVERNMENT AGENT
Entertainment Will Be Civ en in Bridgeport,
 February IS.

The drive of the French Restora- and towns of northern France, de- vastated and laid waste by the Ger mans during their occupation began in New York on the evening of Feb 11th and yesterday afternoon at Car negie hall where the Paulist Choris- ters of Chicago gave a monster bene- fit performance.
 Mrs. Sartoris. wife of Algernon Sartoris, the grandson of Gen. Ulysses s. Grant, who with the Countess Regis De Oliveira and some American associates, were the originators of the French Restoration idea in this country, is again in New York, Mrs. Sartoris bears the fullest credentials from the French government author izing her to accept the generosity of the American people on behalf of the inhabitants of northern France who have suffered so grieviously in the loss of their homes, their industries, their public buildings and their churches.
 Mrs. Sartoris visited the United 0lctlOS 1CSL SpIlI1S lOI L11S puI pOSoO O4 discovering with how much sympathy the French Restoration idea would be met. The response to her inquiries in all parts of the country were so encouraging that upon her return to France she was able to inform the French government that Americans were willing and eager to open their purses to the stricken inhabitants of their sister republic. Such men as William Howard Taft, Cardinal Gib- bons, Charles W. Eliot, ex-president of Harvard, the late Joseph Choate, had signif1ed their willingness to serve on an honorary American committee. Immediately an honorary French committee was formed which by it's personnel signifies that the work it is undertaking has complete govern mental approval. The French com mittee comprises the following: The Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts, the Minister of the In- terior; Emile Loubet, former presi- dent of the French Republic; Cardinal Annette, Archbishop of Paris; Leon Bourgeois, senator from the Depart ment of the Marne; Paul Deschanel president of the Chamber of Depu- ties and member of the French Academy; Antonin Debot, president of the French Senate; Georges Pal lain, governor of the Bank of France; Leon Bonnat, member of the institute and member of the Council of the Legion of Honor; Auguste Rodin (deceased), and Armand Dayot, Inspector General of Fine Arts. Mrs. Sartoris. Countess Regis De | Oliveira, Charles F. Beach, Frederick Matthews, all voluntary workers, were sent on two visits through the de- vastated area in order that first hand | information of conditions obtaining there might be collected and tabu- lated for American use.
 During Mrs. Sartoris' absence over the summer and fall French Restor- alton work was conducted under the executive direction of Miss Fean Wick, at Aeolian Hall, New York city. This will continue to be the official | headquarters of the movement. Sev- eral American cities pledged them- selves to adopt individual French | towns. The Paulist Choristers of Chicago, a choral organization of the one hundred voices under the direc- tion of Father W. J. Finn. volunteer i ed their services and are now touring the country for the benefit of French | Restoration.
 A complete list of the names of the American honorary committee were
 announced at the concert of the Paulist Choristers at Carnegie Hall 1 on the evening of February 11th and the afternoon of February 18th: Also the plans of the French Restoration Fund were announced and explained. These plans include the adoption of towns in France by American cities and towns. In certain cases inter-
 ested men and women will select their own little hamlet. Other clubs have
 already expressed their desire to se- 1ect and individual house, school, public building or institution. In short, it is the complete working out
 of a plan whereby the American peo- pie will help to give back to the
 stricken people of France the homes that were theirs before the coming i of the Hun. The famous Paulist
 Choristers will appear in Bridgeport at the State Street Casino Monday
 afternoon and evening, Feb. IS. l Tickets are now on sale at Wissner's Music Store.