Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-31
TALK
AT RED CROSS MEETING
Auxiliary No. Z Met on Tuesday
at Home of President III
Germantown

The regular monthly meeting of the board
of directors of the Women's Army and Navy
Relief Society OF Germantown was held on
Tuesday afternoon at the home OF MIS-
Francis Howard Williams. president of the
organization. Madame Giroud gave an in
formal and intensely interesting talk on the
babies and women of France. and Of the
conditions over there at the present time
after three years OF war. When we hear
of the trribe--alnost observation-disclosures
which these people as n nation are enduring
and realize that had it not been for their
courage and bravery our country would M
doubt he in similar condition. it does seem
as If the least we could do would be to deny
ourselves in every way possible and give as
much of our time and money as can afford
TO help this poor, stricken people.
Madame Giroud who has five sons of her
own in the war. is devotng her entire time
to the splendid work which is being carried
on my the French War Relief. and tells in
her earnest, direct way of tine frightful hor-
rors that are being perpetrated over there
every minute Of the time. She says that. In
the nrst place, everything Is expensive
that only the rich people can afford to buy
what would one time have been considered
common necessities. These things have since
become luXuries. For instance. one cake of
soap Is forty-nlne cents Therefore, il is
utterly impossible for the poor people, espe-
cially those in the invaded towns, to wash
their clothes and many of the children are
given baths at the expense of the Govern
ment. For this reason the different war re-
lefs are using gray material instead of
white to make clothing for both the women
and children.
Madame Giroud inspected one of the beau
tiful little layettes which had been COM
pleted by the Women's Army and Navy Re-
lief and. while she agreed that the contents
were perfect In every detail, she suggested
and the idea was adopted--that the next
ones be made Of dark-gray outing flannel.
This seemed a shame. so far az beauty was
concerned, for the little pink knitted caps.
with pink ribbons. white socks, ETC. looked
so sweet and dainty, and gray seems such a
somber shade for little baby's outfit: but
OF course they will be much more service
able and practical under the circumstances
A layette comprises nineteen articles and they
are needed more now than ever before as
there are thousands and thousands of little
orphaned babies to be cared for
The school children all wear black aprons
made or satine, usually because they write
In ink entirely in France--having no pencils
as we do In America Both the women and
children prefer dark clothing on account of
the dearth and expense of soap and lack of
washing facilities. A sewing bag with
soap, comb, hairpins, black and white cot
ton, darning cotton, needles, thmbes. scs-
sors, etc, Is to be added to the list of ar
ticles comprising layette. as the women
have absolutely no materials with which to
mend their clothing. Besides this the Army
and Navy Relief is going to make outfits
for children between the ages OF fourteen
and sixteen, who suffer a great deal from
cold and lack of proper clothing. as most
| OF the garments are made for women or
| very small children and babies