Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-06-09


saueaked courageously: ITO arms"
Then silence. Later, of summer holt
day afternoons, in Lyon and Paris.
the Guignols reopened for patriotic
pieces. But the fun must be for chill
dren, with innocent laughter. So the
plot sagged.
~
Now Guignol squeaks triumphant
The children clap and bounce and
squeal at the funniest pieces You ever
saw; and they have no idea that the
American Red Cross is staging these
ridiculous delightful scenes for
higher motives, and that each slap
stick comedy concocted for the old
acting dolls of Lyon (the gendarme.
the miller, the fat boy and all the
rest) is teaching them a lesson in
hygiene with capital Ell"
There is new talent. The Guigno1
doll makers have added younger
set" Of these wooden puppets moved
by strings and hand manipulation on
the mimic stage-Crique, the brave
kid; Piaille. the cry baby; Moche. the
,tirty lad. and Traine, the lazy demoi-
s,lle, not to mention babies in their
cradles, babies that fall into the wash
and babies with the collie
I am not a theatrical critic. I can
only say that these new works beat
1bsen and Shaw to FRAGILE. There
is one magnificent and novel situation
in little curtain raiser called THE
Toothbrush"-but.n no. dramatic anal
ysis is a special art: and all these
Guignol pieces are but one detail Of
the vast and complicated baby fair at
Lyon.
It is American.
II is an undertaking running into
millions of dollars. Here, Americans,
you will see where some of your
millions, because it is backed up
against our Red Cross clothing. feed
ing. dectoring and housing Of thou
sands of refugee children, the recep-
tion and care of all little repatriated
ones at Evian. the comforting of
great new network of Red Cross
house-to-house visiting to follow up.
with practical work. the precepts of
this monster and novel show.
1t is grand story or would not take
the space for it.
So (now you're wise). when audiences
OF French. children. mammas and big
sisters laugh over the family comedies
OF the Guignol puppets they carry away,
in hundred forms. hygienic morals in
Sickness Than to Cure It," or 1.-THE
Toothbrush is Mightier Than the
Sword" or 1.-THE Common Housefiy has
Done More Harm Than Gunpowder"
Yet it's Just one detail Of our great
baby show which fills the grand pavilion
of the Lyons fair. The grand pavilion.
in the Place BellecoSr (the largest
square Of the city, where $4,000 people
pass each day. Is surrounded by thing
you've heard of-the notable Lyons SAM
pie fair. To it gather merchants from
all France for the spring business 1t is
called the sample fair. 1t Is the sample
fair. Yet. blooming in the midst and
growing always bigger and gayer. CATCH
ing all the curiosity and interest is this
show which the Americans have set up
the grand pavilion filled with booths
about babies.
There is a lecture hall where popular
talks are given on the care of the child.
There il continuous free moving pic
ture show. to which the best health
education films Of France, England and
the United States have been adapted
There are exhibition playrooms.
American specialists Of kindergarten and
playground work keep them filled and
lively with troupes Of Lyon children
Orphans and little refugees
There are booths Of children.s hospi-
tai equipment. the right kind Of cribs
and layettes, "a baby's clean home" and
"a Daby's dirty home" and all sorts Of
fun.
There are bookstalls where literature
on child welfare is handed out and PAM
phlets and post cards are distributed
to the people.
The booths are full Of wax figures
you understand?
1t Is bright, new. interesting, lively.
There are booths showing consulta-
tions In clinics for nursing mothers,
creches. baby clubs. children's hospitals,
the so-called "mutualities maternelles"
fslck benefit dope for mothers and chill
-dren). and the work for the little refu-
goes and repatriated ones who arrive in
such sad state from German thrIldom
At nearby Evian.
One booth even illustrates what are
the French laws (many Of them being
models Of their kind) which affect the
child and the mother. Child and mother
learn their rights.
A greater show than the sample fair!
Presto. change! The American Red
Cross pulls the strings. To mark the
Anniversary Of Americas entrance into
~ war. it thus commences this great