The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-25
BANGS ARTICLE
AWAKENS PUBLIC
TO ORPHANS NEED
Eye WITNESS MAKES APPEAL FOR
THE STRICKEN CHILDREN
OF FRANCE

John Kendrick Bangs, who was an
eye witness to the terrible conditions
among the children OF France, has writ.
ten an article that has a strong appeal
for Americans and will arouse not only
sympathy but a desire to help the
French war orphans whose lives have
been blghted 10y the ravages and the
cruelty of the Hun.
One Of these little children can be
provided for in it's mothers home at
the rate of ten cents a day or $3.50
year Responses are coming in each day
and as soon as lists are received from
HEADQUARTERS, the children will be as.
signed.
Mrs II. C. Potterf is chairman of the
Ardmore committee, Mrs. Charles Won
Weise Is secretary. and Edgar Sandln
treasurer Further information will be
furnished by any member of the commit
tee
The article by Mr.. Bangs follows:
From an Eyewitness
One of the things that impressed me
most in France was American solicitude
for the welfare of the little children
there whose homes have been destroyed
whose fathers have either been killed
or swallowed up by the prisons of Ger
many. and whose mothers have been so
Impoverished by war as to be unable to
care for them 1t Is beautiful to see the
spirit in which American agencies have
hastened to their succor. but 1t fs the
sad fact that. generous as has been
our response to the needs Of these little |
ones overseas their necessities are still |
far and away beyond any measures yet |
taken to relieve and hold them safe.
Their condition is ptiable, for in addi- |
tion to their suffering they cannot un
derstand the why and wherefore OF that !
condition. and ON their woe is piled a
heartrending bewiferment as to why
this soulsearinG devastation should be
visited upon them. Vast numbers or
them who have been taught that only
good can come out of the blue above
where the Angels live have had their
faith in Heaven shattered by the to them
all too obvious fact that death has
rained down upon them out of once
lovely skies, and | have seen some who
were actually afraid to look up because
it was from thos upper reaches that
the Hun sent the Instruments of de-
structon that killed their parents and
in many cases their own little play
mates. Not few of them have them
selves been forever MANNED by the en-
ginery of destruction in the hands Of
an invisible and cruel enemy. / have
seen little boys with their legs and hands
blown away either by shells or by in
nocent.looking objects they have picked
up in the street. | have seen them by
the dozens with peaked little faces be
tokening a long period of starvation,
some of them covered wtb eczema be
cause of the impoverishment Of their
blood as a result of underfeeding, many
of them in a condition of general health
that only the most careful nursing and
tender loving" can transform into any
thing even remotely resembling strength.
Their little minds are filled with a back
ground of tragedy that has well-nlgh
the pictures of happier days,
and their outlook is ole that in the
very nature of things is filled with un
certainty. Their capacity for play. their
to sing. their wish to laugh.
have all been cOWed out of them, and
numbers of them feel them
selves constantly face to face with that
Thing in the Dark which has struck
error to the heart of many an imagina
i've child in days of peace.
Their condition unreallzed by the
generous heart Of America would con-
ititute a German victory for it is a
lart and parcel of the Hun campaign
o destroy not only the France OF to-
lay. but the France of tomorrow: to so
euorize whore they cannot kill and
naim that in a possible later onslaught
here win be no gallant sons and daugh-
ers Of France to Illustrate their vile
to so break the spirit OF the
hildreu Of France that in future con
lictS there shall be no reserves in Spar
an courage to interpose a wall of steeled
eartS against their fell designs, such
$ they found i'm the men of Verdun.
'ur boys are fighting sallantly for pres.
Mt victory ON The field Of honor today.
Ne. by coming 60 the aid of the father
ass children of France. now. can to OR
IL az well on behalf Of the victory of
be- future We can lift these little chill
rem up out of Hell and enable them to
ol God in the face once more. We can
lace them once more in the land kf the
wing ana add To- the security OF our
Nn hrtle ones i'm the years To come bv
ading them up out Of the Valley of
espair to the heights of renewed couf.
,e ana faith iu the right.