New-York tribune., 1918-12-22
Frenchwoman Calls
French Labor Laws
Better Than Ours
Nine. de St. Croix, Who
Sailed Yesterday, Will Re.
turn to Reconstruction
Work i'm Own Country

When Nine. Avril de st. Croix, of
the French Couseil National, sailed for
France yesterday she took with her
one very definite conviction - that
French laws for working women are
better than those made in America.
Nine. de St. CroiX came to America
last October as delegate from the
Conseil National and to represent the
Musee Sociale Of which she is presi-
dent. He ;,.ssion was partly diplo
matte and esrtly sociological. She was
bearer of r<A5ks from the French ma
tion to American womanhood, and she
wished to study the American woman
of the status of the American working
woman.
French Laws Better for Women
Il find that French women are bet
ter protected by law" she said yes
terday. "For example. in France the
pregnant mother is allowed two
months vacation on full pay. One
month may be taken at the time the
baby is born, the other is left to the
choice of the individual woman. In our
institutions which have been created
since the warfthere is a room provided
called the 'Laiterie, where young
mothers may leave and visit their
babies during the day.
fOr mo
to make one embracing criticism
of American laws governing working
women, because there are forty-eight
states and as many laws. In Oregon
the laws for women are excellent, but
there are almost no women workers.
ain America great deal is accom-
plished by the social workers. They
tell me that it is necessary to create
public opinion, but what does hard
headed foreman care for public opin-
ion? What he wants is to squeeze out
the greatest possible amount Of labor.
And so in France we have public opin-
ion reinforced by law.
"In France there are q great many
more women workers than in America.
The working day is fixed by law at
eight hours. In fact, the three-eights,
as they are called-eight hours sleep,
eight hours work, eight hours recre
ation-have for a long time repre-
sented the French idea of a fair divi-
sion of time. But now the men have
asked for two hours less work, and if
this is granted women will receive
similar reduction in time
Same Hours For Both Sexes
Nine. de st. Croix is personally in
favor of maintaining the same work
ing hours for both men and women.
Her interest in helping women dates
back many years, long before her hair
turned gray. She was a newspaper
woman. A number of articles on
women which appeared in Paris papers
attracted attention and comment. She
wrote all account of conditions at St.
Lazare, the famous prison for women,
and was deluged with grateful letters
begging her to spend more time on the
subject. One day she made up her
mind to devote tee rest of her life to
the cause of women.
The next month she opened her first
house of refuge in Paris a French
equivalent of Inwood House. Two
others were started in rapid success
sion; and then the war provided an
other channel in which to direct her
wisdom and experience.
In peaceful SeVreS very near the
china factory and overlooking the boat
landing where passengers of the hi
rondelles (swallows), as the little
Seine boats are called, come and go,
this benevolent, motherly woman last
year opened house where the victims
of Hun brutality have since found care
and sympathy.
What the Hun Left Behind Him
"The cases that come to US are too
pitiful for words" she said. There
are little girls of ten, eleven and
twelve who have been made old women
by experiencing incredible horrors. The
Germans, wishing to excuse themselves,
IKE TO say that these little girls be-
\ haved badly. But girls of that age are
N only children. One child of eleven
had spent two months in barracks
When she became i'll they turned her
out could tell you hundred similar
stories"
These little victims are to be ner-
mitted to choose their own profession
and given the best possible start on
the road to earning their own living.
In her other homes Nine. de St. Croix
has trained servants, dressmakers,
artists, stenocraphers, and she expects
the same result with her pensioners at
Sevres. In some cases an effort will
be made to find and return girls to
their families.
American women have been splendid
about helping u.s." she said, enthusias-
ttjically. "TheX have been wonderful in
the cantcens"and at the front. They
have done something even more diff
cult than caring for the Soldiers they
have made friends with the working
women Of France, who are as a rule
close c-mouthed and resentfnl Of outside
interference. And among the most eff
clent workers are the members of the
Y. w. C.. A"
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