St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1919-08-23
''KIDDIES'' IN
EUROPE ARE
VAST PROBLEM
How Certain European Countries Are
Handling Child situation-soIshe-
visits of Russian Take Children
From Parents


From Parents
New York, Aug. 16.-The "Kiddies"
of Europe have been the greatest SUI
ferers in the war, according to doc
tors Of both Germany and France the
two countries of Europe who watch
their child production closest and take
the most military attitude toward them
Both countries are making studies OF
the children situation with The view OF
minimizing the ravages of war on the
future generation.
German scientists and doctors, COM
piling statistics for the government,
calulate that Germany's greatest cas-
uaIty list is not the roll of soldiers
who fell on the battlefields, but is the
unwritten casualty list of children that
would have been brought to life had
mothers been free from the strain OF
war. They say thousands of babies
have died soon after birth.
The German scientists estimte that
the F%atherand's infantie casualty list
would be between three and four mil
lion, were it possible to write down
the ungiven names along with the
names of children under three years
of age who died during the war. The
Germany claim their country has the
most stupendous losses in children
due to the blockde, but think other
Europeans nations have had higher
casualties in this way than or the bat
tlefields.
American doctors who are familiar
with European conditions and who
have investigated in both France and
Germany are inclined to think these
countries have not suffered so terribly
despite the supposed loss Of popula-
ton. One of the cruelty kind features
of this phase of casualties is that the
weak have succumbed first. The COM
ing generation in Europe will be one
of the great power of resistance, &C
cording to many who have studied the
child situation.
Generally speaking, the Riddles of
Europe do not show the effects of the
war, at least when one sees them now
For the most part they are lively and
as healthy as American babes and
they seem blissfully unconscious of the
terrible strain of the world war.
In France, especially, the children
are everywhere in evidence. Little
villages show no signs Of the much
talked-of-race suicide Of the French,
In Paris parks one sees thousands OF
kiddies every fair day. dressed up like
little dolls, and without a spot of dirt
anywhere on them or ON their clothes.
French kiddies of the better class are
religion sly kept from the dirt.
During the peace conference, the
United FNress correspondent saw a typ
ical incident in the Tuilleries gardens
where two French nurses met for q
uhat. lsne had charge of two pretty
doll-fike little French children, about
three years old. The other was nurse
for a little Yankee OF the same age
While the nurses were engaged in
animated discussion. the children got
acquainted. The little Yankee made his
overtures and introduced himself anG
his nation by sarting a rough-house
Soon he had the two delighted French
youngsters on the ground and covered
with dirt, much to the disgust of al
French witnesses Of the incident
which almost started a riot between
the nurses.
Near the front, thousands of French
, kiddies have lived within the inces
SAM boom of cannon for their entire
lives, and aany lave grown up under
shell fire. or living in dug-outs. These
frontlsne babes are as hardy as they
are dirty and fat. They have suffer
ed principally from lack of schooling
However, in other parts of France the
: schools have been kept running as vel
as possible, thought not with the same
: efficiency with which the Germans
turned their schools over to the wo
men. The Germans now have a seri
Gus problem on their hands in schools
where the men demand their monopoly
schoolmastering again, and women in
sist that they are equally good al
teachers.
I Entering Germany following tbs
: blockade and experiencing the Creates
difficulty In getting food, one antici
pates seeing practically no German
babes, and expects to find all children
thin and emaciated. This is not the
/, case. Berlin probably suffered as grea
as any city from want CT food, bu
Berlin has swarms of children, es
! pecially in the outlying suburbs. They
t are lively and play happily in the wide
streets and on the grass which tn.
Germans have provided in the tene
3 ment districts. Compared to the chill
dren Of New York tenement districts
the little Germans look equally as vel
despit their shortage of food, and hay,
much better surroundings in which tt
! grow up strong.
. The situation of Riddles" has prob
ably changed during the war more ii