The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-22

Pest, as well as play periods. were
carefully established. During the
former. the chiiGrens minds were dis
tiacted from themselves and directed
to germinai thoughts which later on
sre bound to yie.d harvest of use
fuiness for home and for city.
A human reconstruction laboratory
like this, requires the finest tact and
organizing ability. Fortunately the
Foyer har just the man for this detail.
1T present, thare are some 406t chill
0ren at the camp. for periods of two
10 four weeks. All the while. new
fresh airers'' ara taking the place Of
the demobilized army OF kids.
The Foyers du Soldat are oppor-
tunists, at least a3ciolngically. AT ST
German. SEQ little Parisians. from
eight 10 eighteen years old are In
stalled in a frosn-air camp In the for
est, where they are learning lessons
of order and discipline through regu-
lated play. 1t needs no special APP
Teal to draw the French away from
the city. TO the distractions of the
country. A visit to Robinson, the
VI oodiand Ceney island OF Paris viii
Illustrate iris. fr YOU could get =
Complete" sign rig enough, II weulf
have 10 be hung up every Sunday and
holiday at Robinson
At Saint GERMAN. he children
have what the French est. les
vacancies aportises." They begtnthe
cay at siA-thirty with lew simple
setting up exercises in their rooms,
and these are followed by drills and
marching in the open air. fon may
lie sure that the breakfast dishes de-
gtt the chef by their emptiness after
the meal.
These plates remind me of the story
r. a little American girl whose duty
as helper In the4r small home was to
wash the dishes. one morning, she
was unwilling to do her small share
Of the work in fact, sho won't on
strike. But the dishes were put away
sls usual--appartn Her sister in
telling me the story said that the lit
tie one was SO angry nj being eom~
relIed to do the dishes. that she had
Licked every one Of them CLEAN How
q sr. al the St German camp, the
o4shss are licked clean, but atterward
ave washed in the orthodox manner.
Lieutenant Rohlllard instruSts the
campers in running, jumping and
her sports, wniie CASTOR Francois
initiates the older ones into the
nysterfes-from the French point OF
view~~-of hases---an6 basketball. Ar,
Francois comes from Newark y, j. I.
Lieutenant Robiiard from Joinyiile,
where The Foyer mas Instituted norr
nal school in sports and athletics.
so that the French could learn them
and teach them TO others.
This is one OF the ways in which the
Foyers is making good. II can be
a source OF satisfaction to every
American who has backed II with his
good dollars. Among the multitude
OF problems, 1t " hard to say which
Is the most imperative. but the recon
s'ruction and the reha Utilization OF the
growing children Of La Patrie. setting
their feet in the paths OF individual
end national ur-building. comes
pretty near the top.
In recent study visit for the Foyer
at Ccblenx and A.ayence. and a return
trip en- auto through the Rhine val
ley, I saw shoals OF children. True,
hcurishmcnt. but very few. Their
foces wsre rosy and chubby: eyes
bright full OF social and economic
hope for bochie.
In France how different In the de-
sustAted regions Tho loas OF mar
ana child power n pathetic. In tbs
problem OF tho children now and
To be In France, there II the need for
the most intensive nurture and care
why should I have any moro chill,
dren7 7" said = French mother. "art
subject them 10 all tho suffertngs an
privations OF the past Ave years ant
al the uncertainties Of the future
ones No. JamAis de In vie.
What France now needs. IL the
uttiiisataeu cf thu vtsest and tender
Ieat saxa- m -thl Ailztpzs r. tAs sail: