Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-06-27

after. the war campaigns was launch
cd this month, asking for foster par
ents for 10000 little war orphans of
France. Mrs. Walter. s. Brewster,
wife Of the Roumanian Cunsul to
Chicago, Chairman Of the Chicago
Committee and Vice. President of the
National Committee of The Fatherless
Children of France, has charge of the
promotion of this campaign.
Mrs. Brewster has lust returned
from tour of investigation through
the devastated regions of France.
The highest French officials provid-
ed her military escort and bestowed
upon her every courtesy during her
visit to the war zone. She lived with
the appalling conditions of these
children and their mothers-she
knows that thousands of children
tower there" are undernourished,
starving, and succumbing to sickness.
SIN al the northern country" says
Mrs. Brewster, "There is no village
untouched, and scarcely house with
. roof. There Is not q bridge that has
not been dynsmited, a factory that
has not been ruined. The tales that
sre told of the boche invasion are un-
misunderstanding. Still the people
Of the north tell them dispassionately.
They have borne so much they have
no energy to show excitement over
their suffering. They are coming back
into these terrible towns as soon as
they are allowed. They bring their
possessions with them in two string
bags, usually. Possibly they have
enough to All red cotton tablecloth
knotted ct the corners. To Cambria,
1900, out of . pre-war population of
$4,000, have returned. They live ten
In . room, and many of the rooms
have no roofs.
"For two days we motored over
this northern country before we saw
. COW, . chicken or horse. The
country 10 stripped bare of everything
that makes 1t livable. But to the
French 1t 10 still lovable. As you ride
through 1t your pity for France is iu-
finite. But in your mind are no words
to express your feelings toward Ger
many. There are miles and miles of
grsyish- brown dust where were fer
tile farms, pleasant villages, forests
and orchards. About verdun, as far
- you can see, are heaps of sand, no
sign OF life that was, no promise Of
any life to come.
"Here and there il q cross where
some soldier, killed in the last days
Of the fighting, 10 buried.
"Thoss who died in the frightfulness
Of the earlier battles lie somewhere
beneath that awful heap of dust. All
along this "trip of dead country are
soldIsrs' graves, singly in the middle
of plowod fields, In groups along the
roads, or row after row in some field
.oemetsry.
The fathers of many OF the little
children for whom we are seeking to
care are buried there, and more have
left no trace"
Every day OF her stay In the war
some It was made wildly clear to Mrs.
Brewster that 1--WE must work harder
and faster than ever BEFORE" for
Thousands OF children are perishing in
France.
Under the plan of the campaign be-
ing undertaken, each American foster
parent pledges ten cents day, which
makes % month, or $3.50 year,
ana this added to q tiny allowance of
the same amount allowed by the
i, French Government, means saving
grace to . French child, allowing it
not only to remain in its own country,
but with It's widowed mother instead
Of IN institution. Thus are the broken
remnants of the little war families
kept together. Each foster parent is
put In direct touch with the child for
whom she has pledged the necessary
10 cents day, and with its mother
through correspondence. Every cent
subscribed goes to the child. The ex-
penses Of this philanthrophy are borne
BY generous friends of the organiza-
ton. To adopt child or to. make a
donation, large or small, write for in
formation to Mrs. Walter s. Brewster,
Room 6S4, 40 South Michigan ave-
nue., Chicago, H., with whom all To-
cal chairman of The Fatherless Child
rem OF France, in every community,
are cooperating.
a. Il
In connection with the above, we
wish to say that the campaign for the
finding OF foster parents for the little
war orphans of France has been under
way In Louisiana for nearly or quite
Q year and committee in New Or
leans, composed OF Mrs. Hughes J.
Lavergne, Miss Mollie NJ. Parker, Mr..
Bussiere Rouen, Mrs. Chas. Dennery
and Mas Marian Alexander, has
charge OF the movement in the State
and has appointed representative
for each parish, whose duty it is to
work up interest in this cause and en-