Evening star., 1936-05-25
BY PHYLLIS GRIFFITHS.

BY PHYLLIS GRIFFITHS.
CALLANDER, Ontario, May Is
(N.ANAJ. - Everybody wants to
know just how much money the
Dionne quintuplets-who will be
years old next Thursday-have in
the trust fund which the Province of
Ontario has been building for them
out of moving picture contracts, still"
picture rights and advertising indorse-
ments. David A. Croll, minister of
public welfare for Ontario and the
quintuplets' chief guardian, is pos
sibly the only man who can satisfy
public curiosity on this point. He
hints that he may do so as sort of
''many satisfactory returns" on the
coming second birthday of the five
heresseS.
II will say this much ahead of
time" said Mr.. Croll. looking as
pleased as any chairman of a board
of directors about to declare a hand
some dividend. THE amount of the
trust fund will surprise everybody We
haven't done business with many peo-
pie, but they've paid plenty"
The chief guardian added that the
advertising Endorsements had been
kept on high plane and were abso-
lutely legitimate.
Says Contract Rejected.
For instance" he said. 1--WE Just
finished telling the representative of
one of the biggest soap manufacturing
firms in the country that we cannot
sign contract with them because DR..
Dafoe reports that for some reason
their soap doesn't suit the babies.
Since they can't use it-no contract"
Out of the quints' earnings DR.. Da-
foe receives 5000 month. This he
supplements by writing syndicated
newspaper articles.
Mr.. and Mrs. Olivia Dionne are
allowed by the guardians just half the
sum paid DR.. Dafoe-a matter for
bitter comment from the parents.
They admit Sl00 a month enables
them and the forgotten five" to live
in some degree of comfort, with a
maid to free Mrs. Dionne from most
Of the household duties and a hired
man to look after the farm on which
Mr.. Dionne now does little work. But
the parents feel that they should not
be on even such an acceptable dole.
On the other hand, Mr.. Croll says:
"One hundred dollars month is
fortune to them. They are lucky. No,
we have no thought of increasing it."
The chief guardian revealed that
the money held in trust for the five
little ladies is all invested in Province
of Ontario long-ter bonds
The governments position con-
cerning the quintuplets has been well
reinforced by public opinion" said
Mr.. Croll when asked if government
circles we're still convinced that the
Quints' physical and financial man
agement should be kept from the par
ents. Our attitude has not changed
in the least. The father could not
handle these contracts-how could
he? And but for the extraordinary
care given the children at the hospital
and by DR.. Dafoe, they would not be-
alive today. That has been said be-
fore, and it's still true
Mr. Croll said that Olivia Dionne's
refusal to participate in discussion of
the quintuplets' personal and business
affairs forced the other guardians to
carry on without him. CUnder the
Dionne quintuplet guardianship act,
Mr. Croll is special guardian" and
the other guardians are the quints'
father DR.. Dafoe and Judge j. A.
Valin, elderly North Bay jurist.)
Mr.. Dionne gets registered letter
notifying him of every meeting" said
Mr.. Croll. If he doesn't choose to
attend, We can't make him. It's sim
ply up to him"
Appeal Written to King.
The chief guardian laughingly re-
marked that the fathers letter to
King Edward, asking the monarch to
interfere on his behalf, had come
back, by devious official route, to him
self, as the government representative
under the guardianship bill
Mr.. Croll said the governments Of
fer to the parents to build house for
the whole family still stood, although
Mr.. and Mrs. Dionne's emphatic re-
lection Of the proposal indicated that
they would not change their minds
on it.
I'VE thought it might have been a
solution of the problem" said Mr.. |
Croll. THE quintS could have had
one floor to themselves for a while. |
Well, the offer is open"
The chief guardian would not dis
cuss plans for the quints' schooling
and social life.
The present is enough for us to
think about" he said.
Plans for the quintuplets include
the inclosure of large playground
space beside the hospital where the
youngsters can play unconscious Of |
the public's eyes watching them |
through some sort of a mesh fence.
CAT present they can be seen only |
from distance of about 200 yards
as they play outdoors every day
but Sunday on their verandah from
10 to IL am. and from 2:30 to $3.50 |
pm)
Later the bush will be cleared out |