Evening star., 1940-08-04
FORBID Them Not. "

leans have seen it, there hangs one
certain picture which should be
remembered now. The composition
is the work of F. w. w. Topham, an
associate of the Royal Institute who
is widely acclaimed for the perfec-
ton of his drawing and the richness
of his color as we'll as for the fine
feeling which invariably infuses his
endeavors. 1t shows an incident
reported by the diarist Samuel Pepys
under the date September 3, 1865, as
follows: 1T was the child of a very
able citizen Of Gracechurch street,
saddler who had buried all the rest
OF his children of the plague, and
himself and wife, now being shut up
In despair of escaping, did desire
only to save the life of this little
child: I so prevailed to have it re-
ceived stark naked into, the arms of
friend who brought it, having put
1t into fresh clothes, to Greenwich. !"
But the painter has at his COM
mand a power for dramatization
superior to any talent which a
writing man can muster to cause
however appealing. Mr.. Topham
addresses himself directly to the
spirit of his audience. His presenta-
ton OF the tableau is altogether
compelling. The central characters
are f1ve-the parents, the child, the
kindly friend and, perhaps most i'm
portant of all, the young daughter
Of the friend who stands waiting
with fresh raiment in her arms.
The little girl whose mother and
father are parting with her, prob
ably forever, is beautiful beyond the
capacity of language to tell. Yet
still lovelier Is the altruism of her
rescuers. They speak in actions the
conscience-the essential mercy-of
the race.
Is 1t too much to suggest that in
time when a still deadlier pesti-
lence afflicts the world there is great
need for the expression of the quality
which Mr.. Topham employed his
genius to depict? Most particularly,
is it not the duty of the people of
America to be guided by the example
of Mr.. Pepys' friend of nearly three
centuries ago? Citizens of the United
States will feel that they must not
neglect the challenge of the present
hour. They believe with all their
hearts that it is an obligation in
| cumbent upon them to save as many
as possible of the boys and girls
of England from the threat of the
| prevailing war.
On Friday last The Star joined
with other American newspapers to
announce that Nationwide cam
paign to lend assistance to the two
hundred thousand British children
registered for evacuation has been
launched by the United States Com
mittee for the Care of European
Children, Inc, of which Marshall
Field is president and Eric H.
Biddle, executive director. Thirty
two thousand of the youngsters, it
has been estimated, will come to this
country. 1t is indicated that Con-
gress will discuss the whole problem
| this week and there is reason to
hope that it will pass the amendment
| to the Neutrality Act required to
| allow American ships to enter COM
bat areas on such errands of charity.
Senator Carter Glass of Virginia
and Representative Thomas G. Hen
nings, jr., of Missouri are sponsoring
the necessary legislation. The For
eign Affairs Committee of the House,
after holding public hearings for
consideration of the emergency,
unanimously reported out the reso-
luton designed to clear away exist
ing difficulties. It has been made
plain that the ships would be char
tered and financed by private indi-
viduals and groups, that they would
have to be guaranteed safe conduct
by the belligerents, and that final
responsibility for the children must
rest with the British government and
British parents. The laws governing
immigration are not affected.
Neither is there any danger of tax
payers being obliged to contribute
to the support of the young visitors.
But the issue is not one to be
discussed in terms of pennies. The
value at stake is that Of multitude
of helpless and innocent neighbors
of our own American boys and girls
Five million homes on this side Of
the Atlantic would open their doors
to the little guests. Those families
who dwell therein are familiar with
| the story of the Saviour who, in the
Fourteenth verse of the Nineteenth
| chapter of the Gospel of st. Matthew
declared: "Of such is the Kingdom
of Heaven" Take down the Book,
read the page from which Mr. Pepys
and Mr.. Topham drew their inspira-
ton and join in the enterprise by
which, as by no other, civilization
may be measured in this tragic time.
1t is a privilege so to do.
| AIimony Payments
Associate Justice Bolitha Laws OF
| Tho 1Ipitad CfotoS njctrict Court ho c