Evening star., 1943-04-25
Famous Arts of France Being Kept Alive,
Necessities Provided for Liberated People
Fighting French
Relief Committee
Works TiyeIessIy

4
Work for France and the
French people goes on at a lively
pace in Washington through the
numerous agencies which have
been organized since the in
vasion Of that country.
Whether the work be done
through France Forever Relief
for French Refugees, or the Co.
ordinating Council of French Re-
lief Societies, it is work for a
nation and people now invaded
and overrun by the enemy.
The newest of these groups is
the Fighting French Relief Com
mittee, registered at the State
Department. Tho Washington
Chapter, with headquarters at
ITO Connecticut avenue, is a
hard-working group Of volun-
teers, but has not taken time to
select one of its number to be
president or chairman. There
Is. however. an executive secre-
tary, Mrs. George Y. Worthing-
ton, ir., who, with Mrs. Sidney
Alderman, assists Nine. Jean
Chalon, talented and dynamic
chairman of the atelier at the
Connecticut avenue headquar-
ters.
This relief agency tries to sup
ply any necessity from razor
blades to ambulances, medical
supplies, clothing, cigarettes,
games and any small comforts
otherwise unobtainable. Also the
group will take orders for any,
thing from a trousseau for a
bride TO the furnishing Of a gar
den-anything that deft and
skilled French fingers can de-
sign and make.
Thus, the Paris that was the
capitol of fashion and beauty
lives in this country through the
efforts of French women and
Americans who are lovers of that
country.
The Fighting French Relief
Committee was started in New
York City by an American wom-
an, Mrs. Marian A. Dougherty,
and registered by the State De-
partment February 7. 1941.
The purpose of the relief is to
give aid and comfort to the
Fighting French forces in what
ever part of the world they may
be and to their families as we'll
as to all Frenchmen resisting the
Axis.
The committee numbers 200
chapters in every part Of the
United States. The Washington
Chapter, which was organized
only a few months ago, has had
the help of the ladies Of the
Fighting French Delegation
headed by Nine. Txier, wife OF
the head of the delegation, who
does much to encourage the work
of those on the committee.
Some striking costume jewelry
is made by Nine. Gayral, the
English wife of Commandant
Gayral, head of the Fighting
French Naval Mission. Mrs.
Charles Benoit, Mrs. Philippe
Baudet and Mrs. Luget use their
clever fingers to turn out French
novelties, while Nine. Reimens,
wife of the Commercial Secretary
of the Netherlands Embassy, is
head of the knitting department..
Both departments are ably assist
ed by groups of French and
American women devoted to the
cause of freedom and democracy.
Other clever French women
make riettes de Tours, French
dressing and other delicacies for
which the French cuisines are IA
nous. Another constant friend OF
the Fighting French Relief is
Countess de Gramont, whose hus-
band was captain in the Fight
ing French Air Force.
Thus, these gifted ladies are
carrying on the cultivation and
the arts of France in its glory,
arts that must be kept alive and
handed down to other genera
tions as part Of the civilization
which saw the birth and helped
this country to gain it's freedom.
The need for these workers is
great and this committee well
comes any friends of France who
wishes to help her in her hour Of