Evening star., 1948-04-25


fare agencies in other cities.
Samuel Krakow, administrative
assistant in the field of international
activities, both insular and foreign
operations, for our American Red
Cross, who has recently returned
from a survey of our Red Cross aid
in Finland and other countries, was
present during my interview with
DR.. Mandolin. Mr.. Krakow elabo-
rated upon the pioneer service OF
the Mannerheim League OF Child
Welfare in making underprivileged
children happier and giving them
health knowledge.
Entirely divorced from political
trends or ideologies, the league Is
namede for its. founder, Gen. Man.
nerheim, who led Finland's military
offensive during World War I and
subsequently became. one OF his
countrys. able Presidents. Now liv-
ing, at 80, he saw frsthand the SUI
fering which modern war imposes
upon children and family. His idea
was to help the weak to help them
selves so that there might be no
pauperization or weakening OF the
sturdy, self-reliant Finnish spirit.
His self chosen lieutenant, DR.. Man
delin, has worked more than quar-
ter of a century in creating COM
prehensiye social welfare system
throughout Finland.
Self Help Is Best Help.
Fervent~ in his appreciation OF
American help through such agen-
cies as the American Red Cross,
Save the Children's Federation and
the Friends Service Relief, DR.. Man.
delin called attention to the fact
that his country has made point
of having the family help itself even
when the need was SO great babies
were having to be wrapped In news
papers because there was no CLOTH
ing for them. Materials to be made
into clothes. rather than handouts;
half soles for shoes, instead OF new
ones. except when they can be
earned-this type Of help, he said,
does not destroy initiative and SELF
respect.
Mr.. Krakow seconded DR.. Man.
delin as to the effectiveness of his
national slogan, Help for Self
Help" rather than charity, except
where there is illness, complete
destitution or the infirmity OF old
age. This applies both with regard
to assistance from the Red Cross or
from the Mannerheim League OF
Child Welfare.
"Dr. Mandelin's name is q by
word for unself1sh leadership and
constructive results throughout
Finland" Mr.. Krakow told me
Child health measures which he
|inaugurated through the, Manner
helm League back in 1920, when he
began the work Of saving children
from rickets, tuberculosis and high
death rates from communicable dis
eases, are now incorporated In ma
tional legislation" <
Seldom has 50 much been
achieved in social welfare work fo1
children in any country with SC
little in actual physical working
capital in a nation as devastated as
Finland, but sternly self reliant In
its will to survive and be inde-
pendent.
when times were darkest for the
country and the Mannerhein
League during those terrible weeks
of the winter war fought by FINLAND
in 1939-4O and again during the
second phase of the war in 1912
Sweden community sponsorship Of
Finnish communities, commune fol
commune, was like q ray of light ir
the darkness" DR.. Mandolin said.
"Castle, Of Childhood" Rushed.
With pride he exhibits a picture
of the nearly completed Castle o1
Childhood" model Mannerhein
League child welfare center in Hell.
singfors. It is unique in that i
has been financed III large part by
the sale of chocolate and sugar
which were gifts OF the Swedish
people.
If sold in Finland, where the
Finnish mark is grossly inflated
100 tons of chocolate will bring ir
150, ,000, 900 marks. With 100000
marks an institution for child care
size $4,000 cubic feet, housing 7(
children, can be built. 1t all sounds
as fantastic as the house Jack built
but the solemn fact is that one
pound of chocolate sold in Finland
today will keep five children one
day in such an institution.
The Finnish state has formally
given the Mannerheim League per.
mission to buy sugar and chocolate
with the Swedish crowns donated
through the Swedish community
sponsorship movement. The Fin
nish people are eager to purchase
the chocolate and sugar with theil
inflated currency and DR.. Man
delin's dream of a center to which
mothers may bring their ailint
children. have appointments witt
midwives and doctors, secure advic'
on every known health problem Il
about to become an actualit!
through the qualification of a ma.