JULES JUSSERAND 35 



milk they should employ, and so, along- that line also, many chil- 

 dren were saved. All this was simple enough, but it was as 

 practical as it was simple, and its results were so beneficial that 

 the system soon began to be imitated throughout the country 

 and out of it. When its far-reaching results shall have been 

 gauged France will be as proud of Dr. Budin for his good work 

 as she is even of the discovery of the most startling inventions 

 made by any of her sons in the realm of science or industry. 



Other attempts are being tried in France with the same 

 object of preserving life, while diminishing the hardships of 

 mothers in poverty. One especially I shall take the liberty of 

 mentioning, because it is perhaps not very well known here. 

 A few years ago a modest family in a small provincial town of 

 France, the family consisting of the father, who had only his 

 professor's salary, the wife and child, lived very happily, when 

 the only child died. Their despair was so intense that their 

 friends feared for their very lives. The man and wife, how- 

 ever, were no weaklings ; they considered what they should do, 

 and decided that since their duty was to live and they no longer 

 had any child of their own they would work for the children 

 of others. Many are the women of the poorer class, especially in 

 great cities, who, while they try to nurse their children, fail 

 to nourish them sufficiently, not being properly fed themselves. 

 The bereaved couple decided that they would attempt to feed 

 mothers and to found establishments where food would be pro- 

 vided free to any mother nursing her child. They were so en- 

 thusiastic over the idea that nothing could stop them. They came 

 to Paris, hired a little room, provided furniture, which consisted 

 of one table and three chairs, and pasted up an inscription stating 

 that any woman nursing her child would be welcome and would 

 be fed. 



When they started their capital consisted of two dollars, with 

 which they purchased their first provisions. At first no one 

 came. People could not believe it was true. Then a few trusted 

 themselves in and were fed, and the report spread. Kind- 

 hearted men heard of the work and gave money. The two 

 dollars themselves have grown and multiplied, and the work 

 promises soon to be one of the most flourishing among the more 

 recent ones in France. There are now a number of such restau- 

 rants in Paris ; they have begun to spread to the provinces, and 

 several municipalities have contributed help. 



A very little help goes a long way. A meal consisting of soup, 

 vegetables, bread ad libitum, one portion of meat, one bit of 

 cheese, costs 7 cents. Here doubtless, tariff or not, it would be 

 impossible to supply such food for such a price, but by careful 

 management and, especially by attending yourself to the busi- 



