"PENALTY OF WAR FALLS ON EUROPEAN CHILDREN"

"The worst suffering in the war," said John Kendrick Bangs, the well-known American writer, in an interview for the CRIMSON, was endured not by the men who lost their lives in the trenches, but by the women and children who were driven out of their homes and became charges on other communities."

Mr. Bangs is perhaps best known as a humorist; but his greatest ambition is to be considered a humanist, since it is with the human side of things that his interest is chiefly concerned. In the spring and summer of 1918, and again in 1919, Mr. Bangs traveled much over France, Belgium, and the occupied districts of Germany, as representative of the American Committee for Devastated France, and also as a Red Cross worker and volunteer Y. M. C. A. lecturer.

"I can testify from personal experience," he said, referring to the Hoover Drive, that there is great need for the money which is being asked.

Agricultural Work Not Done

"Because of the killing off of so many able-bodied men in the armies, the necessary agricultural work has not been done, and Europe is therefore unable to provide itself with food. Even if the food were to be had, the railroads would be unable to handle the supply question adequately, on account of the destruction of the lines, the cars, and so forth.

"The need of these youngsters is very great. As I said recently at a meeting in Philadelphia, when George Wharton Pepper announced that I would outline the needs of Europe, all the eloquence in the world does not mean so much to the American people as simply to tell them that somewhere little children are hungry; that statement is sufficient to make us dig down into our jeans. That audience gave $210,000.

War Has Destroyed Childhood

"One doesn't have to travel far in Europe to see how the penalty of the war has fallen upon the children. It has destroyed not only beautiful villages and historic buildings; but it has destroyed childhood--that is, the joys to which children are entitled. I have seen places where the children have forgotten how to play; they had to be taught all over again how to be children. I have seen thousands and thousands of children in France, and very many of them under five years of age did not know what Christmas was. The war did not let them learn of the natural outlet of childhood activities. My experience has been confined to France, Belgium, and the occupied parts of Germany; but I have no doubt that the need is as great in other countries.

"I cannot conceive of so Christian a duty as to bring these children back to what they deserve. The League of Nations cannot do as much for future peace as can the manifestation of America's sympathy to the sufferings of children. These children will grow up to remember our friendship for them, and that will be a much greater assurance of peace than any League, or Holy Alliance, or anything else."