Exchange of Children.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3613, 28 December 1905, Page 2

Exchange of Children.

‘ ‘ International Exchange of Children ” is the title of an organ* isation founded in Paris, which has among its leaders the Countess de Gfeffuhle, sister of Prince Joseph de Chimay, the Duchess . d’Uzes, the Marquise de Jaucourt and a number of others of the grander dames of the Faubourg St. Germain, and that has for its object the promotion, not merely of the acquisition of foreign languages, but likewise the creation of a better understanding among foreign nations. The method employed by the association, which has been in existeuca for about a year, is a systematic exchange of children of school age between different countries, French children being sent to spend their three mouths of long summer holidays in English and German families, taking in return the latter’s children for the same period. The basis on which the exchange is made is that parents bear the cost - of the journey of their own offspring, but that,’from the moment of its arrival until the moment - of its departure, the child is treated absolutely as a member of the family with which it is living. No attempt is made by the association to influence the parents, its functions being restricted to the introduction to one auother of families desirous of effecting such exchange, and to making the necessary inquiries as to the good faith and eligibility of those seeking to make use of the assistance of the association. Last year about two hundred of these exchanges were effected, mainly with English, German and Italian families, and with most satisfactory results. Indeed, so great has been the success of the association that during ( the winter it has received many hundreds of communications, not merely from all the European countries, but likewise from the* United States, Cuba, Mexico and Brazil, so that under the auspices of some of the greatest ladies in France quite a number of children of American affluent circumstances will cross the ocean next month to spend their summer holidays in well-to-do French families, where they will become acquainted, not only with the French language, but likewise with the nicest kind of French home life, while in return an equal number of French lads will have their ideas broadened and their faculty invigorated by a sojourn in the United States as part and parcel of. well-to-do American families.

The scheme seems so excellent a one that it is only right that it should be made known far and wide ; for everything that tends to promote the mutual understanding between foreign nations and to Hpa stroy racial prejudices based 0(1 ignorance contributes to the maintenance of the peace of the world-.