Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-01
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
Friends in the Franco-Prussian
Trouble Reunited in America.
STRANGE DINNER In HOMESTEAD.
Sweet Memories Recalled at the Sight oil
q Silver Watch.
PRUSsIAys sTOLETO FEED THE FRENCH

There was Thanksgiving dinner eaten in
Homestead last Thursday, for which the
sauce was furnished amid time as troubles
as ever known, and it is doubtful whether
there was another feast that day in all this
broad land that was more thoroughly en-
loved, although the eaters were strangers In
a strange land. 1t isn't stated whether the
dinner was one of herbs or of stalled OK, but
il is certain that it was spiced, not only
with love, but with the most ardent and
disinterested esteem on the part of all
participating.
About the middle of the Franco-Prussian
war two German soldiers, one named
Andrew Ahrens and the other- Jacobs,
belonging to Company 2, Battalion 4, Regi-
ment 50 of the German army of occupation,
were stationed in village in France along
with some others and instructed to subsist
on the enemy. These two were quartered
with a Frenchman and his family, whose
name J. w. Kinnear, who was made ac-
quainted with the narrative, has forgotten.
1t did not take Ahrens and Jacobs long to
learn that the family that was to subsist
them could scarcely keep itself in food, as it
wasn't to be had for either love or money, the
contending armies having devoured every
thing digestible The subject family was at
first very fearful Of its guests, but IN COM
pairing notes, they found they had no neces-
sary animosity toward each other and would
have been friends at sight, but for the diff
ferent colors of their uniforms.
Robbed Their Own Provision Train.
When Ahrens and Jacobs found their
French host could not feed them they de-
cided to feed him and his family. One day
they came home after foray laden with
provisions which they threw into the
common stock and distrust vanished at
once Their German guests had robbed
Prussian provision train. The act was un-
authorized, but as the robbers belonged to
the invading army they were not suspected
and they carried to the Frenchman's house,
bread, hams, bologna sausage, coffee and
sugar sufficient to last month. Though
thev could not understand each others
language went great way. The French
mans wife was good cuisinier
and all soon became the best
Of friends The two Germans continued their
raids until they had laid in a supply of pro-
visions sufficient for all for six months.
None had any money, but all had plenty to
eat In less than a month there came an
order for forward movement on the part of
the Germans, and hosts and guests parted
with fervent protestations OF undylng
friendship. The members of the French
family had exerted themselves to the utmost
TO make the two Germans comfortable, and
as the weather was bad Ahrens and Jacobs
found their wardrobe in such good condi-
tion that they got along in comparative
comfort until the end of the war. Before
leaving, Ahrens made the family present
of a watch.
Friends Reunited in America.
After the war was over Ahrens, Jacobs
and four companions came to this country,
and they have been for considerable time
and are at present working in mill at
Braddock. Some ten davs ago Ahrens hap
pened to be at Munhall station and noticed
a man approaching who appeared to be max
ing the most violent demonstrations of a
friendly character. Ahrens not knowing
exactly how to receive the overtures the |
man began asking him if he were not Rus |
sian, if he had not been in the army, ETC.,
until pretty we'll satisfied with the result of |
The eatechism he drew a watch out of his |
pocket and asked Ahrens if he had ever
seen it before. Ahrens recognized it at |
once. and then the two men embraced as ar
IDENTIFY as two schoolgirls after 48 |
hours separation, and the thanksgiving |
dinner at the Frenchman's house was the |
finale. Though the families are still un-
able to converse in either French or Ger
man, both have learned enough of our fexi- |
bic Anglo-Saxon to express themselves in |
telligently, and they kept it up until the |
small hours of the night. The French |
family came to this country several years
ago, and the parties have been living in |
sight of each other for years without know
ing it.
The incident shows how little real inter- |
est the masses ordinarily have in wars
waged by their rulers, and adds to the in |
famous character of most national duels |
Nations separated by a narrow firth abhor |
each other" and it is but little to their |
credit that their rulers can make them tear
each other like pack of strange dogs with
out knowing why.