Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-01
LETTER FROM viRG MA.

Editor Democrat:
You doubtless have seen how i'm
portant part In the late war Virgini.
has played, at least as far as camping
grounds are concerned. For three
months 10000 were encamped few
miles from US and short distance from
Washington. Finally they were ordered
10 Thorough Fare" few hours ride
from US In a southerly direction. Ga
this march We were privileged to enter
tain about thirty soldiers, representing q
half dozen different states, aud a nicer,
better behaved set Of young men We
never met. III never before, We came TO
the conclusion then, that the volunteer
srmy contained the il)wer OF our coun-
try. They came TO Us hungry, footsore;
and almost bsrefooted; the best We had
WAS not too good for them. Our feel
ings were the same for the boys from
Missouri as the New Workers.
Wasn't 1t grand sight 10 see the
northern aud southern boys wearing the
same blue uniform, and ready TO enter
battle side BY side: Methinks the last
yestige Of sectional feeling must needs
be wiped out after this, and IL only this
il accomplished, the hsrdships Of war
and loss of life will not have been Ia
vain.
We visited camps and now have an
idea OF what such life Is. Ii recalled
10 our mind the surroundings our soldier
friends In 81 must have had. Later we
had the opportunity to frequent one OF
the hospitals a short distance from our
home, where twelve brave boys gave up
their lives. as nobly AS II on the field Of
battle. The surgeon said, ''Oh, that
isn't many, considering we've had one
hundred and fifty patients here" And
then thought Of the homes made sad
by those twelve deaths, and Of the brok-
en-hearted mothers who would have
been so glad to have s0othed their dying
hours. God bind their broken hearts !!
But the tramp Of soldiers Is no more
heard in our state; none are within het.
borders, excepting few OF her own
sons soon to be mustered out; and we
miss them as IL members OF our own
family. We have no faith In the ''inves-
tigatiou" going on In Washington re-
parding the treatment Of our soldiers
here, and ut the front. II they would
allow some Of the n0n-commissioned Of
ticers and privates whom we met to tes-
THY, they could "tale unfold" Better
by far have expended the money for our
soldiers than In sending men to Paris to
make terms with Spain. Why couldn't
the business have been attended to
through her representative In Washing
ton? Why should there have been any
terms, other than an unconditional sur
render: But perhaps l shouldn't ex-
press an opinion on so important q sub
ject. Let US not be too hasty In holding
our peace jubilees.
Summer has departed, and with 1t our
guests; my daughter and family, to her
baltimore home-others to Washington,
One sister and her husband, Mr.. and
Mrs. Bald win, have been for months al
the famous Battle Creek Sanltsrium
Included 10 their family IL my daugh'
ter Wins, who will remain there some
time, rc-entering the high school ID
Washington next year. The only In
mates OF our large ten-room house arr
myself and mother, who 10 remarkably
we'll preserved for one Of her advanced
years. She will be SO next Nay, IL up
to-date In all that's going on, not only II
our country, but throughout the world
EsTELLE GREENE Cross.
Manassas, Va.