The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-11-07
Letter from Father Massardier.

- LCtSSf =TFCna FdGlGF MGSSsIQiSTs
The following interesting letter
from Rev. 3. M. T. Massardier te
his close friend, Dr.. Paul T. Thibo
daux, conveying the good news Of
Father Massardier's continued i'm
proyement in health and his intention
to return to Donaldsonville at the
first opportunity, will be read witt
much pleasure and interest by the
Pensioners and friends of the be
loved prelate:
La Ricamarie, Loire, Oct. 10, 1914
aDr. Paul T. Thibodaux, Donaldson
vile, La.
Kind and esteemed Friend: -Yo ul
letter of the 18th ultimo was indeed
q most welcome visitor. 1t cheeree
me up a good deal, because at times
+ feel very lonesome Ny heart il
aot here; it is in Louisiana, my
adopted country. When a man ha.
oeen away from home influences a:
long as / have, thirty-fiye years, AMI
customs are so different, he canno
form new habits. So / feel Gsat O
place here; things are so different
from what they are in dear old Don
aldsonville l am, therefore, like {
fish out of water. You will not, con
sequently, be surprised to hear ms
say that I feel lonely when my
thoughts revert to Louisiana.
The news which I have to impair
is very sad indeed. Though there
has been no fighting within more
than four hundred ki1ometers from
my little village, and though an
now quite well except for little
weakness in my knees, still an
Kept here in. durance vile, unable, te
leave for home. It will be thus I'M
Ill the German forces which have
invaded France are driven back into
Germany, which they never should
nave left. How long will it take:
No one knows, except God alone
But you may form a faint idea of the
magnitude of the work to be accom-
plished, and of the number of hui
man lives it will cost, when you
know that more than two million
men have been fighting with one
another. The tremendous and mighty
struggle has been raging in the
tidI1S I'll Tie OlICt= ana IL oAs
full but now devastated la Cham
payne" region for twenty-five days
without respite or inte.rmission, and
SO far without a decisive victory
though the advantage has been gen
orally on the side of the French
army. On the third day of the ter.
rite battle another one of my ne
pheWs (that makes the second) was
severely, but thanks to the protection
Of Our Lady of, Lourdes, not danger
ousIy wounded He is almost entire
ly well and iii a few days will be
able to rejoin his regiment on the
firing line. Remember them in youl
good and fervent prayers. May the
good God protect them and bring
them all back home safe and sound!
What kind of Christmas is it go
ing to be for me SO far away from
you all? l felt satisfied | would DC
in dear old Donaldsonvil1e to cele
brate the glorious feast, but yor
know the proverb: Man proposes
but God disposes.' He has, in my
case. decided otherwise May His
holy will be done.
But, dear Doctor, think of it,
shall have to spend the winter here
shall not be able to start for Lou
isiana until next year. The Nykathe1
in this part Of France is farS.on
being warm in the winter; it has
ready started getting cold. We have
had heavy white frnst-@foe,lrs ,y the las
F'sses .1, zt .s,ll the Wealner
during the day. dread the days d
rain, ice and snow I hope to bs
able to bear up, and am taking pre-
cautions in that regard, such as. -
vidjng myself with wooden geks
wooden shoes, flannels and kp1Se pro
tectors. 1 believe Mr.. Winter vii
be afraid of me when he sees mt
thus provided, and therefore show
himself mild winter.
81 congratulate Paul on his cleo
ton as court stenographer. Do no
worry, / know he will make good i
he is anything like his father, AM
you know good blood never lies. Tel
Master Tot I was very glad to hea,
that he attends the Brothers schoo
and that he likes to go to school.
81 hope this letter of mine vii
find you all enjoying good health
With best regards,
Sincerely yours,
81. M. T. MASsARDIER, s
Rector"