Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-14
TWO GIRLS, CUT OFF
BY WAR In FRANCE,
REACH HOME SAFELY
Isolated in Breton Village,
They Are Held Eightee7
Days, Then Make Their
Way to Paris.

10 he stranded in a seaport town eight
hours from Paris, and cut off from com
nunication with the outside world for
,,ehteen days during the mobilization of
,he French army, was the experience of
two philadelphia girls, Miss Hortense
law. 1924 North Fifteenth street, and Miss
ttoIen Abrahams, 3119 Diamond street,
who returned to this city yesterday after
n series Of exciting experiences within the
war zone. They were at small seaport
town named st. Jean du Doigt, in Brit
tany.
I'VE we're no worse off than the rest of
lie women of Europe and great deal
,,ure fortunate than the majority" said
Miss Levy yesterday in speaking of her
experiences Everywhere the men have
deserted the villages and the women are
taking over their labors.
"on August 1 was attracted to the
window Of my room by the pitful crying
at funeral which was being held in a
picturesque cemetery across the street.
1t was while in the midst of this dismal
scene that the tones of the tocsin bell
broke in, telling that war had been de-
clared. The proclamation calling for mo-
bilization, which was pasted before the
mayors office, was several yards long 1t
was received at o'clock Sunday evening
and at the o'clock church services the
next morning no men were present, all
were in the fields hastily harvesting their
crops or were on their way to the front.
During the period of mobilization we
were not allowed to leave the town. We
were with little money and were cut off
from news and friends In the outside
world.
FRENCH WE'RE COURTEOUS.
Tho French were very courteous to
US. Prices were not raised. In fact, The
prices on butter and eggs came down.
Butter could be bought for 10 cents
pound, because tho usual sources Of it's
outlet were cut off. Notices were nostcd
notifying the public that 1t was penal
offense to raise prices.
"While we were stranded we knew but
little of what was going on on the out
side The men had all left, and all the
activity of tho town was carried on by
the women. We spent considerable of
our time sewing for the Red Cross.
ION August 1S we were able to reach
Paris after many passports and papers
had been signed The trip took % hours,
while it usually takes but eight On the
trip to Paris we stopped at La Mons,
where the first trainloads of wounded
were being brought in.
"At Amiens we saw the arrival of the
75,OOO English troops. They displayed the
greatest good humor and were singing a
popular song, 'Tipperary,' which the ma
tivas hplIayad ha i,-
The postage stamps of France, which
formerly cost two cents, are now selling
Dor three, the extra cent being used for
the Red Cross relief work.
Everywhere we found the widest ex-
element. The soldiers go on their way
Snging. the women hang flowers from
Sheir windows and even tho wounded do
not lose their good humor."
Miss Levy and Miss Abrahams arrived
on the steamship Finland at New York
yesterday. They say that the congestion
OF tourists at London has been relieved
and praise the work of the American
committee. They had to work their own
way from the coast of Brittany to Paris,
but in the French capital they met
friends, who assisted them to reach Lon
- don.
Trains from New York yesterday
brought home two Philadelphia families
who had come over on the steamship
Campania. landing at New York. Mr..
and Mrs c. Hartman Kuhn arrived yes-
terday evening and are registered for a.
few days at the Bellevue Stratford The
other couple were Mr.. and Mrs. Morris
Dannenhaum. of 1901 Spring Garden
street.
WAR NEWS IN LETTER.
An interesting account of the war con-
,eitions In Antwerp and the attack of
The German Zeppellns on the city ia con-
tained In letter received by Max Hess,
OF 2O35 Arch street, from his brother
philippe, who has been attending school
in that city
schools. theatres and cafes have been
Closed" the letter says, land have been
turned into hospitals Automobiles and
motorcycles bear the insignia of the
army. Soldiers patrol the streets and all
business Is suspended. All the soldiers
starting for the front are loaded with
mowers. cigars, candy and Iuxuries The
English allies receive ovations whenever
they appear on the streets"
fhe attack OF the zeppelins occurred at
O'Clock at night. according TO the letter.
"e all had retired" he writes, 'and
'he people had heard no rumors OF an
enemy for some time. when suddenly the
S'y was shaken as II by an earthquake.
series Of explosions followed at short
intervals and people rushed into the
Streets not knowing where the next
bomb would fall
mo King. who had moved with his
FAMILY to Antwerp. is said to have rushed
INTO the street coatless and hatless. Ten
'0'hos We're dropped and eight people
we're Killed and 25 wounded. The whirr OF
Nc proPellers of the destroyers could be
hetn hnsu al the time that the bombs were
ns cropped, and the only evidence the
oIsopie mad OF the presence of an enemy
=, at hand was the low dronlng hum
~ 'he propeller blades, which preceded
MI uropplng Of bomb, after which the
~ so' sent the machine beyond the range
VI any possible attack
AZ business must be suspended at 8 |
,sLpek ana all lights must be covered at
tbs no" to prevent future attacks by
nnt or aestroyers Dark coverings are
straot over the lights and soldiers patrol the |
Tha IN groups to ward of any attack"
ent s, ietter. which had large portions OF II |
,b Sut oy the censor. also had a map OF
so uestFoyed buildings taken from II be- |
'VIe being passed
vs.l land and Is described as war MAD by Ed |
Ssnsh,r, ', Kane who returned with his |
r. sGnter Miss Miriam Clark Kane, on |
u Nahpanla late Saturday evanIng Mr.